Muddy paws dog jumped on me on walk, WWYD?

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I was walking across a park yesterday and two spaniels bounded towards me about 50 yards away from their owner. I could tell they were going to try and jump up at me so I avoided eye contact with them and told my dd to do the same.

Unfortunately one still did jump up at me multiple times and left mud on my clean trousers.

I shouted at the owner to please keep her dogs under control as one had got mud on my trousers. Not in an aggressive or rude tone though.

In my opinion if you don't have sufficient control over your dog to stop them doing this they need to be kept on a lead in public. The owner didn't seem very bothered and I think there is zero chance of her preventing this happening another time to someone else or possibly even to me again. I feel pretty annoyed about it.

I think there are some owners who either don't think it's a problem when their dogs jump up at strangers or who just don't care.

What would you do if this happened to you?

I wasn't replying to that poster. I was replying to you. I have stated over and over and over again on this thread that dogs need to be under control.

@AllThingsServeTheBeam

lots of us on here think all dogs should be on leads

your dog may be under your control but unfortunately there are lots of dogs who aren’t under their owners control like the ones op and Katerose describe. So as such there should be a rule that all dogs should be on leads. It’s the irresponsible dog owners at fault spoiling it for eveyone else. Get angry at them, not people like me who just wanna be able to walk in a park or on a beach and not run the risk of having a dog jump up at me, muddy my clothes, slobber on me, or even nip me - all of which are things that can happen.

You can all think whatever you like. There isn't a rule that states all dogs must be on leads so I will carry on as I am. I am not allowing shitty dog owners to ruin it for me.

Or she should have just embraced the sheer joyfulness of having dog slobber over her dress.

What do you suggest I do? Pretend it is an issue for me, because it's an issue for some people? I'm absolutely going to take every chance I can to make a fuss over a dog.

Oh, and fwiw, I am also allergic - to dogs, cats and anything with feathers.

@AnnoyedFromSlough but how irritating is that for responsible dog owners? Imagine someone has put a lot of time in training their pup not to jump up then you go and bill and coo in their face and encourage them to do just that. It's akin to getting sleep deprived parents to wake up their baby just so you can have a cuddle. But as there are so many irresponsible dog owners around, guess it might not be an issue for you!

Obviously you don’t pretend it’s an issue for you but by “fussing over the dog” you encourage the behaviour making it worse for the responsible dog owner who is trying to train their dog, the person with allergies, and phobic children.

Surely this is just common sense. If it doesn’t bother you by all means ask the owner if you can pet the dog after they have called it back. It’s not rocket science.

As far as allergies go if you had allergies
like I do you wouldn’t be saying it’s not an issue. I’d never be unkind to an owner as shit happens but yes it’s a health issue for some of us.

Well.

No1 why would you fuss over a dog that has just jumped up at you. It could be on the attack and about to rip your throat out. Agree with others that you are undoing good work at best, about to have a vital artery torn at worst.

No2 I don’t actually think all dogs should be on leads. If you can recall it (proven) have it off lead in appropriate areas (the street is not appropriate to all those I have seen walking dogs down the high road). Apologise and revise your attitude and training if it jumps/runs at strangers/acts in an intimidating manner. Consider that an animal doesn’t have more rights than an actual human and you could find yourself prosecuted. Training never ends.

i feel like a dog licence is the best plan.

To the proud off leaders who don’t have great recall. Can I ask how you feel you would control a dog that potentially weighs more than an adult woman if it had no lead?

Hahaha, I am pretty sure I can tell the difference between a friendly dog and one that's attacking me. I'm not going to fuss over a dog that's biting/aggressive. What a bizarre take on it!

And nobody has given a decent answer as to what what I'm supposed to do when a dog jumps up. Ok, the owner should recall the dog. And after that I'm allowed to ask to pet it. But what about in the interim? What if the dog doesn't go back to it's owner?

I’m a dog owner and I would apologise profusely if my dog did this, and offer to pay for dry cleaning. You are not being unreasonable to be annoyed.

Mud or not tell her she’s in breach of the UK legislation on dangerous dogs. Your dog , irrespective of breed, has to be under control and not give cause for alarm. Her dog was out of control and potentially did give cause for alarm.

I had an awful woman’s dog jump up and me and scratch my leg recently. She said she can’t help it and shrugged. It was in my building so I reported her and told her I would be doing so. The building manager spoke to her.

for dog owners who don’t care about people who don’t want your dogs mud, drool or scratches or worse - at least for the sake of your dog don’t let them do this. I was in NYC just before Christmas and I seen a man kick a dog multiple times because it’s owner let her wet dog jump up on him. That’s not my style but my point is it could also end up badly for your dog in more ways than one.

not just ridiculous but incredibly selfish. I live in a busy town, the only slightly quiet green spaces I can easily get to as a non driver are parks. I actually do avoid parks for this reason but I shouldn’t have to especially as it provides me enormous benefits that walking at the gym doesn’t. But that’s what I make do with for now.

The dream 😍

@FredandAmy

a voice of reason!
thank you 😊

Shout at the owner 🤷‍♀️.

I wouldn't do anything. It's a bit annoying when it happens, but it's just a bit of mud and then you get on with your life.

This happened to me as I was walking to work this morning, and the owner was having a chin wag with, so probably didn't even notice. I shooed the dog away, but owner was still completely oblivious.

It's annoying, but not really much you can do.

Some owners take no responsibility and are utterly useless.