Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Muddy paws dog jumped on me on walk, WWYD?

768 replies

Blip · 18/02/2023 11:36

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?

OP posts:
CherLloydbyCherLloyd · 18/02/2023 12:05

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 18/02/2023 12:01

Nah. Not fair on the owners who control their dogs. My collie doesn't think he's been on a walk without off lead time.

Show quote history

My dog (also collie) would be a raging psychopath if I didn’t give her sufficient off lead time. She does not care about other people whatsoever, might have a wee runaround with another dog if they approach her but generally doesn’t care. She’s collie level trained though. And by that I mean she has trained us.

HappinessDragon · 18/02/2023 12:05

Blip · 18/02/2023 11:56

If I walked up to one of you who isn't fussed by this and smeared you with mud when wearing your work clothes with a meeting to go to later on I hope you'd still be fine with it!

Were you taking your dd with you to your meeting? or are you just trying to keep coming up with scenarios in the hope people will suddenly decide you are not overly dramatic?
How are the posters coming on?

Butchyrestingface · 18/02/2023 12:06

Blip · 18/02/2023 12:04

@Butchyrestingface no, were you?

Unless I've morphed into YOU, in a city park getting jumped on by a dog, my attire isn't really relevant. Grin.

Flowerfairy101 · 18/02/2023 12:06

flabbygoldfish · 18/02/2023 11:58

Yell at the dog in an unfriendly/angry tone before it jumps up and make moves to swipe it away. the dog has assumed you would be happy to see it. Once it gets the message this is not the case they tend to back off.

A dogs manners are usually a mirror of their owners so usually a lost cause expecting them to do anything

This worked for me the other day, a woman was letting her large dog run round the car park of a country park, she made half arsed efforts to call it which it totally ignored, I could see it out of the corner of my eye running towards me whilst I was struggling to put my toddler in the car so when it got to about 2m away I turned round and shouted GO AWAY at it, and it did! Will deffo be using this in future. Owner of course was mortally offended but I couldn't have given less of a fuck tbh.

Worldwide2 · 18/02/2023 12:06

I have to agree with you op that would definitely annoy me too. Dog owners don't give a crap about controlling their dogs, they expect everyone to adore their 'babies'. The phrase 'don't worry he's freindly' basically equals let my dog jump on you regardless if you like it or not.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 18/02/2023 12:07

This happens to me at least once a week because I like walking on the marshes and beside the river. I don't mind, and I don't want to live in a world where friendly dogs can't run around getting muddy and saying hi to people.

Original poster
Blip · 18/02/2023 12:07

@Butchyrestingface so are you suggesting it's fine to let your dog jump up at anyone who is not wearing a white wedding dress???

OP posts:
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 18/02/2023 12:07

CherLloydbyCherLloyd · 18/02/2023 12:05

My dog (also collie) would be a raging psychopath if I didn’t give her sufficient off lead time. She does not care about other people whatsoever, might have a wee runaround with another dog if they approach her but generally doesn’t care. She’s collie level trained though. And by that I mean she has trained us.

Show quote history

Same. He's getting on now but still doesn't class a walk as a walk if there is no ball. He has zero interest in anything other than who is walking him and his ball. Dogs will come up and sniff him and he just looks at us as if to say 'piss it off' 😄

whatthehelldowecare · 18/02/2023 12:08

If anything, I might be quite happy. I love dogs and I would probably make a fuss and tell the owner what good boys they were

HufflepuffRavenclaw · 18/02/2023 12:08

It's a regular occurrence. I usually shout "CONTROL YOUR FUCKING DOG" at the owner. I am not particularly polite about it. Owners by and large, don't care.

The ones who do care don't let their dogs get to the jumping up at people stage in the first place.

lljkk · 18/02/2023 12:10

I'm the wrong person to answer this bec I go up to friendly dogs, the owners warn me about the mud & I say I don't mind (truth). I love a bit of dog therapy. I'm outside an awful lot in places with lots of dogs. Mostly the owners grab the dog & try to prevent contact bec they are scared of offending me (the stranger). When reality is I quite like dogs so I have to talk owner into letting me say hello (as long as dog would like that).

I can't recall anyone not warning me about the muddy paws, or at very least not apologising if paws got one me. The owners literally seemed to warn every time. That's what's weird; the dog haters seem to only encounter the dozey owners. I never seem to meet the inconsiderate owners. I only seem to meet the owners paranoid that their dog might upset someone.

I did have to warn someone (looked like a rough sleeper tbh) to whisk away their (offlead) Fr bulldog puppy yesterday, who was sniffing my feet (but no jumping at me). I was walking psycho terrier for someone else: actually PT is great with people but she usually goes for other dogs. I only see PT 50 minutes/week so I can't train her out of it. Luckily PT was distracted & didn't notice puppy.

Gemmanorthdevon · 18/02/2023 12:10

I would make a mental note not to wear my freshly dry cleaned Sunday best in that area again, and then move on with my life. Instead of boring people to death on MN with another dog bashing thread.....

junglejane66 · 18/02/2023 12:10

I'd be crying and shaking uncontrollably

Pugdogmom · 18/02/2023 12:11

Yes, I get how annoying this would be, but taking photos etc is a bit overdramatic.

An irritation certainly, but wipe it off and move on with your day. 🙄

Phos · 18/02/2023 12:12

Wouldn’t be all that bothered but I like dogs.

QueSyrahSyrah · 18/02/2023 12:13

I'd sigh and get on with my day, in all likelihood.

Maybe a different story if I was walking down a town street on my way to a wedding or a dinner wearing something nice, but then I suppose the dog in that scenario wouldn't be as likely to be muddy.

Nocutenamesleft · 18/02/2023 12:13

Blip · 18/02/2023 11:36

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?

100000000000% agree with thiw

i live in a place where there’s thousands of dog walkers and I’d say 80% of those can’t control their dogs and don’t pick up poo after their dogs

my brand new house I picked up 38 dog poo there

i mean come on…

my daughter was so frightened of dogs for years and still is so bounding dogs really do terrify her

i remember one dog wouldn’t leave her alone and I said recall your dog please. He said why? I said my daughter is frightened of dogs

he said did you make her that way?£?

wHAT!!!!!

CherLloydbyCherLloyd · 18/02/2023 12:13

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 18/02/2023 12:07

Same. He's getting on now but still doesn't class a walk as a walk if there is no ball. He has zero interest in anything other than who is walking him and his ball. Dogs will come up and sniff him and he just looks at us as if to say 'piss it off' 😄

Show quote history

Ours will play with dogs who can match her energy level, and sometimes she likes to find a small terrier type dog and run rings round them. She’s got “best friend” dogs who she gets excited when she sees, and ones she’s indifferent about. Her best friends are all high energy breeds (a springer spaniel, a standard poodle, and another collie)

Nanny0gg · 18/02/2023 12:15

Blip · 18/02/2023 11:42

I'm tempted to get more aggressive with people who simply don't give a shit about their dog smearing you with mud

What did the owner say or do?

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 18/02/2023 12:15

Personally, I’d give my trousers a rub and be on my way. I wouldn’t stroke the dog as that would encourage it to jump up at the next person but I would stroke it if it just ran up to me. I wouldn’t do any of the daft “retaliation” methods you suggest though!

HideTheCroissants · 18/02/2023 12:16

I’m laughing at all the “throw them in the wash when you get home” type answers! I’m currently on holiday (rural, self catering) going on lots of country walks. So far no dog has jumped at me but if they did I don’t have the “throw them in the wash option” as there is no washing machine in the cottage I’m staying in. I’ve brought two pairs of trousers with me and having one pair muddied would be very annoying.
When at home my DH walks through a small park (tarmac path) to get to the station for work… he wears a suit to go to work. If a muddy dog jumps at him he can’t “throw it in the wash” plus there is the added risk of claws damaging the fabric. It has happened to him once and yes the trousers of his suit were damaged and had to be thrown away (fortunately he always has two pairs of trousers made with every suit so it could have been worse) - the owner just said “oh he wants to play” DH is usually very placid but had some choice words to say!

I LOVE dogs but dogs should not be allowed to approach strangers and if the owner can’t be bothered to train them correctly then yes the poor dog has to be restricted by a lead.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 18/02/2023 12:16

Redebs · 18/02/2023 11:54

Neat idea
Probably more reasonable than my plan to carry an aerosol paint can 🤣

Show quote history

...and better than my plan too, so I've just cancelled the order for the Garden Flame Thrower.
👹

Nocutenamesleft · 18/02/2023 12:16

PortiasBiscuit · 18/02/2023 11:41

Dogs can’t be kept on the lead all the time, poor things!

Train them then. To have perfect recall. If not then don’t take them off a lead. I would assume they’re not on a lead at home so saying to not keep them on a lead is stupid.

Megifer · 18/02/2023 12:17

I'd put my stuff in the washing machine when I got home

Btjdkfnn · 18/02/2023 12:18

It's seriously rude behaviour to get mud all over a random person's clothes.

We have become a society where nobody really cares about anything.

Really, those spaniels should have been walked in a dog field that is enclosed and paid for if they can't behave in public.