Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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:
Butchyrestingface · 18/02/2023 12:19

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???

Nope. But in answer to your OP question "what would you do if this happened to you?"

If it happened to me, I would likely chalk the incident up to one of life's irritations. Doubt I'd bother to start yet another frothing dog thread about it or even feel terribly aggrieved unless I was wearing something very expensive, pale of colour and/or dry clean only. I probably wouldn't be knocking about a public park in such an item though.

IClaudine · 18/02/2023 12:19

I would sue (using a pro bonio lawyer).

Btjdkfnn · 18/02/2023 12:20

Megifer · 18/02/2023 12:17

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

If it is a lot of mud, it would be better to rinse it under an outdoor tap or hose first. Otherwise the washing machine will end up with mud in it and could deposit it on a subsequent load. Additionally, if you don't remove most of it first, it'll get all over the trousers before being rinsed - possibly not that well by our eco machines that aren't allowed much water.

rwalker · 18/02/2023 12:21

Put your foot out and kick it away

GiltEdges · 18/02/2023 12:21

I love dogs, so would find it hard to be annoyed if it happened to me personally. But I also appreciate as a dog owner that not everybody loves them and the only time mine are ever off lead in public is when we’re at a dedicated off lead field.

IncompleteSenten · 18/02/2023 12:21

I'd like to say I'd laugh it off and not be bothered and just put my clothes in the washing machine/take to dry cleaners and not give it another thought but what's the point in lying?
but truthfully, I have an unfortunate temper so realistically I'd tell her I was really pissed off about it.
Then I'd have medicinal cake or something.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 18/02/2023 12:22

CherLloydbyCherLloyd · 18/02/2023 12:13

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)

Show quote history

He did have 2 best friends but sadly they have both died now. My mum's border terrier and my best friends rottie. They were his adult dogs when he was a pup so he grew up with them and did actually play with them. Anyone else he isn't bothered by. Sad really as I like to see dogs play. He just plays avoid at all costs!

Pricklyheath · 18/02/2023 12:22

When I walk my dog i call her back if other walkers are approaching and slip her lead on.
She rarely jumps up but it's not fair to inflict your pet on other people.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 18/02/2023 12:23

IClaudine · 18/02/2023 12:19

I would sue (using a pro bonio lawyer).

😂😂😂

Original poster
Blip · 18/02/2023 12:23

@Nanny0gg the owner just gazed on from afar

OP posts:
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 18/02/2023 12:24

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.

I make sure if we are holidaying in the UK it has a washing machine. Only exception is when we go in our motorhome. But I don't mind wearing muddy clothes then anyway!

Fucket · 18/02/2023 12:25

I’d adopt the baby elephant seal approach. Was once told that if one of them comes at you in an inquisitive manner, simultaneously stamp your foot, clap your hand and shout no at it. Amazingly the seals get the message you’re not up for playing. Same works with excitable little
dogs who want to play/jump on you.

HangerLaneGyratorySystem · 18/02/2023 12:26

How is this ever acceptable? I keep my dog on a lead unless I can guarantee recall. End of. Those dogs would be considered out of control - it only needs to cause fear not actual injury to be considered out of control in law. The owner was an entitled fuckwit but judging by the answers on here is in good company 🤔

My dog did this once and only once, he ran towards a child, didn’t even touch him
but the child fell over, wasn’t hurt but the parent wanted to involve the police. I was talking about it at work the next day and people were horrified- at me. I honestly thought I’d lose my dog, so he’s never been put in that position again. Always on the lead or in a private/enclosed space. You have to have immediate recall on your dog and if you don’t YOU are the problem.

MrsSkylerWhite · 18/02/2023 12:26

HideTheCroissants · Today 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“

You’ve gone on a country holiday (in the UK) in February to a cottage with no washing machine and just two pairs of trousers and would be very annoyed if you got them muddy? Tad unrealistic?

diddl · 18/02/2023 12:27

I was until recently a dog owner & just because I was out with my dog & not wearing my best clothes it still didn't mean I wanted to get mud on them & have to change or do a "spot clean"!

MrsSkylerWhite · 18/02/2023 12:27

(In the UK?)

ChocolateyBiccy · 18/02/2023 12:29

I've had a brand new t-shirt ruined by a dog jumping up at me in the local park, I've washed the t-shirt several times and used stain remover and you can still see the marks. I was taking DC to the playground which is in the park (no other playgrounds nearby) so basically impossible to avoid dogs my DC wants to use the playground.

As much as I like dogs, it is highly annoying.

FlissyPaps · 18/02/2023 12:29

Blip · 18/02/2023 11:48

I'm tempted to unleash verbally to try to incentivise owners not to do this.

I’d be careful, because some people may react and unleash physically at verbal attacks.

Namechange456782 · 18/02/2023 12:30

There’s no way anyone should have to reasonably think about wearing “easily washable clothes” walking through a city park.

Literally just train your dog not to run up to strangers and jump on them?! That’s your responsibility as a dog owner, surely. And if you can’t do that then you keep them on a lead. There’s a city park near me where avoiding it would be a fairly big detour from getting to my boyfriend’s house. It’s insane to suggest that anyone going through that should be wearing clothes they don’t mind getting muddy. That’s absolutely peak entitled dog owner attitude.

Also, no one knows whether a dog is friendly or not and some people are scared of dogs. Children can be upset by random dogs jumping up at them. I can’t see a situation where thinking this is fine is reasonable.

Crumpetdisappointment · 18/02/2023 12:31

the dogs of course shouldnt have jumped,
the owner of course should have apologised.

Doje · 18/02/2023 12:32

As a dog owner that is mostly muddy these days (ironically because of other people's dogs jumping up at me!) I'd not be bothered and give the dog a good butt scratch.

However, the dog owner was out of order to allow their dog to jump up and to not apologise. DS2 loves dogs but became terrified of them for about 6 months after one jumped at him. It's not ok for dogs to do this or dog owners to allow it.

Next time, nice and firm voice, hand out and say 'No' and then firm but friendly 'sit' will probably help. Then go over and trip up the owner. 😉

niugboo · 18/02/2023 12:35

I kick dogs who do this.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/02/2023 12:35

How do you shout at someone without being aggressive?

blacktreacles · 18/02/2023 12:35

Ugh I’m with you. I live very close to a park, and have to walk through the park when I’m going into town, therefore I’m not often in outdoorsy clothes but smarter clothes that sometimes require dry cleaning.

I’ve only had it happen to me once, but I really don’t like dogs jumping up at all, due to the mud but also I’m very asthmatic and dogs fit can really set that off.

I do think dog owners could be more conscious that not everyone wants to interact with their dog, and parks are not just for dogs.

sidesplittinglol · 18/02/2023 12:35

I bet those who are saying they'd do nothing etc and just move on are the very people OP are talking about DaffodilHmm