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 think the irresponsible dog owners will end up ruining things for everyone as I think increasingly places will be on lead only,

Depends onthe colour, fabric and wash ability - for wool or silk trousers, I’d be requesting the owner to cover the dry cleaning cost.

Yes, but it’s fun. Try it! Might brighten your day.

When my dog was a puppy he once peed on someone's leg at a bbq. I was mortified and apologised profusely luckily they laughter it off and didn't shout at me or kick my puppy.

This.

I've owned dogs in the past and I wouldn't have dreamt of letting them be a nuisance to others. MN does seem to have a lot of entitled dog owners though.

Of course they can.

People who can't control their dogs in public should be banned from owning dogs. In fact, ban dogs. That would solve the problem of feckless owners getting them anyway.

You chose to pick up the baby. The OP did not choose to have anything to do with the dog. Not the same thing at all.

@Lentilweaver I get that you embrace being covered in mud and want that for me too. I hope you take a regular full spectrum worming pill 😆

I would have a good look at the dog tag and threaten to report the owner.

Not likely to happen, pointless suggestion really.

I'd be so annoyed!
I was in a park last summer sat near a mum with her two toddlers having a snack out of a lunch box. A dog ran up and ate their food. I yelled at the dog owner while the mum dealt with her kids and she didn't care. She should have gone to the cafe to replace their snacks. No one wants a hangry toddler.

My dog wouldn't get the opportunity to do this. But it happens. I'd give the dog a huge fuss, tell the owner not to worry and then b*gger off and go about my day. Mud generally isn't a harmful/smelly/noxious substance.

Who would you report them to?

I have one jumpy dog and unless on our own he stays on a leash. My other dog would never jump on anyone and has excellent recall so can go off lead.
But I'm in two minds about this. If walking in a park or forest you should expect to get dirt on you. But you should also expect people to control their dogs. So I wouldn't be wearing nice trousers on a walk. And I'd anticipate that there may well be a dog that might get dirt on me. I'd be annoyed, but would just get on with it snd not have it take up much head space.

To be fair though, to some people ME getting muddy on a walk is a minor inconvenience compared to getting to say hello to a nice doggy. Unless I was particularly keen on remaining pristine (wouldn't be in a park if I were).

I would always be guided by the owner though, and generally wait until doggo has stopped jumping BEFORE I clap it. But the dog WILL be getting clapped because I really like dogs.

I worry about my lab doing this as she’s so excitable. I will continue to work on her recall (which is good) and put her on the lead if kids are around, as I’d hate her to scare a child. I’ve had dogs cover me in mud- I really don’t care- they were just having a good day out.

Toe punt the dog into a tree

I agree dogs owners shouldn't allow this and should apologise properly. However on the very rare occasion it's happened to me I've said not to worry and carried on my day giving it no more thought.

@Wrongsideofpennines you are so right. I am a dog owner and I can't stand the idiots I come across who can't control their dogs and think they should be allowed to run wild with no recall and annoy other dogs, people, sheep and horses. Their lack of self-awareness and selfishness is astounding sometimes. I frequently have to ask other owners to call their dogs back and often they have no control whatsoever. This thread is so typically MN where all the posters who seem to live in a parallel universe where everyone just loves jumping dogs just ignore the posts that talk about old people and children being traumatised by the 'harmless' behaviour.

Gosh, you seem terribly sour and obsessive about a simple everyday event.

Waiting for an update on how kicking the dog, demanding dry cleaning expenses from the owner or getting aggressive works out for you. I am guessing: not well.

I love dogs, I grew up with them. But I can't stand some owners.
It's reasonable to be hacked off with bad owners who should not be in charge of an animal.
Just down the road from me a dog walker died because at least one of a bunch of lovable family pets got over-excited bit her in the neck and she bled out. Out of control dogs are dangerous.

🤣 you are on a dog- related thread!

This wins the prize for the most passive aggressive post on MN this morning.

I'm pretty shocked by how many people think this is OK.

I wasn't pro on lead only restrictions until I posted this thread but now I think it's a very sensible idea. Sad for the dogs and for the responsible owners but this must surely be the direction we are headed in now.

Butchyrestingface "To be fair though, to some people ME getting muddy on a walk is a minor inconvenience compared to getting to say hello to a nice doggy. Unless I was particularly keen on remaining pristine (wouldn't be in a park if I were)."

I couldn't agree more. To me, there's nothing more "cheer-upping" than meeting a dog. 😊