Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to jog in a dogs off lead zone but not have them follow me?

80 replies

FieldJogger · 28/08/2023 08:38

sorry another dog one, see quite a few lately. i like to jog daily in a nature reserve trail and it is a dogs off lead zone between certain points, which is fine and i do like dogs. the issue i have is a lot of them run with me sniffing etc and some don't even attempt to call them away, some do and they don't listen etc etc

a man called out this morning to ask me to stop so his dog would stop chasing and this has i admit never happened in the times i have been but i did and i told him that im entitled to run and if his dog cant be called away he should be on a lead and he got annoyed telling me to "not jog in a fucking dogs off lead zone". i then just continued and his dog kept following but soon stopped and turned around.

who is actually wrong here?

OP posts:
EinyLinky · 28/08/2023 08:39

I think you're both entitled to be there and I can understand you don't want dogs following you, but I'd try to just ignore that, most dogs do stop and turn back to their owners. Asking you to stop so their dog doesn't follow is ridiculous, as yes, in an ideal world the dog should be recalled back

CattingAbout · 28/08/2023 08:42

I think you're both a bit wrong tbh.

Dog owner shouldn't be asking you to stop running

You shouldn't be telling dog owner that their dog should be on a lead inside an off-lead zone.

TakeBackTheCity · 28/08/2023 08:49

You're entitled to be running there, and the dog is entitled to be off lead.

The issue is the dog following you. So this is the dog owner's problem, not yours! He should have his dog better trained.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 28/08/2023 08:58

The dog should only be off the lead if it's under the owners control - it doesn't matter that it's in an "off lead zone".

If the man can't call his dog back and stop it being a pest then it should be kept on the lead.

PinkFootstool · 28/08/2023 09:01

Dogs gonna dog. It's an off lead zone. Dogs follow things that move, especially at speed. It's innate.

Yes an owner should.be able to recalled a dog, but be realistic - what they "should" be able to do and reality rarely meet in the middle.

In the scenario of a dog chasing you as you run, you are the one with the control, so maybe just stop next time?

And tbh, I wouldn't want to go jogging in a dog walking area, find somewhere you won't be bothered by others.

yogasaurus · 28/08/2023 09:03

You shouldn't be telling dog owner that their dog should be on a lead inside an off-lead zone.

Dogs should only be off the lead if they can be recalled and won’t chase others. I’m a dog owner.

LongLiveGoblingKing · 28/08/2023 09:03

Why are you bothered that dogs follow you for a bit?

ruby1957 · 28/08/2023 09:05

It is always a bit confusing where dogs are allowed on/off lead and the result is no-one quite knows what is allowed so anything goes.
It is the same situation with 'dog-friendly' sections on beaches - yes dogs are allowed/permitted not that they have more rights than people.

Go in many parks - dogs are offlead in spite of a notice saying they must be kept on lead.

I have never heard of a dogs off lead zone - I would find it odd if a path used by walkers/runners would run through the middle of such an area unless it is an equality bit - yes dogs off lead but it is not for them exclusively.

The dog owner was ridiculous to react that way.

IfYouDontAsk · 28/08/2023 09:06

Dogs gonna dog. It's an off lead zone. Dogs follow things that move, especially at speed. It's innate.

Yes, they do if they have lazy owners that don’t bother to train or control them. Dogs that don’t follow commands/have good recall shouldn’t be off lead in public places. It’s totally antisocial to allow a dog to bother people who are minding their own business. However, in my opinion there are a lot more incapable and/or lazy dog owners that there used to be 10 or 20 years ago so you see this sort of thing all the time now. Not sure what the answer is OP.

BibbleandSqwauk · 28/08/2023 09:07

@LongLiveGoblingKing my partner was tripped up by a dog off lead when he was jogging. Caused an injury that ruined an overseas event he'd been training for for over a year. Maybe that's why she's bothered? Also, given that many people ignore the idea that dogs should be on leads in most places, it likely won't make much difference if the OP chooses somewhere else to run.

Clefable · 28/08/2023 09:08

An off-lead zone doesn't mean that you keep your dog off the lead no matter their behaviour. It means that well-behaved dogs with good recall can go off the lead. If your dog is not one of those you keep it on the lead or at the very least put it back on the lead when you see someone appear. My dog isn't a chaser and has excellent recall but I would still put her back on the lead in an off-lead section for various things for her safety as well as others (so young children on foot, for example, she wouldn't be interested but I understand parents might be anxious so I put her on the lead until we pass).

So YANBU, OP.

Clefable · 28/08/2023 09:10

(And if you can't be arsed to train your dog or have a breed that can't be off-lead safely then that's on you to manage, not other people. No one's dog should be chasing people, and actually you could get into trouble for this if the person feels their safety is threatened as well as risk harm to your dog if you can't control them).

gogomoto · 28/08/2023 09:11

Ok both a bit wrong depending on arrangements ... the dog should be coming when called end of, but if there's a small section dogs can be off, why not just avoid it? I'm a dog owner constantly frustrated by how poorly people train their dogs though so I completely agree about lack of recall. Also my dog doesn't follow joggers, bikes or people in general, not even picnics, he's a ball obsessed boy

IfYouDontAsk · 28/08/2023 09:15

I wish all dog owners were like you @Clefable !!

ILikeThem · 28/08/2023 09:25

YANBU - he can have his dog off lead, but his dog's lack of recall isn't your problem, it's his. Next time ignore him and carry on jogging, he'll just have to pick up the pace a bit to get his dog back!

They should really clarify on the signs that being off lead in a shared public space where there will be joggers and cyclists means your dog needs excellent recall, because they shouldn't be interfering with their use of the space anymore than the dogs owners. You're definitely not unreasonable to be annoyed at dog owners not calling their dogs back or allowing a dog with poor recall off a lead where you're jogging.

Velvian · 28/08/2023 09:39

Dogs have to be under control at all times, including in off lead areas. If your dog is going to chase people, even in an off lead areas. YANBU.

Mischance · 28/08/2023 09:40

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 28/08/2023 08:58

The dog should only be off the lead if it's under the owners control - it doesn't matter that it's in an "off lead zone".

If the man can't call his dog back and stop it being a pest then it should be kept on the lead.

This. YANBU

mondaytosunday · 28/08/2023 09:42

One of my dogs has very selective hearing and not brilliant recall if there's something that interests him. He is not let off the lead unless I'm sure of who's around. All but one of the parks here you can let dogs off - but if you can't be sure of your dog you shouldn't. What if it's a little toddler running around? A dog chasing them could be quite scary.

Auntiedear · 28/08/2023 09:45

Yes ideally the man should have been able to recall his dog but sometimes things don't go according to plan! A bit of flexibility on both sides would probably have avoided this situation.

Dogs only develop good recall through training and the training process will inherently involve slip ups.

Of course, if he was in an area that required having a dog under close control (such as near livestock) then the owner would have been unreasonable.

karmakameleon · 28/08/2023 09:46

PinkFootstool · 28/08/2023 09:01

Dogs gonna dog. It's an off lead zone. Dogs follow things that move, especially at speed. It's innate.

Yes an owner should.be able to recalled a dog, but be realistic - what they "should" be able to do and reality rarely meet in the middle.

In the scenario of a dog chasing you as you run, you are the one with the control, so maybe just stop next time?

And tbh, I wouldn't want to go jogging in a dog walking area, find somewhere you won't be bothered by others.

Yes an owner should.be able to recalled a dog, but be realistic - what they "should" be able to do and reality rarely meet in the middle.

Seems pretty obvious to me what the dog owner should do. Maybe keep their dog on a lead if their dog isn’t properly trained.

karmakameleon · 28/08/2023 09:48

Auntiedear · 28/08/2023 09:45

Yes ideally the man should have been able to recall his dog but sometimes things don't go according to plan! A bit of flexibility on both sides would probably have avoided this situation.

Dogs only develop good recall through training and the training process will inherently involve slip ups.

Of course, if he was in an area that required having a dog under close control (such as near livestock) then the owner would have been unreasonable.

Dogs only develop good recall through training and the training process will inherently involve slip ups.

From the OP’s post it doesn’t sound like this is an owner who is trying to train his dog and there was a slip up.

Thelnebriati · 28/08/2023 09:49

You should be able to jog safely; but the reality is some people are arseholes, and sometimes dogs act up. So go for a jog but accept there are other people around.

KimberleyClark · 28/08/2023 09:49

I love dogs and am not in any way anti dog, but I don’t think there should be any off lead areas in nature conservancy areas.

ErrolTheDragon · 28/08/2023 09:49

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 28/08/2023 08:58

The dog should only be off the lead if it's under the owners control - it doesn't matter that it's in an "off lead zone".

If the man can't call his dog back and stop it being a pest then it should be kept on the lead.

Yes - I've owned dogs and love them, but the onus is always on the owner to ensure they're under control. If you can't do it effectively off-lead then they need to be on-lead.

SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth · 28/08/2023 10:00

I'm another with a dog that would probably follow you and not come back when called.

So I probably would not take him there.

Also, I probably wouldn't run there because some dogs might follow me...