To think that people should use their manners when I'm out walking my dog

[politenesspooch]

I've changed name for this due to the dog haters on here.

I walk my dog on lead of an early evening (he has a long off lead walk in the morning). I'm training him to walk properly by my side on a loose leash, but it's a work in progress and will take some time. He's a spaniel and very high energy, so I use lots of treats and encouragement. I've used and paid for a trainer to be able to do this correctly and I'm following her instruction and technique.

So why then do I have to contend with joggers, people on bikes and walkers coming up right behind me and my dog, spooking us both? Why don't they say "Excuse me!" because I would quite happily move to one side and make room for them?

Tonight it was a woman who exclaimed as she walked right up behind me and surprised both me and my dog and so my dog jumped towards her because he was taken by surprise?

AIBU to think people should just use some basic manners?

OP: "Why don't people say excuse me when they are walking up behind us?"
People behind OP doing what is requested: "Excuse us, sorry!"
OP: "Stop startling us!"

Did I summarize your post correctly?

@CakeInAJar

There has been plenty of the bargy type of joggers lately. They are definitely on the increase.

No but my deafness means I CANNOT hear you approach from behind @CakeInAJar

Runner here. If there isn't enough room on the path for me to pass you I'll slow down on approach and say excuse me.

If there's enough room for me to pass you safely, then I'll do it. If your dog jumps at me, then I'll be pissed off you don't have control.

Courtesy works both ways.

@Syndulla I could've written that myself!

I do agree with this (although missed the post telling you to bugger off to a field) but if we are generalising, dog walkers can be equally very self absorbed. Especially the kind that keep their dogs off the lead and let them bother people and other dogs, the ones who let their enormous dog knock over small children or jump at adults and using those horrible retractable leads which is just tripping hazard, and not using them properly

I think what we can conclude from this thread is that all people who use open spaces think all the other people who use it are twats.😂

You’re describing quite narrow paths in the countryside. You want the joggers to change their route every time they come across a dog on a country path? 🤯

i can understand your perspectives but for me if i can get past then i dont usually say excuse me, @politenesspooch

I’ve actually made zero comments about people not hearing others from behind so I’m wondering if you have mistaken me for another poster

I still wouldn’t expect your dog to jump at me if I did approach you from behind, even if you couldn’t hear me.

And I still wouldn’t expect to bellow ‘excuse me’ if there was plenty of room to move.

not everyone is as logical as yourself

She was squeezing past (I was actually picking something up off the ground I had dropped). My dog and I were surprised - traffic passing at the time so didn't hear her approach. My dog jumped towards her and she exclaimed as he did so. I'm not blaming her for exclaiming - she was surprised. I apologised and said I wasn't aware she was trying to pass us as I'd have moved him out of the way, got him to sit and focus on me for his reward so she could pass.

It got me thinking why people try and squeeze past others without saying excuse me, and particularly saying it if that person has a dog and not knowing how the dog will react.

Why aren’t you more aware of your surrounds for general safety? I always glance behind me at regular intervals when I’m out walking/running

I would certainly “exclaim” if a dog “jumped towards me”. Sounds like you should have apologised to the poor woman.

Ah so you weren’t moving?

Yeah it’s absolutely fine for her to have overtaken you.

Id shit myself if I was walking next to busy traffic and a dog jumped up at me.

But again - how is she supposed to know your dog reacts like that? Most dogs don’t - contrary to popular MN belief I do think most dogs are well behaved and well trained. I’d always assume it’s absolutely fine to pass a dog without giving a verbal warning. I think it’s a very reasonable expectation for anyone. That’s not dog hating.

I'm guessing you are walking slower than them so they pass you. It's normal I wouldn't expect a dog to jump up when I'm passing it. I have a dog, he doesn't jump up

Traffic passing means I don't always hear them, no. Sometimes I can be focused on what is ahead rather than behind (if another dog walker is approaching for example I might be planning what to do eg take a different route). Undoubtedly there are other times I might be thinking through an issue that happened at work - I'm only human after all! On the quieter side roads it's usually not an issue.

You have a dog it does not give you a free pass to think the world revolves around you, I am sure even you must realise before you had a dog there are people who don't use manners sometimes? It is not front pages news

The people are just walking along the path. That is what it is meant for. Most dogs don’t jump up when you go past. If your dog does react badly, then you are the one with the problem.

@BananaSquiggle

I for one don't think joggers should change their route but I know that plenty of people on here would have dog walkers simply walk their dogs in areas where dog haters don't want to go. Which rules out pretty much everywhere because there is nowhere in England where at least one dog hater doesn't want to go.

In fairness I’m a daydreamer, I can be walking in what I think is perfect solitude and don’t hear people behind me!

I usually try to stick to quieter roads but sometimes the main road (with it's traffic) is unavoidable to get back to my house!

@WandaWonder

Do you honestly think that the joggers who shove past people, the cyclists that whizz about at the speed of light without a care for themselves and the dog haters on here who have openly said that dog walkers shouldn't take their pets into an area where they other people are aren't also acting like the whole world revolves around them?

The Thing is @CakeInAJar I can't train him that you aren't something to fear if he doesn't experience you running near him. He's afraid because his experience tells him that he should be. But I need time and space to convince him, via the generous application of treats, that runners are awesome and not something he needs to worry about. It's a a catch 22 for him it doesn't help that he's a big scary breed whose a nervous wreak due to overbreeding, negative experiences and just being a guarding breed

I only say 'excuse me' if someone is in the way/too slow and I need to get past. I don't see why anyone would say anything so they don't spook other people.