It's an off lead dog one.

[Maluki]

I walk my dog in the local park every day. There are sections where he is on lead and sections where I let him off. He is extremely used to people and dogs and generally very well behaved.

As we arrive at the park I always let him off lead and he does a poo. This is on a field area beside a path.

Today he did his poo in the field about 6 feet off the path as usual. I noticed a man in a suit approaching along the path. My dog then went back on to the path to wait for me and I leaned down to pick up the poo.

Very very unusually, my dog started to bark - he barked 4 or 5 times - and I saw he was now behind the man (who had walked past him). I was about to apologize, my dog almost never barks at people (he sometimes barks at really unusual things like a person wearing a sombrero or riding a tricycle, and this guy wasn't wearing anything unusual, except a slightly dishevelled suit on a Saturday morning). The man totally lost it at me. He started screaming that he had been bitten on the back of the leg by a dog, that my dog and dogs like him are aggressive and that it would bite my children and kill them (I didn't have my kids with me). He told me to get the dog away from him or he would kick it in the head. My dog is a bloody 10 lb cavapoo!

I appreciate that my dog should not have barked and that the man was triggered. If he had shouted to put it on a lead, before he walked past it, I would gladly have done so. My dog has excellent recall, and is completely reliable on the "wait" signal. He's actually a dream to get back on lead - but I hadn't called him over as there was no sign of what was about to happen. I do wonder if this man inadvertently spooked my dog or even kicked out at him in fear or something as it's so unusual for him to bark at people like that.

Aibu to think that the man, in his fear, may have inadvertently caused the dogs reaction? And that my dog behaved badly but it could have been avoided if the man had just called out for me to hold the dog?

Surreygirl, you do realize this is the poster who said the terrible thing to me, and is referring here to the fact that I swore at her in response, in my now deleted post?

Oh OP, for goodness sake. Yes I realise that. But I'm referring to her views about your dog, in relation to the post you made. Regardless of her comments on your child, I do agree with the point of hers I quoted. Her comments about your son doesn't mean that any of her other points are automatically void 🙄

Sorry OP, your dog looks sweet, but I'm with the man on this one.
After being bitten several times by neighbourhood dogs as a child, then being badly bitten by my own dog as a teenager, I was terrified of dogs for years. When walking, I'd look round the corner before I turned in case there was an off lead dog and would make a detour if I saw one from afar. I was constantly on edge. I would have absolutely shit myself if a dog barked at me like yours did.
I'm much better now and have a dog that I love. He's the second I've had and loved as an adult. I had to get over the fear before I passed it onto my children, because I didn't want them constantly scanning for dogs when out. It's an awful feeling.
My case might sounds extreme but it's more common than you'd think. Nobody would have guessed I had this fear, I'm not a nervous person. But for all the many thousands of dog bites that happen every year, there is a victim of them that has been impacted.
It's not fair on these people who are just trying to live their lives, to be barked out or approached by an off lead dog. So, his reaction seems OTT to you, but when you are terrified any reaction is

A good, sensible response. I fully agree.

Your dog was not under proper control, caused fear in a human being, and your response is to victim blame by saying that the scared man must have been giving off weird vibes

Yes, definitely some victim blaming going on here.

Lay off, @Apple. You have said enough.

I cannot believe not a single other poster on this thread has said you were in the wrong, and there are posters here saying the same thing that has been rehashed over and over in repeated posts from a single poster 10, 15 times.

I have been on mumsnet for 15 years and I am leaving now. Eviscerating other mothers for sport is not for me.

I agree, I think suggesting anything about your parenting because of the use of a d is ridiculous. OP I think you should leave Mumsnet - I've only been on 2 days and it seems super toxic. I think I'll leave too. I don't think any good will come of you continuing reading this thread OP. Just leave and know that you didn't deserve that man being aggressive to you in real life and you don't deserve the hate on this thread particularly relating to your child. Good luck x

Whomever started the off lead craze needs a kick up the back side.

So many have zero awareness or thought for others.

Even OP, you absolutely think you're in the right. You think it's the man's responsibility to ask you to recall your dog or put it on it's lead. That you'll do what you want until a law tells you different.

He's probably sick and tired of being bothered by "friendly" dogs every time he walks along the footpath. Barking, being followed or chased, sniffed, licked, snapped at.

Eventually there will be laws requiring all dogs to be on lead.

I know where I'm from quite a few parks have banned dogs on trails and some parks have banned them all together.

Fucking hell what is actually wrong with you. What a load of nasty poison.

It is ridiculous. Dog threads always bring out the fanatics though.

What 'off lead craze'...

Dogs have been off lead for a variety of reasons since... before dogs were even dogs.

The more modern 'craze' is believing dogs should tolerate without any reaction, anything humans do, up to and including causing them fear and pain.

Particularly odd given we have laws about animal welfare that includes their need to:

"exhibit normal behaviour patterns"

and

"to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease."

Parks ARE designated dog exercise areas.

There are also areas where dogs are excluded and areas where dogs are permitted but only on lead. If a dog is off lead in an on lead area or present in a dog free area, you have a point, but parks are paid for by everybody.

Possibly his behaviour caused your dog to start barking but as soon as you realised he was barking at someone, you should have recalled him, not left him there barking

Some people are upset by the existence of dogs.

If someone is traumatised by a cocapoo barking at them a few times from several feet away, I would suggest it is them and not OP who needs to change.

I mean seriously. What have we become?

This.

@Baaaaaa some people really are scared of dogs. Many can’t tell the difference between excited barking and can’t wait to bite barking. Surely the best thing us dog owners can do is ensure our dogs don’t cause upset?

Didn't have time before he started yelling. Was about to.

Didn't have time before he started yelling. Was about to.

🙄

I have been on mumsnet for 15 years and I am leaving now.

I thought you'd left mumsnet...?! But you're back and still posting...?

but parks are paid for by everybody.

Parks are paid for by people. Not dogs.

The earth is for every creature including you.

Dogs are allowed off the lead in this country. Got a problem...move country. Dogs need to run, there are many no dogs allowed areas.

Man only reacted this way because you're a woman alone. Typical coward

NOOOOO, people who don’t want dogs approaching them shouldn’t have to politely ask that the owners be responsible. What is up with all these irresponsible selfish dog owners lately

It’s not being off the lead that’s the issue it’s the fact it’s not under control
that’s why people get pissed off with Dogs so want them on a lead
because we can’t rely on dogs being controlled or trained a big chunk of people want the default to be dogs in lead

I commute on a joint user path and at least 2 if not 3 times a week I have issues with off the lead dogs
I will and do shout at any dog owner male or female and have no issue with launching any dog that comes near me

the whole issue is untrained and uncontrolled dog coupled with precious dog owners who thinks everyone doesn’t mind there dog wondering up to them

people shouldn’t have to move countries dog owners should train and control dogs and not be entitled arseholes about it

unsure how you have worked out he only did it because she was a woman
men do confront men as well

Yes! Isn't it wonderful.
I was just waiting to permanently delete to find out the results of my reporting of a certain poster...and then mnhq emailed to say they had not only deleted the posts, but also banned that poster.

So I didn't need to leave as they were made to.

Is that ok with you?

You have posted 13 times on this thread now. I think I understand your POV 😚

No, I think you have read her point of view. You're showing little sign of having understood it. Or you would be accepting that it is the responsibility of the dog owner to keep their dog under control at all times, and no scaring passers by.