Dog running over to me, toddler and pram

[OliviaH2]

I was out walking this morning with my toddler and I also had my baby in the pram, when I saw a very large German Shepherd spot us and bolt over to us. I immediately panicked because of the way it was running over, I knew it was coming towards us.
I shouted “get your dog on a lead” and grabbed my toddler.
The owner shouted back “no I’m not he’s friendly” I shouted get your dog, by that point it had just reached us and sort of jumped and pound it’s paw on the ground. I again shouted “get your dog and put it on a lead” and the guy refused, I said “you don’t know who has a fear of dogs and it’s so irresponsible” but he continued to argue back not doing anything but walking in the other direction, the dog then followed him but he just continued shouting “you don’t have a fear of dogs do you”

I was so shaken up after this!
I’ve had dogs growing up and always thought you put them on a lead when near people. Isn’t this just common knowledge? He argued back so confidently that it isn’t his problem, just wondering what people’s thoughts are on this? I wish there was a way of reporting him?

I agree it can be very scary when you have a toddler/baby and it's a big dog running towards you, I think it was irresponsible of him not to put the dog on a lead near small children. I don't know what you would report him for though as the dog didn't do anything and it's not illegal to be a selfish, entitled owner.

What are you going to report him for? Being an ignorant man who has no problem putting a woman in their place? The police wouldn’t have time for all the complaints

It’s rubbish and I wouldn’t be happy with it, but he’s not doing anything illegal that you can report for

Report to the police in case it happens again or has happened before. The owner is irresponsible.

Very irresponsible dog owner.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I would be really upset. Unfortunately I can't take my toddler for a walk on nearby council owned land (mix of woods and a couple of green spaces) due to the number of dogs who run over and jump up. Although the signs say dogs should be on leads , none pays any attention. I've been covered in muddy paw prints and still told "he's just being friendly".
Dog owners really do not care.

Take your toddler somewhere that isn't being used as a dog walk?

Not all dog owners are the same so you can miss me with that shite.

I agree dog should have been leashed and when walking my dog, I hate other dogs coming up to her and the owner saying "it's ok he/she is friendly" I don't give a shit, your dog should be on a leash FFS .

But the dog literally did nothing wrong. I'm.not sure what you'd report the owner for. Or is just that a dog exists in the same space as you and your children?

What a dickhead and I have dogs. We avoid any places where would be kids.

I can’t see what you could report him for, the dog was well behaved and didn’t do anything to harm you, he was right and the dog was friendly, and left when he told it to. The owner was a total arsehole but there’s no reporting system for that sadly

Agreed. It’s a non event really, it sounds like the dog has a decent recall. It shouldn’t have been allowed to run up like that, but in this case the OP wasn’t harmed and seems more concerned about what might have happened rather than what did actually happen.

Unfortunately there’s just awful people about who shouldn’t own dogs. Having a big dog like GS makes him feel like a big man.
Dogs will usually back off if you hiss at them. Long, slow hiss.

That is stupid advice. Hissing at random dogs you don’t no could be dangerous, or some may mistake it for play and jump up. Either way this dog didn’t require anything like that, it just needed the owner to call it back

The dog should have been recalled as soon as it started running towards the OP but some people arseholes dog owners or not.

What an idiot from all dogs owners who give a shit I apologise to you. I also have a German shepherd he also likes to charge up to people because of this he remains on a short lead and alongside until I deem otherwise. These are big strong powerful dogs who could easily cause harm even just being friendly 40kg of dog flying at you is ALOT and hurts when it uses you as a brake

I was walking with 8yo dd a few weekends ago. She's nd and was bitten by a small dog when she was 3 which she's never forgotten, so is anxious around dogs (we have gently encouraged her to face her fear, but she remains unconvinced at best and doesn't like their dirt, saliva, general boisterousness etc either). A dog came running up and she naturally scarpered. Dog owner looks perplexed "oh it's ok, he's perfectly friendly". I was very polite but forthright that he may well be, but my daughter is scared of dogs. I find that some dog owners can be quite entitled about things like this, and it does annoy me. Why does your dog's right to be off the lead trump my daughter's right to enjoy a walk without being jumped up at.

Report for what? Dog didn't do anything and went away when called. Its not illegal for them to be off lead or to approach people as long as they are not aggressive and can be easily recalled. Not something I'd let mine do but it's not illegal.

If you have a fear of dogs, you should address it, they aren't something you can really avoid without becoming a hermit.

Did the dog actually jump up at her? Hopefully the owner did put the dog on the lead when you asked

You can’t report him to the police for being a shitty dog owner, because unfortunately unless his dog harms you he’s not done anything illegal.
I was reading an article on the explosion in dog ownership and subsequent rocketing numbers of badly behaved dogs (and owners!) since the lockdowns when many people who had no idea about training or socialising a dog got puppies because they were ‘bored’ at home. But you were not at all unreasonable to expect him to control his dog and put it on lead when he saw it was distressing you.
I hate the whole “my dog is friendly” rubbish. I don’t fucking care if it’s friendly, I don’t know your dog so I don’t know that, do I? Anyway, if I see a dog charging towards me I don’t want it jumping on me whether it’s friendly or not. I don’t want to be forced to ‘make friends’ with your uncontrollable dog.

I would put my dog on a lead anytime I was requested to but tbh he wouldn’t run over to humans as he doesn’t like them !
for future ref best thing to do is stand still, stand your ground , stamp your foot & shout SIT as authoritatively as you can .
the man was unreasonable though , I wouldn’t take chances with strangers that something could happen and my dog would be in trouble , hear too many horror stories .

He's a twat and I say that as the owner of two gorgeous dogs.

But it's not worth your mental energy as there's really no-one to report him to.

As previous posters have said though, there’s nothing to report, as being a discourteous wanker isn’t illegal ,
mores the pity.

He's talking rubbish. He has a legal duty to keep his dog under control.

Report him to the police, using the online portal. Location, description of dog and its owner. Words used.

What a knob !!

I’m a dog lover and love GSD’s but totally agree - a dog should not be allowed to approach people in that manner, especially young children.

In the same circumstances though OP I would have tried to be overly calm and reassuring for the kids - it’s the reaction that can cause issues going forwards for the children even if you don’t intend to.

You sound very big dogisst. The way you reacted would really have annoyed me so I don't blame the man or the dog, your drama was way over the top.
He knew his dog you didn't so not only did you insult the pup but you insulted his knowledge of his dog, his decisions and you insulted his character too and called him irresponsible to boot!!! Wayy over the top. You owe him and his dog an apology, no wonder he was unhappy.

I bet you wouldn't have reacted that way I'd it was a small curly little dog who was probably much more likely to nip than a friendly Shepherd. 🙄😤😡

CPS Dangerous Dogs Act

Section 10(3) of the 1991 Act provides that a dog shall be regarded as dangerously out of control on any occasion on which there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person or assistance dog, whether or not it actually does so

So I interpret this as if a person has fear (apprehension) of an off-lead dog running toward them then the dog can be considered as out of control and therefore and offence has been committed.