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?

Reporting what though?!?!

Please explain what crime has been committed (because that is the only reason you should be ringing the police).

It’s no entitled. He is a good puppy and will, most of the time, come back but he’s not perfect. He gets excited and loves and needs to run around. He gets off lead walks in the woods and most people we see say he’s very well trained. He is but some of the time he won’t come back as something else has got his attention more than me. He needs to learn and won’t do that by being on a lead constantly.

Of course it’s entitled! No one wants to be roped in as an unwilling participant in your dog’s training.

I don’t give a shit if he’s excited, you think it’s cute, no one else does.

Keep your dog away from other people.

I’ve had dogs growing up and always thought you put them on a lead when near people.

I must be much older than OP because nobody apologised when I was young because their dog came over to you. They do apologise now, almost obsessively. I love dogs & still find it weird that people apologise for their dog acting like a friendly dog.

I think the change started happening maybe... 15 yrs ago? Previously, people didn't usually assume that their pet was offensive to others.

There was a whole thread on here about family pet dogs taking selves for daily walks & people didn't even usually have leads for their dogs, before ... the 1980s? I'm thinking about the book DogsBody or the Lassie movie, Lad the dog books, Call of the Wild.... how the dogs in those stories like children of the 1960s/1970s were mostly out & about unsupervised. In olden days, only very precious type dogs were ever on leads. The dogs in 101 Dalmatians (1960s version) are partly on leads I suppose.

I've been out n about in lots of not-rich countries in last 15 months... plenty of random wandering dogs everywhere.

I am in no way “dogist” I have had dogs growing up and wish I had the time to have one myself.
I’m assuming you don’t have small children, as a dog bounding over at that speed and pouncing at the floor by them is frightening. No one ever truly knows their dog, anything could trigger a dog to react in a certain unexpected way.
It’s called having respect for those around you, and having control of your dog. He didn’t even call it back over when I politely asked him to.
I also have nothing against Shepherds, it could have been a small dog that did it and I would have reacted the same, it’s because of the aggressive/powerful way it ran at us.

Exactly this!! Some very ignorant replies on here🥲

It’s not entitled. He needs to learn and needs space to do that. The woods are a good place to do that. Most other people in there are also walking their dogs and if they aren’t I’m sure they expect to see a few dogs and know that they may come up to them.

I totally get where you’re coming from, but just to confirm that this dog didn’t come trotting over in a friendly manner. It saw us and ran at some speed before pouncing / jumping up and hitting its paws on the floor. He didn’t apologise, neither did he call it away. Could have been a totally different situation if he had handled it differently?

But.... this dog didn't do any of those things to you or your child?

I don’t have a phobia, I am a dog lover and as I said I have had dogs growing up, I wish that I had the time to be able to have a dog myself.
I think some readers are not getting the fact that the dog ran at some speed before pouncing at the floor, it was powerful and did not feel safe. The owner did not call the dog, it’s only until he got quite a distance that the dog then ran after him.

I am agreeing with what was said here around “dogs are friendly” and thinking it’s ok to let them run over, totally not ok

Totally with you OP.

There are some lovely walking fields near here and quite understandably people walk their dogs there, but I’m so sick of dogs running up to me. I had a scratch down my leg from one last week.

Too many irresponsible owners around.

FFS! Utterly ridiculous comment. An owner should not be letting any dog approach people uninvited. Absolutely appalling attitude.

She owes him nothing. Insult his dog. Ffs. 🙈

Thank you. That’s how dog owners should be, respectful and responsible. However, he was not recalled, he got some distance before the dog followed him. He refused to call the dog away or put it on a lead hence why I was so bothered

He didn’t call it at all, he refused to actually. It was only until he got some distance the dog decided to follow him. Yes I agree with you on that one!

Thank you!😂

DOGISST!!
Get a grip, your dog isn’t a protected characteristic.

Thank you! I’d just like to say I have nothing again bigger dogs, it was the way the dog ran at us with intent and speed. Exactly, thank you

what the dog owner did in this situation certainly is illegal. It’s illegal to have your dog attack people or have your dog act in such a way that a person fears they may be attacked. I’d let him know that next time.

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

This comment just sums up moronic selfish dog owners. The world revolves around their dog. They don’t give a shit about other people’s right to walk without being bothered.

That is what dog fields are intended for, surely? If your dog can’t be trusted not to approach other people, then they need to be kept on lead around strangers until trained.

People should be able to walk in woods without having to interact with dogs. The woods don’t belong to dogs and their owners.

Again put up and shut - Always best to report situations that you feel troubled by that, if happen again to you or anyone else could cause injury etc Just say if the dog can’t be recalled, or gets spooked by something. Dogs are strong animals.

I am a dog trainer & walker.

Out of order behaviour from the owner. Contact the local dog warden for further advice and raise an online 101 report for anti-social behaviour.

German Shepards are rarely handled by responsible owners in my experience. I avoid them like the plague unless in my puppy class or 1:1 sessions. With the right socialisation and training, they are wonderful dogs (I grew up with one) however they are strong, fast, agile dogs with a strong prey drive.

Many of my clients like to approach prams I assume they can smell food, or have been petted in the past. I discourage it even if the parent is smiling and relaxed.

I trained a Labrador years ago that snatched a sandwich from a toddlers hand. Dog is now mussled on every walk without exception.

If this happens again, stay calm and quiet and put your foot out to create distance between you and the dog. I do this with off-leash dogs approaching my dogs and I don’t kick the dog, just make space. Works every time.

No they don’t belong to dogs and their owners. Equally they don’t belong to people who don’t like dogs either. Thats what I’m saying. If you’re walking in the woods you kind of expect to encounter the odd dog and their owner as they are equally as entitled to be in the woods.

Exactly. There shouldn’t be public areas that are only for those who are happy to be bombarded by out of control dogs fgs. A dog is your lifestyle choice, not anyone else’s. No one else should be affected by your lifestyle choice.