AIBU to think dog owners should actually be responsible for their dogs in public spaces?

[Dilemma87]

I’ve had a couple of situations recently that have really annoyed me.

First one I was out running along the beach and a dog coming in the opposite direction suddenly ran straight at me and jumped up. I had to shout several times to find the owner, who was on the other side of a wall and couldn’t even see their dog.

Then today in an estuary car park, two dogs came flying towards me. I shouted to the owner that I’m scared of dogs and asked him to call them back. His response was to tell me to “go to therapy” because there are “plenty of dogs around.”

I don’t have an issue with dogs being in these places at all. Plenty of owners have them on leads or keep them close and under control.

But surely if your dog is going to run up to strangers, jump up, or not respond to recall, it should be on a lead?

AIBU to think that’s just basic responsibility as a dog owner

My dog is very friendly and so does run up to people just to say hello. I am always amazed that people who would get upset by a friendly dog insist on going to places where there are lots of dogs.

Obviously but people are arseholes.

There are lots of dogs nearly everywhere now. I really feel for people with a fear of them.

How are people meant to know your dog is “only friendly”?

I don’t like dogs running up to me regardless of how friendly they are. It is your responsibility to stop your dog from doing this.

Why should people who don’t want dogs running up to them have to avoid certain places just because there might be dogs there?

I don’t give a toss that your dog is friendly - the naffest excuse ever
your dog is uncontrolled and unwanted

Goodness, what an areehole you are!

People have EVERY RIGHT to go about their business without YOUR dog going anywhere near them!

And just because there are lots of dogs - round here MOST are well trained and well behaved - why should I avoid going somewhere because one lazy person hasn’t trained their dog ?

That's beyond unreasonable! People should control their own dogs, you know, animals that they are legally responsible for. End of.

I've always had dogs and love them, but I keep them under control at all times. Other people's personal space does not belong to me or to my dogs. A dog walking past someone is fine, but dogs running right up to and jumping up at people is absolutely not on!

Ahh he's friendly, how lovely 🙄 I guess those of us who have developed a fear after being bitten or seeing our children attacked should just stay home.

People taking responsibility for their actions.

The OP is clearly deluded.

Everything is always somebody elses fault.

I’m amazed that some people can’t see an issue with a dog running up to someone just trying to get on with their day. Not everyone wants a dog running up to them.
And given that most places are now dog friendly, it can be difficult to avoid places where dogs are.
I’m a dog owner and I respect other people’s space.

Control your dog or put it on a lead. I’m a dog owner.

I don’t want your dog running to me to say hello.
I’m amazed people that get upset because someone doesn’t want to “say hello” to their uncontrolled animal.

What? Someone else’s dog running and jumping in her absolutely is someone else’s fault. What are you on about?

Why can’t people be in places AND owners control their dogs? Both are achievable.

How is allowing your dog to jump up at people ‘taking responsibility’?

So, that means we can't go to parks, woodland, cafes, shops? Your response sums up the tail wagging the dog.
What you think is 'friendly' is actually a pain in the arse to those of us who don't want uncontrolled animals jumping/slobbering over us.

Hey guess what? Lots of dogs are everywhere now. Try empathising with people who have a rational fear of dogs, are allergic or simply don’t like them.

It's the law to do so and if a dog jumps on another dog owner who is disabled or a toddler who doesn't have very good balance the dog could accidentally injure them knocking them down without meaning to because it wants a hug.

I take it you are new here ?

This thread will swing left to right, but eventually a "majority" will emerge that suggest that it's a dog owners burden to be surrounded by unthinking people who refuse to see how wonderful their mutt is.

Dogs kill people and these numbers have been increasing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_Kingdom

Dog attacks are rising in the UK - there were 31,920 dog attacks on people recorded in England and Wales in 2024 (and these are only the reported ones)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgvy2yyv8mo

Dog owners should be prosecuted every single time their dog hurts someone -when they run under a bike (personal experiences) - when they injure anyone in any way.

But.... fur babies

YANBU OP - I saw my younger sister be attacked by a Getman Shepherd when we were kids. It was totally unprovoked, it came running at her from nowhere and bit her on the stomach, she still has the scar.

I do love dogs but it must have affected me seeing it happen. I get a horrible flash of fear through my whole body whenever any dog off a lead is running towards me or I see one in the distance.

I've had a dog jump up at my back when running in the park, a dog jump up at me leaving muddy paw prints all over my clothes when I was just walking on the pavement near my home, been knocked clean off my feet by one running at me in a different park and last year my DP had her finger grazed and cut by a dogs teeth she had pushed away from her when it jumped up as we were walking on the beach - this was a pair of dogs who were off the lead with a man who just watched as they growled and ran at us. Each dog was off the lead and the owners are absolute selfish arseholes for allowing any of those incidents to happen.

Amazed that there are people who are phobic? People who are allergic? People who just don't like dogs? People who conclude that someone with 0 control over their dog and not enough empathy to realise they are not everybody may not be 100% reliable when assuring you the mutt is friendly?

Try to open your mind a bit, then.

I like dogs, when they're well behaved and not getting in my way. I despise ineffectual owners who just call feebly 'don't worry, he's friendly!' and then look like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle when I call back 'that's nice, but I'm not'.

Yes, this too. Pre-COVID, lots of cafes were dog-free zones. Now they all have to admit Fifi and Fido and no-one dares object if they're up on the bloody seats.