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

Typical entitled victim blaming. My DH doesn't like dogs. It's because he was bitten by one as a child - same kind of crap spoken by the owner - "he's never done it before", "you shouldn't have shouted" etc etc. It's about time that irresponsible dog owners were taken to task when they can't be bothered to train their dogs yet still think it's OK to let them off the lead in public places.

Love it - I'll have to try that.

It’s becoming an increasing issue for my partially sighted relative. People letting their dogs run up close to someone who can’t see them. My relative was shouted and sworn at by a dog owner in her local park after she accidentally kicked a dog who ran at her - she’s severely visually impaired and unable to see a small dog at knee height.

I fully agree that people who don't have incidents don't post obviously. People who have an incident are more likely to post.

But my point is I'm out with the dog every single day in the park sometimes twice a day so you'd think I would be more likely rather than less likely to see out of control dogs jumping all over people.
Do i believe it happens? Yes of course. I'm not saying all dogs are perfect. Do i think they're exaggerating? Yes absolutely i do.

I love dogs and have 2, unfortunately other owners give some of us a bad name with badly controlled dogs

Bit fed up of runners and cycalists suddenly turning up behind me with no warning though as I'm gard of hearing and often have very little time to call them back to me especially on narrow walking paths

Like a car park and a beach? 🤨

My dog is also very friendly loves people. He never just runs up to people and jumps on them because he’s well trained and well behaved.

This is why my two dogs are kept on lead except in a secure field. I can’t risk them jumping up someone and potentially knocking them over, it’s not worth it. Plus not everyone is a dog lover.

I am a dog owner and this lazy and entitled attitude infuriates me and gives the rest of us a bad name. And my experience of owning rescue dogs, some quite damaged, due to shitty humans, often those who claim their dogs are friendly and don’t give others a choice are the red flag owners!

The last paragraph lets you down here. I have a fear of dogs from a traumatic attack when I was a small child. How do I know your dog is a well trained one? They don’t wear badges saying they’re well trained do they? (Same reason why all men should be kept out of women’s single sex spaces).

All I ask is that your decision to get a dog has zero impact on my life. That means keeping your dog under close control at all times and well away from me. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. And on a lead when on a footpath. People who don’t like dogs have as much right to use public spaces as anyone else.

And yes I’ve tried many, many forms of therapy, none of which has made any difference. And yes I’m fine with dogs I know well and can trust. One of my good friends got a dog, we went on a walk and she’d made no effort to train it and it jumped on everyone. In a non-aggressive manner but its paws were caked in mud. It was so appalling we just don’t really talk much any more. I cannot in all conscience be friendly with such a huge dickhead.

Well don’t let them off lead on narrow paths obviously! This is a YOU problem. You are the issue. Runners and cyclists are allowed to use paths without being impeded by your dog.

I'm amazed that you think total strangers would want to be greeted by your dog.

I was going to say this, it was hammered home to us at puppy classes. Also it is basic etiquette but sadly a fair few dog owners seem unaware of this or just don’t care.

We have very high energy dogs who have to be allowed to be off lead sometimes otherwise that energy can turn into bad behaviour. They’re extremely well trained but, of course, they’re dogs and not perfect. We live by the beach so walk them there regularly and have had lots of issues with other dog owners who let their dogs harass ours and for some crazy reason people always seem to prefer the bit of beach where dogs are allowed to the bit they aren’t then complain when a dog runs up to them! The other issue we have had though is parents who will allow their toddlers to approach our dogs when they’re on their lead. They have no idea if they’re friendly - luckily they are - but we’ve had a couple of toddlers hit our dogs. What would happen then if the dog retaliated?

We do take them in to cafes/pubs etc too and can hand on heart say our dogs are usually better behaved than most of the kids in there. They sit by us watching what’s going on but don’t make any noise or fuss and don’t leave any mess behind them!

This is such an ignorant post. People may be allergic to your dog. People may be mobile but have joint pain or conditions which mean they can’t move easily or are painful. People should be able to walk around without being jumped on.

I've 3 rescue dogs and the younger two don't go off lead in busy public places because they are really sociable. Middle dog has good recall and will come back, but puppy doesn't yet. I'm also aware they're big and might seem scary running at full pelt towards someone. The older one doesn't really bother with other people or dogs much, just wants his ball. YANBU not to want random dogs running up to you.

I do think dog owners and non dog people need to be a bit more understanding and give each other a bit more grace. It's not unreasonable to expect dogs to be under control, but absolute perfection isn't always possible. Animals aren't people and aren't always 100% predictable, and even responsible owners can have lapses or a dog may respond in an unexpected way to something. Likewise, it's not reasonable to expect that everyone will love your dog and dog owners should respect that.

Dogs also have to be trained in real life situations. People often want to come and pet our rescue pup, but I always explain that we are training him not to jump up and please don't pet him until I've got him in a sit and calm. So many people don't listen and go pet him straight up anyway and then he jumps up. I've then had people moan that he isn't well trained, and I'm there just thinking I literally just told you he is being trained and you did the very thing I said not to, and you've actually reinforced the very behaviour I am trying to train him not to do!

Not unreasonable at all. It terrifies me as a parent too, that there are dog owners with no control of their dogs, no recall, no general awareness. I come from a family where we’ve had multiple dogs at all time, so I’m not anti dog.

I LOATHE people who own dogs that have the capacity to inflict life changing injuries on my child, who walk them while on their phone, with no awareness that the dog is leading them (pulling on the lead), on alert mode etc. such a person could not prevent their dog attacking a small child (which dogs can regard as threats and unpredictable).

when I have had my baby in the baby carrier, I’ve even had a strong bite force kind of dog lurch toward me, forcing me into a busy road (!) to escape it while the owner did …. nothing.

A few days ago, a man was walking his mastiff, at school pick up time, the dog tried to attack a little Pomeranian. The dog was in front of the man, significantly stronger than he was too. There’s no way he could hold it back if it wanted to pull away completely. I had to duck into an alley with my baby and toddler who were about to come 1-2 feet away from the dog.

When I turned back to check the dog had gone, I saw the man putting the muzzle on it ?! which he surely should have done BEFORE he left the house at school pick up time.

Our dog is a utility dog/ sled dog so needs loads of exercise, off leash running and ferreting around so DH tends to walk heras her as he has the best recall and can chase her if she’s being selective in her hearing! She’s pretty good and only runs up to people who seem interested in her (she’s a stunning dog so gets a lot of attention) I however can’t catch her so tend to keep her on a lead or take her to a dog paddock of DH is away.
I do feel there should be more dog areas where people who don’t want tone bothered by friendly dogs can avoid … unfriendly dogs should bee on a lead or muzzled IMO

Dog owner here. You do not let your dog off unless they have perfect recall. End of.

Responsible dog owners with well trained dogs don’t let them run up to people or jump on them. If your dog doesn’t have reliable recall, it should be on a lead or long line. This is as much for their safety as other people’s. It’s not acceptable for them to be running ahead out of your sight/recall in public spaces. It doesn’t matter if there are lots of dogs around or if they are friendly. They could end up approaching a reactive dog on a lead or someone who is frightened of dogs or worse, capable of giving them a kick if they approach them (not saying op would do this, but I have seen it happen).

“Insist on going places where there are lots of dogs”

This is stunning!

I have to walk every day as I am rehabilitating an injury. It is impossible to describe how vulnerable you feel about a huge dog jumping up on you.

Dogs are, since Covid - everywhere! They’re so intrusive. I met up with an old friend recently and she brought her lab with her to the pub (!) it was bashing into my legs the whole time and when we were walking he had a piss on every building. It was horrendous but they’re not strict because he’s obviously “their baby”. We have neighbours whose tiny dog ysps constantly which is grim. Another lovely friend has a huge lab who she can’t control so I can’t walk with her; the psychology is so evidently self indulgent and the rest of us have no choice but to just avoid those people now or see them where they won’t bring the dog - I wonder where that could be? hospital? An operating room? A church? A five star restaurant? Give me strength for these people with their “PUPS” they are not pups for long.

Having a large dog who is ever out of control is like driving drunk ‘just this once’ an out of control dog is a weapon and should be treated like that & never ever be off the lead. If you can’t control a big dog it should immediately be removed from your care because you’re a menace to the community.

If you are allowing your dogs to run up to people then they need to be on a lead Or at an enclosed dog park.
People are allowed to walk wherever they want..

All dogs should be on a lead in public unless it is a designated dog area which is fenced off and contained.

One potential bit of good news on the way

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0dxzz0pzro

Yanbu op. We have always had dogs and currently have 2. I have noticed a change over the years and definitely worse since Covid.Dogs left to basically run riot,owners have zero control,dog mess everywhere,aggressive owners. Ours are walked now in an area where we can see all around us so know what/ who is coming.Fed up with dogs running up to ours when ours are on leads and their owners are nowhere in sight.

Of course people should be responsible for their dogs, just like their kids, the impact of their win behaviour etc but many people are selfish, thoughtless idiots so what can you do….

I do however wish people wouldn’t pet or encourage my dog though, really unravels the training when people are patting their legs to get her to come over and be fussed when you are teaching them not to do that.