Completely outrageous dog owner behaviour

[Onepeople]

Went for a walk this evening. We live by the sea and my walking route was along the sea front, popular with dog walkers. I am often bothered by dogs off their leads coming up and sniffing me, running round my ankles etc. I find it bloody annoying and inconsiderate really but, whatever.

Tonight though. Dog comes running up to me, leaps up and covers my trousers with his muddy paws. This annoys me and I tell the owner to control her animal. She gives the typical 'He's only saying hello!' response, which always makes me wonder whether I should go up to dog owners and slobber all over them as it's 'only saying hello' apparently. Anyway, the dog carries on jumping up at my so I kick out at it to make it go away.

Obviously in an ideal world I wouldnt have needed to do this. And I kicked out at it, rather than actually kicking it. I knew I wouldn't actually make contact.

Owner comes running up to me, suddenly showing a burst of speed she wasn't capable of when the dog was misbehaving. She screams 'Dont you dare kick my fucking dog!' then shoves me with two hands right in my chest. I almost lost my balance, but just about stayed upright before her friend dragged her away. I honestly thought she was going to punch me.

Not sure why I am writing this other than the fact that I am still a bit shocked and shaky.

I know that not all dog owners are like this, and that this woman seems to be particularly twatty. But God sometimes I hate them all. Bloody dogs and their bloody inconsiderate owners. Control your animals!

I mean you were both in the wrong.

She should have had her dog under control or atleast apologised and removed it from the situation swiftly by recall or grabbing it. She was also totally out of line assaulting you.
However you did escalate the situation by kicking 'out' at the dog.
If the dog wasn't hurting you then you could have turned away and folded your arms to disengage or walk away. I'm not condoning either of your behaviour on this one. She's a shitty dog owner but you were unkind to an animal that wasn't aware it was doing anything 'wrong'

I absolutely would have kicked the dog and when the owner shoved me I'd have shoved her straight back. I don't give a fuck if your dog is just saying hello. I don't want muddy fucking clothes because you can't keep your dog under control. If I walked up to someone and wiped mud on their trousers they'd rightly be fucking pissed. So why is it any different for a dog?

This isn’t a “both sides” situation. Unwanted dog invading the space of a human, clearly out of control. Human very mildly discourages it without actually making contact. Dog owner assaults this person.

Both the dog and the owner were out of control and badly behaved. I cannot see what @Onepeople has done wrong. Personally I’d be reporting the assault to the police.

I don't blame you OP untrained dogs are fucking annoying and the entitled owners are thick as pig shit. So what if it's not the "poor dogs" fault, I still hate the dogs.

This one post is proof that you should never really come to MN for advice.

If anyone round here did that they would be labelled the village weirdo tbh

Where are you in the UK OP where it's been wet enough lately for a dog to get muddy paws?

I've been walking the coast path this last few days - about 70 miles in total. After the last two weeks of warm dry weather the ground is baked like iron in this recent dry spell.

As I said on another dog thread owners have a strict liability therefore responsibility when it comes to their dogs behaviour both on and off a lead. The owner is 100% at fault for not having their dog under full control and you were not to know if the dog would become violent - although a future tip, kicking out at a dog can be perceived as violence by the dog and it could turns a docile dog into an attacking dog very quickly. You just never know.

The owner is a dickhead.

Dogs are so much nicer than people.

In a swamp where they manufacture goady posts and click bait.

Why what would you do?

my walking route was along the sea front

I believe the sea can be rather wet at times, under the right circumstances.

Just like a dog might instinctively greet another person by saying an unwanted hallo, a person can also act instinctively by kicking out. I'm extremely cautious around dogs after getting bitten by a dog when I was a kid, a dog jumping on/at me to say hallo, invariably causes my to react instinctively be it by a kick out, run away or shout. I know you're not supposed to do this around a dog but hey ho, it's me being frightened. Control your bloody dogs

Really? This is your question? I live in the north of Scotland. Also in the UK. We’ve had like 4 days of dry weather.

The UK being a lot bigger than 70 miles…

Op if this happens again, if you stick your knee out, dogs can't usually jump at you and it is a good deterrent which doesn't look like you are kicking at a dog so less confrontational perhaps.

I have 3 dogs and use this technique when other people's dogs jump at me. I'd be quite happy for someone to do this with my dogs (who don't typically jump up at people because they've been trained not to) as it won't hurt them but does stop them jumping.

I get what you're saying but my post was in response of a poster saying that you should SPIT ON THE OWNER

Not quite the same is it

Other dog owner is in the wrong. Their dog was out of control and they then assaulted you when you dealt with their problem dog.
You're also not out of order for kicking out at a dog.....
FWIW I was accused of kicking a dog when all I'd done was put my leg out as a block between it and my dog/children. Dog was off lead in an area that dogs should be on their leads. Fortunately owner didn't bother coming anywhere near me......

Ring the police - she’s assaulted you

Report local police. Owner has a dog in public uncontrolled. She has then assaulted you. Your friends is a witness.

Push her back. Hard.

Yanbu. I also live by the sea and so as a tourist resort is getting busier. My puppy is pretty big and is being taught to sit as other people/dogs go past on or off lead. He will jump all over people given the chance. If people ask to say hello I will warn them he may jump up as he's learning his manners. It's my job as a dog owner to keep him away from people who don't want him near them. It's a work in progress but I'm trying lol.

You're both wrong. I'd be mortified and apologetic if my dog did this to someone, however if I saw someone kick out at my dog I'd be livid!

Why the fuck should op tolerate a strange dog jumping up at her. I would be mortified if my dog did that. Some dog owners are so entitled and think everyone should love their little fur baby as much as they do. Well they don’t, some people have phobias of them and deserve to walk in peace without an out of control dog jumping at them.

She would have had a shove back from me and I don’t think yabu to kick out either.

Urm op she assaulted you? Call the police and report it. Entitled dog owner behaviour they need to fix the dangerous dogs act and make it a legal requirement to keep dogs on leads.

Kicking towards a dog you don't know is a risky business. I've known several dogs, mostly rescues, who are "foot shy", and will snap at a foot that comes in their direction. It's a foolish thing to do.

The owner was a twat though.