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!

Didn’t realise I’d have to explain the obvious. 😂Because dogs can be and are dangerous. Hence the laws. Watch the news. I haven’t seen much in the news re toddlers killing people but maybe you have

Agree. This thread clearly demonstrates why so many dogs are out of control in this country due to thick owners.

You’re lucky you only got a shove. Dog owner was wrong but so were you.

owners need to accept that if they let their dogs run around off lead, other humans and dogs are not going to necessarily respond in the way the owner/dog wants, eg kicking it away with your feet.

it’s a FAFO moment IMHO.

you did nothing wrong.

2 wrongs don't make a right.

You’ve hit the nail on the head. She’s a stupid dog owner who one day might see her dog do the same with a toddler with potentially dreadful consequences!

Also all the comments “the right of the untrained dog > right of the human using the public space”

👀🙄🙄

Utterly unacceptable to kick a dog that didn’t know it was doing anything wrong and wasn’t causing you harm or distress.

If it had been harming you or doing anything threatening that would have been very different.

🤣😂

I don’t own a dog, and I probably wouldn’t kick one unless it was biting me, but I’m rather enjoying your posts and think if you don’t want to risk people kicking your dogs, pop them on a lead. Particularly if they have no recall 👍

The owner is lucky OP didn't do much more than shove her back. The dense bitch wouldn't have been so fortunate in many circumstances where she'd tried that.

Except it was causing her distress. She didn’t want to be jumped at. You’re assuming that the person being jumped on has no history with dogs biting them , no fear, and loves dogs.

not everyone loves dogs and the sooner that dog owners accept that the sooner dog behaviour and training will improve.

Yanbu op.
Hope you followed the owner home and shat on her lawn 😂

Then maybe stop doing the first wrong by controlling the dog. If OP marched up to a dog on a lead and kicked it this story would be entirely different.

If you read the OP it’s pretty clear the dog wasn’t scaring her just annoying her. And as I said, if she was genuinely scared it would be different.

It’s bloody stupid to kick a dog if you’re not in danger as it could make the dog unpredictable. You never know how a dog will react to unpredictable human aggression.

All OP had to do was threaten to kick the dog. That would have got the owners attention. No need to take such a foolish, and cruel, risk.

My dad instinctively kicked off a snappy little dog that lunged at my sisters face she was strapped into a buggy. They were in an enclosed space so he couldn’t move. He was met with outrage from the owner and shop keeper. He could not believe it!

I am an owner of a dick head (very reactive rescue) dog. We always keep him on a lead and under control. If my well behaved dog from years ago ever did something like that, I would control him and apologise. I'm also fed up of the idiot "my dog is friendly/saying hello" brigade. My dog isn't and if you don't come and get your dog and your dog gets hurt, it's on you not me. They soon change when my dog tries to defend himself or I threaten them with the dog warden for not being in control of an animal in a public space. And yes, I have kicked dogs before - mine and my dogs safety comes first. CONTROL YOUR DOGS!!!!

Completely agree with you

But people will be along in a minute to say "well I dont know it doesnt mean me harm it isnt my job to read dog body language etc etc"

Edited to reiterate as I have said many times - both people are wrong in this event. The owner and the kicker.

I'm a dog owner and you are not unreasonable at all @Onepeople!! Other dog owners drive me absolutely potty with their lack of pet control / common decency. My darling boy has been attacked by dogs who are "just wanting to say hello!" and "my dog is super friendly" but is snarling from ear to ear, and has zero recall; my little daughter was actually bitten last year by an off the lead dog who ran over to attack my dog (who was on a lead next to me) and my daughter put her hand out to protect our dog.

You did nothing wrong; hope you are OK and can continue to enjoy your seaside walks.

I’d have kicked the dog too - people saying it did nothing wrong and doesn’t deserve to be kicked think about that’s because you know how the incident turned out and the dog didn’t get aggressive in this instance - but jumping could be the start of aggressive behaviour and why should anyone take the chance of seeing how it turns out with an animal they don’t know.

if a dog jumps at me or my child I’m taking no chances. I don’t know your dog I don’t know you and I don’t trust either. It’s foolish to expect people to accept this.

some of the dog owners on here and people saying it’s wrong to kick a dog aren’t getting it - no one wants to kick a dog but dogs can be a very real threat and you have to see it from the perspective of someone who doesn’t know your dog!

Basically having a dog is quite a big responsibility and seems people don’t want to accept that.

It doesn’t matter. Replace OP with a child, or someone who does have that history or fear of dogs. You shouldn’t assume that everyone is ok with dogs and will respond in an “aww how cute they’re jumping at me” way. the woman who shoved her should have taken responsibly.

Kicking a dog is weird. And not likely to help.

ive never had a dog do this to me. Seems the kind of thing that only happens on Mumsnet.

And those people are completely correct.

your dog is not other people’s responsibility.

grow up and be accountable.

Walk me through why that response would be unreasonable?

Yes I was thinking the same thing. I would completely understand if someone kicked out at my dog if it was repeatedly jumping up at them, which I would never actually let happen in the first place.

I didn't kick the dog!

I kicked at the dog, knowing that my foot wouldn't make contact with it.

Also, it was causing me distress, and could possibly have been about to cause me harm (how was i to know)?