AIBU for losing my temper with a dog owner while out running?

[GE237]

I was out running in the park today and saw a woman approaching with her Staffy. I could see them coming well in advance, so I deliberately moved over to the right hand side of the path to give them plenty of space. She was on the left hand side.
Her dog was off the lead and, as I ran past, it suddenly ran across towards me and nearly took my legs out. It then went running after/at another dog nearby.
I appreciate that the dog itself isn't at fault and I wasn't annoyed at the dog. I had actually made a conscious effort to give them plenty of room because I could see them coming. What annoyed me was that the owner made no apparent effort to keep the dog out of my path, and when I nearly went flying she didn't seem particularly concerned.
I carried on running but was pretty annoyed, so I turned around and went back to speak to her. I said, “Is that dog on a lead now?” She showed me the lead with a bit of an attitude.
I said, “Good, because he nearly tripped me over and he went for that other dog.”
She then said that the other dog had actually gone for hers and that I hadn't been watching where I was going.
This is where I lost my temper. We ended up having a bit of a shouting match and I did swear, which I accept wasn't my finest moment.
From what I saw, I didn't think the other dog had gone for hers. The other woman actually turned around and went back the other way to leave the park, which made me think she was trying to remove herself and her dog from the situation.
I'm not claiming I handled the confrontation perfectly and I definitely got more angry than I needed to. I'm actually feeling a bit guilty now because I don't like upsetting people.
But at the same time, I feel like I had made plenty of space for them, her dog was off lead and nearly caused me to fall, and rather than just saying “sorry”, she blamed me for not watching where I was going.
AIBU to think she was being unreasonable, or did I overreact by turning around and confronting her? I am a terrible over thinker and I'm sure you're all just going to tell me to forget about it! :)

Why are your dogs not on a lead in a park?!

Same, ive been out without mine and kicked off far worse when someone elses un controled dog bothered another dog on lead, and it was nowt to do with me.

I love dogs, but when I'm running they are often a menace because of their owner allowing them to be. I've had them bark at me, I've had them step out in front of me at the last second, and I've had them tangle me up in those long extended pull-lead things. When I had a dog I'd make sure they couldn't get in other people's way when I saw someone approaching. I'd like to hope these owners are more aware when they see a bike coming otherwise the poor dog could be seriously hurt or worse.

It's 50-50 whether the owner says sorry. I mean, how could you see your dog tangle up another person so they nearly go flying, and not say sorry? But often as not the owners silently watches you free yourself, and then they move on like nothing happened.

I’m a runner and dogs always think I’m game for a play/chase/bite…I slow down, I stop, i say hello once they get near…if they’re on a lead I mentally judge the length of the lead and move that distance away…still doesn’t stop them coming after me. I once literally had to hurdle a small dog that ran directly infront of me, to save myself tripping on it. I’m also a dog lover and walk other people’s dogs. It’s entirely the owners faults. Too many people with dogs now who have no idea how to handle them. Nicky Campbell 5 live phone in this morning was exactly about this. Half considering taking dog treats out in my pockets when I go running these days as I encounter so many.

I know! I've been running for almost 10 years and have lost count of all the dog-related incidents I've had and never done much more than muttered something under my breath and give a bit of a head shake. I snapped today for some reason 😣

It is an interesting point for sure! The man in your scenario was unreasonable.

I also seem to get a lot of toddlers/young kids straying into my path when out and about. Never occurred to me to get angry about it or show my exhasperation at the adult responsible for the little straying human.

For some reason we tolerate it with toddlers but have zero tolerance for the exact same behaviour with dogs. Maybe it is because dogs have option of a lead but I havent seen toddler reins since the 1980s? Anyway It is weird, and cause for thought!

Sometimes people and animals get in each other's way. Most people just carry on with their day. As for the two dogs, it was nothing to do with you and you didn't see the full event. I think you going over to confront her was completely unnecessary and to get into a shouting match and be swearing is not what anyone should be doing.

I’m a runner and slow to a walk every time I pass a dog on lead or not. They may react differently to a runner than a walker and not necessarily how their owner anticipates. I do secretly enjoy a friendly off-lead dog following me for a jog while their hapless owner screams at them to return with no effect whatsoever. I like to jog the dog back to their embarrassed human after a suitable length of time! Not so keen on being chased by yappy biting ones so I just stop dead so they can be retrieved.

I think the difference is dog incidents can happen pretty much every time someone goes for a run but a toddler tottering in to the path will be much more infrequent as they are usually out in the fenced off playground areas or in a pushchair on the path

And I think there might be fewer deaths caused by out of control toddlers. 😄

Good on you for confronting her. I hope at home she reflects on her actions/ lack of action.

Of course. But this particular discussion with that PP was about other beings simply straying into other beings' paths.

Not out of control rabid dogs running around biting peoples faces off. Totally different discussion....?

No one hates dogs, just inconsiderate owners

even if you switch up toddlers for a grown adult, people get in the way of each other all the time, and we supposedly have more awareness than dogs.

If I accidentally stepped in someone’s way I’d not expect a barrage of abuse, or someone to be arsey with me. I’m not going to pretend that it’s not frustrating, of course it is, but we extend each other a little grace.

Yes of course, I'm just saying that's what accounts for people's different reactions and tolerance levels. If a dog runs up to you there's always a risk it will bite you. That's why we don't tolerate it.

We were not talking about dogs "running up".

ETA - I give up. Not even sure why I get into these discussions tbh.

A dog running up vs a dog moving to one side and and getting in the way of someone coming towards it are two completely different behaviours.

I'm scared of dogs. I run round the streets and by the road as dogs (kind of or at least should )have to be on their leads. Dogs in their garden that bark at me make me jump. This encounter would have terrified me so I think you did pretty well and I thank you for trying to correct this dog owners behaviour. I live near the sea and I could never walk or run by the shore because of dogs being off their leads. It can be very stressful for some people.

Okay 🤣 if a dog "strays into your path" there is a chance it will bite you, which is not so with toddlers. It's quite sensible!

You shpuld get help for that anxiety.

What?

You asked why we don't react to/tolerate the same behaviour from dogs as we do from toddlers. That's why.

I don't think it's really a difficult thing to comprehend, but ok.

I know someone who has been bitten on their leg when out on a run in the park. I personally have had dogs growl and chase me when running - again children not so much. It definitely put me off running in the past. Recently I had a large golden retriever jump onto my back with his paws on my shoulders which was very unpleasant and I was just walking past!

I totally agree with you about giving each other a little grace and not kicking off, but equally it's also about apologising (which I'm sure you would) if you/ your dog/ your kid steps into someone's path and they have to swerve or stop before everyone goes flying. That's what bothers people in incidences like this because it doesn't happen a lot of the time.

But it's Dog Owners behaviour that creates that response and sooner or later that will be the political response to their behaviour

But it's Dog Owners behaviour that creates that response and sooner or later that will be the political response to their behaviour

This was exactly it. Not only did she not apologise, she blamed me for apparently not looking where I was going (despite me clocking them well in advance and moving aside on the path), then proceeds to claim that the dog on the lead had, in fact, come at her dog 🙃baffling to say the least. However, as I have said from the start, I should not have reacted the way I did