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! :)

Absolutely!

I get annoyed when people don’t apologise too.

and don’t even get me started on the amount of adults who would happily make a child get out of their way on a narrow path when the only option is to step in to a road.

I think the point all round is, it happens, people/animals get in the way.

They should give an apology, but other than that it’s not something to get het up about.

Mumsnet will tell your right whatever you do if you take on a dog owner. You became wrong as soon as you lost your temper-totally unnecessary

The whole thing would have been a mild annoyance of not getting an apology if you hadn’t decided to circle back and confront her though.

I know, I know 😕pissed off, heat of the moment thing. Not proud of it

I stopped running around my local park because of this. It happened to me three times, always small dogs so difficult to spot. They ran directly in front of my feet and like you describe, I nearly went flying. I would have been severely injured and potentially their dog would’ve been too. One set of owners laughed! They actually found it funny, it wouldn’t have been so amusing if their shithead dog was booted.

So yes… I feel your pain! Between this and people who see you coming and make zero attempt to move so you can get past, it makes you realise people are shitty.

Don’t be ridiculous, this isn’t a dog hating thread! It’s about entitled dog owners. And haven’t you ever wondered why there are so many of these sorts of threads? It couldn’t possibly be because there are a lot of entitled dog owners out there? You are probably one of them

I’m getting snappy at bikes these days. Amount of times I’ve had to leap out of the way of an oncoming bike. And people say ‘well don’t run in towns/on footpaths/busy areas’ etc but live in a busy area..plus it’s too risky for a female to go off into an area where there’s literally no one around. I’m always really considerate and love dogs and they more often than not get a pat from me and I get a waggy tail in return but it’s never predictable

Agreed. I love dogs and am desperate to own a beautiful golden retriever. I just don’t love untrained ones with shit owners.

My rule of thumb in these situations is to actually run at the owner. Never mind giving them space, it just seems to make them pay attention and sort out their dog.

Probably the best thing you can do to make the dog attack you

Good idea. Maybe i should take one out as well because I actually avoid parks due to the off leash dogs and that’s not right. I shouldn’t have to avoid green spaces that my council tax goes toward paying.

As a runner this situation would really annoy (and alarm) me too, but since she immediately put it on a lead I think it would have been better to say thankyou for putting it on a lead.

So I think you were 3% unreasonable and She was 97% unreasonable.

In general people need to bloody control their animals, and many don't. 😡

I am a dog owner. It is unacceptable to allow your dog to run up to random people and dogs. Especially if it jumps on them or gets in their way. The dog should be on a lead if it can’t behave properly. I definitely wouldn’t want a staffy running at me.

I'm sorry you had to deal with this and don't blame you for getting angry. It's the kind of thing that will keep happening until all dogs are required to be on leads in all public places.

No, dogs need to run, explore and hunt. They need to be free to act on their natural instincts and if not in parks: where? What we need is compulsory dog training. And maybe sectioned off areas for larger parks but no, keeping dogs on leads when they finally get out the house they've been trapped in all day is not acceptable.

Dogs are just as entitled to land as we are.

No, parks that were often built using people’s taxes were designed and maintained primarily for the benefit of people.

We need parks that allow off leash dogs and parks that don’t. I’d go further and say some parks should not be for dogs at all.

It’s unacceptable that so many people - often toddlers and joggers - are being jumped on by dogs while trying to play and keep fit in parks and there should be a way to minimise that. Not to mention the dog shit.

I wasn’t even in a park (which I avoid thanks to out of control dogs) but standing on my street and some daft neighbour let her cockapoo jump all over me and scratched up my leg. She was laughing until I told her the dog warden will pay her a visit if it happens again.

I agree with you to an extent. I am all for dogs being able to run free and exercise on the basis that they are controlled, don't disrupt others using the space and will return on recall. If not, then they should be on a lead

I hear you. Also: I hate when cyclists interrupt my walk and conversation with friends - having to constantly listen out for their bells instead of listening to music and switching off.

I also hate when I'm cycling, having to wait for pedestrians to move to the side.

Or when I'm relaxing in the park and kids are screaming. Or when I want to sunbathe topless but there are people around... 😂😂

Point is: we all annoy each other. Unless we create a schedule for how to use the park, we just have to tolerate everyone and take steps to mitigate extreme discomfort. Not ban anyone we don't personally like or want in the park. Otherwise, everyone who has ever played music out loud on a device would get a lifetime ban from all parks and public transport if I had my way.

Dogs aren't the problem - irresponsible dog carers are, so advocate for compulsory dog training and more park attendants to issue on-the-spot fines for not picking up after their dogs etc. We don't have sufficient enforcement of policy and law in place. That's the problem.

Those are all very different scenarios and behaviours from what was being discussed with the PP.

Mumsnet 🫠🫠🫠🫠

I think in most places you are right. But in parks or woods etc, you have to allow dogs and kids to run wild to some extent. As a jogger I don't get priority, open spaces are there to be shared by everyone so it's just a case of being grown ups.

I dont let my dog off in public since he took a fancy to a runner. It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen. Ddog spotted a jogger in the distance in a field and reacted as if he was his long lost soul mate. I've never ever seen such a wiggly waggley overjoyed display of unrequited love in my life. The guy took it quite well. He wanted to go home with him. Lesson learnt.

I was just responding to your comment to another poster that they should get help for their anxiety about being bitten by a dog when in the park - it’s not unheard of especially for joggers so not really a sign they need help for anxiety.

The OP is not 'dog-hating' in my opinion.
It is the owner who is at fault - as is usually the case - people need to control their dogs. At the very least they should keep their animals on a leash.
Imagine if an elderly person or child were rushed by a dog.
I am 62 and reasonably fit, but I have Osteoporosis - if I were to fall because of an out of control dog, the result could put me in hospital.

My husband was out running and a dog (that was on a long lead) jumped on him scratching him on his thighs and stomach. I try to cross the road as soon as I see a dog walker approaching.

I think your reaction is a long time coming. I have a dog which I keep on a lead except for dog running areas that are secure. However friends of mine feel it’s fine for theirs to run off lead and they like to either run up to runners or chase after them and yap at their legs. The owners seem nonchalant to it all and half arsed call them back whike chatting. It riles me while mine is on a lead looking annoyed (knowing it would join in given half the chance).

min my view when you share a park dogs come second and humans first. Plus I don’t want mine harmed and humans harmed either when I know mine will play up off lead.