Ok people, so, it's muddy, you're walking your dog...

[AllTheYoungDoods]

Scenario A.
You see another young dog/pup ahead. It's owner calls their pup to heel and puts it on a lead.

You let your dog walk right up to the pup and owner off-lead. It's all waggy tails, so the pup owner says, 'is it ok for them to say hello?'. You say yes, the pup comes off lead, runs around playing, and by some miracle does not jump but brushes a small amount of mud on your trousers. Your dog becomes aggressive and defensive.

And you get cross with the pup for causing the growling and the mud. Reasonable?

Scenario B.
You see another young dog/pup ahead. It's owner calls their pup to heel but, as it's in the middle of the moors and your dog is also approaching off-lead with a friendly demeanour, does not put it on a lead.

You let your dog walk right up to the pup off-lead. It's all waggy tails, so the pup owner says, 'is it ok for them to say hello?'.

You say yes, the pup runs around playing, and this time miracles are in short supply so unfortunately jumps up at you for attention. Their owner immediately apologises and begins to call him off and away, but you pick up your treat bag and lead, stick your straight arms out like a scarecrow, and spin around repeatedly. Then are surprised when the pup does not instantly give up the game .

Scenario C.
You see another young dog/pup ahead. It's owner calls their pup to heel and puts it on a lead.

As you walk past you say sarcastically: 'Is that one a bit of a jumper then?'

While your dog trails behind you looking like it's never had a day's fun it its life

Seriously, do some people just have amnesia about what it's like to train a puppy, were their dogs all born with perfect recall, or do they spray them with Teflon to keep the mud off?

I never let him rush towards dogs on lead, people without dogs, small children, the elderly, or people wearing smart clothes no matter how inappropriately dressed for dog park they might be With everyone else when it comes to recall and jumping I AM VERY CLEARLY TRYING but there is a small chance that if you allow your muddy offlead dog to meet my muddy dog, some mud might be exchanged!

And breathe.

ok what happened ? Just tell us !

If you are out walking your dog in mud and wet expect to also get muddy and wet, also if your children are with you expect them to get muddier and wetter than your dog - exactly what mine did today !

All 3 of them happened to me in rapid succession!

A. - unreasonable to get cross with pup for causing mud and growling.

B. acting like a scarecrow and spinning around - of course pup wil not come back - spinning scarecrow with food more fun than owner .

c. perhaps making polite conversation - not necessarily unreasonable.

(I'm the pup owner, in case it wasn;t obvious)

Did I answer correctly ? - Do I get a prize ?

What on earth is the spinning scarecrow? Whaaaat? This is a technique to repel dogs is it?

Doods I'm not a fan of jumpers, but then I'm not overly precious either and if wellies and mud and dogs and walking in the syphillitic British weather in February are factored in then it would be a bit bonkers to be overly precious about a bit of mud if the other dog owner was obviously embarrassed and trying to do something about the situation.

I'd give you a [poxy emoticon of wine] but they just look a bit cheap and shoddy

Avantia, you do! I suspect the third one may have just been being polite, but I was in full under-my-breath-ranting mode after dealing with the previous 2!

Slubber I'm not a fan of the jumping either, in fact it's Bad Habit To Be Dealt With No. 1 here and I apologised instantly. But he didn't even jump at the first one, just brushed past his legs whilst playing with his massively hairy Golden Retriever. Who walks a long-haired Golden Retriever through what is essentially a bog at this time of year and gets surprised by a bit of mud!

and I should it's absolutely to your credit that you are putting your dog on lead and asking other dog owners if your dog can play with theirs.

I could bloody hug you

Hairy dogs and bog = muddy trousers. How does ANYONE stay mud free after walking in these conditions?

There is one dog walker I see who seems to achieve it. She has nice Hunters and proper Hunter socks and NEVER has that rim of inner knee crease mud crusts that I always have.

Nor does she have filthy outer coat pockets from taking balls and treats in and out.

Like to add - dogs (lab pup) plus water plus mud plus two wet , muddy boys = messy car and lots of washing when we get home , however also = tired doggy plus tired boys = lots of in peace and quiet for Mummy & Daddy

I love muddy wet walks with the dog - also seem to meet really nice committed dog walkers .

If it's wet and muddy and you have a dog you expect to get wet and muddy, or in my DS's case you revel in getting wet and muddy. We came home from a short dog walk this morning (mine was castrated yesterday so he's not allowed his usual long runs) and DS was ever so pleased when I gave him free reign with the muddy puddles.

You sound like you're doing all the right things in and have some common sense. I can symathise mine is a jumper too.

When I walk our dogs at this time of year I wear wellingtons and old clothes. It never ceases to amaze me (and alarm me slightly, with JRTx pup in tow ) when I see people down our muddy lane in shiny shoes and cream trousers, or court shoes and a smart skirt. Why????!!

You have my sympathy!

Ddog's best friend's mum wears trackie bottoms in lemon, baby blue, sugar pink. Why? I weara select wardrobe of clothes inherited from ds, and green wellies. Ddog's gang don't jump up so much as run into human legs.

I have worn nothing but wellys, my dog trousers and dog jacket since about August. I even wear this uniform to the supermarket I am so used to it I don't even notice the funny looks I get. The words shiny, cream, court and smart mean nothing to me!

There used to be a time when I wore this outfit for the big park/country walks only but now it's my daily wear.

What does everyone's car look/smell like? I think mine is beyond cleaning and would break a vacuum cleaner. I've taken to spraying febreze but it really really desperately needs a right good wash inside!

I have a white fluffy dog, ergo I am always covered head to toe in mud, as is he, whether it's raining and muddy or not. If there is mud, no matter how little mud, he will find it and he will roll in it.

When I'm out walking my dogs in muddy park, in wet, I expect to get muddy. I'm often jumped on by dogs, and it doesn't bother me very much, especially if owner is apologetic

Have once been thoroughly ticked off by a grumpy old sod because his (off-the-lead) dog ran when my (off-the-lead-nightmare-stupid-beagle) ran up to it, tail wagging. I pointed out that they were playing. He snapped that he didn't want his dog to get dirty He asked me nastily could I not control my dog, so I smiled and said no, obviously not!

I'm one of those annoying people who tell other peoples puppy's to sit before I fuss them, its nice to say hello but not to undo owners hard work. I don't get the concept of rain + dog = staying clean though

There's a woman in our dog park who always wears designer clothes / ballet pumps to walk her (elderly) retriever. She starts waving her arms and squealing if other dogs go near her. All the dogs thinks she's great fun and rush to her as soon as she's in sight.
I'm not sure what amuses me more - her, or the woman who turned up with her Collie to our agility class wearing high heals.

Honeydragon I LOVE people who do that!

And children who've been taught to 'be a tree'. Bloody brilliant.

Old dears who bend down and fuss as he jumps and give unsuitable treats, not so great.

And dog lovers who stick a hand out and give him a quick sly pat as they walk by as I'm trying desperately hard to get him to focus on me and ignore the people. Not helping.

I don't actually mind being jumped on by friendly dogs, I secretly find it quite endearing :) Though I know it's a bad habit so try not to encourage/reward it in random dogs, and mine is not allowed to do it.

Amazed that dog owners are so precious about a bit of mud though. If I'm out with the dog I will be wearing my dog-walking jeans at best, or waterproof trousers if it's properly wet, and a fleece/jumper/jacket chosen for warmth not style! And I feel sorry for dogs who are not allowed to play and get muddy :(

"I'm one of those annoying people who tell other peoples puppy's to sit before I fuss them,"

Another one here who loves people who do that, honeydragon!! It's guests to the house who when I say "can you tell her to sit first?" completely ignore me that are the annoying ones!

alltheyoungdoods add cyclists who come up behind you silently at 40 miles an hour without ringing their bell and then when the dog jumps out of its skin and gets near the wheels say "can't you control your dog?". I always say "if you warn me you are coming, yes" but I feel like being much ruder!

Lol, cupcakes at designer clothes woman - and funny how dogs know those are the most fun people to run towards!

Dooinmecleanin we also have white fluffy dog (pic on profile) so I know that white dog = mud magnet! I'd never be so stupid as to stop her having fun, though!

I wish more people were like you honeydragon.

I have an overly sociable border terrier who has learnt that if you run up and jump around in demented ecstasy say hello to people walking their dogs, they will make a fuss of you and sometimes give you treats. How on earth am I meant to teach him not to do it? He's learnt not to do it to me, or to children, or (mainly) to people without dogs, but anyone holding a dog lead or ball-chucker seems to be fair game....

Exexpat - I do occasionally offer treats to other dogs when out walking our dog - but wouldn't dream of doing it without asking the owner first - and if they said 'No', then the treats would go away.

It is a sea of mud round here, and ddog would only stay clean if walked solely on the pavements, which would be mean beyond belief, so there is always a pile of muddy towels on the floor of the utility room, and a pile of clean ones on top of the veg rack. I did enjoy the freezing weather, when she could romp around the lawn with her best friend (they are both labs), and just come in a bit damp, but I'd rather have a happy dog than a clean one.

musicposy your sheltie is gorgeous!

there is one walked locally here and i melt everytime i see him. i love them.