Off-putting Dog Owner

[ThinkingOfCeline]

I live in a major city, where there is only one main park within walking distance - lots of green, a fenced off dog area etc.

The only thing souring this is one of the other dog walkers. He owns a gorgeous BC but frequently makes "off comments" that on their own are nonedescript but added up are getting to me. Examples are:

5 people in the dog park (me, another woman, the owner in question and 2 other guys). He walks up to me and says he'd like to see me and the other woman jog round the park. Out of the blue.

My dog (still a junior dog in training) comes back immediately when called so gets a "handsome boy" amongst other positive reinforcement. This guy walks WAY into my personal space and says I must be speaking to him.

Another dog pushes boundaries with mine. It's no big deal, mine gives a wee warning bark and the other dog's owner chastises the boxer. The BC owner then wanders up, tries to put his hand on my waist and offers to "help" train my "snappy dog". The guy with the boxer immediately says it was his dog at fault.

Worth saying he sees my dog with my partner and isn't weird with him at all. I've done the sharp correction, laughing put down and downright "that's not funny". All other women have noticed the same thing, and more than once one of the make dog walkers have mentioned that they'll hang on if he joins a group, simply because his behaviour is intense/intimidating.

Does anyone else have "off" fellow dog walkers that they can't seem to avoid (without going somewhere madly inconvenient) and if so how do you manage them?

Honestly OP you should have posted this in chat or AIBU to get decent traffic.

This man is an utter pervert and an arse....he's taking advantage of being in a situation where there's noone in charge to report him to and his actions are mild enough that you would not feel the police an appropriate action.

So...the ONLY way to deal with men like this is to call their bluff and call him out.

Eg. He says something weird about you running round the park. So you say "You're VERY innapropriate...stay away from me! Do NOT speak to me or approach me!"

I'd definitely have done that to be honest but especially the putting his hand on your waist. He's marked you as too polite to say anything.

Tell him to FUCK OFF loudly. That should put pay to it. Tell the other women you're planning on telling him off too.

Like all rude pests he’d just get told to fuck off but that’s just me. What a dick.

DON'T TOUCH ME!
At the top of your voice. So that everyone within 1/4 mile hears you.

This is harassment. Call him out.
We really don't have to be nice to people who are behaving like arseholes.

Oh no it’s not just me. Glad to hear it.

"Fuck off pervert " is what you need to say.

What a creep, maybe he thinks having a dog will attract women. Can you arrange it so that the other men are nearby, they should tell him he's not welcome if he behaves like a twat.

Thanks for not minimising it. I've been talking myself out of a bigger reaction because it's one comment every few days. It's also to every every woman that comes into the dog pen, so I do think he's a creep in general rather than just with me (just as bad either way though).

I think I needed just a few people to agree that I'm not overreacting and I'm well within my rights to tell him in no uncertain terms to fuck off.

My partner is under the weather so I'm doing all the dog walks this week - no doubt I'll have an update in the next few days.

I’ve not experienced this, as my dogs are rather awful boisterous and people avoid us but I’ve known other women have trouble with similar behaviour. I think the worst thing is that you just don’t expect it and so won’t say anything initially as it surprises you. Most dog owners are friendly souls and the camaraderie of dog lovers brightens my day. You don’t expect to have to fend off sex pests.

Make sure you don't let him act all outraged at your reaction OP. If he blusters or tries to defend himself, shout "GET AWAY FROM ME YOU PERVERT!"

LOUDLY...and emphasising the word PERVERT!

Any pervert's nightmare!