Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

For goodness sake dog owners AIBU

99 replies

Stumpedasatree · 21/02/2022 12:31

Why are dogs that are likely to jump up on strangers not kept on leads? I have lost count of the amount of muddy paws that have jumped on me on a walk resulting in clean clothes needing a wash, sometimes coat and trousers. Some owners don't even apologise for it. I am a dog owner, fortunately mine has never jumped up, but i find this so annoying of dog owners, it's not cute.

OP posts:

IntermittentParps · 21/02/2022 15:40

@Bunty55

I find this a bit odd only because I am a dog owner and in my experience dogs have only jumped up at me if I have stopped to stroke them

In your experience, sure. But there are people on this thread, including me, who have had different experiences, which I'm sure you can grasp.

MumsMetHer · 21/02/2022 15:44

@Stellaris22

If you're walking in a woods or somewhere that's muddy anyway, then I don't understand why you're getting upset. Why would you wear expensive/fancy clothes on a walk? Even if I didn't have a dog I'd wear a waterproof coat and clothes I don't mind getting muddy.

I walk through the woods to get almost anywhere. I rarely ever wear expensive clothes, but that doesn't mean I want to get mud on my dresses and coats.

I have a friend with a balance problem who'd fall over if even a small dog jumped on her. Another friend is terrified of dogs after a bad dog attack on her in childhood and a dog jumping on her would seriously trigger her PSTD.

Should we all avoid the woods simply because you won't control your dog?

Hummingbirdcake · 21/02/2022 15:47

‘PollyRoulllson

I am amazed at the comments saying it is fine to be jumped on by other peoples dogs. It is not fine and people should be able to go for a walk and not be hassled by other peoples dogs.

It is not up to dog walkers to decide which areas are "doggy" and what people should wear when going out for a walk!

Dogs should be under control or on a lead if they are work in progress.’

This.

Stellaris22 · 21/02/2022 16:10

Of course dogs shouldn't be jumping up! That was in my post that didn't get quoted....

Dogs aren't machines and even they have off days where they get a bit excited. I just wouldn't wear expensive clothes if I knew I was going somewhere muddy, even as part of a commute. Even without a dog you could get muddy from splashes.

I also don't let mine jump up and have worked on training, but it's through that training I understand it's always a work in progress so don't mind. If I see a dog about to do it to me I just turn my back and don't interact.

tabulahrasa · 21/02/2022 16:29

at all the people going - well I just wear old clothes anyway.

There’s a huge difference between how much you get just walking and how dirty you are after being jumped on by a muddy dog.

IntermittentParps · 21/02/2022 16:31

I just wouldn't wear expensive clothes if I knew I was going somewhere muddy, even as part of a commute.
Who has said they only or always wear 'expensive clothes'? Even if it's old slob things, can't you understand that people would be annoyed if they ended up with big muddy pawprints on them?

EdithStourton · 21/02/2022 16:31

I have dogs and they are not perfect, but I bloody hate them jumping up. Luckily they both know that if they want a treat or a fuss their best bet is to sit down and try and look cute.

The number of dogs in my regular walking areas who are serial jumpers-up is low, but it's still really annoying to get a nice neat paw-print on jeans that you have managed to keep clean while walking and training your own dogs...

GeneLovesJezebel · 21/02/2022 16:32

It passes me off too.

Wnikat · 21/02/2022 16:33

What gets me is the victim blaming. Oh, my dog has knocked your toddler over and stolen his snack? Oh sorry, dog is used to kids who don’t mind when he does that. Ergo your kid is weird for not welcoming this behaviour.

ABitBesotted · 21/02/2022 16:39

I am amazed at the comments saying it is fine to be jumped on by other peoples dogs. It is not fine

For me it is fine, though.

You can't make me be upset about something that doesn't bother me.

Stellaris22 · 21/02/2022 16:43

Clothes can be washed. Dogs shouldn't jump and I don't let mine do it, but I'm not going to get angry if it happens to me.

My commute is usually through a place I know there's dogs, so I'm ready to turn my back to discourage it if it happens.

If the owner doesn't acknowledge the behaviour that annoys me, but I'll do my bit to stop jumping even if the owner refuses to train it themselves.

But I know it's hard to train as I've worked very hard with my own dog.

Original poster

Stumpedasatree · 21/02/2022 17:16

There are obviously two camps here - dog owners who think walkers should expect and accept that dogs will jump at them and don't mind a muddy pawprint or two because they love all dogs so much, and dog owners that don't like it. And non-dog owners in both camps too.

I still feel that jumpy dogs should be controlled by being on the lead.

I don't walk with treats on me (my dog is not food oriented). I also turn my back but it doesn't always work.

OP posts:

Original poster

Stumpedasatree · 21/02/2022 17:18

@tabulahrasa

at all the people going - well I just wear old clothes anyway.

There’s a huge difference between how much you get just walking and how dirty you are after being jumped on by a muddy dog.

Absolutely!! Unless I am jumping in puddles it is only my boots that are dirty from a walk.

OP posts:

allgreythings · 21/02/2022 17:46

I’d urge those with big playful puppies to consider the fact that the Dangerous dog act states Makes someone worried that it might injure them

So if someone doesn’t like dogs even a friendly puppy could make them feel this way.

www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/bsl/dda

Turn your back as they approach op if you can.
I find dogs jumping up irritating and it’s easy to teach dogs not to do it.

certainshepherdpups · 21/02/2022 18:31

You are definitely not being unreasonable, OP. And I say that as someone with a bouncy 8-month-old pup who is still learning not to jump up on people. For that reason he is on a lead or long line when other people are around. He is making progress, though I long for the day he stops jumping completely.

Ceara · 21/02/2022 19:06

@PollyRoulllson "but you are not training you are distracting and way too close to your dogs triggers". Unless you live on your own acres of grounds, which most of us don't, there are going to be situations where pavements or narrow paths with people on them aren't avoidable. I mostly take my puppy to a quiet field with loads of space to keep our distance, but to get there we have to walk to the end of the street, about 8 houses, and along a short path with fencing either side. And the same on the way back, but of course he is wet and muddy. What can you do? Apart from stand as far to the side as possible, or cross the road if no traffic coming. Many people seem to feel entitled to approach and pet cute puppies, and it's not possible in daily life always to be somewhere that you can guarantee being at a distance.

PollyRoulllson · 21/02/2022 19:13

[quote Ceara]@PollyRoulllson "but you are not training you are distracting and way too close to your dogs triggers". Unless you live on your own acres of grounds, which most of us don't, there are going to be situations where pavements or narrow paths with people on them aren't avoidable. I mostly take my puppy to a quiet field with loads of space to keep our distance, but to get there we have to walk to the end of the street, about 8 houses, and along a short path with fencing either side. And the same on the way back, but of course he is wet and muddy. What can you do? Apart from stand as far to the side as possible, or cross the road if no traffic coming. Many people seem to feel entitled to approach and pet cute puppies, and it's not possible in daily life always to be somewhere that you can guarantee being at a distance.[/quote]
So much you can do.

Until your dog is trained, walk in different areas.

Do an about turn when you see people coming down the narrow path.

Ask people not to pet your dog you are training. I have never ever had anyone approach my dog when I have asked this.

Teach your dog the middle position and turn your back on the people coming.

Hold onto your dogs harness to prevent them jumping up - not teaching your dog anything but it does show some repect to the rest of the public

nbee84 · 21/02/2022 19:24

A friend of mine encountered a friendly jumping up dog out on a walk in the summer. Owner too far away to stop the dog jumping up. My friend turned her back but the dog just danced around her. My friend is allergic to dogs and her hands and lower arms came up in welts that were sore and itchy for the next 24 hours!

pigsDOfly · 21/02/2022 20:26

I never realised I'm being unreasonable and unrealistic to expect not to be leaped all over by other people's dog when I'm out on a walk with my dog.

It doesn't happen often by oddly enough a while ago it happen to me in two different places on consecutive days.

Both were large dogs, both with men who were a long way away from them when the dogs rushed at me and my dog then leaped at me covering me in muddy paw marks.

On both occasions I called to both men to get their dogs off me and my dog and on both occasions I was sworn at: one guy told me to 'shut my fucking mouth' and the other one told me I was a 'miserable old cow'.

I have dog walking clothes that I'm not precious about but I still don't want some great big dog shoving at me with his muddy feet; I don't think that's unreasonable.

My dog doesn't jump at people because she's trained not to.

If you can't control your dog enough to stop it jumping on random people it needs to be on a lead.

YeOldeTrout · 21/02/2022 21:16

That's weird. Coz I walk dogs for other people, ask to say hello to every passing pooch, live in a muddy place (go running & walking a lot), live on a popular dog-walking route -- I rarely get dogs jumping up or getting mud on me. I wonder what OP does to attract so many so often?!

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 21/02/2022 21:28

I would be absolutely mortified and apologise profusely if my dog jumped up on anyone. He is far more interested in dogs than people so I don't think it's likely but I accept that I have very little control over his adolescent behaviour currently so he does not go off lead in public places only on a long line.

On the contrary I have been jumped on by a number of other peoples dogs. Usually small dogs looking for treats but on one occasion a huge dog tried to steal my bobble hat off my head. It literally had its paws on my shoulders. I nearly fell face first in the mud. The owner just explained 'she's after your bobble hat' as though it was my fault for wearing it!

timetochangeusername · 21/02/2022 21:38

I have family who are terrified of dogs and like to walk in woods. It should not happen , and is incredibly rude

MaizeAmaze · 21/02/2022 21:53

I don't care how wonderfully behaved you believe your dog is, I don't want it running towards me, an I absolutely don't want it jumping up at me.

If I freeze when your dog runs towards me, barking

MaizeAmaze · 21/02/2022 21:56

Sorry, if your dog runs towards me barking, and I freeze or ask you to call it back, please listen to me, and don't scream at me when I shout at it to stop. I have 14 stitches in my face from a dog that "wouldn't hurt a fly". I'm not repaired to risk a repeat.

Alwaystheplusone · 21/02/2022 22:37

If people on here think it’s fine for a dog to jump up on a complete stranger, they need to give their heads a wobble. It’s not cute, it’s not ‘fine’ and if your dog cannot walk off lead without jumping, then keep the dog on the lead. Pfft…

Flip

1 2 3 4