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The doghouse

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Original poster

German Shepard just charged at me, terrifying!

223 replies

FreshHelll · 09/07/2022 08:51

Was walking in a park just now. Saw a man walking, then looked to my left and saw about 15 meters away, a black German Shepard charging towards me at full speed. Terrifying, l shouted to the owner, put him on a lead. Then the dog charged again. It's was very frightening, a fully grown big dog making a very fast bee line towards you. Time sped up, l sort of did a standing phoetal pose. I shouted again, put your fucking dog on a lead! The man said quietly, lm very sorry. My adrenalin was pumping, l was hyperventilating. Just posting to get it out of my system. It was a young dog but fully grown. Please keep big and young dogs on leads. If that happened to a young child, it would be awful!

OP posts:
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/07/2022 21:42

Philandbill · 09/07/2022 19:44

@AllThingsServeTheBeam and by your response you've utterly proved my point...

Dogs are allowed off lead. Your response sounded bloody unhinged.

tabulahrasa · 09/07/2022 21:43

“Did you really just compare a human being out jogging and a dog running towards you as the same sort of thing? 😂”

yep, when all they’re doing is running in your direction it’s the same, how isn’t it?

Honestly, I’m in agreement that there an awful lot of dog owners who do let their dogs behave in a way they shouldn’t.

But just running towards someone and not reaching them or doing anything in particular isn’t worth more than a second of, why is that dog running?

Stellaris22 · 09/07/2022 21:48

Reread the OP a few times and it reads like the dog was running back to its owner. I really can’t see why a dog being recalled is dangerous. Of course dogs can be off lead for exercise.

turquoise1988 · 09/07/2022 21:59

@tabulahrasa because a dog is an animal. Even a well-trained dog can be very unpredictable.

Why does it matter if it stops before it gets to you? If a dog is running towards you, fast, you are right to feel uneasy.

How many joggers have you had running full pelt towards you and thought, shit, I have no idea what they may do? Absolutely none.

It is totally, definitely, not the same thing.

Whitehorsegirl · 09/07/2022 22:06

Are you sure wasn't simply running around the park rather than specifically ''charging at you''?

I know that when you are scared of/unfamiliar with dogs it can look frightening to see a dog running around but that is not uncommon for pets to get really excited in parks, beaches and the likes...it does mean the dog is about to jump on you and bite you.

This is why people are asking you what happened when the dog got to you...

I agree though that people should always keep their dogs on a leash when in public places.

I have stopped counting he number of times I have ended up with a random dog's wet nose on my shoes or ankles in a park. I even had a large staffie make a beeline for me when I was waiting for a train and put his paws on my legs to get a scratch ( I also had the smell of horses on me as I had just been riding)...which would probably have terrified anyone who is not so used to being pounced on. by over enthusiastic canines all the time...

Of course there are dangerous dogs but you also come across over-excited dogs who are just being, well, dogs.

To be honest I am a surprised that you are saying you trained dogs and horses which makes me doubt your story a bit...I would say someone who actually has done that would know how to behave when facing a threat from either of these animals rather than panic. Because panicking will definitely get you hurt...

roastedsaltedpeanut · 09/07/2022 22:07

Shocked at some of the responses.
So psychologically distressed and screaming in public isn’t hurt enough. Must there be blood or at least broken skin to qualify? Victim blaming rhetoric is sickening

Dog was unleashed and failed recall. But according to some posters here the woman is obviously wrong because she was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Why not ask what she was wearing? Maybe she walked funny? How dare she complain about being scared, she is hysterical! She ought to educate herself the different between herding, prey instinct and all the subtle difference between breeds of dogs before she sets foot in a public space! Surely everyone knows that?!?

Oh, she must be a bad dog owner who doesn’t deserve to share her experience and she must never had been a professional dog trainer based on her replies. These are the “logical” reasons why the unleashed dog who failed recall is merely a fabricated story designed to upset dog owners and the woman is untrustworthy. 🙄🙄🙄

Philandbill · 09/07/2022 22:10

@AllThingsServeTheBeam only to a defensive dog owner who struggles to see another's viewpoint.

turquoise1988 · 09/07/2022 22:11

@Whitehorsegirl

"Of course there are dangerous dogs but you also come across over-excited dogs who are just being, well, dogs."

This is true. But how are we to know which ones are which? This is why people are wary.

Philandbill · 09/07/2022 22:11

@roastedsaltedpeanut totally agree.

willowglass · 09/07/2022 22:12

So what happened next after the dog charged at you OP? Did it stop or veer away or did you restrain it? Or did the owner catch it before it got to you?

Clymene · 09/07/2022 22:13

turquoise1988 · 09/07/2022 21:59

@tabulahrasa because a dog is an animal. Even a well-trained dog can be very unpredictable.

Why does it matter if it stops before it gets to you? If a dog is running towards you, fast, you are right to feel uneasy.

How many joggers have you had running full pelt towards you and thought, shit, I have no idea what they may do? Absolutely none.

It is totally, definitely, not the same thing.

If a man were running full pelt towards me, I'd absolutely be scared.

If the dog was running towards the OP to attack her then either a) the dog has excellent recall or b) she misinterpreted its actions.

Believe me, you'd know if it were poorly trained and aggressive as the OP claims.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/07/2022 22:13

roastedsaltedpeanut · 09/07/2022 22:07

Shocked at some of the responses.
So psychologically distressed and screaming in public isn’t hurt enough. Must there be blood or at least broken skin to qualify? Victim blaming rhetoric is sickening

Dog was unleashed and failed recall. But according to some posters here the woman is obviously wrong because she was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Why not ask what she was wearing? Maybe she walked funny? How dare she complain about being scared, she is hysterical! She ought to educate herself the different between herding, prey instinct and all the subtle difference between breeds of dogs before she sets foot in a public space! Surely everyone knows that?!?

Oh, she must be a bad dog owner who doesn’t deserve to share her experience and she must never had been a professional dog trainer based on her replies. These are the “logical” reasons why the unleashed dog who failed recall is merely a fabricated story designed to upset dog owners and the woman is untrustworthy. 🙄🙄🙄

The op hasn't confirmed if it failed recall. I have said more than once that people who have a dog shouldn't let them off without recall. But the op is calling for all dogs. And that's unreasonable

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/07/2022 22:14

Philandbill · 09/07/2022 22:10

@AllThingsServeTheBeam only to a defensive dog owner who struggles to see another's viewpoint.

I haven't failed anything. I disagree all dogs need to be leashed.

Clymene · 09/07/2022 22:16

What do people who think this is true happened? The useless owner who didn't have recall suddenly got it and the dog went back? The dog changed its mind? Despite being 20m away, he ran like Usain Bolt and rugby tackled the dog before it attacked the OP?

Dying to know.

turquoise1988 · 09/07/2022 22:18

@Clymene but I'm not talking about random men in random places, I'm talking about men or women that are obviously out jogging!

It doesn't matter what anyone says, a jogger running in your direction and a dog running in your direction is NOT the same thing.

I swear I live in some sort of alternative universe sometimes. Some of the comments and justifications on here beggar belief.

Alexandra2001 · 09/07/2022 22:21

Stellaris22 · 09/07/2022 18:58

Have you read the thread helmet? This OP has admitted a dog they were responsible for was left with a child which then killed a chicken.

The dog didn’t seem to be out of control, it was having off lead exercise and being recalled by its owner.

Fuck the Dog angle, i'm far more worried about a child which then went on to a chicken!

A young Jeffery Dammar?

Clymene · 09/07/2022 22:26

turquoise1988 · 09/07/2022 22:18

@Clymene but I'm not talking about random men in random places, I'm talking about men or women that are obviously out jogging!

It doesn't matter what anyone says, a jogger running in your direction and a dog running in your direction is NOT the same thing.

I swear I live in some sort of alternative universe sometimes. Some of the comments and justifications on here beggar belief.

But what do you think happened after the OP's story of terror? I mean if the dog was going to attack her,it would have?

Or it wasn't going to attack at all.

Or it was playing a game/had good recall.

Literally nothing happened to the OP. A dog ran in her direction and that's it. She's made up all sorts of bollocks about understanding dogs which are blatant lies so I'm really disinclined to see this as anything else as a froth post designed to cause max froth.

On that score, she's done a great job Grin

turquoise1988 · 09/07/2022 22:29

@Clymene So if the dog did nothing wrong, why did the owner apologise?

Clymene · 09/07/2022 22:37

turquoise1988 · 09/07/2022 22:29

@Clymene So if the dog did nothing wrong, why did the owner apologise?

No idea.

What do you think happened next?

roastedsaltedpeanut · 09/07/2022 22:39

She screamed because she was terrified when the dog charged/danced/pranced/waltzed near/at/adjacent to her. It is reasonable to assume when any stranger scream at your dog you will call the dog back immediately, for everyone’s safety including the dog’s safety. It is assumed the dog was recalled immediately after her initial display of distress.
The fact it ran/danced/(insert verb of your liking) again shows the dog failed recall.

The alternative scenario is a woman screamed at a dog but the owner watched and remained silent till the woman pleaded again and agin then finally recalled the dog. The dog had then retreated to the side of his owner at the owner’s first recall. Unlikely. If true then ALL dogs should be leashed to prevent dog owners having the power over non dog owners for refusing to recall despite obvious distress.

ChagSameachDoreen · 09/07/2022 22:52

WHAT THE FRIGGING FECK DID THE DOG DO WHEN IT REACHED YOU???

Cameleongirl · 09/07/2022 22:53

I agree that it’s doesn’t matter whether or not the dog attacked the OP, having a large dog charge towards you is frightening regardless. The owner should’ve recalled the dog as soon as it started running in the OP’s direction.

German Shepherds are large, powerful dogs with dangerous bites, and owners shouldn’t let them run towards strangers. Tbh, you’d be daft not be afraid of them. My Pomeranian was once attacked by a German Shepherd who ran up to us, she didn’t bother me but seemed to take an instant dislike to my Pom and I was bruised lifting him up to get him out of her reach as she tried to snap at him. She could’ve easily overpowered me if she’d decided to!

Her owner was very apologetic, but she should’ve recalled her dog as soon as she made a beeline for us, you can never really know how dogs will react.

SarahSissions · 09/07/2022 22:59

As OP was between the dog and the owner surely the only way the dog can recall to the owner is by running towards and then past OP?
I’m all for dogs only being off lead if they have reliable recall, but if you walk between the owner and their dog then however reliable the recall the dog is going to have to run past you to get back to the owner

Cameleongirl · 09/07/2022 23:05

I thought the OP said that the dog ran towards her, not past her to its owner, though, then turned and intentionally ran towards her again?

Pixiedust1234 · 09/07/2022 23:37

I don't understand. You say you are a dog trainer, so know about dogs and yet you screamed when a dog ran in your direction. You haven't said how near it got to you before being recalled (and yes, the distance does matter. 200 meters is very different to 3 meters). You also say it was aggressive. Please explain how it was showing its aggression. To clarify, I am not a dog owner.

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