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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

What's your take on this - bit scary.

94 replies

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 11:42

So my adolescent dog is pretty good - but is intrigued by anything new.

We were walking in our local beauty spot and a man rounded the corner with a toddler in a child carrier on his back - an unfamiliar sight to my pup. I didn't have time to process his sudden appearance as he had emerged from around a bend (my usual practice is to immediately leash her as people and dogs approach just to be considerate - in case there are people who aren't keen on dogs or dogs that are reactive) before she barked twice and cantered over to him, stopping 4 feet short and just sat there looking up at him. Within seconds I put my whistle to my lips to recall her and just as I was about to blow it he raged at me - with his face contorted with disgust and anger "Call your fucking dog"!! and "Fucking dogs should be on a lead". He looked so hateful and angry and it was horrible. I would have understood if she had continued to bark or had jumped up at him (in fact I would have been horrified if she had done that), or if I was just standing there and taking no action - but none of this applied

It seemed disproportionate and aggressive. If he has simple said "Recall your dog" I would have apologised (although she had done very little 'wrong'), carried on with recalling her (I had my whistle in my mouth poised and ready!) and we could all have gone on our way.

OP posts:

SandieCollins · 04/09/2022 12:05

Ylvamoon · 04/09/2022 12:02

More fodder for the MN dog haters. 🍪

I’m a dog lover and think OP was wrong. You don’t have to think everyone else in the world loves and welcomes being barked at by unfamiliar dogs to be a dog lover.

SpinningFloppa · 04/09/2022 12:05

Good for him I would have said the same

Thereisnolight · 04/09/2022 12:05

He put his valid point across in an unnecessarily aggressive way. He’s almost certainly a complete arsehole.

I sympathise OP as I have a large young friendly dog too. (“Hire a private field” someone above said - ok luv).

Sadly some dog owners give the rest a bad name. And dogs can be unpredictable. You just have to have eyes in the back of your head.

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:07

cutmyteethandbitmytongue · 04/09/2022 12:05

The OP is getting a lot of hate here.

But it wasn't a recall issue - she just got caught out by a corner, that's it!

She doesn't need a lead (although a long-line on an adolescent is a good idea) she just needed to call back a little earlier.

OP, you sound responsible you just were a little late on calling back that's all.

Thank you. Possibly a little late - but the time between him appearing, her barking and cantering over and him shouting was less than 10 seconds

I am going to leash her at every potential blind spot in future though (I generally do, but didn't this time)

OP posts:

SandieCollins · 04/09/2022 12:07

devildeepbluesea · 04/09/2022 12:03

If it happened exactly as you said OP then he clearly overreacted . Your dog did very well I think.

I don’t keep my dog on a lead and I won’t apologise for it. He needs a lot of exercise and I go to fairly deserted areas to ensure he can run to his heart’s content. But we do meet people, who by and large aren’t so neurotic.

So someone who doesn’t want to be approached and barked at by an unfamiliar dog is neurotic?

If you genuinely think this, you are the sort of dog owner who gives the rest of us a bad name.

PurpleWisteria · 04/09/2022 12:09

Dogs should always be on leads in public places. Time dog owners realised that.

SandieCollins · 04/09/2022 12:10

Thereisnolight · 04/09/2022 12:05

He put his valid point across in an unnecessarily aggressive way. He’s almost certainly a complete arsehole.

I sympathise OP as I have a large young friendly dog too. (“Hire a private field” someone above said - ok luv).

Sadly some dog owners give the rest a bad name. And dogs can be unpredictable. You just have to have eyes in the back of your head.

That was me - luv.

If you really can’t be bothered keeping your dog on a lead, you should do that. It’s incredibly selfish to allow your dog to run around off lead if there is the chance that you will come across anyone (canine or human) who will be uncomfortable with that. It’s not hard, put a lead on your dog.

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:10

IncessantNameChanger · 04/09/2022 12:05

Sounds like you've already made your mind up you was totally right and he was totally wrong.

I had some prat what their black lab bound up and jump up at me 8 months pregnant. The possibility of knocking me over and causing damage to me or the baby much less important that the dog saying hello. The owner watched it a silently.

Luckily I had a dog previously so I could square to the side for its full force impact. Could not see the point of telling the owner they was a fucking irresponsible moron. Like you I suspect they was sure their recall was faultless and the dog needed that human interaction. I too was mauled by a dog as a child. I don't hate dogs. But I sm scared of them approaching me at a run.

I am sorry this happened to you but stop projecting. What happened to you and the dog owners reaction is in no way analogous to this situation.

OP posts:

lessthanathirdofanacre · 04/09/2022 12:14

The man was aggressive and unpleasant, but you were in the wrong too. Dogs should never be allowed to approach people unless they are given express permission. Barking and running up to a stranger shouldn’t be allowed. I understand that your dog was startled, but that’s all the more reason to keep her close to you and under control.

GhostFromTheOtherSide · 04/09/2022 12:16

There was absolutely no excuse for him to react the way he did. None what so ever.

But this is mn so what do you expect eh?

If the dog had jumped up, if the dog had run at him, if the dog was barking at him then yep, maybe. Although even then it’s not on to act so aggressively.

But given you were about to recall your dog and he came straight back the man was an arsehole. I bet he treats his wife and children like shit as well. And I pity his child because he’ll be mimicking that behaviour in the playground before too long.

ILoveLemon · 04/09/2022 12:18

Dog owner here and I think Yabu. My big daft lab is about the same age as yours.

In your words he was out walking with a small child on his back, sees a dog bounding towards him barking and at this point hasn't been recalled. 10 seconds is a long time to someone who doesn't know your dog and sees its actions as potentially aggressive, and if it were aggressive, 10 seconds would be all it needed. I'd be really annoyed too if you were a man or woman. The dogs feelings and intentions don't matter here.

If you have your dog off lead in public places you need to train it to heel and not run barking to other people and children. We all make mistakes so just learn and do better next time.

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:20

Thank you Ghost - its a quiet rural spot around 7 in the morning. I'm conscious of my vulnerability as a lone woman as it is without some big burly bloke looking like he wants to end me

OP posts:

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:23

I don't know if it was 10 seconds "Lemon* - it could easily have been less. He basically didn't give me the opportunity to recall.

OP posts:

User2145738790 · 04/09/2022 12:32

GhostFromTheOtherSide · 04/09/2022 12:16

There was absolutely no excuse for him to react the way he did. None what so ever.

But this is mn so what do you expect eh?

If the dog had jumped up, if the dog had run at him, if the dog was barking at him then yep, maybe. Although even then it’s not on to act so aggressively.

He wants to protect his child from a dog jumping on them so that obviously means he "treats his wife and children like shit." Give your head a wobble and stop projecting.

User2145738790 · 04/09/2022 12:33

What exactly was, "a bit scary" op? Are you always so dramatic?

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:35

User2145738790 · 04/09/2022 12:32

He wants to protect his child from a dog jumping on them so that obviously means he "treats his wife and children like shit." Give your head a wobble and stop projecting.

Show quote history

She would not have been able to reach the child had she jumped (she didn't jump - to clarify, and stopped short of them)

OP posts:

Mammyloveswine · 04/09/2022 12:35

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:20

Thank you Ghost - its a quiet rural spot around 7 in the morning. I'm conscious of my vulnerability as a lone woman as it is without some big burly bloke looking like he wants to end me

Oh ffs op he had his toddler on his back-hardly going to attack you! Honest to god!

He shouldn't have sworn but I have reacted similarly when confronted by big dogs jumping and barking at me when I've been jogging but especially when with my children!

Do not let your dog hang around corners where you can't see who it's approaching or who is approaching. Young children are unpredictable and dogs are animals... what if it was a young toddler running and squealing?

You are in the wrong and have been told so but now your story is changing so that you are a "poor vulnerable women with a big brute of a man practically attacking you".

AdamRyan · 04/09/2022 12:35

A man did this to me, appeared out of the woods behind me and my off lead dog (I was on the path, he wasnt). Then shouted when my dog barked at him. Which made my dog bark more as the man was being aggressive. (I had hold of him at this point).

Some men are arseholes, especially to women. Try to forget about it.

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:37

User2145738790 · 04/09/2022 12:33

What exactly was, "a bit scary" op? Are you always so dramatic?

Wow, maybe you are fine with some out of control man raging at your in a isolated country spot. Round of applause coming your way.

OP posts:

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:38

With respect my story isn't changing Mammy - I was shaking when I got back to my car

OP posts:

User2145738790 · 04/09/2022 12:40

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:37

Wow, maybe you are fine with some out of control man raging at your in a isolated country spot. Round of applause coming your way.

Show quote history

😂

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:41

Trip trap

OP posts:

Original poster

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2022 12:43

AdamRyan · 04/09/2022 12:35

Some men are arseholes, especially to women. Try to forget about it.

Yep, probably should. Chalk that one up to experience and get on with my day

OP posts:

RaRaRaspoutine · 04/09/2022 12:44

Sounds like his reaction was out of shock. Not an excuse really but if he’s scared then I get it.

Downsize2021 · 04/09/2022 12:48

I like the idea that op is unreasonable for being frightened by being shouted at by a large man (who didn't do any harm) but the man is reasonable for being frightened by a dog who also didnt do any harm. The dog didn't jump. He sat down at a distance from the man. If it had jumped I'd entirely agree that the op was unreasonable but it didn't. It was an entirely non event. I get that he was probably frightened by the barking and the rushing up towards him and op has stated what next steps she will take to prevent this in the future. All comments about how people shout "dont worry he's friendly" as their dogs jump up and knock people over are irrelevant to this situation. Op sounds like both of you got a fright and seeing as you cant sit down with the man and talk about your feelings, make the changes you need to and move on. Im sorry you had a bad experience.

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