Dog walking etiquette!

[mogernator]

New dog owner here. Am feeling quite upset, baffled and angry tbh. Walking dog in the woods. Dog is friendly but new so we are careful around others. See a man coming with his dog off the lead. Decide to put our dog on lead to walk past. On a short lead. Path is about 3 metres wide. Say hello to man. He ignores me and proceeds to walk into my dog. I turn and say urm excuse me! He says stay out of my way. I can't really remember after that but something along to lines of me telling him what an entitled man he was and to have a nice life. I was just completely thrown. I think he just presumed I would step aside for him. I could understand if the path was super narrow or the lead as trailing. But did I do something amiss? I'm trying to just forget about it now but it's really upset me how rude he was and the fact that he just barged into the poor dog!

Experienced dog owner here. Great you put the dog on a lead as you saw another coming, this is good etiquette. I'd say he's just unfortunately one of those ignorant dog owners who don't respect other walkers or their dogs. Unfortunately there are a lot of these. Especially if you have a large dog and they have a small.

Unfortunately, it sounds like you encountered a dickhead. There are many around and some have dogs unfortunately. Doesn't sound like you did anything wrong.

As far as etiquette goes, you are in a potential minefield there as every other owner thinks their dog is perfect / doing nothing wrong / friendly even though it is bounding up to your dog / etc. Generally, if I see another owner has their dog on a lead, I will put mine on a lead. If not, I usually call any I have with me to be close in order that they don't bound up to other dogs.

You will get a feel after a while for other owners or members of the public who are likely to be difficult, but keep in mind that dogs gravitate towards nervous people and arseholes, who are ironically the people who either don't want dogs near them, or people who will give you the most grief.

Also, there will be people who tell you that your dog should always be on a lead, but this would be illegal (see animal welfare act 2006 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/contents )
Section 9 is the reference.

I'm always considerate because of having a giant breed, but I actually had one of these pompous men wave me off the path! By that, I mean, walking towards me, he made a sort of flicking, sweeping motion that indicated "step aside". I wouldn't mind but it's a wide path! I, stupidly, was so shocked, that I meekly stepped aside 🙄Wish I hadn't.
Sadly, some dog owners are just arrogant and entitled. I'm sorry that you encountered one so early on in your dog walking experience. Hope your dog is okay.

It sounds to me if the man has issues, I think you'd of had a similar interaction if you'd had no dog with you. As unpleasant as it was, try not to dwell on it. And give him a wide berth if you see him again.

thanks. I've had a glass of wine now and feeling a bit better! 😁