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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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There are a lot of dog walkers in my area and today while I was walking a dog (on a lead) came up to me expecting me to pet it, the owner apologied but I felt a bit awkward for stopping to pet it while their owners were there.
Does anyone come across this on their walks? What do you do? |
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If a dog I didn't know approached me I wouldn't touch it. In recent times I've had dogs jump up at me with muddy paws, dogs sniffing my bag, owners expecting me to walk in the mud while their dog remains on the path and on one memorable occasion a dog weeing on Mr N's shirt hanging on the back of his chair on the beach while its owners laughed uproariously.
I love dogs, some of their owners not so much  but I don't interact with dogs I don't know |
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By *aitonelMan
over a year ago
Travelling |
If the dog is calm, I'll ask the owner and then pet it. If it's not calm, I won't reward its bad manners with what it wants until it calms.
Always happy to stop and interact with dogs though, I just understand the boundaries and social interactions that should be followed. Much prefer them to the company of majority of people. |
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By *a LunaWoman
over a year ago
South Wales |
I have a reactive dog so I don’t get that problem. I do get dogs thinking they’re Rocky Balboa coming up to me and mine off lead and following us, yapping.
Me shouting at their owners to call their bloody dogs back.
Grinds my bloody gears that.
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I ignore it and smile at the owners and keep on walking."
I usually do this as they're normally going the opposite way but they were going the same way this time. Never occurred to me to ask permission before petting them though  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have a reactive dog so I don’t get that problem. I do get dogs thinking they’re Rocky Balboa coming up to me and mine off lead and following us, yapping.
Me shouting at their owners to call their bloody dogs back.
Grinds my bloody gears that.
"
Yeah I hate that |
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By *aitonelMan
over a year ago
Travelling |
"I have a reactive dog so I don’t get that problem. I do get dogs thinking they’re Rocky Balboa coming up to me and mine off lead and following us, yapping.
Me shouting at their owners to call their bloody dogs back.
Grinds my bloody gears that.
"
My little one can be like that, working on it with a friend of mine as they are a dog behaviourist. So frustrating because it is such a bad behaviour and what people consider "cute and friendly" is rude and extremely bad manners. |
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I am scared of dogs. When a dog comes up to me I just stand very still! I hate when the owners say "oh they're friendly". I'm sure they are, but please don't let them run up to me, it makes me very uncomfortable 
Mrs TMN x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I ignore it and smile at the owners and keep on walking."
 me too, I’m not a dog person at all really (I’m much more of a pussy lover  ) and kind of think owners shouldn’t naturally assume everyone is happy for dogs to bound up to them and jump up on them. Some form of control in public spaces should be displayed |
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Most responsible owners will not let their dog go near someone. Also most people will ensure its ok with the owner before they go touching their dog. As a big dog lover, that's what I would expect anyway |
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By *a LunaWoman
over a year ago
South Wales |
"I have a reactive dog so I don’t get that problem. I do get dogs thinking they’re Rocky Balboa coming up to me and mine off lead and following us, yapping.
Me shouting at their owners to call their bloody dogs back.
Grinds my bloody gears that.
My little one can be like that, working on it with a friend of mine as they are a dog behaviourist. So frustrating because it is such a bad behaviour and what people consider "cute and friendly" is rude and extremely bad manners. "
At least you’re working on it, which is good. |
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By *adyBugsWoman
over a year ago
cognito |
"There are a lot of dog walkers in my area and today while I was walking a dog (on a lead) came up to me expecting me to pet it, the owner apologied but I felt a bit awkward for stopping to pet it while their owners were there.
Does anyone come across this on their walks? What do you do?"
I always ask before petting them just in case they are nervous dogs, just because it comes up to you doesn’t mean it won’t change its behaviour and get scared of you. Better to be courteous and cautious. Most owners will say go ahead. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Most responsible owners will not let their dog go near someone. Also most people will ensure its ok with the owner before they go touching their dog. As a big dog lover, that's what I would expect anyway "
Yeah, I think a big takeaway from this is asking the owners to ensure it's ok which I didn't do as I wasn't really sure how to react, not being a huge dog person. It's something I'll try an keep in mind if it happens again  |
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"There are a lot of dog walkers in my area and today while I was walking a dog (on a lead) came up to me expecting me to pet it, the owner apologied but I felt a bit awkward for stopping to pet it while their owners were there.
Does anyone come across this on their walks? What do you do?
I always ask before petting them just in case they are nervous dogs, just because it comes up to you doesn’t mean it won’t change its behaviour and get scared of you. Better to be courteous and cautious. Most owners will say go ahead. "
agree, permission is always needed first and I am a big dog lover always ready to show them lots of love but that's the only way. Aldo most responsible owners will keep control of their dogs. |
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I’m not a lover of dogs even more so those off the lead. The rare occasion one bounds at you I just stand still, stay calm or keep walking, unless it’s directly in my path, whilst looking looking for the owners. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Owners shouldn’t let their dogs run up to people. They’ve no idea whether people are scared or not.
Mine isn’t allowed to approach people of dogs unless I let him. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Just yesterday my dog stole a stick (just one picked off the floor) out of the hand of another walker whilst in the woods and ran off to chew it. Luckily everyone thought it was amusing, but it could easily have gone badly. |
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I would smile and walk on. I don't really like dogs, especially if they're small and yappy.
Last summer we were in the park when a bear sized dog bounded over to us, smelt our food then proceeded to piss on one of our bags that had the kids toys and jumpers in. The owner eventually called it back, but it wasn't a pleasant experience |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Owners shouldn’t let their dogs run up to people. They’ve no idea whether people are scared or not.
Mine isn’t allowed to approach people of dogs unless I let him. "
Gosh you treat your men harshly! How do you treat your dog?
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just yesterday my dog stole a stick (just one picked off the floor) out of the hand of another walker whilst in the woods and ran off to chew it. Luckily everyone thought it was amusing, but it could easily have gone badly."
My terrier was a menace for a football. Would tackle anyone for the ball and win. Great fun over the park.  |
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By *ady LickWoman
over a year ago
Northampton Somewhere |
No need to feel awkward, unless the owner clearly didn't want you to give their dog any attention in which case they would of walked on anyway. I'm more than happy for people to say hello to mine but a sensible person would ask first.
Like I do if I come across another dog I always ask if it's ok for them to have a sniff. You just never know a dogs, or sometimes the owners, temperament!
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If you expect people to ask permission before stroking your dog, keep it on a lead and under control.
I've tended not to stroke dogs since COVID times just to save awkwardness. These days I just say hello and walk on by. |
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I love dogs so if one approached I'd always check with the owner and then give it a good fuss. I do like a natter to the owner while I'm fussing to know the dogs name, how old he/she is, what breed he/she is if it's not one I know.
Knowing people who are scared of dogs has made me more aware of how often the dogs are allowed to just bound up to me though.
I live right on a great prom and it's always busy with dog walkers. It's a nightmare here if you're nervous of dogs.
It's also a nightmare if you cycle because the dogs run right across the bike lane. |
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