Of people who are afraid of dogs. I'm very lucky to have lots of lovely places to walk my dogs where people usually have dogs and/or are very dog friendly. But, on Tuesdays, I take Mollie to our large, lovely local park while Mr Boogs takes Tatze on her long walk. I work on Tuesday afternoons so he does Mollie's training walk then. When I get to the park it's full of women, walking in twos - after walking their children to school. They walk round and round quickly, clearly a fitness thing. Today there were at least ten pairs of women. Mollie is a good girl and never jumps up so it hasn't worried me - I call her to me as we pass as they are all afraid of dogs - Mollie comes and trots with me - it's good training. Today we came round a corner, one of the women screamed and jumped back then fell over a kerb (Mollie, to her credit, didn't react). I felt terrible, but - honestly, we hadn't done anything wrong. The woman was OK and soon power walking round again. But the woman with her said 'you should have your dog under control' - I assume she meant on a lead. I don't want to go to the park again and I feel it's been taken over . Silly, I know, but all my pups have had this routine and I've loved it. I don't especially enjoy my Tuesday afternoons at work - I do it for holiday money, so it's worth the effort lol - but our morning park walk brightens the day. Ho hum, pig's bum - I'll have to rethink our routine. Here she is in the park by a huge tree that came down in the last storm.
Aw Mags, that's a shame. Is it just that recent incident that makes you want to avoid the park? Because if so, bear in mind that that is just one person's comment, compared to all those other people who (even if they are nervous of dogs) have not made a fuss because you do have your pup so beautifully under control - without a lead. That one person doesn't know what she is talking about and her comment ought to be just ignored as white noise. All those others are showing you that you and Mollie are absolutely fine. (And it probably does them good to see a dog that is behaving well!) But if it is more than that - if it is generally the increased presence of all those power-walkers and distractions - then I can see why you feel "your" park isn't where you want to be any more. So sorry about that - but perhaps you'll find somewhere even better! Sympathies...
That's so sad I'm sorry Mags! Some people are really not very nice! I struggle with this a bit because Mollie wasn't doing anything wrong. If someone was frightened and Stanley was doing his tigger impression towards them then I'd be so apologetic and feel bad. But Mollie is entitled to be in the park and sounds like she's being very well behaved. If Stanley wasn't doing anything wrong I'd maybe give a half hearted "are you ok?" And just escort him away. If you're terrified of dogs why would you power walk around a park anyway? You'd do it round the streets where people generally have them on a lead. The mind boggles
Not that you should have to do this, but would it be possible to have her Guide Dog in Training jacket on when you're at this park? It might make those people who are afraid see her in a different light, and therefore you can enjoy your walks there again? Or is she only supposed to wear the jacket at certain times? I'm woefully ignorant about this topic so apologies if this is totally not doable.
Sorry Mags but don't let this stop you enjoying your walk in this park with Mollie. If you have any more power walking mummies say that to you again just reply "she is in training just like you" and walk off. xx
Ah, yes, I have sympathy with people who are afraid of dogs, sure, but not with the ridiculous things they sometimes say or do. I have a friend who is scared of dogs. We see her often in the winter mornings in Andorra as she walks down the road to work as I'm walking up to the place I take the dogs. The dogs ignore her completely, because she's boring. I'll say hi to her and sometimes stop for a few words, but she doesn't look at, or engage with the dogs in any way. She keeps her distance, even when we're talking, because she's scared, even of Luna when she was a little mite. She is, to be honest, the perfect human to train calmness around, because of how she ignores them. Then there are the people who are, quite frankly, bonkers. One in particular stands out in my memory. A lady, probably in her thirties, called out to us from a distance that she was scared of dogs. J and I, with one dog each, crossed to the other side of the road and put the dogs in a sit, so she could pass with as much distance as possible. It's not the widest of roads, but two cars can pass, plus there's parking along one side, and a pavement on either side, so you can see, there's no way that the dogs, both on regular leads, could have possibly reached her. As she approached (still on the opposite pavement), she flung her arms in the air and, waving them around, ran past, screaming. What. The. Actual. I understand how they must make you feel upset and not want to go back, but you have just as much right to be there as them, so you shouldn't feel you have to relocate.
Thanks all. I'm feeling a bit better now, I must simply change my perspective and use it as a 'walking sensibly' training opportunity and not an 'haring crazily round the park' time. The park isn't overrun with Walking Women at other times of the day. No, she only has her jacket on when working - not when she's 'off duty' She does have a yellow Guide Dogs flash on her lead but I doubt it would mean much to the people in question. I go into a lot of local schools doing talks for GDs so maybe the next generation will be less afraid. I'm such a dog person I can't begin to imagine a culture where dogs never feature at all lol. . .
Hattie and I were invited to a Pets as Therapy event, we walked into the room and a retired lady shouted out "I'm terrified of dogs keep her away, my Mum told me I had been bitten when I was 18 months old" Is she "terrified" of dogs just because she was told she was bitten as she couldn't possibly remember it sooooo many years on? I was on the verge of offering to leave the event but then very quickly changed my mind and just didn't go anywhere near her. Ridiculous some people x
Sorry to hear this Mags, it really is off putting, I totally sympathise. I have had people screaming in the street when they have seen Mabel and bless her she has looked at them as if to say "really get a grip". I do appreciate that there are many people frightened of dogs and it doesn't help when there are so many irresponsible owners about, but I could understand them if she was jumping everywhere but she is either walking or sniffing. I've all but lost my patience now and actually tell people to stop it, although it is proving to be a very useful training aid. The park we drive to once a week is now over run with the power walkers and a group called "wheelie fit mums" who are all running, star jumping etc while pushing their babies in their pushchairs". Now that has been a very useful training aid.
I do feel for you Boogie. If I was frightened of dogs, I would walk where there aren't dogs, I know that is limiting and we should all be free to walk where we want, but if scared, keep away from the scary thing. Nothing wrong being scared of dogs, but screaming and waiving arms about is the very thing to make dogs run towards them! Not that Mollie did! I can quite see why you felt fed up x
I do pick up Betsy's handle lead on her collar when passing people, as she's not reliable yet, but Charlie stays off lead because he'll ignore them no matter what they do. I meet all sorts in London. Women who think my Labradors are going to jump into their child's buggy and maul them. People who scream at me to cross the road with my dogs (I certainly do not, they can cross if they wish to do so), and so on. Waitrose delivery men who refuse to bring the shopping in unless my dogs are removed (Charlie doesn't get out of his bed for deliveries and Betsy is always on a lead for deliveries.....). I say don't pander to them, it only encourages their silliness. Ignore them and carry on.
I go about things a bit differently, as I think if you are scared of a big dog, then you just are scared and not putting it on. If I notice anyone who looks at all nervous, I call Poppy to heel and have her walk right by me, on lead if they really look frightened (for instance recently a woman who clutched her husband's arm and shrank behind him and we got near). But it doesn't generally stop me having Poppy running free; I just try to be aware of people's body language and react accordingly. Edited to add: Goodness knows how this will all fall apart with the new puppy though!!!!!
I can empathise Mags , at Golitha Falls where is walk the dogs most days , there are now lots of holiday makers . Weekends in particular , its so busy with non dog lovers , that I don't go, which is crazy because we have every right to be there but its the though of running the gauntlet with the screamers that puts me off ! I have a problem at home when my sister and husband are down this way , they don't get dogs at all, in fact are often downright hostile to the point that I have been asked before now, if I will put the dogs in another room , bet you cant guess my reply !
I agree with @Karen, if people genuinely are frightened of dogs and I can see they are or the tell me they are, Hattie is put on lead straight away and I will do my very best to give the human plenty of space. I totally object to screaming, arm waving etc. which Hattie totally ignores anyway, there's just no need for it. x
That's what bugs me too Helen , the screaming and shrieking , guaranteed to make the calmest of dogs wildly excited x
Its their problem they should sort themselves out. I don't make others suffer, I either ignore them if they say that dog is out of control I tell them straight there's on one thing out of control and thats you . Its the one thing thats guarantee to annoy me . I go out of my way to be polite careful and kind but I will not put up with intolerance and harassment . The parks are for us all to share I'm very happy to share but not to be intimidated by idiots. Sorry but it makes me grumpy intolerance and unkindness always does.
I can totally sympathise, Mags. The stories I could tell you (oh, wait, I think I DID tell you those stories!) about having Rotties for 20 years and some of the rather unbelievable public reaction. I'm glad you've decided to keep on keeping on. It's really the only thing to do, because there are always people out there who are not going to like dogs, even well-behaved ones. But I can also really understand if you changed up your routine a bit not to collide with a certain group of people. Heck, I avoid an entire country (France) because I got tired of all the wacky anti-dog attitude. So either way, sending you and Mollie hugs!
