This glorious morning, I set out to give our 6 month old Berner Sennenhund a proper walk, along a scenic farm path, not too far from our home. There was no one to be seen, except the farmer, who nodded and said Greüzi. My husband phoned so I answered the Natel. Then, a jogger ran by, without saying Greüzi....and I did not notice the puppy ran after her until she screamed! I quickly turned around and called him immediately back. (very good for a 6 month old) She was furious and started to tell me off....(he had startled her by nipping at her jacket)

I profusely apologized and quickly put him on the leash. You would have thought my sincere apologies would have been enough to tame a lion, but nooooo, she had to continue...scolding me (all in English...) and warning me to not let it happen again or else.......again..many more apologies....

Fifteen minutes later, the opposite direction, now in the middle of hectares of open space...SHE shows up again...jogging toward me. I immediately put him on the leash, before he runs to her...and she laid into me again....OH DEAR!

Finally, I told the woman to look at the beautiful land around her and to enjoy life...in fact, I told her to GET A LIFE!!! and to XXXX OFF!

As I returned home, I saw HER AGAIN...she is a neighbor!

Take it she will not be invited for Coffee!

Maybe she didn't like a giant, bouncy ball of fur chewing at her clothes - stupid woman ... just buy another jacket.

They'll be saying that using a mobile is a distraction, next, and diverts our concentration from what we're doing.

God forbid, that they ever apply the ban of using mobiles whilst walking the dog, to driving the kids.

Ok the first time it was your fault. She was mad and had every right to be. You apologized and thats that. The next time though she had no right to start screaming again especially since the pup was on leash. My guess is that she is a dog hating b****. Just ignore her. Some people like to shout. Make sure though that you wont get distracted again

I would have been very annoyed, too. If my coat was damaged I'd ask for your details to pay for a repair. However, after a bucket load of apologies I wouldn't then shout at you again especially as you put the dog on a leash.

Not that I would ever get into that situation. I don't go jogging.

Ask her around for a coffee and some Scooby snacks and maybe she will become your pedigree chum

When she came back, she was still obviously on edge over the incident and would have seen that the dog had been off the leash again. Perhaps, she didn't notice that you were no longer sidetracked by your 'phone. And she probably was enjoying the countrysdie until your dog nipped at her.

Okay, so the dog only nipped her clothing. She didn't know that was all he was going to do. If a dog nipped at me, I would also have an adreniline reaction, wondering if I was going to be eaten alive.

If you feel that neighbourly relations need to be normalised again, then go over and apologise, take her a small gift of homemade cookies or something ( don't take the dog though.)

Looking at the score, I think that one nip quite easily deserves two agitated retorts before calming down.

Tough one this, I know EXACTLY how you feel.

In all probability, the answer is a dog should be leased at all times if they are not able to ignore the distraction of passing joggers. But screw that

What amazes me is "woman" ran back past the dog expecting different reaction and still went off on one.

I guess us dog owners can't blame non-dog owners / random joggers for not knowing what could excite a dog. I have explained a couple of times to those that do this to imagine how you would feel if an elephant came running towards you. It is basically the same thing, except, dogs are braver and think you are wanting to play / worst case, coming to hurt them and they react badly. Normally they just excited, well thats what mine does anyway.

I had a stupid woman dog owner actually ruin my dog walk the other day. I found a secluded spot, was playing fetch with the tennis balls, she comes over with her poodle, starts throwing the ball directly in our line of play. My dog kept to his own ball and was being really good. Then poodle came over to chase my dog, in friendly way, he chased back, woman picks her dog up and is hovering it in the air.

Naturally, my dog is sitting ather feet, tongue wagging looking up wondering what happened to the game. She is screeching, making matters worse and swinging the dog up and down. I said what are you doing, and she tells me, "she might bite him and I am scared what he will do". Seriously deranged. For what is worth, I told he wouldnt do anything, and later on another dog came to play who did bite him, and he just does nothing. Tough but soft as anything, not a bad bone in his body, even in self defence. But I have actually learned that this country has a fair amount of dog owners who make their dog anxieties worse and they cant even trust them themselves.

Go round and make peace with neighbor, explain he is still a pup in training and you were distracted and off guard and if there is any damage to be repaired/replaced offer to help.

If she continues with same attitude, tell her where to go and enjoy the fear in her eyes everytime she sees you and dog approaching.

I would be VERY nice to her. I know of two dogs, who must remain on the lead at all times! They were accused of chasing joggers and cyclists.

That was me and I'm still pissed off and shaking from fright.

Sorry Susan, but your dog should have been on a lead. I hope the lady you encountered does not make an official complaint to the police.

I think it depends if the dog looks like a puppy or a grown size dog. Big dogs running after me doesn't make me comfortable but a puppy is cute.

I doubt a complaint will be made as there is no basis for it.

No damage, no injury, no witnesses, and non aggressive dog.

So, chill, all will be fine.

Nah doesnt matter, I have a permanent puppy that barely reaches mid shin that scares the shit out of loads of joggers and pedestrians just by walking, nevermind when he lets that big old tongue out and starts smiling, note smiling and not snarling. It's amusing, its the big ears and squashed little face of his, the beast that he is

Most of the big dogs which I encounter are well-trained and often the owner calls the dog to heel and keeps him on the side away from me. Little dogs tend to run round my feet which I'm not really keen on however sweet they are.

I am sure. I was just saying how I feel about them myself. I am normally not scared of dogs as I have many around me now and in the past but I am very not comfortable with big dogs I don't know. Except puppies, I don't feel insecure.

I'm the opposite, large dogs are fine, it's the little, yapping, runts that bother me!

Tom

a swift kick will stop them yapping.

It's a constant battle in winter around the lake in Lausanne (Vidy area). The dogs are allowed to go off-lead from October to March, but the area is also very popular to joggers and people on bikes.

It causes endless quarrels between dog owners who enjoy the one and only place around Lausanne where their dogs can run freely, and the joggers who get ad over dogs running in and around their feet.

As I often get there over lunchtime (close to my work place), I know to be careful!

Nor am I. However, I go out walking sometimes with a friend who has a disability and I'm eternally grateful to dog owners who make it quite clear that they have their dog under control before we get near them. It is unnerving for her to be thrown off balance by anything. She has enough problems with uneven surfaces, she really doesn't need a dog round her feet to make things more difficult. So when I see particularly considerate owners, I often thank them in the hope that they'll keep up the good work.