AIBU to scream and panic when knocked over in the dark suddenly?

Agree, Grandmabatty but no bones broken, no lasting damage, upsetting, yes, but a better result than it might have been.

The OP hasn't said what happened to her dog that was with her, still wondering if the other dog was coming to say "hello" albeit a bit boisterously.

It can't have been much fun to have been sent flying and had a fall.

How can the police have a word, if the poster doesn't know his name nor can provide a description? ?
It's all getting a bit hysterical.

I'd be hopping mad as the dog was not under control. Here, there's a local byelaw that dogs must be on a lead on the pavement.

As the owner didn't apologise, was aggressive and learned nothing from the incident, I'd be inclined to inform the police. They can have a word with him about his (and his dog's) behaviour.

Surely better to just put it behind one and get on with life?

phoenix I do think this was a shock and very traumatic for Lavazz and it does take time to get over something like that

Hope you are not too shaken up Lavazz, thank goodness no bones were broken or that you weren't bitten
X

phoenix

Thank you Kalu, I've read some sweeping statements on GN, but that one just took the Bonio!

Only after the dog had run off he accused me of taking his dog. He was so scary

Well, he sounds utterly bonkers to me, Lavazz! Did he think you'd stuffed the biggish dog into your handbag or hidden it somewhere when you went over?

I know there are lots of dog thieves out there but a woman (not sure how old you are) walking her own dog on a dark evening is not likely to be a dog thief, is she.

I hope you're feeling less shaken up now and don't let it put you off taking your own dog out, preferably in the daylight.

The dog owner was totally in the wrong; what if you had banged your head on the kerb and suffered a serious head injury, what if you had fractured your hip, what if you had landed on broken glass??

Oh there’s nothing like a good burst of “whatiffery”

Fact - these things did not happen.

mrsgreenfingers56

Sorry but this is just a typical dog owner. Not the dog's fault. The owner should have it under control and on a lead. The cheek of it to blame you, beggars belief really. Hope you are feeling better now.

Well sorry Mrsgreenfingers speaking as a typical dog owner (72, widowed, 5 grandchildren, soppy big shiny black Greyhound ) I am amazed with what conviction you feel able to describe all us dog owners.
I do walk her on the lead, but that’s as much for her protection as greyhounds have very poor recall.

Another generalisation MrsGreenfingers most of us responsibly care for our dogs and ensure they are not a nuisance to others. There are those who don't of course and the rest of us get just as annoyed as you are and Lavazza . It's not a perfect world sadly.

Pollydolly, given the fact that Lavazza1st has no description of the dog owner, or the dog other than it was "large", I doubt if the police would be able to do anything, even if they felt inclined to.

Surely better to just put it behind one and get on with life?

Yes, it might have been upsetting, but no one died or was injured, other than a couple of bruises.

I think there perhaps will be a number of posters, who will find that post offensive, Mrs Greenfingers,
I may be afraid of dogs, but I have friends who are very responsible dog owners and I'm fine in the company of their dogs.

Thank you Kalu, I've read some sweeping statements on GN, but that one just took the Bonio!

No, you're not being unreasonable at all! The dog owner was totally in the wrong; what if you had banged your head on the kerb and suffered a serious head injury, what if you had fractured your hip, what if you had landed on broken glass??? He may have lost his dog but you could have lost your life!

I hope you're feeling better today although I've no doubt that it will be sometime before you've regained your confidence. I agree with other comments too, you should report this to the police.

Sending you warm wishes for a full recovery.

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Poor you, you must have been so shocked

mrsgreenfingers56

Sorry but this is just a typical dog owner. Not the dog's fault. The owner should have it under control and on a lead. The cheek of it to blame you, beggars belief really. Hope you are feeling better now.

"A typical dog owner"? What a sweeping statement, mrsgreenfingers56!

So the little old lady with her spaniel/Yorkshire terrier/Labrador (whatever) is the same as the young lad with his collie/staffie/mongrel?

There is NO such thing as a "typical" dog owner!

I'm not sure he's a typical dog owner, mrsgreenfingers56 (and I'm not a dog owner myself, by the way), but he is certainly an irresponsible dog owner.
I hope you are feeling a little less stressed by the incident now, Lavazza1st. It would have unnerved me, too. I hope, too, that you will gradually build up your confidence to go out and about more and will feel able to walk your dog at any time of day before too long. Personally, I would avoid going out in the dark unless it's a very well lit area, though.

I’m sorry * harrigran* but I fail to see the relevance of your sister’s experience in Harris. A completely different situation which has no bearing on this thread.

It possibly says it all about certain dog owners eazybee. Please don’t include responsible dog owners under the same umbrella.

Sorry but this is just a typical dog owner. Not the dog's fault. The owner should have it under control and on a lead. The cheek of it to blame you, beggars belief really. Hope you are feeling better now.

@MawB2 I admit, I probably didn't deal with it in the best way, that's why I put it here in AIBU.

At the time, I wasn't rational, I'd lost the plot as I have PTSD. I need some therapy, but what with covid it's not happened. I've admitted, I screamed and shouted- I was terrified because of a previous event and probably over reacted.

I do feel bad for the dog, it could have thought I looked nice to play with and knocked me over because it was over eager? I don't blame the dog, if the owner had been attentive to the dog, they could have called the dog back rather than "barking up the wrong tree".

I did go for a walk in daylight today, just as the kids were coming out of school as I thought there would be lots of people about and less chance of dogs off lead.

My neighbour has just told me this happened to her on her holiday on Harris, a dog ran out of a house and bit her on the leg, for the rest of the holiday it would not ley her pass the house so she could not go walking.
Why she did not report to the police I do not know, if it had been me they would not have heard the end of it.

I am sure you were frightened by the experience but you will know as a dog owner that screaming and shouting are exactly the wrong things too when around a strange dog. You were not alone were you?
You have no evidence that he had any intentions towards you, you say the dog ran into you (mine regularly does that when she runs into the house - I generally just step aside) it could have been after a cat, or heading for home and his dinner!
It is easy to dwell on past events but do try not to build this up into a major incident, suggesting the dog owner had “taken something” and as for chasing you surely by the time you had picked yourself up abd habit over being dizzy you could not have been all that far away.
Put it behind you and go for walks in daylight from now on.

@Marydoll LOL OK Yes its my favourite brand!

@MawB2 I can confirm it didn't actually attack, but charged into me, knocking me right over. I am not sure what it's intentions were, but my partner did hear it growl. I made such a noise screaming and shouting ( because I was terrified for my dog who my partner was holding) that it ran off. I do have a few claw marks on me, but that might have happened when it ran into me.

I was mainly afraid for him to know where I lived because he was blaming me and thinking I was responsible. If the dog was not found, he said he would come for us.

Lavazza1st perhaps the big dog was bounding over to investigate your dog! May have just wanted to play?

What sort of dog is yours, and how did it react at the time?