Dogs jumping up. What to do?

I am a dog person so it’s easier for me, but I still don’t appreciate being charged by a strange dog (except for little fluffy ones). Last time a Rottweiler bounced over I gave it a Paddington Very Hard Stare and commanded SIT. It did just that.
But truthfully you have choices; give someone else the office of Key Holder or ask your local dog warden to pay a visit.

The phrase "don’t worry they’re friendly", is wishful thinking. Jumping up is an annoying and potentially dangerous behavior in dogs. Every dog is a potential weapon. There is always a first time when a dog bites or knocks over a person warranting first aid treatment or replacement of soiled/torn/damaged clothing.
One needs a permit to possess a gun/weapon. Therefore it should be law that dog owners prove their competence in handling their dogs.
The best advice I can give, is to stand completely still when a boisterous (untrained) dog approaches, hands wrapped around one's upper body, and as already mentioned, lift up one knee to ward off the dog, avoiding eye contact, and refraining from speaking or touching them. The dog is expecting a reaction, any reaction, positive or negative.
Some breeds like Jack Russell Terriers, Border Collies, and Golden Retrievers, are often enthusiastic greeters.
Every dog owner is (actually) aware that their dog's poop must be picked up. Unfortunately, you cannot watch them 24/7, and some irresponsible owners will pretend that it wasn't their dog's poop. Despicable! Getting dog owners to monitor each other, may work if they all cooperate.

SaxonGrace

Carry a water pistol or a can of pressurised air, available in pet shops or on that well known shopping site, many dog trainers use this as a training aid, dogs don’t like the sound and tend to turn away from it.

Thanks Saxon Grace, I suggested this in an early post and was criticised. I have the K9 spray as my huge lab is fed up with off lead dogs getting in his face, jumping all over him. If I see the assault running to us I walk him away. No issues, the Jack Russell who had a go at him led to a reaction. He’s a muscular 30kg and whilst he’s a lovely kind gentle well behaved boy, who mixes brilliantly with dogs he knows, these incidents left him deciding roaring at rude dogs reacting like a fierce dog was the way to go. I’ve not used the spray as I’m very careful about where I walk him
A friends dog needed surgery last week after an attack by a “friendly” dog

I started reading this thread and had to stop as I was getting so angry. 😡😡

I am not a dog person and do not want contact with a dog unless I choose it. I don't want the dog deciding it wants to jump up, lick me or anything else. I will decide if I want to stroke a quiet dog.🐶 I have also become increasingly scared of them, because having very poor balance and mobility they could easily knock me over.

I think we're having huge problems now with dogs because there are so many of them, many more than in the past. Just for the record, in the UK we had about 5-6 million dogs in the 1980s and now have something like 15 million dogs. Is it any wonder we have problems?

Far too many, one in three households, and as we know most people go out to work and leave them alone. In an adjoining flat to me lives a young woman who leaves her cockapoodle-type dog for 11 hours every day. I hear it crying sometimes. Then she takes it out for 2 mins (literally) to do its business and that's its walk for the day. Selfish and cruel. It makes me so angry.

There is probably someone employed just to do that

Carry a water pistol or a can of pressurised air, available in pet shops or on that well known shopping site, many dog trainers use this as a training aid, dogs don’t like the sound and tend to turn away from it.

While on the ‘dog’ topic, who picks up after Andrew’s dogs? I can’t believe his protection officer would….

I don’t like dogs - there - I’ve said it. I am not afraid of dogs, I just don’t like them. Why can’t dog lovers understand that? Many assume that I am afraid of them - wrong. I don’t like to be jump at or slobbered on. Keep them away from me.

Some of the frequent jumpers are small dogs, not a chance they’ll get to your face

I was hobbling along a footpath in a country park yesterday. I could see a dog walker approaching with 7 dogs, 4 of them off lead and excitedly bounding around. I could see one of them was heading for me and I tried the “turn your back” technique.

The dog was undeterred and jumped against my back and I lost my balance and came close to falling over. Did the walker apologise or put the lead on? No! 😡

Dogs are jumping up to get their face to your face…if they can’t do that they usually won’t jump up. So turn your back to them as they approach & continue to do so if they move round too. Hopefully then the owner will be with you & get them under control.

Our dog warden is helpful. I wrote our councillor expressing concern at the numbers of commercial dog walkers with eight dogs off leash. He agreeed it’s a problem but couldn’t come up with solutions. Nearby areas have a limit of five dogs to one human. So people use our parks as the council did t set a limit

Guide dog trainers are only to have four on lead, never off. I’ve read a number of charities recommending a human should only wall the number of dogs that coincides with how many hands they have.

Please see if you have a local safer neighbourhood officer. Until we got speaking to one we didn’t realise just how many things they covered. As our said, you shouldn’t feel unsafe and it’s our job to protect you. I found ours much more helpful than the police.

You shouldn’t have to be assertive. And please be careful because some dog owners can be as aggressive as their dogs.

Thank you to all who have replied here. I am reassured that my anxieties are not seen as unreasonable even by the dog owners here. It's good to know that turning away is probably the most sensible option. I have pointed out to people that the notice on the gate clearly says dogs should be kept on leads, but as some here have observed, not all dog owners are responsible, sensible or courteous.
The gates were closed for an extended period last year after one owner refused to put her two dogs on leads while the groundskeepers were actually cutting the grass and there was a bit of a barney.
Children used to play in there a lot, and it was a joy to hear them, but I think the frequent presence of the dogs and occasional faeces has put them off, as I don't see so many now.
After your encouragement here, I will be more assertive with the offending dog owners and hopefully they will get the message and the space can be enjoyed by everyone again.

Some dog owners are just arrogant. We have three holiday lets and last year someone got out of their car with an enormous dog. I was asked if I had dogs which I do and was told that while they were on site ours and other visitors dogs should not be off lead. So taken a back I said nothing. Then gathered up my big girl knickers and went to see them. Door answered by man who apologised and said they would not cause a problem. They did not and in all fairness there was no damage to the cottage

I’ve been told by some owners with prides/ he’s untrainable

These people are pricks and shouldn't have dogs. Not picking up crap and letting their dogs jump all overr people it's not ven as if dog training classes are expensive and the amount you can watch on youtube and read. There really isn't any excuse

Luckygirl3

Oreo

Body language is the key.

Sorry - but keeping dogs properly under control is the key!!

I’m so fed up with the ‘don’t worry they’re friendly brigade’. Never done a days training or they’d never use that phrase, or let their off lead dog run up to people or on lead dogs.

Oreo

Body language is the key.

Sorry - but keeping dogs properly under control is the key!!

They’d get fined here. They are strict on that sort of thing in Australia. You’re not even allowed to let cats out officially. The Nanny country.

I think that it's appalling that you pick up the dog poo and certainly it's very civic minded .
If notices don't work- temporary park closure might be the answer.

I would put signs up saying that due to irresponsible dog owners the park will stay closed for a week. After that week if dogs are let off the lead and poo is not picked up then the park may permanently close. Whoever you are opening up for, whether paid or as a volunteer, has a duty of care. Taking action to protect you should be their priority.

Body language is the key.

Casdon. thanks. I never knew that. There's a Labrador, on a lead on the bus I'm on and it was straining towards me until I looked away and it immediately stopped!
You learn something new every day on Gransnet.