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Dogs jumping up. What to do?

(6 Posts)
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DotScot Sun 24-May-26 18:50:19

I am the official key holder for a small park area nearby and I open and close the gates every day. It's a lovely grassy area and people often take their dogs in there and let them off the lead, even though there are notices on the gates asking them to keep them on the lead.
I am not a dog person, but I understand that some people are and I am a live-and-let-live kind of person. So I frequently pick up the dog poo that owners have 'not noticed' because children also play in there. BUT I am very anxious when dogs, sometimes quite large ones, race over and jump up. Their owners generally laugh and say something like 'oh she just wants to play'. Sure. But I don't.
I generally stop and turn away, keeping my hands open and out of my pockets (since one owner kindly told me it was my fault that her dog jumped on me because 'obviously' it thought I had treats in my pockets hmm ) and wait for the owner to control their dog (if I'm lucky). But in that time, I often have to endure the slobbery and sometimes snappy attention of their dogs.
Anyhow, what would the dog owners here suggest as the correct response to such dogs please to stop them jumping up and scaring me? Today it was two sturdy bullmastiffs. I was not amused.

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valdali Sun 24-May-26 19:08:47

I think what you're doinng is fine, you could also say "down" when they do jump on you.

Just a suggestion, but if it's a small park only used by locals maybe you could ask owners not to feed others' dogs treats whilst in the park,only their own dog as needed for training etc. as it does encourage this behaviour and other park users may be scared of dogs - not just you.

Have to say most dogs who approach me in local park are hoping for treats - if I show them empty hands they soon lose interest.

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Georgesgran Sun 24-May-26 19:12:56

You could try this - as the dog begins to jump up at you, just lift a knee. You’ll catch the dog on its chest, knock it off balance and it’ll soon get the message to stay down,
I hasten to add you aren’t kicking the dog, just placing a barrier (your knee) between them and you,

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Casdon Sun 24-May-26 20:02:32

Just turn away from them as they approach you, they don’t tend to jump up unless they see you are looking at them?

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Iam64 Sun 24-May-26 20:09:34

Down for my dogs means lie down. It would for the majority of well trained dogs. Off is the command if they jump up ( my sons in law aren’t as well trained as my loooy lab and hug him if he leaps for joy when they arrive)

I would not be patient with the off lead, badly behaved dogs jumping up at me, it’s totally unacceptable, a small water pistol right in their face won’t hurt but might shock. It’s not your job to ask owners not to treat other folks dogs. It’s very basic dog ownership responsibility
There’s a k9 spray. Legal and available on Amazon.

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OldFrill Sun 24-May-26 20:51:03

Who owns the park, is it insured? If the insurance policy states dogs should be on a lead the insurance is likely invalidated if they are not.

Firing a water pistol or dog deterrent spray at a dog may cause aggression (from the dog and/or it's irresponsible owner) don't risk it.

The owners need telling, especially if the park is shared with children, sounds like a bad incident waiting to happen.

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