A dog was loose in an upscale neighborhood I was biking through this afternoon and I saw a woman...?

Question

on the other side of the street with a smaller dog on a leash. I figured the large dog was hers because she would keep walking forward yet look back. She also saw me stopped in the street. I will not go past loose dogs in the street if I see them. You have no idea what a dog will do--they have been known to attack their own families. Finally, the dog ran into a backyard of a house and I was able to pass. I approached the woman, who was on her cell. "Is that your dog?" I asked. She either ignored me or barely nodded. I asked: "Why do you allow it without a leash?" and she just kept talking on her phone and walked past. Was she rude? Was I?

Answer 1

I think you were concerned. The lady was rude. Was she a foreigner? Sometimes they are rude and ignore you when you speak to them because their English isn't that good.  It probably wasn't her dog, she was maybe looking back to make sure that dog wasn't following her. If she had enough sense to have her small dog on a leash then she would have put the larger one on one too.

Oh and don't be fearful of dogs, they pick up on that. If one approaches you like its going to attack you punch it in its nose.

Answer 2

If she was using a public phone would you have interrupted her? Why is it people assume that since it's a cell phone it's okay to butt in? I don't think she was rude at all, she ignored a potential confrontation and walked away. If you're that paranoid about stray dogs, carry some pepper spray on your handle bars.

Answer 3

1) maybe she was on the phone hearing about a family emergency.

2) maybe she didn't speak English.

3) it doesn't make sense that she would have one dog on a leash (a little one) but let the big one go free. it would seem she would have both on the lease, seeing as she had one on the leash.

4) maybe she was in fear of you. a stranger, approaching her, on a bike and talking to her. she may have been afraid of you.

i don't think either of you were "rude" but i think there was a laps in communication and understanding.

Answer 4

I think you overreacted.  I bike too- and encounter dogs all the time.  If they don't bother you, then what is the big deal? She probably thought you were rude for interrupting her phone conversation.  So, you're even.

Technically though, you are right, dogs should be on their leash at all times, but that will never ever happen where everyone does that.  The best thing you can do is go about your day without letting it get to you- unless you get a rise out of calling animal patrol.

Answer 5

She is rude, not only is she showing lack of concern for her own pet by putting it in danger by not using a leash but she is possibly putting others at risk by not having her dog on a leash....thats why there is a law against not putting you're dog on a leash...and she should have at least had the decency to answer you're question but like most of society she is a selfish twit...what can ya do?  Then she will boo hoo and whine when she gets a ticket for letting the dog run around unrestrained.

PS people...imagine if the dog running around glefully knocked you're grandmother or toddler face down on the concrete as you were walking with them...then it wouldnt be okay would it?

Answer 6

well personally i wouldent have said anything, maybe i would have asked if the dog was hers but not while she was on the phone, besides it could be a very well trained dog!

Answer 7

I must admit that I see many dogs not on leashes where I live and think nothing of it. I assume that if the owner is nearby then they trust the dog to be off the leash - it may be a particularly obedient dog. The woman may have thought you were going to tell her off and wanted to avoid confronatation, so she ignorred you. It sounds more like a misunderstanding on both parts. I don't think either of you were rude.

Answer 8

I'd say you were.  You don't know the situation.  I'd guess from your description that the larger dog was NOT hers (your description of her "confirmation" that the dog was hers is less than convincing).  Unless you know it was hers - and you DON'T sound sure - then it's not her responsibility.

You need to deal with your fear of dogs, or you WILL get hurt.

Answer 9

i think she was very rude she could have a least say one moment or something.

Answer 10

OMG, The exact same thing happened to my 2 daughter's and I, we were walking our little fox terrier down the sidewalk, when out of nowhere comes this HUGE dog, we all freaked out, as we were far from home, no one , but, people in cars going by. This dog, I believe was a Irish Setter, thought they were nice dog's? He started to follow us, growl, show teeth, I put my girl's behind me, and picked up our dog. People driving by were yelling out their windows of their cars, why don't you get your dog on a leash, because he was almost into the street. No help, think someone would notice???Finally, this guy shows up in his pickup, grabs this dog so cruelly, by the neck, and throws it into the back of the pick up, I was even more horrified. Anyway, I kept saying, why is your dog lose? Whats going on? He totally ignored me, and just took off with that dog, who was cowering at this point. Answer to your question....SHE was rude! I think people are so rude going around talking on cell phones while, driving, at the register, while at work, and your trying to check them out, idk, they are just rude a lot of times with cell phones, it sounded like she was 100 miles away, and probably didn't even notice you, you were offended. You were NOT rude, she should have put the phone down for a minute, just forget it hon, and try to have a better day, there is rude people everywhere, probably not the last one you will see. Good Luck.....Isaballa

Answer 11

if it didnt attack you or bother you, then there wasnt much of a point in interrogation.

she probably wasnt comfortable talking to you if she didnt know you.

Answer 12

Mmmm.  IMO, you were both rude -- you, for not greeting her and for interrupting her phone conversation; her, for not responding to you verbally.

I totally understand your reluctance to go pass loose dogs in the street.  Your concern for your safety is valid.  I like dogs very much and will usually stop and greet them, but understand that some dogs are unfriendly, while others just like to chase anything that moves, like a bicycle or a car.  

If the loose dog really belonged to the woman and she did not keep it on a leash, then she was wrong AND rude.  However, it is not clear from your description that she was the owner.  You said she either ignored you or barely nodded.  She might have been just trying to acknowledge you nonverbally while she was in the middle of a phone conversation.  She might have been walking and looking back before at the big dog because it was not her dog and she was worried for herself or her smaller dog.

Please try to look at this from a different perspective.  Imagine you are the woman, walking your dog on a leash and speaking on a cell phone.  A stranger (a man in his 40s) on a bike stopped in the street, looked at you, approached you, and started speaking to you without so much as a greeting.  He continued speaking to you even though you did not speak to him.  Were you rude to avoid further contact with the stranger, or did you have a valid safety concern?

Answer 13

She was rude.

Answer 14

I don't think you were being rude because you had a valid point.  Especially on a moving bicycle the dog may have chased after you.  She should have had the common courtesy to call her dog back and waive you on to pass.  I often walk with my dog off its leash because I know she won't attack.  But when people come by I call her to my side and releash her ... because of your exact point.  Further, as sweet as my dog is, you never know what could happen or what could set her off.  Anyone who 100% guarantees that their dog won't attack is lying to themselves.  Dogs still are wild animals.  Trust your instincts on it, like you did.  I don't know how old you are but you could tell your parents or call animal control - you don't need to make a huge deal out of it but she should be made aware that she should be in control of her dogs at all times, or at the least pull the dog to her side when others go to pass or approach.  It was ignorant of her to not consider others who may also be using the street.

Answer 15

She might have been distracted while on the phone, and maybe the dog has been know to run off then return (it's the same thing with one of my neighbors dog) so maybe it had just escaped and so it wasn't really a big deal, but she should probably try to do something to keep the dog inside more