Please don't tar all dog owners with the same brush. What happened to you (and others in this thread, especially incidents involving terrified children) was horrible and the dog owner(s) in these cases behaved badly - but if you think how many other (well behaved) dogs (and owners!) there are on the common, I think it's the behaviour of a few tainting people's views of dogs generally.

Agreed. Dogs have to be allowed off the lead. The vast majority are well behaved doing so. I go to Wandsworth common a lot and have never experienced any issue with dogs. In fact I enjoy seeing them there. The owner of the dogs in question is at fault here. They should have done more to control their dogs and to recompense the OP. Honestly some of these responses you'd think there was a pack of wolves roaming the commons of SW London. Cats however, don't get me started

Jen66 - Of course dogs can't be on leads in all public places at all times!! They need to have places to run otherwise the only place they could is the garden which in London is pretty small! I personally don't carry cash when walking the dog but do have poo bags, though if I didn't have cash would have still taken details of the op to reimburse.

I also think all dogs should be on leads in public places at all times.

I no longer run on the common because I fear being attacked by a dog - as I have been twice before.

Sorry this happened to you OP. There are Park's Police and you should report the incident to them. The dogs were dangerous and out of control.

And guaranteed the woman who wasn't carrying cash will be the very type not carrying a bag to p/u her dog sh either.

isn't it just a funny accident?..

StephA wrote:Are there rules that dogs should be on leads when they are on the common? I thought that they weren't allowed to run loose.

I wish I'd been there, OP; I would have helped you confront that stupid dogowner.

Agree there should be rules. I am often scared by dogs on the common. They should be obliged to be on leads at all times I think!

Wandsworthteenager, I had the same experience as you a couple of years ago and I think it might have been the same dogs and owner! I remember the Vizla or a dog that looked like a Vizla in particular as well as a couple of other big dogs which were labradors or similar. The dogs rushed at my son who had a sandwich in his hand. My son has been brought up to be familiar with animals so isn't normally scared of dogs, but three big dogs surrounding him, jumping at him and trying to get the sandwich out of his hand was obviously scary (he was then aged about 6 from what I can recall). The owner was slow to call them off - when I first looked round I couldn't tell who the owner was and was trying to chase them off myself. When she did eventually appear it was my son and I had dealt with the situation ourselves by throwing his sandwiches away so they would stop jumping at him. He was obviously scared and shaken (who wouldn't be when the dogs were veering up above him and trying to claw him?!) The owner did then call them rather meekly after that and I concentrated on reassuring my son as I didn't want him to develop a fear of dogs after that! I honestly think she had insufficient control of them and they were the worst behaved dogs I've seen on the common so far. However, I've also avoided offering my son food anywhere apart from the dog-free area since then in case this is a common problem with dogs!

If I do see anyone with dogs who matches this description I shall be watching them closely next time and ready to give the owner a piece of my mind if I see similar behaviour again!

That's really kind of you LP73

Juliantenniscoach - I won't let you give me any Shih Tzu.

Firstly, I am so sorry for your experience the lady should have taken your details and made sure that she repaid you - not all dog owners are like this.

Secondly, what a well written message, I only hope that my daughter writes as well as you do when she is 15.

Finally, dogs have as much right as people to be on the commons and parks. Dogs like humans have their own minds and it can be quite difficult to control a dog that smells food. Also just because the dogs were of decent size you cannot be sure that they are. It puppies or young dogs. Before anyone tried to say 'If that is the case then they need to be on the lead' no this is not the case, being off the lead is part of their training.

I really hope that someone stops to tell the lady with the three dogs what has happened and she is able to contact you to hopefully re-pay you. if she doesn't drop me a DM and as a dog owner I would be more than happy to pay for your pizza and phone cover.

Good man. I'll try not to bark instructions! Sorry couldn't resist

Dogs on the commons are a real pain if your kids are terrified of them.

Recently, I had the day off work and took my three kids (4, 2 and a baby) to the playground on Clapham Common and for a picnic. While I was feeding the baby, a dog appeared out of nowhere, stole the two year old's pork pie and ran off. The dog owner didn't care and walked on. My two year old was very upset.

Ten minutes later another dog appeared and stole the pork pie from the four year old. The dog owner didn't come within 100 yards of me so I didn't get the chance to remonstrate with her.

1sttimemummy - Why should I be expected to restrict my kids to 'dog free zones' just so that they can eat their food? With three kids, it's really not easy to be looking out for dogs as well.

Juliantenniscoach - I've just signed up for the intermediate class starting in September - can't wait.

I'm with Papinian on that point. I'm not sure why I would have to 'shoo away' someone else's dog. I'm amazed at the number of dog owners who simply ignore the very clear 'No dogs' signage around the tennis courts just because it doesn't suit them. It's a dog free area for a reason.

No comment Papinian!!!

1sttimemummy wrote:I am not denying that dog owners should try and stop their dog before it intrudes someones picnic, I'm just saying that if you hate dogs coming up to you then go to a dog free zone or eat at a table!!

Seriously? Don't force your lifestyle choices on the rest of us. Dog owners need to be realistic and keep their mutts away from our children and our possessions.