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Warning: Aggressive Dog Walker

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  1. CJC
    Member

    A warning to all users of the path through Holyrood Park beside the Queen's Drive:

    There is a very aggressive and intimidating dog walker who I encountered this evening. He is tall with a large build, shaved head and wearing a high-vis jacket. He was walking about 6 large dogs, of the breeds which I consider "a bit scary", all of them were barking loudly.

    He was coming towards me as I cycled up the hill. I noticed he was in the middle of the path so I dinged my bell a few times and (politely!) shouted excuse me as I slowed down.

    I came to a stop and he shouted "this is a for walkers too" (it is signed as bikes only, pedestrians only on the other side of the road) and that I was a d*ck. His dogs started barking at me as he (literally) pushed his way past me. He shouted quite a few expletives and then walked on.

    TLDR: he was scary looking, his dogs were scary looking, he was scary sounding, his dogs were scary sounding.

    All I wanted to do was for him to control his dogs and walk at the side of the path so I could pass safely...

    Very Poor Photo:

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. gembo
    Member

    Maybe same person who used to lurk around bruntsfield links with mental health issues? Though he had dogs and a child.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. The Boy
    Member

    Fairly certain he lives round Leith. His dogs are fine, ime but there a large pack do of one goes off they all will. No idea about the owner but he's always seemed placid if having the look of the unhinged about him.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. SRD
    Moderator

    Not to excuse this behaviour, but that signage / idea that that path is for bikes and peds should be in the other side is rubbish. First few times I went there I thought it meant 'watch out for bikes' or 'cyclists watch out' not bikes only. Really stupid design/signage. Always pleased that so many people negotiate it without hassle most days.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. neddie
    Member

    Sorry to hear that.

    Could he be a professional dog walker with that many dogs? Do professional dog walkers need to be registered / licensed in any way? If not, they should be.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. CJC
    Member

    Yes I agree that the signage is daft. It just causes confusion. Frequent users seem to "get it" but I find that many don't (particularly tourists!). I don't know why it has been done this way...

    Yes dog walkers must be licensed nowadays. I got the impression that having this many dogs was a "status" thing for this man.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. stiltskin
    Member

    He looks ( & acts) like the one you often see on the NEPN. If so, he must walk an awfully long way.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. Min
    Member

    I know that Scot Squad isn't a documentary but the wee community PC guy had a sketch where he confiscated 5 dogs from someone because you are only allowed to walk four or fewer. If this is true, maybe the polis could be informed?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. paulmilne
    Member

    There are so many complaints about narrow streets and can't fit cycle lanes/paths in, and yet when there are acres and acres of green space all around, they still squeeze walkers and cyclists into narrow paths whilst giving motorists all the room they like. Same in the Meadows. Sorry, off-topic rant over.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. Stephan Matthiesen
    Member

    "maybe the polis could be informed"

    I was wondering too. What's the feeling/experience? In such a case I wouldn't expect the police to do much, but if you felt intimidated it might still be useful that the police are aware (for the police too).

    In the past I've contacted the community officers by email a few times about motorbikes in Craigmillar Park. Once the officers were really enthusiastic as they recognised the person on the motorbike and with my evidence they now had enough to start a prosecution. In other cases I just got a nice thank you. I think generally one should be realistic in the email and say that you don't expect a huge response from them but want to make them aware of an issue.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. Lezzles
    Member

    5 dogs or less is only relevant if they are a professional dog walker with indemnity insurance. And they wouldn't get the dogs confiscated - it just makes their insurance invalid.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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