Dogs! (Read 1450 times)

Hi guys! I'm new here, but this thread caught my eye since I experienced an attack last fall. I had moved to a rural area last May. There's only two routes I can take, left or right. Well, to the right there are several dogs in a short distance that all chase me. This one house had three labs that would always come into the road and chase me. One of them always sounded mean, growling and such. I talked to the owners and they said they would never hurt anyone. I felt a lot better. I just ignored them and kept my pace and went on my way each time. Well, in September, after running by there for four months, that mean sounding dog took a chomp into my calf and knocked me into the asphalt. It scared the living daylights out of me. I cried like a big baby and was screaming. The owners were very nice about the whole thing and took me to the ER and paid all the bills, but I won't run that way anymore because of the other dogs that are there, two heelers and two gread danes. I just wanted to tell you that I DID have my pepper spray, but I was already past the dogs and thought they had gone back home. I guess sometimes it doesn't matter how prepared you are!

I live in a very rural area and most dogs are not on a leash. After fighting off dogs twice (and once I used pepper spray- police issued pepper spray- the really good stuff- it had NO EFFECT on the dogs- but made me gag) I finally gave up on running from my house. I now run at a park on my way home from work or at a national park for my long runs. It makes me sad that I don't feel safe on my own streets, but my runs are much more enjoyable now that I don't have dogs chasing me (it also helps keep my heart rate down).

... If a dog follows you ever: Run AT the dog. Yell or bark at the dog. Every time you run past a dog, you are telling it that it is more alpha than you. Which gives it license to attack you in its mind. Don't ever teach a dog that you are meat. If the dog attacks: Grab it by the neck or collar Push the neck to the groud with all your weight

That's right. Dog psychology 101. Dogs spend their entire lives trying to be alpha. If you run away, you have just made them alpha (dominant). If you challenge them and make it abundantly clear that you are not to be messed with, 99% of the time they will back off. That means, you turn and face them, run toward them, yell at the top of your lungs, pick up a stick or rock or whatever. Have you ever seen fighters before a fight, trying to psych out their opponent? It's the same. Some local dogs on my running route have crossed their property line twice, but have since learned that I am alpha and not to be challenged. Now they don't leave their property. A few times I carried a stick, just in case. Dogs know what a stick can do.If they were Michael Vick dogs and still come at you, do what Trent said, or pepper spray, or a big stick, or whatever it takes (there's a scene in the movie, No Country for Old Men, that shows what I mean). FYI, I have three Dobes: The one on the left is Daisy, my avatar and running partner. They are always on leash and under control.

straight amonia works wonders too!! might be tougher to carry though... .380 automatics are pretty small and light...and they will put down a dog also.... shooting one in the rear and having them bleed on their owners carpet and the vet bill to fix it MIGHT convince them to keep it tied up....but I doubt it....the owners will just sue you and make you pay for being on a street. grr...hate irresponsible dog owners...should use the pepper spray on them...LOL

I love dobbies with ears. Too f 'n cute!!!

It amazes me at how lazy people can be about training their dogs. My husband and I spent hours training our dogs. Both walk without leashes and run with us, without leashes. The key is that they NEVER leave our sides. Even when other dogs come running right at us, my dogs ignore the other dogs and stick to our side. Looking back, it wasn't extremely difficult to train them, just took some time and patience. And I will admit that there are times we have to remind them of the rules. It makes me so sad to hear all your stories about aggressive dogs, because, in my opinion, the owner of those dogs could easily prevent those situations.

Both of my cats run, yes. They routinely chase each other at full speed down the apartment. I feel bad for the people downstairs. *gallop gallop gallop* Maybe I could take them with me on a Gentle Leader?

If a dog follows you ever: Run AT the dog. Yell or bark at the dog. Every time you run past a dog, you are telling it that it is more alpha than you. Which gives it license to attack you in its mind. Don't ever teach a dog that you are meat. If the dog attacks: Grab it by the neck or collar Push the neck to the groud with all your weight

Really good advice everyone! I have had my fair share of dog encounters and some just never seem to get the fact that all I want to do is keep cruising along in my run. Since we are on the topic of dogs I have been considering getting a dog to run with and I would really like to get one that can handle longer distances (12 - 20 milers if not more). I use to run w/ my brothers mixed breed dog (lab and chow mix) but it would always get sore paws before we could run any more than 4-6 miles 3-4 times a week. It seemed to be able to handle the longer distances ok, but I really want to make sure the dog that I do get will be able to handle the mileage. Any suggestions out there for good dog running breeds or mixed breeds for that matter (I am not picky)?