Worst Run Ever? Advice about dogs please

[johnm12]

Lovely day today, all good at home, and the sun was shining. So off I went, full of the joys of spring ( well summer). After a couple of Km, I saw a woman ahead of me walking in my direction with three dogs ( one on a lead). As she hadn't seen me I followed my normal practice of calling out a cheery " Good morning" when about 20 yards away. This resulted in one of her dogs ( a young German Shepherd I think) turning, running towards me and biting me on the side., hard enough to puncture flesh and draw blood. I shouted at it and it backed off. I stopped, the woman apologised and I said in a state of some shock . " You should keep your b***dy dogs under control". I then ran off. About 1 K later and parked, just where I normally re-entered the woods was a police car. I explained what had happened to the officer, who not only took my details ( she was a runner too!), asked for a description and location and subsequently spent some time looking without success for the woman. She was also kind enough to call me back later that afternoon and promised to look further into it. I have no desire to report a crime but would like the dog owner to be cautioned to take more care. I am a fit ( now) and healthy man and capable of defending myself. If I had been a child goodness knows what the outcome could have been. The wound is not bad but I have a course of antibiotics to follow and must say our local health centre responded really well.

So, dear Virtual Running Buddies, any ideas on what I could have done or can do now to minimise the chance of this happening again? Must say most dog owners are pretty good, see me coming and put their dogs on a lead or call them to heel if they are properly trained.

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Just read your post, there is honestly nothing you could have done it's the dog walker who could have done a lot more

Maybe now she will keep that dog on a lead also. Hope you are ok and can go out again and enjoy your runs. I have a dog myself and he hates anything that passes him at speed runners, cyclists children on scooters . Hope you are ok😊

[johnm12 Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

Thankyou. Yep all ok. As Arnie would say "I'll be back"

[Buddy34 Graduate10 in reply to johnm12]

😂😂

[backintime Graduate10]

Nothing else you could have done. She should have the dog on a lead or muzzled. I have 2 dogs who attack small animals (strong prey drive from a previous life before I got them) and they are always walked on a lead and muzzled.

[TuxCatLady]

I've been faced down by a snarling dog it took a while for the owner to control and once hilariously herded by a sheep dog, but I think you did everything you could in that situation unfortunately, the onus is on the owner to control their animal. Hope you heal soon and the police manage to track them down.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Owners not dogs...you did everything you could, presumably you stopped running... It is a nightmare for many runners, and we have had a lot of posts on here about it.

I have been rounded up twice by a sheepdog, the owner of which was unable to control it and barely able to get a lead on it.

It is good that you reported it and that you are being treated for the bite...hopefully it may not happen again.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

What a terrible situation John, that must have been both frightening and very painful. I can only guess that the young dog was spooked when you called out and went into attack/defence mode. But surely all 3 dogs should have been on leads.

I know there are many responsible dog owners on this forum and they might give you advice when coming across dogs while running.

But I do worry about the current fashionable interest in owning a dog, as there are many owners who do not take necessary precautions to protect others from them, or do the training needed for both owner and dog.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

OMG that’s horrendous! It’s really serious if a dog bites and I’m so glad you reported it to the police.

You couldn’t have done anything else, it’s totally the owner’s fault and I’m still surprised when I’m out to see so many owners who haven’t got the first clue about disciplining their dogs. It makes my blood boil 🤬

It doesn’t bear thinking about that dog roaming free to attack a little one. Let’s hope the police get the owner.

A friend of mine went on a running course years ago and they did a section on dogs. They were advised to avoid wearing black because apparently it makes dogs aggressive and to stop running when you meet a dog. Although on some routes that can be hard 🙄

I hope you’re feeling ok and this hasn’t put you off. Our friend Irish-John has quite a bit to say about dogs and I think he’ll be shocked but sadly not surprised to read your tale.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

So sorry for this horrible incident. I agree you did everything right. You mentioned it was a young dog - and as we have no way of knowing if it had acted so aggressively before - let's hope the owner responds by keeping the dog on lead or muzzled next time. Hope you are not too sore today and are back out running soon.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

That is appalling to hear John, and I’m so relieved you’re ok. You’re right, you’re a fit man - it could easily have been an elderly person, a child or a smaller dog, and the outcome may not have been ok. Nothing you could have done different - in fact you did everything right. The owner was irresponsible and it’s good that you reported her. “There’s no such thing as a bad dog” ......

I run with mine - a Labrador - and I trust her implicitly. Even so, she’s an animal under my control, and anything she might do would be my responsibility. Simple as that. 👍