I was on an early morning run around my local woods last week when I noticed a guy was two spaniels coming towards me on the path. One raced towards me and he shouted for it to come back. It took no notice so I slowed and stopped just as it jumped up at me, snarling and barking. I’m not actually sure if it was claws or teeth, but it left three puncture wounds in my leg just below my shorts, luckily just skin deep.
The owner got a hold of him and was very nice and apologetic. In the course of the conversation though he told me that the dog had been traumatised as a puppy, and that now it was triggered by fear of runners and horse riders…and he wouldn’t trust it with children either! I asked why he had it off the lead then, and he said he wasn’t expecting to see anybody on the path….Although he also said that he recognised me as a regular runner there!
I carried on for a bit, but cut short my run and was feeling shaky by the time I got home. I missed my morning’s work (lost pay), checked my tetanus was up to date, and cleaned it up- though it still got infected. A week later and it is still a few days at least from being healed.
He gave me his number and we exchanged a few texts. In the end, I made a police report because I wasn’t sure if he really understood the potentially serious consequences of being responsible for a dangerously uncontrolled dog. It could have been so much worse - especially if it attacked a child.
I am now looking ahead to assess the dogs I see… are they on a lead, is their owner paying attention….? What are your experiences? Do dogs often go for runners? Should I be doing something else to lessen the risk of this happening again or have I just been unlucky?
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Catalpa111
Graduate10
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That was a horrid experience Catalpa. I hope you’re healing well. That owner was definitely in the wrong knowing that dog had issues, and it should have been on the lead in a public place and maybe even muzzled too. It’s odd for a spaniel to act like that, and I feel sorry for the dog for having been traumatised in the past, but that’s no excuse.
I am a dog owner (Labrador) and run with her regularly, so naturally I go to dog friendly places. I’ve only had one unnerving experience in my 5 years of running, and that was when a greyhound/lurcher type leapt on me from behind. It didn’t bite, but it shocked me no end. I also change direction if I see a pack of dogs.
So I think you were simply unlucky, but it’s good to be mindful when meeting dogs. I tend to talk to them as I pass, and put my hand out if one looks like it might jump up.
99% of dogs you’ll meet are good dogs - it’s their owners who are at fault! I hope that hasn’t put you off going back to the woods.
I'm noticing more and more issues with spaniels (judging by the details given in rescue info) (Google was of course a spaniel... who jumped up at a runner once when I didn't get her on the lead in time but still totally unexpectedly. No injuries fortunately)
Oh that’s sad to hear GM. I know they’re dogs who need stimulation and exercise, especially Springers, but all the ones I’ve known have been wonderful family dogs. I wonder what has changed?
A question I've been asking myself too, it feels like something must have.
(It's possible though that people are being more honest with rescues, knowing that a history which includes biting doesn't mean death for the dog, and rescues are being more honest up front with prospective adopters)
That’s a horrific experience for you and I think you did the right thing in reporting it. Doesn’t matter how nice and apologetic the owner was, it’s a dangerous dog and should be muzzled and on a lead.
I’m a dog lover, too and generally love to see dogs out on my runs. A few have even run with me for a while and I’ve joked about taking them home! One ran with me for quite a long way and I had to turn round and run back towards the owner. Another time I knew the owner and one of her dogs (a gorgeous working Setter) ran with me and nuzzled my hand to say ‘hello’. I loved running with her at my side for at least a kilometre along the riverbank! It’s a special memory 🥰
There was only one dog incident where the dog was barking and growling at me really aggressively. That dog was on a lead but looked as though it might break free. I ran past but was seriously spooked. I remember I was on a low heart rate run and my heart rate rocketed! The owner then carried on walking the dog behind me, not that far behind either. The dog continued to growl and bark. I ended up turning round and shouting at the guy to walk his dog somewhere else!
I think you were unlucky and I’m so sorry that this happened to you.
(I have reflected though that his frankness and willingness to share his details may have unfortunate consequences for him and his dog cf the more usual 'never done this before' regardless of truth... )
My husband was bitten on the ear by a dog which was off the lead and being walked with two other dogs. They caused him to fall, hence the ear bite. A trip to hospital was the result!
I never run in the park partly because of this - I’ve never liked dogs and this certainly didn’t help!
I had a similar experience. I was bitten on my left leg just below my shorts. It didn't break the skin bit left three tooth marks. The owner of the dog was about 100 metres away and out of sight. I'm still wary of dogs, although 95% are under control and with their owners.
I think we have been unlucky, but it's not something you forget easily.
That's awful - so unnerving! You did absolutely the right thing to report it - especially after him saying about the fact he doesn't really trust the dog/thought there'd be no one out/recognised you as a regular ... I mean - what a cheek! No matter how nice or sorry he was, dogs must be controlled or on a lead.
I have been lucky so far - see dogs on every run and am always careful and I must admit that at least 75% of those I see either stop or reel in their dogs and keep them close. Plus almost all dog walkers are kind and encouraging about my running; really supportive.
Dog owner here. Based on what I've read here, particularly the owner's words about how his dog can be triggered and reactive, if I were that owner I think I'd have opted for caution and had the spaniel on a lead and /or muzzled.
I've been nipped by a dog once, one of three working farm dogs there to herd and protect cattle on a route I run quite often. Usually if I saw them I slowed down to a walk and stopped, calmly saying hello, then telling them very firmly to go home if they appeared to want to get too close.
I got nipped on the day I failed to do this. I kept running, thinking it'd be fine because the dog knew me. I was wrong. What I forgot was that dogs don't think like people. He didn't realise I was keeping going because I didn't consider him a threat. He just saw me behaving differently, not responding to his guarding behaviour as I usually did, so he nipped me. My fault.
I think it likely that the spaniel that saw you perceived you as a threat and ran towards you to try to intimidate you. Unfotunately when you continued to run towards it, the dog interpreted this as an increased threat and responded aggressively. I'm not saying that is right in any way - it's where the owner's responsibility comes in - just trying to explain how the situation might have developed.
Others may disagree, but I find that stopping or at least slowing down, backing off and staying calm has worked with the dogs that I encounter when out running. Large dogs are regularly used round here to guard livestock, so owners are not about.
And no, I don't think dogs often go for runners. Remember that posts about dog bites or aggression etc are the exception, not the rule. These threads invariably attract replies from people who have had similar experiences, and/or who are dog owners. After all, nobody posts to say that they've done hundreds of runs and never once got bitten!
So yes, I think you've been unlucky. Doesn't make your experience invalid or any less unpleasant, but I hope it won't put you off running.
I've not had that issue, but I know from my own dog that someone running up to him from in-front or from behind would cause a fear response, as it would likely do with many dogs. It would be best to stop running in good time and walk calmly by any dog to avoid scaring it. However, if an owner knows their dog has issues anyway, they really should have it on a lead no matter how quiet the day is. It's never the dogs fault. It should be on a lead or be muzzle trained if it suffers such anxiety like that. Likely in the past, something has caused the dog to have this fear.
I hope your injury heals up quickly and I hope it doesn't put you off. The thing to do is get right back out there before you start to worry too much about it happening again.
Oh blimey that was a bad experience and glad the wound is healing.
I have met loads of dogs on and off leads... I always stop.. stand still and take my cap off... as I have been told many times that my cap scares them..or the colour of my top !!!!
I have been nearly knocked over by a huge Labrador... my daughter has a Lab and it is so well behaved even though still a puppy... The guy had two and not on leads and no control... he kept insisting they were fine and friendly and to carry on running .I didn't and wouldn't until he eventually managed to gat the leads on them...
Mostly the dog owners I meet are great and the dogs... and like cheekychipmunks says, it is the owners I blame for any issues...
I have a friend who was injured on her arm by a chasing dog while running in her local area and needed medical attention. I do get annoyed by owners who don’t take responsibility for the safety of others. I stopped to have. Fruit pastille on a run the other day and an over friendly dog scratched my legs as he thought I had a dog treat. The owner didn’t even apologise.
On the other hand, as I ran in a forest this week , a dog owner stepped to the side and held his dog at heel, which I thanked him for. It is a case of good owners and bad owners unfortunately. I don’t think we should have priority over them but they should know their own dog’s reactions and limit the danger.
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