Runners are not chase toys.....

[Vixchile]

Sorry to all the dog lovers......I love dogs I do. I actually use to have a beautiful cocker spanial. What I dislike is dogs that roam free or off their leads and decide to chase you as if you are a game or maybe a snack!!! I think this would be a real reason for me to stop running.

Today there were so many dogs out and i spent a fair bit of my run trying to avoid them and getting them to stop chasing me. Now this might seem funny but in Chile getting bitten by a "free/abandoned" dog is a real risk. I don't fancy a trip to the hospital as a result!!!

On other runs i have nearly tripped over many dogs on the very long extension leads that suddenly decided to change direction.

The worse encounter i have is a little dog on a lead again a long extension, as i have learnt this dogs are unpredictable on these leads i slowed to a light jog almost walking speed and went to the far edge of the pavement. The next thing this little thing leapt towards me barking, i jumped into the road which had on coming traffic!! Luckily, we live in Chile so cars are great at stopping, well MOST of the time!!!

I am just fed up with dogs!!! I have nothing against them if they are trained and owners take responsibility for them. The worse thing someone can say is "its ok he is just being friendly", well how do I know that?

[the_tea_fairy Graduate]

If a dog is loose and misbehaves, I think you're within rights to kick it. Which probably isn't kind, but really if I'm running with my parents did off the lead and he bothers someone, I'd prefer him to know that's not acceptable right away. It could also be worth miming picking up a stone to throw - seem to remember this working to scare away loose dogs when travelling in both Asia and South America.

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to the_tea_fairy]

Thank you for understanding - Good tip - i might try when i am getting pursued by a big dog when i am alone - the other thing i thought about was one high pitched sound things but its where to carry it.

[gary_bart]

I actually had some dog problems of my own today (and when I chose my current walking route it was a big factor that the dogs along the way appear to be responsibly kept). This morning I was heading up our hill on my bicycle when I saw the naughty Labrador who often escapes, up ahead. I know he's an aggressive Lab (rare, but they do occur) so I turned around and took a longer route.

Then on my walking route, someone had left the gate open at the home of a big German shepherd. He was a Very good dog, because although he barked at me as if I was the mailman carrying his deadly bag, he didn't cross over the line of the front gate. In fact he stood where the gate would've been, bouncing as he barked, as he would've, had there been a gate. A big dog like that who decides to take a bite can really spoil the rest of your life for you (or even end it there).

So I utterly agree with you, even more than I would've on an incident free day. Utterly, utterly, then. Or utterly, utterly, utterly. People have a responsibility to keep their dogs out of the streets. No excuses permitted.

[Vixchile Graduate]

Well at least i am not alone - it happens everywhere!! An aggressive Lab - makes you wonder what happened to him. Actually that goes for all dogs really!!?? At least the owner of the German Shepard trained him properly, its such as shame when people don't.

Yeah i agree people do have a responsibility!! In south america its a very different "tail" (see what i did there!) there are so many dog wondering around. I have asked people and in Chile they like them and they protest if the government suggests reducing numbers. But some are in such bad condition i wonder is that fair when they have worms, fleas, skin conditions, sores and limps.

I am really doing the same as you thinking where can i run,for sunday. I need to do 16km and i am worried. A while ago my partner suggested i run a new route and i just couldn't do it as i didn't know the dog situation.

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

A friend of mine was running along a beach in Peru and was set up by a couple of dogs with a pack mentality. She was quite badly bitten and had to have stitches, rabies shots etc and her return to the UK was delayed for a couple of weeks. A very frightening experience.

So you absolutely do have my sympathy and agreement. It is the owners duty to keep them under control, and I am not afraid to pass comment if I feel they are failing to do so. With that said, most of the dog walkers here about are careful to pop their dogs back on the lead as I approach. It's very flat open countryside so we tend to be aware of each other at some distance.

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to Ullyrunner]

Oh dear - that is so terrible!! Is she ok now - hope they didn't cause any permanent damage. That is real problem here, there was a woman not long ago that had something similar and ended up in hospital and that was not far from where I live.

The more encounters i am having the more nervous i am getting. The issue is even though full attacks like your friends are fairly rare - lots of people get bitten and there are so many dogs.

I understand that there are some responsible people which is good. I can't wait to return to the uk to get way from the "free" dogs!!!

[Ullyrunner Graduate in reply to Vixchile]

She's okay now but had quite bad inflammation and has been left with scars. Still runs though!

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

What I don't get - is this real NEED of humans to have dogs???? I honestly think that this NEED is something primeval -- like sex and religion!!! It is somehow ingrained into the human psyche!!

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

I am sure there is some historical story somewhere😕... I do get why people have them. I don't get the lack of training that SOME not all SOME people have in their animal.

what I need is dogs to leave me alone. Don't they know I am training for 2 HM!!!😒

[Hidden]

My sympathies, sounds really irritating that dog incident. I was running in the park a couple of weeks ago and this really awful little Yorkshire terrier came snapping at me, on one of those extendable leads. I just looked at it thinking, "you dare bite me, I'm *a lot* bigger than you!" I had my headphones in, so couldn't hear what the owner said, but I'm near certain it was the same lady whose Yorkshire terrier tried to bite me about 10 - 11 years ago - you don't forget these things and it was in the same area! It couldn't possibly be the same dog?! So she must not train them...

And for the record, I am a real animal lover, just don't appreciate badly behaved pets..

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to Hidden]

In cases like this i really think people should have licences for dogs.

Totally agree... what i don't appreciate is people who don't see what the problem is.