Have been a bit quiet since graduating (thank goodness, I hear you mutter....).
Anyway, I've been doing the C25K+ podcasts with the lovely Laura and the truly terrible music. Stepping Stones was weirdly slow, the Speed one is really helping with my pace, and I've also done the Stamina one a couple of times. Will stick with them for a bit as my times and distances are improving (slowly but steadily).
This morning I did the Stamina podcast - went a bit further afield to run in a lovely country park near here. Was just starting to enjoy the surroundings (despite the rain!) when I met 3 dog walkers and their dogs, who decided to attack me (the dogs, not the walkers)! No biting, but a lot of jumping up and barking, and one very big Alsatian-type dog nearly knocked me over. As I tried to fend them off I was told helpfully by one of the walkers that it was my fault as I was running! I was too gobsmacked (and shaken) to come up with a smart reply.
I would really like to rung there again but these owners did nothing to restrain their dogs, so am a bit apprehensive.
On the plus side I improved my distance and speed this morning, even though I had to stop because of the dogs. Happy running! 🐕🐕🐕👍
Written by
JoP61
Graduate
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This happened to me the other day. I was completely frustrated by the owners who just watched as they jumped up and barked at me. In the end I shouted over to call their dogs off and I was, like you, met with a comment about it being my fault. If it helps I went back yesterday with no problem so keep going with it. You never know they may have chose somewhere else to walk for that day! 🐕 🐕😁 💪🏃♀️ x
Yes - it was the fact that they all 3 just stood and watched their dogs jumping up at me and didn't even call them off! I will go back there again and if I see the same walkers I will shout to them to hold onto the damn dogs! x 👍😀
Yes it is annoying. Didn't realise they went for cyclists as well! By the way, I've joined you on the IC - bent down to do some gentle weeding yesterday and couldn't straighten up afterwards! God knows what I've done to my back, but I can't walk properly, much less run!! 😢
This makes my blood boil. Many of us have to face unwanted attention from dogs and poor owners who can't control their pets and are pathetically reluctant to admit any responsibility when out walking them. I have told an owner that allowing a dog to jump up on another person is not acceptable because if they do that to a child then they would easily knock them over or even hurt them.
It is up to the owners to control their dog and sadly not everyone does. You have every right to run where you want and feel safe. I carry an attack alarm and wouldn't hesitate to use it if an owner became obnoxious but luckily I haven't encountered this yet. I have carried on running and making the dog think I was playing and so the dog ran away with me leaving the owner shouting to bring the dog back and having to walk a long way to retrieve said dog. That was fun 😂
I could write pages about our experiences with scary dogs. And don't get IannodaTruffe started on this subject!!!
And to end on a much nicer way, well done on getting the run done considering the circumstances 🙂
I will have to try your playing with the dog idea next time! Though I found 3 dogs at once very intimidating, especially as they were all barking (whilst their owners looked on).
Thank you - I was pleased that I completed the run, because after the dog incident I nearly decided to call it a day. But didn't. x 😀🏃♀️🏃♀️
With reasonably friendly playful dogs,🤔 take charge, pat the side of your leg and summon the animal with you,🤔😂😂, always works for me. Complete control.🤔😂😂
Dogs should be under control in public places.👍End of.👍
Owner’s that do not, no longer have any rights.👍
Only thing left is take responsibility.👍
Not the animals fault really, and the dogs fight or flight mechanism can be quickly controlled, calmly by a runner who takes control.👏👏
Unfortunately most dog owners are not dog handlers and most times just idiots.🤔
Very inconsiderate they are, 🙈and if you really were in fear of your life from an attack, some tiny water jet spray in your pocket would simply unarm a dog.🤔
This makes me cross as a dog owner myself. When out with mine if he is off lead and zig zagging around and a runner is coming or small children etc I always bring him back to me. (He is very well trained and has never jumped up at anyone or tripped anyone up) but I know that not everyone is comfortable with dogs and also why take the chance?
I've also been on the receiving end of other owners 'playful' dogs and it really is not on is it!
Well you're obviously a responsible dog owner. I'm usually OK with dogs but not 3 at once barking and jumping up, particularly as 2 of them were big. Anyway, I realise this is a hazard of running and it won't stop me going back to the lovely park. 😀👍🏃♀️
It really shouldn't be regarded as a hazard of running though. I often come back from walking my well behaved dog covered in mud where other 'friendly' dogs have jumped up at me. I hate it as have had several ops and so feel delicate and don't want to be knocked so can't imagine how old people or small children must feel. The owners just seem to think that their dogs are playing like children. They are NOT children they are dogs! Good it won't stop you going to the park, keep it up!
Well done for keeping going. I gave up running round my park - which is lovely- due to the amount of dog owners that just let their dogs charge at you. I know the park is for everyone- I always give way to dog owners & people with children- rarely do any of them thank me. I got frustrated & fed up with it in the end & I've gone back to the treadmill in the gym. No dogs!
Don't blame you! I went back to the park (walking) the other day to explore it a bit more, and was alarmed at the sheer number of dogs! So I think I shall have to go running there very early to avoid them. Will see how it goes. 😀
I would never be cruel to any animal which is why as much as I'd like to carry pepper spray I don't. I do carry a modified steel car Arial, the next dog that attacks me will get to decide if it needs more than one "short, swift and determined" disincentive to continue an assault rather than the hours of pain and blindnedd spray would inflict.
I'll be honest though and say what I really want to do is spray a whole can in the asshat owners prised-wide-open eyes. Unfortunately, the law is on their side though
Ha ha! You made me laugh with what you'd like to do to the owners! I can tell you've had some bad experiences with our doggy friends - hope that both of us manage to avoid them from now on. Happy running! 👍
I ran a rainly, muddy trail today, usually full of dog walkers. I saw just one today. This responsible owner saw me ahead, called her dog to heal, and they both walked past me side by side, just a cheery ‘morning’!
That is how it should be, sadly though in my experience this is not typical. Irresponsible dog owners get a bad name for all dog owners, but actually some folk do know how to look after a dog correctly. I applaud those that do👍🏼
Absolutely - lots of dog owners are very responsible. I've not had a problem before. I was just a bit gobsmacked that all 3 owners did nothing to restrain their dogs. Anyway, I survived and finished my run! x 😀
Just a few weeks ago a little yappy dog , off the lead, just kept running circles around and through my legs. The owner said..... oh she wont hurt you ha ha. I said...”im pretty sure if she trips me up it will hurt! “ ....... i then saw a look of realisation on the owners face 🤨
We cant blame the dogs, they can be trained if the owner is so inclined! I put it down to laziness on the owners side.
Disclaimer: Please note....... i know not all dogs are allowed to behave in this way.
Oh, I love that ”im pretty sure if she trips me up it will hurt! “ I'd probably mix it up to "If she trips me & I land on her, that's us both hurt..."
Seriously though, that kind of thing terrifies me because I would be so worried I'd accidentally kick the poor thing in the face. It's only following its instinct, it shouldn't get hurt because of my clumsy and its owner's stupid...
Unfortunately any anxiety and understandable fear just makes the situation worse.🙈
Animals like to please their owners/ handlers.👍
Animals are in a heightened state of stress when they are not under control.👍
When a responsible owner takes an animal to dog training classes, it is as much for themselves to be trained and be a competent handler.The animal is always smart and not the problem.🤔
So try and be relaxed and just takeover the situation, ignore the owners, be calm with the animal, it will respond, because it wants to please, and as soon as it knows you are not the aggressor, it will.🤔
Been in situations, that I have just had to stand tall and be the dog pack leader while uninterested owners just add to the confusion.🙈🤔🤔
Sorry I completely empathise with you.I am pleased you have not been bitten or injured.🌟👏👏
Unfortunately it is a dogs life 🤔
for a dog with a rubbish owner.👍
I do not understand, they get all this love from this animal, and some do not understand what it’s needs are, for it to have a stress free life, yes and they cannot even pick up after the animal.🙈🤔
Despair and of course is it a minority 🤔 that just happened to frequent popular routes.🤔
No wonder some poor animals return home and collapse, to just de stress, having been left out of control at what was perceived by the owners to be kind.🤔
Not sure what to make of these dog walking groups.🤔
Thank you! I probably panicked a bit because I haven't had a problem with dogs when I've been running before. I will try to be relaxed, as I know they latch on to a sense of fear, etc. Anyway, no harm done today! Happy running! 😀😀👍
Gosh! What a frightening experience for you 😟 and agree with everyone else that it’s the dog owners responsibility to control their dogs!! Thankfully I’ve only met a few friendly dogs on my runs or owners that call their dogs to heal as I’m approaching. I always say thank you or give the dog a pat but would feel really intimidated if 3 dogs were surrounding me, barking like you experienced!!!
Well done on continuing with your run and pleased it hasn’t put you off returning to the same place 😉 xx
Thank you Melo! Like you, I've only had good experiences with dog owners before today. Hopefully it won't be repeated. How is your running going - you said you were joining a running group? How did it go? x 😀🏃♀️👍
It was really good thanks and a friend joined me so it didn’t feel as daunting. It was interval runs, so a different pace to what I’ve been use to but really enjoyable. I was pleased I was able to keep up with everyone although I must admit tougher than I first imagined 😆 x
Oh I would be obsessing about this for the rest of the run. Entirely on the basis of the owners, not the dogs. Just the moronity of saying "it's because you're running". No s&*t, Sherlock. We all know WHY the dog is attracted to it, saying it achieves nothing. You don't stand in a rainstorm getting soaked and say "You're getting wet because it's raining". Ggggrrr. } The POINT dear owner, is I have the right to run, just as you have the right to walk your dog. I have the responsibility to not cause it harm and YOU have the responsibility to prevent it causing harm to me. Simples...
I would like to have the guts in such a scenario to either: 1) reply "Yep, it's because I'm faaaar more interesting than you" or if they were really meaning it in a "fault" I need to modify my behaviour way 2) Stop my run and loom at the owner, making loud happy noises, interspersed by going for their ankles (basically mimicking the dog's behaviour), all with a big friendly grin on my face and finish by saying "It's your fault, because you're NOT running". Yeah, I'd really love to do the latter. To be fair, I'm probably nuts enough to try that some time!!!
Yes it is very annoying. I went back to the park today (walking) to search out some other potential running routes, and it is a VERY popular place for people to take their dogs. So I'm a bit apprehensive but I think I'll just go early in the morning and try to avoid the dogs ??!
That sucks. Fingers crossed early morning works. I like to run around 8pm and when there was the bad snow/ice I tried going out earlier. Didn't take me long to work out 6/6:30pm = a sea of dogs, so yeah soon learn the sweetspot for avoiding "rushhour" LOL.
I can relate! Although last week it was an annoying nippy little sausage dog that came running out of a house (owners following behind) not on a lead barking it's little head off. Of course it made a beeline for me and my ankles. I had to stop. With the owners telling me how "he thinks he rules the street this one, he won't hurt you" - hmmmm well how about you stick him on a lead instead! Although the run got worse as I took a detour round by the Churchyard only to run straight into a hearse and a funeral. I turned round very quickly!!!
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Good it won't stop you going to the park, keep it up! 
I'd probably mix it up to "If she trips me & I land on her, that's us both hurt..." 
Running with dogs
Mad Dogs
New dogs
WK7-no more recovery walks 😲 
Dogs, dogs and more dogs!!!
