It happened again tonight....

donfers

I did a 7k run, after about 6k i was feeling great and all set for a training pb, wind slowed me down a bit over the last km but I was still going at a decent pace, anyway i passed a few walkers and then saw this woman coming at me in the opposite direction on a narrow path near the sea....a big boxer dog in front of her off the lead and I'm thinking to myself, ok he is off the lead so he must be a well-behaved dog who doesn't harrass joggers, how wrong i was....sorry about the rantlike nature of this post but i have only been jogging seriously for a few months and already dogs have slowed me down three or four times on long training runs when i was on good times, the first couple of times i put it down to bad luck but jesus it's getting annoying now...anyway the boxer basically ran over to me and started chasing me and jumped up near my legs and basically forced me to stop, i wasn't afraid of being bitten or anything like that, i love dogs and have no fear of them but the attitude of some owners is unreal, her owner just strolled over slowly to her dog, not a bit of panic on her and called him off me eventually after he had been jumping on me and chasing me for about 20 seconds..she muttered and mumbled some kind of embarrassed sorry and i just got on with my running, but i was seething a bit to be honest - what can be done in these situations? why can't the owners keep the dogs on a lead if they harass joggers? don't they realise we are chasing times and on top of that we have built up a rhythm and have to start up all over again when this happens. Sorry for generalisations but the three or four times it has happened to me, it has been younger women with large dogs, it's like they can't control them or maybe it's a case of their parents letting them be spoilt little brats who can do and act however they want and they treat their dogs the same, no sense of responsibility, no consideration for others, anyway i digress

Am I just incredibly unlucky with this or have others experienced the same? How do you deal with this situation when it happens to you? If it happens to me again I fear I may give the dog owner an earful

RacoonQueen

I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. So you had to slow down a bit for a few seconds, so what?! you'd have had to do the same if there was a few kids around or a few pedestrians blocking the path. I've had to walk once or twice because I didn't want to intimidate a dog. We don't own the footpaths, people are entitled to walk their dogs on or off the lead. A lot of people seriously over react over dogs...

gerard65

I'd say its happened to every runner at some time. I've reacted with violence on occassion, towards the dog, not the owner, yet. But I've given owners an ear full. You can get a small handheld device that gives off a high pitch noise thats meant to keep the dog at bay.
Now we wait for the trolls to start defending the dogs:mad:

gerard65

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. So you had to slow down a bit for a few seconds, so what?! you'd have had to do the same if there was a few kids around or a few pedestrians blocking the path. I've had to walk once or twice because I didn't want to intimidate a dog. We don't own the footpaths, people are entitled to walk their dogs on or off the lead. A lot of people seriously over react over dogs...

Did'nt take long:eek:

Oisin11178

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. So you had to slow down a bit for a few seconds, so what?! you'd have had to do the same if there was a few kids around or a few pedestrians blocking the path. I've had to walk once or twice because I didn't want to intimidate a dog. We don't own the footpaths, people are entitled to walk their dogs on or off the lead. A lot of people seriously over react over dogs...

Fcuking boils my blood when people dont have their dogs on leads and it is most certainally not ok for a person to walk a boxer off its lead, im 99% sure its againest the law.

ecoli

donfers wrote: »

I did a 7k run, after about 6k i was feeling great and all set for a training pb, wind slowed me down a bit over the last km but I was still going at a decent pace

donfers wrote: »

don't they realise we are chasing times

The dog did you a favour from what you have wrote. These runs should not be all out your not gonna benefit as much if you are killing yourself every run. You shouldnt be chasing times in your runs like this

RacoonQueen

Meh, I've been nicked by a dog while out running. Two labradors came running out of a house, both chased me, one got me and left me with a nice tooth mark and a lovely painful bruise on the back of my knee that made running hard for a few days. Still run past the same house twice on most of my runs, have seen the dogs since alone and out with their owners, haven't uttered a word, nor would I harm the dogs. I survived like, the dogs just want to play.

It would take a seriously irresponsible owner to let a vicious dog loose. Any dog thats off it's lead is most likely friendly. If you're that bothered when you see a dog in the distance, change direction so you don't have to run by it...

RacoonQueen

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Fcuking boils my blood when people dont have their dogs on leads and it is most certainally not ok for a person to walk a boxer off its lead, im 99% sure its againest the law.

Boxers are not vicious dogs and they don't come under the regulations for certain breeds, and rightly so...

It depends on the bye-laws in a particular area, usually the dogs just have to be under control. Most bye-laws are outdated anyway.

ecoli

gerard65 wrote: »

Now we wait for the trolls to start defending the dogs:mad:

I dont think its a case of the dogs but rather a case that runners dont own the roads. How many cyclists give out stink of "stupid runners" getting in the way on cycle lanes around the city (think this is strictly speaking against the law also where there is footpaths doesnt stop us though:rolleyes:)

ayeboy

I have no trouble with dogs but there are a pair of geese on a run i do that scare the sh*te out of me! Been lucky so far though

thirstywork2

I try encourage the dog to run with me,can be funny when the owner starts to panic as the dog runs along side me and away into the distance.

Krusty_Clown

RacoonQueen wrote: »

one got me and left me with a nice tooth mark and a lovely painful bruise on the back of my knee that made running hard for a few days. Still run past the same house twice on most of my runs, have seen the dogs since alone and out with their owners, haven't uttered a word, nor would I harm the dogs. I survived like, the dogs just want to play.

I bet you that if you bit the dog owner on the back of the knee, they wouldn't quite see it the same way. No person or animal should threaten or carry out violence on someone running down a road. Simple as.

Oisin11178

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Meh, I've been nicked by a dog while out running. Two labradors came running out of a house, both chased me, one got me and left me with a nice tooth mark and a lovely painful bruise on the back of my knee that made running hard for a few days. Still run past the same house twice on most of my runs, have seen the dogs since alone and out with their owners, haven't uttered a word, nor would I harm the dogs. I survived like, the dogs just want to play.

It would take a seriously irresponsible owner to let a vicious dog loose. Any dog thats off it's lead is most likely friendly. If you're that bothered when you see a dog in the distance, change direction so you don't have to run by it...

Ive heard it all now. Probably a child next time and by the throat most probably. If a dog bite me when i wasnt minding it and it wasoff its lead id look into having it put down.
Im a dog owner and have been all my life but you never forget dogs are animals and even the most placid of dogs can turn on someone.

Amazotheamazing

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Meh, I've been nicked by a dog while out running. Two labradors came running out of a house, both chased me, one got me and left me with a nice tooth mark and a lovely painful bruise on the back of my knee that made running hard for a few days. Still run past the same house twice on most of my runs, have seen the dogs since alone and out with their owners, haven't uttered a word, nor would I harm the dogs. I survived like, the dogs just want to play.

It would take a seriously irresponsible owner to let a vicious dog loose. Any dog thats off it's lead is most likely friendly. If you're that bothered when you see a dog in the distance, change direction so you don't have to run by it...

You should warn the owners, imo. Firstly, what if it seriously bites someone and secondly, what if it nipped someone who wasn't as tolerant as you and insisted it was put down?

If a dog bit me I'd certainly weigh up having it put down.

rainbow kirby

I'm not a fan of dogs at the best of times, and people who can't control their dogs really get on my nerves. I was tripped by a dog while running last summer (dog on an extendible lead, decided to chase a child on a bike and caught me along the way) and ended up taking all the skin off both knees, cutting both my hands and my right elbow badly. One fcuking idiot who couldn't control their animal in public cost me a week of running (including a half-marathon I'd been planning on doing), a doctor visit, a tetanus shot and antibiotics. Needless to say, I have little tolerance for dog owners these days.

nerraw1111

These threads are what helmet threads are to the cycling forum. Tedious, repetitive and ultimately pointless as no one is going to change their opinion. Everyone needs to chill before trotting out the same ole arguments. Seen it all before and not one person ever said "you know what, you're right."

To me, the idea of getting chased by a playful boxer sounds awesome. But it's a pain in the arse to others and nothing will convince them, or me, otherwise.

donfers

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I'm not a fan of dogs at the best of times, and people who can't control their dogs really get on my nerves. I was tripped by a dog while running last summer (dog on an extendible lead, decided to chase a child on a bike and caught me along the way) and ended up taking all the skin off both knees, cutting both my hands and my right elbow badly. One fcuking idiot who couldn't control their animal in public cost me a week of running (including a half-marathon I'd been planning on doing), a doctor visit, a tetanus shot and antibiotics. Needless to say, I have little tolerance for dog owners these days.

exactly, it's not about runners acting like we own the roads/paths (that's not the debate as i see it), we don't, i know that...it's about dog owners being able to control their pets because the consequences of not controlling them as rainbow points out can be pretty damaging

would some people here be so happy and delighted about a boxer forcing them to stop if it happened during a race when you were close to a pb?

as i said, i love dogs, i have no problem with them at all, i would never ask for a dog to be put down but the owners should demonstrate some cop-on especially if their dog has a history of interfering with runners, if he has that history then get the dog on a lead - simple as that

Krusty_Clown

nerraw1111 wrote: »

These threads are what helmet threads are to the cycling forum.

Hmm.. Tell me more about these helmets. I'm intrigued. <evil cackle>
Sure they serve no purpose (except venting) but they're fun, and only taking up a few electrons. Next we'll be covering:
Runners who refuse to high-five while running past
People who say threadmills instead of treadmills
Runners who wear those sexy compression socks
Mini-marathons.

hollypink

ayeboy wrote: »

I have no trouble with dogs but there are a pair of geese on a run i do that scare the sh*te out of me! Been lucky so far though

In a similar vein, sometimes two swans hang out on the canal towpath where I run and when they are at the bit where it narrows and there isn't much room to pass, I edge past them very warily and nervously! They eye everyone up but I've never seen them get aggressive so maybe I'm just over-cautious though.

rom

thirstywork2 wrote: »

I try encourage the dog to run with me,can be funny when the owner starts to panic as the dog runs along side me and away into the distance.

this is the best approach. I use it also. very enjoyable to see them lossing their mind thinking that you are going to catch their dog for them and you just keep on running with the dog.

rom

hollypink wrote: »

In a similar vein, sometimes two swans hang out on the canal towpath where I run and when they are at the bit where it narrows and there isn't much room to pass, I edge past them very warily and nervously! They eye everyone up but I've never seen them get aggressive so maybe I'm just over-cautious though.

It sounds like something out of Clockwork Orange right right

MrCreosote

hollypink wrote: »

In a similar vein, sometimes two swans hang out on the canal towpath where I run and when they are at the bit where it narrows and there isn't much room to pass, I edge past them very warily and nervously! They eye everyone up but I've never seen them get aggressive so maybe I'm just over-cautious though.

Vicious animal the swan. Very territorial.

I've been terrified of them since hearing that bit of"Children of Lir" in school. The part where they smoke Cuchulainn.

RacoonQueen

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Ive heard it all now. Probably a child next time and by the throat most probably. If a dog bite me when i wasnt minding it and it wasoff its lead id look into having it put down.
Im a dog owner and have been all my life but you never forget dogs are animals and even the most placid of dogs can turn on someone.

Jesus, dramatic much? :rolleyes: They're still around over 3 years later so I assume they haven't bitten anyone.

donfers wrote: »

would some people here be so happy and delighted about a boxer forcing them to stop if it happened during a race when you were close to a pb?

What if a herd of deer ran out in front of everyone in a race in the park... :pac:

A load of rubbish about people not being able to control their dogs in this thread...

ThisRegard

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Fcuking boils my blood when people dont have their dogs on leads and it is most certainally not ok for a person to walk a boxer off its lead, im 99% sure its againest the law.

You're 99% wrong so. Some posts are in Maude Flanders territory.

OP, you would have saved lots of aggro if you did vent at the owner and not here ;-)

RoyMcC

nerraw111 is right - nothing written here will change anyone else's opinion. But I've still got to cast my anti-dog vote. I'm fortunate to live right on Jersey's south coast with the beach right outside. Yet in 12 months I've run along the beach...once. Within seconds of me trotting down the slipway I had the first dog bound up to me, barking and lepping - the familiar refrain from the owner of 'he's only playing, he won't bite.' In the course of a couple of miles this happened another half dozen times, the only solution being to stop dead in your tracks, then every dog will lose interest.

So it's no longer an option to run on the beach for me. Not saying that dogs and dog-owners don't have rights as well but they're infringing mine

menoscemo

I've had more problems with Dogs on leads than Dogs off leads.

HardyEustace

menoscemo wrote: »

I've had more problems with Dogs on leads than Dogs off leads.

Ah yes, the joy of extendible leads and utter morons....

This topic has been covered to the n-th degree. At the end of the day some people are utterly TERRIFIED of dogs (I'm not one). Moronic dog owners means that people who are genuinely scared of dogs can have some terrifying moments when they are out walking. This doesn't seem a proper or decent thing to allow to happen.

If I could add to that earlier list - people that cycle on pavements GRRRRR

AntiVirus

ecoli wrote: »

The dog did you a favour from what you have wrote. These runs should not be all out your not gonna benefit as much if you are killing yourself every run. You shouldnt be chasing times in your runs like this

I don't see where he's says he does this every run. Maybe he was doing a tempo run? He did say Training PB which could be well of his race PB, nothing wrong with that.

gerard65

RacoonQueen wrote: »

A load of rubbish about people not being able to control their dogs in this thread...

Really? and I wonder what your opinion would be if this happened to one of your dogs
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056256236

Maybe you would'nt be so flippant about making comments about dogs not under 100% control of their owners.

funkyjebus

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Fcuking boils my blood when people dont have their dogs on leads and it is most certainally not ok for a person to walk a boxer off its lead, im 99% sure its againest the law.

Well, your 99% wrong then. Im glad other people mearly walking their dog boils your blood, you seem to deserve the inconvenience for your selfish views.

Oisin11178

funkyjebus wrote: »

Well, your 99% wrong then. Im glad other people mearly walking their dog boils your blood, you seem to deserve the inconvenience for your selfish views.

Selfish, that i want to walk run or crawl down the road without being bitten by a dog whose owner is to idiotic to have him on a lead. Get a grip you moran:D

RacoonQueen

Already has Gerard - about 6 years ago in a local park we were attacked by a bulldog. My quick thinking saved their lives...

Plus, that's a bit different to a dog playfully jumping around your heels. Most bull dogs come under regulations as restricted breeds, mostly for the reasons in that thread.

gerard65

funkyjebus wrote: »

Well, your 99% wrong then. Im glad other people mearly walking their dog boils your blood, you seem to deserve the inconvenience for your selfish views.

Oh, so we're selfish by wanting to run without being hassled by bloody dogs.
The way some dog owners carry on you'd think the runner was at fault for just being there.

gerard65

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Already has Gerard - about 6 years ago in a local park we were attacked by a bulldog. My quick thinking saved their lives...

Plus, that's a bit different to a dog playfully jumping around your heels. Most bull dogs come under regulations as restricted breeds, mostly for the reasons in that thread.

And you wrote it was a load of rubbish about people not been able to control there dog, on this thread
That restricted breeds is a load of bull. Any breed of dog can be dangerous if not controled properly. Most problems I've had is with little mongrels not the 'big bad' dogs on those lists.
Its laughable that dobermans are on it imo.
But the issue remains, you don't know if a dog is only playing or has other intentions when it approches you, especially if it bounds up behind you when out running and daydreaming.
Any dog can bite, family pet or not, its in their DNA to chase and bite, thats why all dogs should be under full control by their owners.
Most dogs are used to runners and ignore them, but you never know, and it can be costly to be on the wrong end of a bite.
I'm leaving it at that as I can see this thread developing into a slagging match with very little constructing debate.

funkyjebus

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Selfish, that i want to walk run or crawl down the road without being bitten by a dog whose owner is to idiotic to have him on a lead. Get a grip you moran:D

Firstly -there is no need for a personal insults (that stuff is for the playground). It makes no difference if you put an onerous smiley after it.

No one ever mentioned anything about biting, in fact the op went to length to express the boxer was friendly.

I agree, if a dog is a biter (or restricted), he should not be off the lead, period (unless muzzled).

You appear confused, so let me clear it up. You said:

Fcuking boils my blood when people dont have their dogs on leads and it is most certainally not ok for a person to walk a boxer off its lead

It is most certainly ok for another person to walk their dog off the lead (boxer or not). There is no law to say otherwise (unless restricted). Forget the dog for a minute, it is the right of the owner to walk their dog and for you to tell them it is not ok, so you don't have to slow down (the original gripe we are discussing) would be impeding their rights, ergo selfish.

How that for ya, simple enough?

funkyjebus

gerard65 wrote: »

Oh, so we're selfish by wanting to run without being hassled by bloody dogs.
The way some dog owners carry on you'd think the runner was at fault for just being there.

Again, missing the point.

Its not selfish to want to run without being bothered. Its selfish to ask the owner of a friendly dog to put them on the lead, because your run is more important than their walk with their pet. Its not, your both equal and both entitled to go about your business without restrictions.

Everyone (including the dog!) is entitled to that.

rainbow kirby

funkyjebus wrote: »

Its selfish to ask the owner of a friendly dog to put them on the lead, because your run is more important than their walk with their pet.

It's simply polite to keep your dog on a lead while you're on a public path. If you want to let it run free, take it to a field.

Oisin11178

funkyjebus wrote: »

Firstly -there is no need for a personal insults (that stuff is for the playground). It makes no difference if you put an onerous smiley after it.

No one ever mentioned anything about biting, in fact the op went to length to express the boxer was friendly.

I agree, if a dog is a biter (or restricted), he should not be off the lead, period (unless muzzled).

You appear confused, so let me clear it up. You said:



It is most certainly ok for another person to walk their dog off the lead (boxer or not). There is no law to say otherwise (unless restricted). Forget the dog for a minute, it is the right of the owner to walk their dog and for you to tell them it is not ok, so you don't have to slow down (the original gripe we are discussing) would be impeding their rights, ergo selfish.

How that for ya, simple enough?

I dont know if you have i ever been biten by a dog but i have several times. In my opinion no dog should be let off its lead where the general public is. Even the most placid of dogs can bite someone given the right circumstances. I practice what i preach and i walk my dog 100% on his lead. This is my opinion but as they say opinions are like arseholes, everybody has one:D

funkyjebus

rainbow kirby wrote: »

It's simply polite to keep your dog on a lead while you're on a public path. If you want to let it run free, take it to a field.

How so? Thats like your opinion, man.

Sure if your dog is a biter or jumper, but in general that a little oppressive. Would it not also be poilte to run in the field so a person can walk their dog on a public path for the exact same reasoning?

I don't know the amount of times I had to stop to let a group of runners past as there was not enough room for all of us, and they're not going to stop (nor woulld I want them to as I know they are probably timing themselves - but it woule be Polite if they did:p). Do I start a thread about it, no. Would I ask you to take it elsewhere, of course not.

In addition, not everyone is lives / walks near a field. So your point is moot at that or are you saying - no field? tough sh!t, its the lead always for you

funkyjebus

Oisin11178 wrote: »

I dont know if you have i ever been biten by a dog but i have several times. In my opinion no dog should be let off its lead where the general public is. Even the most placid of dogs can bite someone given the right circumstances. I practice what i preach and i walk my dog 100% on his lead. This is my opinion but as they say opinions are like arseholes, everybody has one:D

I have:(. But, I don't agree that any dog can bite under the right circumstances (well unless you are beating it to death). But under running condition even with fillet steaks attached to your legs, my dog would never bite at you, even if you then kicked him (and i'd happily put money on that), as I trained him that way and I'm not the only one.

I'm the opposite, my dog is never on the lead. But he is under my strict control. He has a few times run up to a jogger / runner but it would be less than 1% of the total runners he has met and I assume he ran up due to smell (maybe they had another dog) or they looked similar to perosn he knows. Each time its happened I have called him to sit and stay so that the runner can pick a direction to go knowing that dog isn't going to move again and I apologise. That's the polite thing to do.
There is no way in hell I'm going to walk him everyday on the lead just for those 3/4 runners he goes near out of hundreds he passesd every year. Forget the dog, that would ruin my enjoyment of my walk.

Oisin11178

funkyjebus wrote: »

I have:(. But, I don't agree that any dog can bite under the right circumstances (well unless you are beating it to death). But under running condition even with fillet steaks attached to your legs, my dog would never bite at you, even if you then kicked him (and i'd happily put money on that), as I trained him that way and I'm not the only one.

I'm the opposite, my dog is never on the lead. But he is under my strict control. He has a few times run up to a jogger / runner but it would be less than 1% of the total runners he has met and I assume he ran up due to smell (maybe they had another dog) or they looked similar to perosn he knows. Each time its happened I have called him to sit and stay so that the runner can pick a direction to go knowing that dog isn't going to move again and I apologise. That's the polite thing to do.
There is no way in hell I'm going to walk him everyday on the lead just for those 3/4 runners he goes near out of hundreds he passesd every year. Forget the dog, that would ruin my enjoyment of my walk.

I hope you continue to enjoy your walks and i hope he never bites someone as i hate to see dogs put down thats why i never let mine off the lead unless in an elclosed space. One of thesedays someone is going to react badly to your dog running up to them and maybe give him a boot. Im not saying they are right to boot him all im saying is thas why i keep mine on the lead to avoid these things.

funkyjebus

Oisin11178 wrote: »

I hope you continue to enjoy your walks and i hope he never bites someone as i hate to see dogs put down thats why i never let mine off the lead unless in an elclosed space. One of thesedays someone is going to react badly to your dog running up to them and maybe give him a boot. Im not saying they are right to boot him all im saying is thas why i keep mine on the lead to avoid these things.

[I don't want to get too off topic here. But I can assure you it would take a lot more than a kick or even a good few kicks, he'd just quickly realise that you are no fun to play with a run off back to me.

But even in that rare circumstances where you somehow manage to yank the right chain, you'll get a warning (its called bite inhibition and I spent months getting little bites and pretending I was hurt and no longer wanted to play to ensure he turned out as he did). But I've yet to see him use it except on (coincidently) a feisty/angry bully of a boxer in the dog park. Even then the boxer had to draw blood.

I should point out I'm a cyclist and often have issues with dogs running after my legs, so I'm not all pro dogs. But if they are being walked by a close by owner and are a friendly dog, they have every much a right to be there as you and the laws, regardless of opinion, reflect this.

Ouchette

I don’t understand how dogs can be enough of a problem for these threads to keep appearing. I mean, I’ve only been running for about a year (took it up when I moved from central Dublin to next to a London park), but it’d be a rare run where I didn’t pass at least 10 dogs, with almost none of them on leads and yet they’ve only ever ignored me or got out of the way. Never seen a dog chase or block any of the other runners I see either.

As annoyances go, I’d rank dogs way behind people blocking the paths with buggies (genuinely annoying), cyclists on the narrow no-cycling allowed path, obstacles meant for slowing down cyclists that also put me off my stride, small children moving unpredictably, geese and swans, badly-thrown Frisbees and even the ice-cream van (the queue can block the path). I know a lot of other people who run in the same area too, and not one of them has ever mentioned having problems with dogs. Perhaps I'm just extraordinarily lucky .

Krusty_Clown

Ouchette wrote: »

small children moving unpredictably

Maybe small children should be kept on a leash?

HardyEustace

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Maybe small children should be kept on a leash?

As long as it's not an extendible leash...

Ouchette

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Maybe small children should be kept on a leash?

Or kept to the designated, fenced off kiddy area of the park

donothoponpop

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Maybe small children should be kept on a leash?

A swift kick to the jaw usually sends them howling back to their owners...

Bally8

EEk run for your life- my boxer is out!!

gerard65

Bally8 wrote: »

EEk run for your life- my boxer is out!!

Baby Crocodile's are cute as well:D

RacoonQueen

gerard65 wrote: »

And you wrote it was a load of rubbish about people not been able to control there dog, on this thread

Because there is a load of crap posted in the thread...in the 9 years since I have these dogs I must have encountered thousands of other unleashed dogs, this happened once. Then the dog previous, it never happened. When I'm out with the dogs I never have them on the lead, carry the leads with me just in case I feel they're needed but they're under my control 99% of the time - there's always a chance they won't give a crap what I say and dart off anyway, but they'll soon return when they're finished investigating. Occassionally they'll run across a bike thats flying through an area it would be better off avoiding with the amount of pedestrian traffic, or they'll dart across a few runners. Happens to me all the time when I'm running and on the bike, so what, it's no big deal.

If you're taking your dog off the lead in an area big enough for it to have a run and an investigation it's going to run around like a mad thing wagging it's tail with it's tongue hanging out, because they love to be free. That's the point, thats why you bring them to an open area and take them off the lead, so they can do this, just because they're running around a few metres from their owner it doesn't mean they're not under control. They spend most of their day in a boring house or boring garden they need to be left off the lead to run around and be free.

Anyway I don't want to keep waffling on about this crap either, I don't know why I even responded, I usually avoid these threads...

pgmcpq

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. So you had to slow down a bit for a few seconds, so what?! you'd have had to do the same if there was a few kids around....

The big deal is that there is no way to know how the dog is going to react. I'm pretty sure that the the kids are not going to do me physical injury ( I did have an elderly man who I thought was going to hit me once ..) but I have no way to know if the dog is just "playing" or what "playing means to the dog.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Meh, I've been nicked by a dog while out running.

.....and maybe you find that ok. I really do not.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Already has Gerard - about 6 years ago in a local park we were attacked by a bulldog. My quick thinking saved their lives...

Plus, that's a bit different to a dog playfully jumping around your heels. Most bull dogs come under regulations as restricted breeds, mostly for the reasons in that thread.

It is different but it is a bit tough to be asked to make a judgment call on the breed and temperament of each uncontrolled dog that seems to find you the most interesting thing around at any moment in time.

ecoli wrote: »

The dog did you a favour from what you have wrote. These runs should not be all out your not gonna benefit as much if you are killing yourself every run. You shouldnt be chasing times in your runs like this

I'm not really sure training orthodoxy is the point here

Where I run the law is clear - dogs must be on a leash. Quite often they are not. I don't blame the dog - I do blame the owner. In public running/walking/driving I actively try to not interfere with other - I don't run though dog runs, I skip the playing fields when the dog owners gather there on summer mornings, I don't even push toddlers or little old ladies out of the way on tempo runs, or even walkers in Lane 1 of the track - though I'd have to check the bylaws to see if there are rules against this.

So I am completely bewildered as to how people justify allowing their dogs interfere with other people - runners or others. Your dog may be "friendly" but once it starts interfering with me that's not much help.