One of my good running friends runs with a can of mace. She's only had to use it once because most of the dogs we've come across are all bark and no bite (no pun intended), but she has used the mace once that I recall: on a pretty brave and charging chihuahua. Don't let the size fool ya. Another friend refers to these small dogs as armpit terrorists. The mace was effective. Poor dog didn't know what hit him.
Yesterday, we were running in the middle of nowhere along a canal/levee when, my friend said "Are those figures over there coming this way?" It was about 1/2 mile away, so I really couldn't see that far. The closer we got to the "figures" we could make out 2 people and what we thought might be a dog. It took us several minutes to get there, but our fear was about to come true.
The debate during this time was on whether it was on a leash or not. Yes. No. Maybe. Finally, who knows. When we finally were about 20 feet away, we realized 2 things: it wasn't leashed AND it was a pitbull. Nothing against pitbulls, but, I must admit, it was a menacing looking dog.
As we carefully walked towards (and past) the couple, the dog walked towards us also. We immediately came to a halt, and the owner said, "He doesn't bite." Thanks for that info, but it doesn't make me feel any better. I don't go up to dogs period, and I really don't like it when dogs come up to me - leashed or unleashed.
To me, when I am running, a dog is a dog is a dog. I like to joke that dogs chasing me during my runs help me work on my speed, but it's no joke - I don't like it. Keep your dogs leashed...
I'm always wary of dogs, even when the owner says they don't bite. I run in a park where dogs must be on a leash and a lot of dog owners think that it doesn't apply to them. Just because their dog hasn't bit anyone yet doesn't mean it won't bite if it is startled. Along my running route it's the small dogs that are the bravest, so far I've been lucky - they run with me for a few feet and then give up.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the smaller dogs are braver, and I'm so happy that's the case.
DeleteI can't stand when people say their dog doesn't bite. I always say "YET?" Leash your dogs people. A good squirt of water in the face is also a good distraction for a dog. It confuses them. I also have had good luck with a very loud "STOP" and the shush sound that Caesar uses on the dog training show.
ReplyDeleteI'm also partial to the squirt from my handheld bottle. I've also done the hand motion as if I was going to throw it at them. Thanks for the tips.
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