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The real issue in my view is that there are loads of different groups of people vying for supremecy on the roads and pavements - cars, white vans, buses, HGVs, pedestians walking two or three abreast, women wheeling pushchairs, pedestians, dozy people on mobile phones not looking where their going, old people riding motorised mobility vehicles, cyclists, skate boarders, shoppers pushing supermarket trollies. As a runner I think I'm superior to them all (on another thread somebody called me w@anker for holding this view - on reflection he's probably right). Likewise as a car driver, cyclist or pedestrian I tend to think of my superior right to the roads and pavements,
Perhaps what's needed is more tolerance of our fellow road users - though I have to admit I'm going to have to work hard on this - but its right that I should.
Tom - a neat analysis. As runners we are using the pavements and roads for purely recreational purposes and as such we are the interlopers. I never assume I have right of way over a pushchair or even a dopey mobile phone user, let alone a car or "heaven forfend) a white van. Mind you I have the luxury of being able to avoid the roads for the most part (though I did do 11½ miles yesterday on main roads and country roads) and when I do get to run in crowded urban areas it's a bit of a novelty (Brighton) or a welcome opportunity to take it easy (Copenhagen).
1. The dog owner is also a runner. In this case, surely they'd appreciate that stopping and announcing your presence every time you meet a dog in case it attacks you would seem to be overkill (and it'd increase my average run by a fair few minutes).
2. The dog owner was so put out by someone running fast near their dog that they got hold of the contact details for Runners World to write. Can't say I've ever written to 'Dog Owners Monthly' to complain about a dog chasing me.
3. The letter was made up to encourage a response, e.g. this thread...
FR: sounds to me like your Ridgeback was doing what it should: defending her familly against someone who had shown clear agression. The only thing I'd be worried about was that she was hard to call off. Could be just the situation (I've seen police and army dogs being attack trained, and calling them off seems to be a hard part of training for many), but maybe you could do some training to get the dog used to a similar situation?
Actually reminds me of a story about a dog I used to know. This dog was probably the softest I've ever known. Mongrel, small side of medium, brindle and long silky hair, build quite square but not massivly so (spaniel boxer cross maybe?). He'd also been neutered before reaching maturity so had never had a macho thought in his life. He was the sort of dog that would accept being sat on and pulled about. He used to visit the house I lived in and play with a young cat who lived there: they'd run up and down the corridors, sometimes him chasing the cat and sometimes the cat chasing him: the two of them totally adored each other.
Anyway, one day apparently his owner was asleep in her ground floor flat, in Brixton, London. She'd left the front windows open, and it seems an oportunist thief decided to climb in. Apparently the dog totally transformed and went for the intruder in no uncertain terms.
She was very proud of him, and I think she's right! The best guard dogs are not those that attack because they are afraid or viscious (which is often the same thing anyway), but because they are defending someone they love. Of course their instincts need to be controled, but I think you should be proud of your dog too.
Next time I get mildly startled by a dog whilst running, I'll be straight on to this lot to complain.
Rob - maybe you could organise a peace summit between the two magazines?
Yes I have been bitten by a dog on a run and still have the marks on my back to prove it. A german shepherd leapt at me on a cross contry run at school. So when I do see a dog now I do slow down. But I am always aware of other people and do try to be courteous.
But I too was reminded that not all people are as comfortable with dogs as I am. Earlier this week I had both mine with me, one is a Yorkie and the other is a very large Alsatian cross (crossed with elephant, I'm pretty sure). A runner came around the corner as I was doing a couple of quick stretches and I grabbed the little one, knowing that the big one doesn't care about anything but his ball, but the Yorkie can be a bit unpredictable. But the runner stopped dead and stared with huge eyes at my big dog, before asking me if it was ok if he went past.
Now his politeness was very sweet, but I feel sure that he was swearing under his breath at me just for allowing such a "big threatening dog" off its lead. The fact was the dog wasn't even looking at him, too busy sniffing and peeing in the bushes. The problem was entirely with him, not with my dog. Now I am sympathetic...if it had been someone's pet spider I'd have been freaking out and running the other direction.
But to reiterate, Rob373's advice is great, especially because dogs DO sense fear. I realised as I read it that it is pretty much what I do, ignore the dogs and keep going (though I may try yawning, good one) and I've never had any problems at all.
I was genuinely suprised though. I expected the collies to react, as they wont take sh*t from the sheep (who have big horns). The Ridgeback tends to take a more "Dirty Harry (or Harriet in this case)" approach. "Do you feel lucky?".
((FR)) ridgeback sounds like brave dog. Wish mine was more like that, she a rescue dog and very placid. Only time she looks anything like ferocious is when she's barking at other dogs through the fence. She has a reputation for being vicious with local chavs due to this but is more likely to lick them or nick their cans. She has been hit during her time with previous owners. My hubby and myself were carrying on with rolls xmas paper pretending they were light sabers and she cowered in corner whining until we stopped. Took us ages to get her settled.
Shani is likely to stand right in your path, she's getting older and slower and not very mobile, and she's always interested in people.
Oz is more likely to take off and run with you if you're faster than me.
As a runner and dog trainer, nothing annoys me more than irresponsible owners, especially those idiots with a 'status symbol' dog. A dog is a dog is a dog, they all have the same instincts and the owner needs to recognise that. I've had shepherds for years, can't count the number of times a Yorkie or Jack Russell has gone for one of mine.
"theirs only one way to get rid of a mole BLOW ITS BL**DY BRAINS OUT" as far as Im concerned this applies to dogs
As for dogs, I am a dog lover (have two mad mutts myself!) but am always abit wary of dogs off leads. Or those on extender leads. You can never tell if they're gonna do anything or not. I just hope the owners are responsible enough & in control! That said, I havent had a bad experience yet!
Dogs even have their own weekly newspaper ? Who would have thought ?
they dont bite and its because your running
so its all my fault I finally get it
I love my dog. She's a great running companion and no matter when I go running I always feel safe. Its the owners who don't pick up what their dog leaves behind I hate. Oh and our council's lack of poo bins!!!!
No darters afraid not. I hope my dog puts off other dogs, but not always.
It irritates me when I hear dog owners who think their beloved dogs... perhaps like your "alsation cross with elephant"... are docile placid big bundles of fluff that wouldn't hurt a fly... and then let them run off the lead as they run.
I have had dogs all my life... mainly laboradors... all of them highly trained and obedient... and I can recount a number of times when the dog has acted quite out of character for no apparent reason... whether it be a man accidently brushing past my wife where the dog felt obliged to protect my wife or when one of my dogs decided to attack a schautzer for no apparent reason... all instances were extremely out of character.
I am ALWAYS a little careful when I see a dog off the lead when I am running and find it irresponsible for a runner to run with their dog off the lead and that the fault is with the runner frightened by the sight of a sweet, innocent, bundle of joy that an "alsation crossed with elephant" is... having them close by is no safeguard... have you ever tried to stop a dog when they get into their head that they want to go somewhere fast?
When we meet we generally stop for a while, and have a beer (from the Edale Brewery quite naturally). Then we part and the whole process starts again.
A sort of canine doppler effect I suppose.
Your point is a good one, and similar to the one I was making. Its importnat for dog owners never to get complacant about their dog. The incident with the Ridgeback taught me a very important lesson in that respect.
Where we live there is a public footpath running almost past the door. The Ridgeback was in the habit of sitting outside the gate watching the world go by. It still does the same, but inside the gate with the gate closed.