Support literally bited me in the butt

cfred40

I have been walking since about Feb. and currently on week 6 of C25K. On my route, I encounter a farm with three loose dogs that like to "greet me". Other than getting close and barking, never really had too much of a problem. There used to be only 2 of them, and I even nicknamed them support and motivation. I thought I had befriended support, and he would even trot along beside me, and nudge me till I showed him some attention. Motivation never took a liking to me, and as implied, motivated me to walk a little faster.

Fast forward to now, and there is now three of them. I try not to do the running part(c25k) past them, as it seems to encourage them. The one I call support, has been getting pretty frisky. The one day he nipped at my side, but it was a playful nip. The other day, he did it again to my backside, this time leaving a mark and drawing blood to the surface. He wasn't being hostile, just overly "frisky", however I don't enjoy being an over sized stuffed chew toy either.

Has any of the walkers/runners out there had similiar animal encounters. Has anyone ever used those electronic noise emitting dog deterrents? Any luck with them?

audram420

Hmmm I wish I could help...I've never encountered a nipping dog, so I'm not sure what could keep him from doing it. I'd be curious to see you answers. I think it's cool you named them and used them for your motivation and support!!

KeeleySue

I would talk to the owner about keeping thier dogs under control.

Kalrez

See if you can google the address and get the person's phone number. Let them know that their dogs are getting loose and into the road. It's dangerous for the dogs (traffic) and not very nice to people running/walking/biking on the road either.

You would be wise to carry something with which to protect yourself. However, I can't in good conscience recommend that it be any weapon or pepper spray. Maybe a dog whistle would be something to consider. The high pitched noise makes my grandparent's dogs run away. Harmless to the dog, lightweight for you.

sc1572

I have encountered dogs before, but I either stop and turn the other way, or keep on walking. Don't look them in the eye, and don't run around them. If anything, even carry a small stick or something. Obviously NOT to hit them, I'm a huge animal lover, but incase they were to ever attack you, you could throw it in hopes of distracting them to go the other way.

sexyminxinthemaking

i normally take my own dog and she deters others from coming near me lol

Kelly_Wilson1990

Vinegar water in a spray bottle works.

lauragriffin2

I usually spray them with a little water form my water bottle or pick up a small hand full of gravel and toss towards them. That usually does the trick.

UpEarly

I carry runner's pepper spray with me. Me and my small dog (a pug) were viciously attacked by two loose dogs on my hike one day back in the spring. Since then, I walk prepared.

jennyocox

I used to meet two on my main route although I haven't done that route in a while because it's too dark in the morning to run that way.......... anyway. I bring my sports water bottle with me and when one of them got ready to start nipping at my feet (I was on a 30 min run, so I wasn't stopping or walking for anybody!) I squirted my water bottle at him. He stopped in his tracks. He came back and started to follow me again and I held up the water bottle and he ran away again. I didn't even have to spray it at him the next time. Most of us carry water bottles anyway, so why not use what you've got. Mind you, these were small dogs. I'm not sure if I'd have had the balls to squirt it in the face of a big dog. However I would call to the house of the owner of a big dog and tell them to keep it contained! I hope this is of some use to you............. sorry I went on a bit.

Sharon009

I live in a neighborhood with a lot of houses and dogs and walking trails. I see people walking with long sticks to ward off the dogs. However, my dad breed and raised dogs since I was born so I have a healthy respect for them and I dont recommend the sticks as they can antagonize a mean dog. I would find the owner and have a talk with them, if that's not possible or doesnt work then take another route. 3 dogs is too many for you to handle and their behavior is worrisome already. Good luck.

SueGremlin

Not running while you're near them, yelling "GO HOME" at them, and talking to their owners. It doesnt' have to be adversarial, but they should know that one of their dogs has bitten you. That's not cool.
A friend of mine had a shepherd who did this, she bit a runner in the *kitten*, and he was sued for it. This may happen to the owner.

Jaytee79

Hace you tried a sharp, firm "No. Get down"?? My dog tries to jump and nip at me if I run with her, and she just want to chase and play, it's natural dog behavior. If you don't think the dog is being agressive then it probably isn't!

cfred40

Thanks for the replies. I'm an animal lover so that's why i was thinking of the electronic noise emitters. Something I could put on my keyring. Really wasn't wanting to make a big deal of it, (he was just being frisky, not dangerous), something to keep them from under my heels. I wonder if they work on skunks :noway: I have one on my route that likes to come out at night LOL

Monica_has_a_goal

Well I know dogs have sensitive ears.. If you took a can and filled it with rocks and shook it hard at them they wont like it and will back away.

Amo_Angelus

If the dog is treating you friendly and it' a playful nip, the best thing you can do is yelp, stop and turn away. As puppies dogs learn how hard they can play by their puppy friends yelping and backing off, thi shows them that doing it hurts and when it hurts they no longer get attention.

Spraying dogs with water and suchwhat is STUPID! You never know how a dog is going to react to that and I've actually encountered a stupid hiker who thought a good idea was to spray a farm dog with water, not realising that this wa a sign of aggression and said farm dog not only didn't stop barking at this hiker but went straight for them and it was only by the grace of God that we were around, being local and knew how to get this dog to leave alone or the results would have been very nasty indeed as the farmer also used his dog as a guard dog, a hunting dog and a herding dog and a spray of water signalled a threat. It's a purely retarded idea!

And spraying vinegar water at a dog is dangerous! It can really harm them if it gets in their eyes. I really wonder about the morality of that *kitten* who do that.

If the dog does want to attack you, the best thing to have on you is a stick. Hitting the ground at your feet with a hefty whack is a far greater deterrent than anything else. Dogs aren't stupid, they see that you're willing to use that stick and the noise sounds painful. All you need to do with a dog that wants a fight is draw yourself up to full height, stand your ground and shout, or bang a stick. Most dogs will turn tail and run, even dogs like dobermans and GSDs who are bred as guard dogs. Social order in dogs says avoid the big ones who are likely to hurt you because they're more likely to win me. Back away and come back another day. My sister and I have faced down a group of 4 dogs who escaped their yard and came tearing at us with aggression the only thing on their mind. Stand tall, hold our groud and "Raaaaaaaaar!" They skidded to a halt and turned tail and fled, there was more of them and we had no sticks or anything to defend ourselves with except by giving the illusion that we knew we could take them.

servilia

I know serious runners might not like this but when I see a loose dog I change to walking. They love to chase running people.

Edit - I see you actually do walk past them at least some of the time. I would talk to the owners..

lexgem

I also agree about mentioning it to the owners although I doubt they'll do much since I'm sure they know their dogs get out. Is it possible to go on a detour? When running in my parent's village I avoid going past the farm because of the dogs there. They are nice dogs but I don't like being chased or barked at, even by nice dogs