What is running protocol for dogs?

^^^ uh nope.
Sorry, but if a dog is bounding towards me and my son (because I often have him in my jogging stroller), momma bear is going to kick the crap out of the pooch/ dog spray it and ask questions later.

It's not my responsibility to "become comfortable around dogs". It's an ANIMAL. It's the owner's responsibility to ensure their dog is properly trained and not terrifying neighbors who are out minding their own business.

ETA: sorry, this was meant for the "don't kick dogs" person but my post ended up a few down

I'm guessing I'm the "don't kick dogs" person lol well, I didn't tell anyone what to do, just that reading about kicking dogs made my heart sink and offered a suggestion.

I mean, a lot of suggestions have been offered to help diffuse the situation, as another poster accurately described it. But no one can tell you what to do. As was mentioned, if you prefer to use violence, a dog just may, instead of being scared and run off, be scared you mean to hurt it (which is true) and fight to defend itself.

I recently was seeing a guy who told me of some Hebrew saying, anything can be fixed with violence, and if that doesn't work, use more violence. He said it sounded more poetic in Hebrew but I'm not sure about that lol but basically, I get it that there are people who believe in that, but it's a choice, you are definitely responsible for how you choose to resolve a problem. If kicking dogs works for you and you prefer that over diffusing the situation, then yeah.

But I still find it heartbreaking, and I honestly do hope you don't come across any dogs who react and defend themselves against you because they can be pretty strong, especially if theyve been attacked like that.

Its actually small dogs that are a pain around where I run, the bigger dogs are usually on a lead and those that aren't are well trained and stay with their owner. Recently someone's yappy little mutt came charging at me I did end up telling the owner to get it on a lead on a public road. She gave me abuse until I pointed out that a)how was I to know whether it was being friendly or whether it was looking to take a nip at me b)I was entitled to run without her dog tripping me up when it should have been under control and c) I love animals and didn't want to hurt her dog which there was a chance of me doing if either it tripped me and I landed on it or if I didn't break stride and kicked it. She huffed and puffed a bit but next time I ran along there she grabbed it and stopped it running at me.

I am not a fan of dogs...I don't hate them, but I was attacked by a dog when I was very young and I have never been able to get over the fear I have of them. When I run (I always go at night), the sound of a dog barking freaks me out and makes my heart race. Last night, a BIG dog (boxer mix) ran up to me and growled and jumped up at me...a woman ran across the yard calling him and saying "Oh he's fine, he won't hurt you". She grabbed his collar, I started running again, and next thing I knew, dog was right behind me, nipping at my heels. She apologized and held on to him while I left.

Honestly, I wanted to cry. Maybe I'm a baby but I DON'T like dogs. Is there a protocol for encountering a stray dog while you're running? What do you do?

I carry mace on my armband specifically for dog attacks. I don't care if the owner is telling me it won't bite or not. If a dog is in my way barking in a threatening manner, it is going to get an eyeful of pepper.

Pepper spray (bear spray) the dog. My dog and I encounter a bully dog on our walks. I started packing spray and next time he gets it. We don't call 911, but I can't shoot him in town.

Unless it looks like it's going to kill you which is unlikely. Stop and say hello. 99% of dogs just want to play and say hello if you run they see you as something to chase. I come across dogs on most runs just because of where i run. I stop for a few seconds and say HI to them and they're fine. IMO half the problem is people running away from them they just think you're playing. I know if you don't like dogs it's harder but most dogs are fine.

All these people who are advocating violence towards dogs as far as I'm concerned are pretty low human beings and if you do this there is a good chance of getting yourself prosecuted for animal cruelty. If you turned around and kicked one of my dogs I'd do the same to you. There are some nasty people in this thread

Dogs hate runners. I dislike dogs. The people a block over from me have this rabid little bichon who has chased me multiple times while I was running. They rarely leash it. This is in the same neighborhood where I walk with my 3 year old and 1 year old. It hasn't bitten me, but it terrified my one year old jumping up on him.

I make an effort not to go to that part of the neighborhood anymore because if that dog attacked my child, it would die. I would stomp it's stupid head into the ground and be damned who's fault it is that it's running loose. When by myself I just freeze and give the dog time to calm down and its owner to retrieve it.

I'll always hate bichons.

Bear/dog mace is probably your most effective answer here. Kicking or attacking a dog should be a last resort - ACTUAL self defense, not just being violent toward an animal. Mace will keep the animal a lot farther away, and if the owner gets mad, you can mace them too. Some people have also used bitter apple spray and binaca-type breath spray in the nose but I think that would work best on a "nice" dog, which is not your problem.
A word about pepper spray - it does expire, and gets less effective.

Honestly, I wanted to cry. Maybe I'm a baby but I DON'T like dogs. Is there a protocol for encountering a stray dog while you're running? What do you do?

Lots of the suggestions upthread are going to exacerbate a fearful dog responding negatively to your threat, generally I'll talk to them as I'm passing by. They don't understand that you're not a threat to them, by talking to them then you reduce their anxiety.

Reaching down to them over their heads is going to induce anxiety as they see you threatening them, so if you have to try to grab a collar go in below the jaw towards the chest and get hold of the collar at the front of the throat.

When they see you as a threat to either themselves or to their pack leader (human) they'll defend, initially by barking to scare you away.

Sometimes of course they're being friendly, they don't understand that you're scared by their attempts to be friendly. In that instance you do need to be quite verbally forceful with them; No, Stop, Down with open handed gestures directing them to stay low.

I talk to them too. I don't know why but I think it's like I'm acknowledging its presence so he doesn't have to investigate.

First, if I see a dog loose on my run, I stop running. Running = Prey to a dog.

Second, since I run with my dog, who is fairly dog friendly, but would fight if another dog attacked her (she's a pit bull), I immediately have her sit/stay.

Next, if the owner is around, I'll ask them to secure their dog. If the owner isn't around, I will say in a loud tone, "Go Home Dog! Get out of here! Go home!"

At that point, if the dog aggressively approaches me and my dog, I start walking briskly to get us out of there.

Luckily, that's as much as I've ever needed to do. I do always have my cell phone when running with my dog, so I can take pix to prove whose dog is on leash (mine) and whose is off leash, because as the owner of a pit bull, I am very aware that any dog fight will be blamed on my "vicious pit bull" regardless of the circumstances.

In your situation, when the lady said, "Oh, he won't hurt you," I would have said loudly and assertively, "I don't like dogs. Please get control of him so I can pass." But, to re-emphasize, don't keep running. Running = Prey.

Whether you're a dog lover or not loose dogs and irresponsible owners are an issue. I have had to tuck my dog behind my leg and kick the loose dog to keep both safe. I've carried objects to keep dogs from biting me. I will put my stainless steel water bottle to keep their sharp teeth from biting me. Dog whistles can be used so can pepper spray and a flashlight. A dog will also chase anything running.

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Get pepper spray from a bike store. You can carry it in your hand while you run. If a dog runs towards you, yell NO! if they continue to run at you spray them in the face. The spray will not maim them, it sprays about 25 feet. Works on humans as well. It is not very expensive and VERY worth the few bucks to have peace of mind.

I encounter dogs a lot where I live and cycle in the countryside. Lots of them are loose in their yards. My usual tactic is to make friends. The dog comes out charging and barking and growling and I just slow down, or stop, and say things like "Hey boy! How are ya! Get on home now!"

On a downhill, I just speed by. Dogs can run 20-30mph, so you gotta know when, and when not to do this.

Most of the dogs get used to you and most on my local streets even kind of like me or ignore me now. 95% of dogs are just posturing. It is also instinctive for them to chase a running or cycling person...it triggers their "the prey is trying to get away" response.

But once they get to know you, I have found that some do a half-hearted woof or yap (depending on dog type and size) from their porch without rushing to the roadside. Except for one, this yellow lab that I swear is going to attack me the next time I see him, but the owners have keep him tied or inside for months since I've last had him chase me. That last time I had to use my bike as a shield by dismounting and holding the frame and make my way up the street fending it off which really pissed me off. A bike is actually a pretty good shield BTW. Don't know if the owners saw that from inside their house or not.

Anyway, I now carry Halt! brand dog spray, which is a weak kind of pepper spray formulated especially for dogs. Mail carriers use this stuff. I haven't had to use it yet fortunately. From what I have read, spray usually works, but sometimes doesn't.

Honestly, I wish it was legal to carry a collapsible steel baton in my area, because if the dog spray doesn't work, it would be nice to have a real weapon as a last resort instead of just kicking and punching if a dog bites and doesn't let go, like so many pit bulls are famous for.

Honestly, I wanted to cry. Maybe I'm a baby but I DON'T like dogs. Is there a protocol for encountering a stray dog while you're running? What do you do?

Lots of the suggestions upthread are going to exacerbate a fearful dog responding negatively to your threat, generally I'll talk to them as I'm passing by. They don't understand that you're not a threat to them, by talking to them then you reduce their anxiety.

Reaching down to them over their heads is going to induce anxiety as they see you threatening them, so if you have to try to grab a collar go in below the jaw towards the chest and get hold of the collar at the front of the throat.

When they see you as a threat to either themselves or to their pack leader (human) they'll defend, initially by barking to scare you away.

Sometimes of course they're being friendly, they don't understand that you're scared by their attempts to be friendly. In that instance you do need to be quite verbally forceful with them; No, Stop, Down with open handed gestures directing them to stay low.

Here are some other tips that I found from a article quoting a veterinarian:

1) Remain calm and still. Don't run. This is a race you will not win. If you are alone, back away slowly. Do not turn your back.
2) If you are on the ground, curl into a fetal position, cover your head with your arms, and keep your fingers curled in a fist.
3) Avoid eye contact. Remember, staring an aggressive dog in the eyes is a challenge.
4) Do not smile at the dog
5) Use a soft, soothing tone of voice. Loud, angry-sounding words and screaming only spur on the dog.
6) If he bites you, DO NOT PULL AWAY. This only spurs the dog on. Remain calm. Try to put something between you and the dog like your purse, jacket, bicycle, backpack, etc. Don't hit the dog. Again, just makes the situation worse.

I would especially point out #5. According to Patricia McConnell, dogs interpret our loud noises as akin to barking--it is perceived as either aggression, or weakness/anxiety--i.e. someone who has lost control and is not a leader.

Note: I am not arguing against other more forceful measures that have been mentioned. Personally, I would rather those not be employed as a first response, but......if the situation is threatening enough, you have to do what you think is necessary.

Nor am I excusing irresponsible dog owners in any way.

The way I look at it, it is not the responsibility of the other person to know that my dog "is friendly". First of all, no one knows how their dog will respond in all cases. Secondly, if a dog lunges at someone walking or running by, they have no idea whether that is a friendly move or not. And even if it is "friendly", they should not have to worry, or brace themselves, or be uncertain what might happen.

Especially with runners and cyclists who are moving faster and are at greater risk of falling, I make sure my control of my dog and our positioning is clear well in advance--we don't do it at the last minute. We either move way off to the side, or I block him, or he is on a very short leash so that it is impossible for him to move into the path of the runner.

It's just common sense and common courtesy. It really shouldn't be that hard to figure out.