I hate dogs! - General running

Terry T

06/10/2002 at 19:33

Recently moved to a lovely area,lots of woods,bridleways,trails etc,but I'm often loathe to use them at certain times.Why? I HATE DOGS.All types,big and small.If I had a pound everytime someone says to me he's okay,(as he sniffs around or snarls at me)he won't hurt you I'd be a millionaire!!
My spine just goes cold everytime I spot one and its making me take alternative,less enjoyable routes.
Don't say they can detect fear-I know that,but you can't control it-it just happens.Any ideas to rid me of this phobia,please?

Michelle

06/10/2002 at 20:17

I love dogs - just hate inconsiderate owners! I'm sick to death of dodging dog poo on pavements too - disgusting. Haven't these people ever heard of pooper-scoopers?!! Sorry I haven't got any advice to offer you Terry, but I know how you feel, if that helps at all!
Michelle x

Gaz.

06/10/2002 at 20:42

Hi terry, what with me beign a cat I know what you mean, I agree with Michelle, I dont mind dogs at all but, mostly its the owners fault, take this mornings run, nice quiet country road bloke walking towards me with 3 yorkies running about, of course they all ran straight at me I had to vault over the little things (polite or what) or they would have tripped me up, all I got was a dirty look off the owner.
Last one of many stories, on wednesday a bloke with 3 dogs again on those extended leads on a narrow path, dogs going in all directions I nearly got tangled up it was like an assault course
Anyway Terry I think like me you will just have to grin and bear it, sorry cant offer you advice just lots of stories.

Gaz.......

Trogs.

pirate

07/10/2002 at 00:43

Have you tried hypnotherapy or something similar?
I'm a dog owner whose dogs totally ignore runners and, mostly, walkers as well but I do appreciate that not everyone likes dogs. If I think from someone's appearance/reaction that they don't like dogs I'll call mine away from their path if at all possible.

Plodding Hippo

07/10/2002 at 07:39

Yes Murf, you seem to be a considerate owner
Having been attacked by a dog aged 4 Im not keen on them either, but the poor beasts are bound to want to run when you are
Their ownners should keep them under control, its not the dogs fault

Judd Casper

07/10/2002 at 08:04

I lived in an Inner City for many years and had to give up running due to Dogs. In this case they didn't have owners and were just packs of strays. On dark nights running after work they would run out of dark streets. Thankfully I never got bit. I made protestation to the Council who sent out the Dog Warden - just one for the whole city - and they apparently rounded up 38 strays.
I now live in a good area but now the problem is dog mess. Why in this day and age do we have this problem?
What you have is a natural fear. There is nothing wrong with that and after hearing of dog attacks you are just being careful.The only problem is Dog Owners who will not keep their dogs under control and clean up after them so everyone can enjoy their surroundings.

nearlyran

07/10/2002 at 08:05

I'm an animal lover and agree it's up to the owner but I am reminded of a letter in RW (I think), where a runner in America ended up in hot water for shooting a dog that attacked him. Radical, but the lesson wasn't lost on the owner.

Beth 30

07/10/2002 at 08:12

There was another post about dogs a little while ago and I brought up the very same point about the owners presuming everyone loves dogs, and saying 'he won't hurt you'. So? I don't want him jumping up at me with his muddy paws and salivating mouth either!!!

I'm not a big fan of dogs either, but if they trained their ignorant owners in a bit of dog-keeper etiquette then I'd be happier.

As for dog pooh on the road, another thing I commented on previously - if a child did that then there'd be uproar.
If dogs can be trained to do tricks and guide the blind, why the hell can't they be trained to use the lavatory and flush the chain??

:-0 Beth

N1654

07/10/2002 at 09:16

If you see a dog owner just leaving the poo in park, harrass them verbally. I do. I say, "Either clean up after your dog or don't come here."

Michelle

07/10/2002 at 09:17

I once had a big argument with a woman who let her dog poo outside my house without picking it up. I went out after her and told her that she either picked it up or I would follow her home and put it through her letterbox! She said 'i haven't got anything to pick it up with' and I told her, 'well that shows just what an inconsiderate dog owner you are - because you should always carry doggy poo bags with you'.. anyway, after a few more strong(!) words from me, and the supply of a doggy poo bag - she took away the offending item. My dog Ben died in December, so I haven't got a dog anymroe, but I never took him out without clearing up his mess, and then, only let him poo in the gutter and I never let him off the lead in public places.. I've lost count of the number of times other dogs ran up to him, and me shouting at the owner, 'Call your dog away', with them saying, 'oh, he won't hurt him' - yeah, famous last words - my poor boy got savaged to within an inch of his life by a 'he won't hurt him' dog and also had his tail practically bitten off by a 'he won't hurt him' yorkshire terrier!!! Grrrr.. rant over...!!
Michelle x

XFR Bear

07/10/2002 at 10:32

I think I'm correct in saying that owners are subject to a £1000 fine for not clearing up dog poo, if that's correct then you can threaten them with that!!

I actually like dogs, but even so having one run into my path, and potentially tripping me up is a pain in the bum!

Iain

cougie

pirate

07/10/2002 at 10:36

It is those extended leads that sooooo annoy me. Dog owner very happy on one side of the pavement whilst cunning pooch uses the trip wire to catch out the unwary runner by heading off to the other side of the road ! Grrrrr.

07/10/2002 at 10:42

If I had apound for every dog post I'd be a rich lady :)

Seriously, the problem is the owners.

Iain -- you're quite right it is a £1000 fine for leaving dog muck about. What annoys me is people leave it in the park where I go and there are around 20 bins (including the doggie ones) for them to put it in - really half the problem is laziness, so a threat of fining should help with that. The problem is confronting the owner - last time I did it I was told in no undertain terms that if I didn't quit whining, I'd be made to quit - and I took the threat seriously when the woman pulled a swiss army knife out. I've never walked my dog there since!

Dustin

07/10/2002 at 11:26

I use the 'I'll put poo in your letterbox if you don't clear it up' trick - seems to work.

Also I don't subscribe to the 'he/she won't hurt you school' of thought. Personally dogs don't worry me but as a father of two small children you try telling a 2/3 year old that the yapping little f***er 'won't hurt'.

Also why is it that owners think that when their dog bounds up to you , that you want to be covered in mud and dribble ? Yes I know they won't hurt , but to get the dribble dry cleaned out of my clothes (normally happens when walking home from work in a suit) is a pain in the backside.

Get a cat.

07/10/2002 at 11:28

Dustin -- cats are evil :)

Glenn

07/10/2002 at 11:31

What gives anyone the right to let their dog bother anyone else? Surely if you choose to keep a pet you must keep it under control. To me this means you NEVER let it near anyone else i.e. it stays on the lead unless there is no-one about - unless you really can make it walk to heel at all times.

07/10/2002 at 11:34

Glenn -- unfortunately the law only specifies that a dog must be within the owner's control... it doesn't say you have to keep a dog on a lead. For me my furry little bugger would never come back if let off the lead and he's way too friendly, consequently he never has free reign and frankly, that's the way I like it. That way no-one gets mad at me and I don't get attacked by mad women with knives ... you get what I mean :)

Spyro

07/10/2002 at 12:45

Worst case I ever came across was in Norwich, on a popular running route. It's a nice path past a canal and through a wood and is full of runners every weekend and most of the week too. Came across this enormous fliiping alsation who started attacking my shoes and my partners (who got bitten when he was a kid and consequently NOT a big fan of dogs already).

We started having a word with the owner who came out with "oh, he just hates trainers". Then why is he off the lead if you know he attacks people wearing trainers!!

Definitely need more training of dog owners!

Gaz.

07/10/2002 at 14:08

Come on Cath cats are lovely and cute,
look at me.........

Bionic Ironwolf pirate

pirate

07/10/2002 at 20:57

Reading all your notes makes me very glad I live here in Germany where your problems don't seem to exist as a general rule. But I agree totally the problem is usually the owner not the dog. The 'wolf pack' and I go to dog training club at least twice a week, mine do not attack people nor dogs, neither do they mess on public paths, they know better. But we see time and time again with beginner classes that 9 out of 10 times it takes a whole lot longer to train the owner than the dog, and some of them just never seem to be able to handle their animals properly. Don't blame the dog.