How do you people deal with dogs on trails?

Usually making yourself big and loud will scare them.

You could carry pepper spray with you.

If need be, fight with all you've got.

Unleashed dog, no owner in site, kick the dog hard to the side, preferably hit the head.

Tell the owner to leash his $#!$#@ dog. Trails in my town are not leash-free,but folks seem to let dogs off leash.

Keep running.

I own dogs, but will not hesitate to be physically aggressive against unknown dogs while running.

I try to kick them in the head as hard as possible. I got one so hard a while back the wretched thing up and died!

trailer runr wrote:

Unleashed dog, no owner in site, kick the dog hard to the side, preferably hit the head.

Tell the owner to leash his $#!$#@ dog. Trails in my town are not leash-free,but folks seem to let dogs off leash.

Keep running.

I own dogs, but will not hesitate to be physically aggressive against unknown dogs while running.

Very manly. Are you a SEAL? Delta Force? Probably both.

trailer runr wrote:

Unleashed dog, no owner in site, kick the dog hard to the side, preferably hit the head.

Tell the owner to leash his $#!$#@ dog. Trails in my town are not leash-free,but folks seem to let dogs off leash.

Keep running.

I own dogs, but will not hesitate to be physically aggressive against unknown dogs while running.

Do that to my dog and I will kick your balls into your brain. One act of mindless aggression deserves another. It's in the bible.

If they even look at me I shoot them with my 9. I make sure to get their owners to. Leave no witnesses.

I've been running 33 years and never had a problem with a dog, though I've encountered plenty.

The trick is not to be afraid. I never am and dogs know it.

Anyone who kicks a dog is a coward. It isn't the dog's fault, it's the owner's fault. I have a stern word with an owner about unleashed dogs that are too frisky. The risk there of course isn't being attacked but being tripped up. If the owner is unapologetic I make sure he is very apologetic before I continue on my run.

I'm not surprised there are plenty of dog-kicking cowards in this forum. They're easy to spot. They're the ones terrified to use their actual names.

sc42 wrote:

My adcie is to stop being a dickhead. From your post it is obvious that none of the dogs has actually done a damn thing to you other than exist on the same trail as you. Grow up. On a trail you might see a dog. Horrors.

When dog owners blatantly ignore leash and access rules it's hard to be sympathetic. In the open space where I do most of my running dogs are not permitted at all - leashed or unleashed because of concerns with wildlife.

Yet owners continually ignore the prominently placed signs. I have been bitten on several occasions - the last time from a german shepherd that put a nice incision into my rear end. The owner seemed stunned.

If dog owners don't want people to behave aggressively against their animals they need to follow the rules.

Robert Harrington wrote:

I have a stern word with an owner about unleashed dogs that are too frisky.

Do you also write them a strongly worded letter to back it up?!

haha i've never run into an aggressive dog on the trail... i did biking through neighborhoods once though. that was a bit sketchy actually. it was coming at me quick and i was just dodiling along too. i ended up sprinting and it was still not far behind so i slammed on my brakes and pulled a U and the dog couldn't make the turn and started skidding all out of control on its paws on the asphalt. it was a pretty funny sight. that gave me enough time to get away on another street. from now on i don't go anywhere without my handgun and pepper spray...

Stop being such a pussie and being afraid of harmless dogs.

Dogs on lease are much more dangerous than off lease because of the hazard of tripping over the lease. You should thank the owner for not using a lease while on trails. Using leases on trails is dangerous.

In most cases it's fine to keep running. If you think a dog might be an attack dog, stop, hold your ground and assert your dominance. I've only been bitten twice, both times by Rottweilers when I tried to run away from them.

A dog knocked me over yesterday.

Robert Harrington wrote:

I've been running 33 years and never had a problem with a dog, though I've encountered plenty.

The trick is not to be afraid. I never am and dogs know it.

Anyone who kicks a dog is a coward. It isn't the dog's fault, it's the owner's fault. I have a stern word with an owner about unleashed dogs that are too frisky. The risk there of course isn't being attacked but being tripped up. If the owner is unapologetic I make sure he is very apologetic before I continue on my run.

I'm not surprised there are plenty of dog-kicking cowards in this forum. They're easy to spot. They're the ones terrified to use their actual names.

Great post. My experience is similar to yours. I'm sure there are very rare "bad dogs" due to a**hole owners, but those posters who seem to perpetually have problems with dogs, who fear "pit bulls", etc. strike me as seriously deranged , fearful people who are living self-fulfilling prophesies.

Nop200 wrote:

It seems like every time I try to go run on a trail I end up turning a corner and running into a dog that is not leashed. Same thing every time. Crazy dog that looks like it would enjoy nothing more than ripping my face off charges directly at me while clueless owner says, "don't worry he's friendly!"

I've got no problem with talking to the owners, but I would rather avoid possibly getting my face/ass ripped off. Any tips? Are there certain times people don't walk their dogs as often? How should I deal with crazy dogs? (Never been much of a dog person, I just freeze...) Certain places that tend not to be popular with dog walkers? I'm getting to the point where I can't go out for a run on the trails without constantly fearing running into a dog.

I try to smile despite that, and if she's a butterface I might strike up a conversation, see where it leads: maybe a quickie in the car.

SanJoseRunner wrote:

I try to kick them in the head as hard as possible. I got one so hard a while back the wretched thing up and died!

I'm proud of you!! I've been running for 51 years and have had to kick a few over the years, but never killed one yet.

Robert Harrington wrote:

I have a stern word with an owner about unleashed dogs that are too frisky.

So as the dog is getting frisky and dry-humping your leg, you have this stern word? Based on your comments, I'm guessing this is the only action you get these days?

NOCAL wrote:

SanJoseRunner wrote:

I try to kick them in the head as hard as possible. I got one so hard a while back the wretched thing up and died!

I'm proud of you!! I've been running for 51 years and have had to kick a few over the years, but never killed one yet.

Neither did that guy. Unless he killed the pug a few months ago. Which isn't much to brag about.

Threads like these bring out all the tough guys. Nobody kills a dog by kicking it to death. You know how hard that is for anything over 20 lbs? It'll either run away or do a ton a damage depending on its temperament.

If you can't read dog behavior after decades of running, something is wrong with you. Most are fine. Some are a pain in the ass. A select few are really dangerous. No different than people. Bikes have caused me more problems than dogs over the years.

I tell their owner that I am permitted to kill their dog if it approaches me (state law). I believe killing the dog is a community service. It could very easily be a child on the trail that gets attacked. Dogs frequently run into the street to chase me. Once again this could be a child on a bike. The child may run into a car, a ditch, any number of things could happen that result in a dead or injured child when chased by a dog. Killing the dog is the best solution. Sometimes a sympathetic police officer will kill the dog for you.

Robert Harrington wrote:

I've been running 33 years and never had a problem with a dog, though I've encountered plenty.

The trick is not to be afraid. I never am and dogs know it.

Anyone who kicks a dog is a coward. It isn't the dog's fault, it's the owner's fault. I have a stern word with an owner about unleashed dogs that are too frisky. The risk there of course isn't being attacked but being tripped up. If the owner is unapologetic I make sure he is very apologetic before I continue on my run.

I'm not surprised there are plenty of dog-kicking cowards in this forum. They're easy to spot. They're the ones terrified to use their actual names.