Dog tried to attack me on run this morning, should I have reacted differently/done something next time?

trealt wrote:

Thanks for all the responses everyone.

Sounds like there are some mixed opinions here.. some say I should have reacted more aggressively and others say it was okay.

For some clarification, I am a 120 pound woman and the dog that jumped at me was fairly big, possibly could have weighed more than I have. I usually do not yell at people but the only time I have done it has been when someone is driving and doesn't look before they turn right to see me crossing at the cross-walk. I haven't gotten hit because I yelled early enough for the driver to stop but it's been close.

I've had dogs jump towards me or bark at me when running before but they don't usually make contact. In the future, should I be more aggressive and yell at the owner to tame their dog?

First of all, thanks for asking! You've gotten a lot of responses, and yes, they're all over the map.

I think you were right, this first time, to respond exactly as you've responded, which is to say, cautiously. I think it's extremely unlikely that the dog had rabies.

I still think what happened was shocking, in its own way, and should not be tolerated. The question is, what should you do next time?

My gut is telling me that if exactly the same thing had happened to me--and I'm a 172 pound man--I would seriously consider getting a small bottle of Mace or whatever commercially available and legal spray is available. I would do that not just for personal protection, but as a way of making clear to the owner of whatever future dog bit me that there are consequences to an owner for allowing an aggressive dog to enter the public square and mess with runners.

I run almost daily on a nice woodsy trail here in Oxford MS, and although 99% of dog owners are great, and have trained pets that couldn't care less about me, on several occasions a woman has shown up with a pair of unleashed dogs that plainly have NOT been trained to ignore runners. Both of them jumped up on me one time, and rather than do what I expect any dog owner to do, which is yell at THEM, quickly bring them to heel, and apologize profusely to me--in which case I'm always a decent guy--the woman said nothing to me and basically said nothing to them. They got muddy footprints all over a t-shirt and put a couple of claw-nips into it besides. Nothing huge--just simple assault (which in the law's eyes means somebody touching a person who doesn't want to be touched) and misdemeanor destruction of property.

Seriously: most of us with any time at all in public spaces, as runners, get a pretty good feel for how to work with--and around--dogs whose owners have brought them into those spaces. And most dog-owners who regularly bring their dogs into such spaces have figured it out, too. But occasionally the other sort of owner shows up. And very occasionally, as we know, seriously violent dogs show up and kill runners.

I think you should arm yourself with spray. Just something to clip on your waist. The next time a dog shows signs of attacking, let the owner know what you'll do if it puts paws and/or teeth on you. If the owner doesn't immediately react in a way suggesting that they very much understand your perspective and are doing everything in their power to restrain their dog, defend yourself.

The way the guy just threw his hands up in the air and said "sorry." reminds me of my neighbor.

The guy has his dog off the leash and just let's it run in peoples yards and do it's business. If he's out and he sees his dog crap in a neighbor's yard, he just waves from his yard and says, "sorry." Never has offered to clean up after his dog. I asked him a couple of times if he could clean up after his dog and said soemthing to the affect that it was natural fertilizer and that the grass would grow better (never mind the dead spots in the grass from the dog pee).

So got fed up with it and placed a couple of of those small bouncy balls in my yard. It took a couple of days, but the dog got one and swallowed it. About a week later, my neighbor tells me that his dog had somehow gotten a ball lodged in his intestines and it cost him $1500 for surgery to have it removed. I told him that my kids play with those all the time and lose them in our yard. "Sorry."

After that incident he kept closer tabs on his dog for about a month before he let him just go everywhere again. So I just put a few more in our yard and a couple weeks later his dog needed another surgery.

This time he got the message and has kept his dog on a leash in his yard.

A lot of dog owners just have no clue. They think that everyone loves their dog and that it's okay for the dog to do anything it wants.

should have kicked it right in the mouth. Did that to a dog that would charge me on runs - kicked it once never charged again

bit twice wrote:

ThunderThighs wrote:

That's a good way to get bitten in the ass mid-air.

Naw, I usually accelerate to 5:00 mile pace. Dogs usually get scared and fall into their submissive stance/lie down when they see a 6 foot tall sweaty guy charging straight at them.

I can see how that would cover any dog regardless of size and temperament. I'm not that fast of a runner so if a dog tries to menace me I grab it by the scuff of the neck and give it a firm shake. Even if its too heavy to lift it still puts the dog into a submissive stance and it lies down.

Then I put the owner into a headlock and throw him into a dog. So they both learn a good lesson. Next time they see a sweaty old guy running they will show a bit more respect.

Actually I misspoke, that's what I would do if the situation ever arises.

The 3rd comment is spot on.

People always think they can get away with it, but they shouldn't.

Something similar happened to me but I reacted (kicked the dog)and then the owner even had the audacity to blame me for defending myself and tried to fight me.

The guy was super pissed and had we fight over it most likely it would end up bad. I understood that it was most likely rage of the moment and I could avoid unnecessary fighting. There were also a bunch of people there so yeah.

If I had to fight I would probably grab the biggest rock nearby, there's no such thing as fair fight regarding an agressive douchebag.

KudzuRunner wrote:

They got muddy footprints all over a t-shirt and put a couple of claw-nips into it besides. Nothing huge--just simple assault (which in the law's eyes means somebody touching a person who doesn't want to be touched) and misdemeanor destruction of property.

And battery

I think you should arm yourself with spray. Just something to clip on your waist. The next time a dog shows signs of attacking, let the owner know what you'll do if it puts paws and/or teeth on you. If the owner doesn't immediately react in a way suggesting that they very much understand your perspective and are doing everything in their power to restrain their dog, defend yourself.

Yes, for your own safety and protection.

It is strange that carrying mace is illegal in some states, but dangerous off leash pit bulls are not regulated.

Almost got bit on my today because some geriatric had his boxer on the to end of the extendable leash. Damn thing ran out into the road to try and get me. Hope he gets hit a car next time.

Dog owners and old people. A lethal combination.

I am constantly meeting new dogs. You smell like fear. You just simply slow down as if your are doing to meet the dog. See what does and say nice doggie, good girl and stoop down. See what it does, and if it acts curious extend your hand give it a few hearty pets and be on your way. If at any time it acts shy or recoils, dont try to advance but already you've given the clear signal your not afraid and your the alpha male. Just walk away calmly with absolutely no fear whatsoever with an eye on the dog and be ready to talk to the owners, When your that confident so can certainly kick or even fight down the dog, mostly sudden movements toward him (without actually moving) while opening your arms, while simulatenously scanning for a big stick, or a rock on the ground. Once you find one you only need to pick it up and draw your arm back and the dog will immediately run away but get away from the owner as its instinct is to protect them. I actually like pit bulls and other so called rough and tough dogs, except certain dogs I'm always wary about. I would learn about the 10-20 most dangerous dogs in the world then you can go right for the stick and the obligatory rock to the head (only if needed) to knock him unconscious or kill him.

Remember humans are the most dangerous predator on earth. So when you see a dangerous dog and stoop down and up comes a stick or a rock the dog knows (from instinct) he's dead (or could be). Humans have hunted prey that way for centuries, millennia..

I got three decent sized dogs chasing me in Mexico. When they were about 10 meters from me I turned around and ran towards them with my arms up, screaming. They fled like sheep.

But the funny thing was that when I turned around and started running again, it took only 10 seconds and then I heard them barking and coming after me again. It was clearly their instincts to chase this strange fleeing thing. Anyway, replay of the first turnaround and then they fled for good.

El Stupido wrote:

spotterofdumbdumb wrote:

hi again dumb-dumb - you just doubled down on how dumb you are and don't even realize that this is what you did which makes you a dumb-dumb-dummy.

I'm not going to try to explain it to you since you're a lost cause but for the rest of the thread readers - leash length does matter and there is a hugh difference between standard 4-6ft and 20ft.

Well again dumb-dumb triple dumb-dumb hugh dumb-dumb you missed the point entirely, which is not how long the leash is, but having control of your dog.

Hi lost cause, non-dog owning, non dog behavior understanding dumb-dumb - do you need last word? Go ahead, I have sympathy LRC dumb-dumbs like you.

bit twice wrote:

ThunderThighs wrote:

That's a good way to get bitten in the ass mid-air.

Naw, I usually accelerate to 5:00 mile pace. Dogs usually get scared and fall into their submissive stance/lie down when they see a 6 foot tall sweaty guy charging straight at them.

It doesn't matter if you've hurdled over 99 dogs. It only takes one panic bite to give you a mid-air castration with your legs wide open and your nuts unprotected.

I do that quite a bit too. Dog heads toward me aggressively, I yell and run right at it. They always run away. Works with Trumps as well.

Scissor teeth wrote:

dogtown wrote:

a toddler with some scissors has the "ability' to rip you apart and kill you lol. doesn't mean you gotta be aggressive to prevent it from happening. Also, dogs are domesticated not wild

Pit bulls are not toddlers, are not domesticated, never were and never will be.

Pit bulls are not toddlers but they are dogs and are domesticated. Wolves, Bears, Fox are examples of animals that are not domesticated(wild).

Here's a picture from my 4 year old daughter's book that may help:

She now grasps this concept so I think you can too.

correct. and it is so easy. and if they don't get the hint you kick in the face.

better than me wrote:

should have kicked it right in the mouth. Did that to a dog that would charge me on runs - kicked it once never charged again

She's a woman, and the dog was as big as her. It would not have gone well.

domestic wrote:

Pit bulls are not toddlers but they are dogs and are domesticated. Wolves, Bears, Fox are examples of animals that are not domesticated(wild).

Pit bulls have killed and maimed more people the last 20 years than wolves, bears and foxes combined, thus are certainly not domesticated, and I hope you don't have one around your 4 year old daughter.

Pepper spray

Husband always makes me run with dog spray. This was since a few years ago while we were running our dog a pit bull attacked her. I was also 34 weeks pregnant at the time. We were trying to get this dog off our dog but it wasn't letting go. I don't know why but it did let our dog go after what seemed to be forever. Thankfully she was OK besides a bite mark on her back for a few months. Our vet said in that scenario the only thing you can do is put something metal in the dogs mouth so it does not bite you. We were literally doing everything to get the dog off our dog. Needless to say I freaked out at the owner but I am scared of pit bulls now. I do continue to run and with the baby stroller but I always carry dog spray and avoid homes with these types of dogs. I feel bad for the breed since a lot are up for adoption but after seeing how one attacks I do not think they are appropriate for just any person to own and feel that if a dog does attack the owners should be punished legally and there should be harsh punishments.