I yelled at another runners dog today - am I a bad person

A few weeks ago I was doing a workout in the rain. I was having a miserable day and this a-holes dog that was off lease charged me and tried to bite me. I wasn't having it so I socked the little mut in the face and he immediately backed off.

I stand by you yelling at the dog owner. He needs to learn a lesson.

No. You did the right thing. Dogs are bad. People who run with them are even worse.

I'm not a wimp. I just don't want to say 'hello' to every stupid, panting canine out there when I'm trying to run. Simple.

As a dog owner, I feel confident stating that anyone who runs with their dog off leash has a very well trained/behaved dog. There are so many laws that will punish you if your dog does anything harmful and so many reckless drivers that can kill your dog if he wanders into the road that I think it self-polices well, even if it is technically illegal.

Note that there is a big difference between an off-leash dog who is with the owner, a junkyard dog in some redneck part of town, and a street dog in an inner city. All are free to rove around, but you only have to worry about the latter two.

I think you overreacted. Next time if you chill, ignore him and keep running, or say "hey buddy!" in an enthusiastic way as he approaches you, I'd bet the dog will sniff the air as you pass and let you be.

One of the more stupid things I've read here.

There are barely any laws for punishment for dog attacks/bites, often the victims just get the medical and lawyer costs replaced but no large amounts for damages for pain and suffering.

You CAN'T trust all owners. There are terrible people in our country (murderers, bank robbers, rapers, etc). Just like some of the dog owners are very bad people, can't control their dogs and they become ticking bombs.

Just like you shouldn't trust all drivers when you wanna cross a crosswalk to stop like they are supposed to (and instead you should look left and right first), you can't trust all dog owners especially if their dog is off-leash. You are probably a brilliant owner, but that can't be said for the 10% that are responsible for 98% of the 4.5 million bites a year (800k hospital/emergency).

Xoman wrote:

There are terrible people in our country (murderers, bank robbers, rapers, etc). Just like some of the dog owners are very bad people, can't control their dogs and they become ticking bombs.

I would amend this. I think the fatter issue is not people who are genuinely terrible, but rather the much, much larger portion of today's population who are simply selfish and oblivious to the rights and preferences of others. It's the attitude of selfishness and "me and mine first" which is a far bigger problem than the relatively small number of people who are wantonly evil and out to do harm.

Guy has a dog, he likes the dog, they get along. Dog never bites HIM, so therefore, "this dog doesn't bite." He can let the dog off a leash and the dog basically stays in the area, so therefore, "this dog doesn't need a leash." Everyone else's concerns about guy's loose animal is THEIR problem, not his.

You see this everywhere now, poisoning every aspect of civilisation, not just with people's loose dogs running around. What I WANT, what I SAY IS FINE, should be GOOD for EVERYONE. God forbid I budge an inch off what I WANT, even if it makes ten or a hundred other people's experience pretty miserable.

I think the world would be a perfectly fine place again if the majority of average (neither evil nor sainted) citizens were simply a bit more courteous to each other in attempt to try to hit a basic mean / average of tolerability in shared public spaces. You wouldn't even need to touch the truly evil people, the rapists and murderers. The return of basic courtesy and neighbourliness from the 90% of normal people would make the world so much and so noticeably better, the murderers and rapists could just keep on as usual.

runswithbears wrote:

I’d like to buy a clue...dogs are not children. Some children respond to language with ok dad. No dog says I hear you. Some people being bitten by your friendly dog take issue. Life is not always about being a stupid snowflake. Deal with it Jane you ignorant s__t!

My dog isn’t friendly unless you are physically at my house. My dog has been trained to ignore other people when off leash, comes immediately when called and heels, and I put her on the leash if we encounter someone on a trail. I run in the wilderness; I’m not exaggerating when I say that in the 8+ years of running with her 4+ days a week we encountered maybe a dozen people while she was off leash. She was always leashed on the populated portions of the trail. And for the third time (I’m not going to click anymore on what has become a ridiculous thread), I never defended irresponsible dog owners in the first place or intimated that dogs are children. Also, I never felt the need to resort to invectives in place of a reasoned argument. But you do you, bud.

As for the “ok dad” part, I was doing a tempo run a couple of months ago on a designated running path when I saw a family of 4 parked in the middle of it even though there is a much wider walking path right alongside the runners’ path. I was going to run around them on the grass, but the father motioned the kids aside when they saw me so I smiled, said thanks, and stayed on the path. Presumably the kids said, ok dad. As I was almost past them, one of the kids lunged out in front of me, trying to goose me. I reacted in time and didn’t trip over him, but if I had it would’ve been painful for the kid to be crushed by a 6-foot-tall, momentum driven adult. Guess what? I didn’t swear, glare, or call the father stupid, a s...t, or a Jane. What I did do is resolve to give younger kids wider berth next time if on a run because I have control over my behavior, not theirs. But hey, you go ahead and stew about all the dog owners whose behavior you aren’t likely to change because that’s just so much more effective.

(Exits thread.)

As a dog owner who occasionally runs with my dog off-leash in the trails, I agree with anyone who yells at what seems like an aggressive dog. My dog is very friendly and will run towards an on-coming runner. I will say her name, and she will step aside, but will wag her tail. I have never had any problems. Partly because it's obvious she is very happy by her tail wagging. Secondly, we, as dog owners are responsible for our dog. End of story.

As for the tight-a$$es that complain about everything, including dogs being off-leash (There is NO leash law in my town)

Or people not bagging their dogs poop (not in the trails) my dog goes off into the woods to poop. And, I'm not doing a stop and search. Besuides, when you bag your dogs poop in public streets, or sidewalks, I understand. But in the woods? Where does the bagged dog poop go? In the trash, right? Then? Yes, in a landfill. So, dog's poop in the woods, is worse than plastic bags that take a few years to disintegrate is better?

And, don't get me started on those that bag their dog's poop and leave the bag on the trail or on the ground. Sure, now THAT makes sense! NOT!

There aren't many dogs outside where I live, but I do recall once I was running with music and tripped, my first thought was I clipped my shoe on the curb, so I was surprised when looked down and a small dog was latched on to my shoelaces. I shook my leg to get it off and it went nuts trying to bite my shoe again. Next thing I know I'm in the middle of the road trying to kick this 15lb? dog with my foot. Thankfully no cars were coming because it happened so fast my music was still playing and I had no awareness of my surroundings. I then noticed a woman on the porch of the home I was in front yelling. I'm not sure if she was yelling at me or the dog, but the dog retreated and I yelled "I'm going to kill your f*cking dog!". After finishing my run I had a bunch of scrapes around my ankle, but no break in the skin.

I've never seen that dog again and I run by that house on almost every one of my out and back loops.

I like dogs, I've owned a few dogs, but I would have no problem killing a dog that tried to bite me. Cops shoot unleashed dogs all the time.

Oh thank god he’s gone

OMG, it is literally frustrating the overuse of “literally” wrote:

“However, dogs have been human companions for literally millions of years. “

Do you know what literally means?

Dogs have been domesticated for 15,000 years. My guess is that you are using the term ‘literally’ to try and strengthen or amplify your point.

It can only be traced back 15,000 years, but it is likely, LITERALLY, millions. There have been dog burials found in very old graves with human remains.

In any case, the use of literal was intended.

(edit to the above): This is not an argument that dogs should be off leash or that owners shouldn't be responsible for their dogs. I'm in the "always on leash unless you are in the 'wilderness' or designated dog park" camp. But it is simply a fact that dogs aren't toys, they are legitimate human companions. And they behave better when they are given plenty of exercise. They are faster and have more energy than most people. High-energy dogs walked only on leash develop emotional problems--like nearly all small, high-energy breeds.

Follow what the law says, be reasonable, and take responsibility.

Irresponsible people kill pedestrians in cars every day, despite reasonable laws. Is it just the "nature of driving" that people are going to get killed? No, and it's not any one law; it's all kinds of factors like mental health, physical health, low attention spans, and just honest mistakes. But almost everyone chooses to drive, so we're willing to overlook the dangers of driving to see how driving is still a reasonable choice--even if we don't make everyone take driving tests or blow in a breathalyzer every time they turn the key.

I've had tons of experiences with off leash dogs and it's very annoying, but the one that bugs me the most is when the dog follows me for a while (especially with on trails) and won't leave. Why is it my responsibility to yell at it to go back? I just keep going, if the person loses their dog it's their own fault.

I was bit by a dog while on a leash and I was running by then. I don’t take any chances now. If a dog looks towards me even a little menacingly, I’ll protect myself. And I love dogs and I have my own dog. Dogs can have a mind of their own, so protect yourself. It is your right! I’m not saying shoot the dog, but yelling at the dog or owner is within reason.