What’s with the letsrun ovsession with dogs?

I still feel bad about the time I screamed F O in the face of a dog. It wasn't the dogs fault, it was badly trained by the owners. It didn't look scared, just a bit confused.

Long may it last!

It’s quite surprising that none of the runners around you have any dog stories, but it’s wonderful to hear.

I wish you many more years of problem-free running.

zzzz wrote:

perfect wrote:

lol, don't tell me you're a biker too? haha, fan of off-leash dogs and a biker.....explains a lot.

Kind of, not really. I was a road cyclist from junior high to college, but mostly a runner since the '90s. I rode my mountain bike once a week last summer.

You didn't address my point. If off leash dogs are such a problem everywhere, how come I can run 2 hours a day for the past 20 years and not get attacked when I often pass a dozen off leash dogs, sometimes more, per run? It's a regional thing.

ok, you're right. Your singular experience has convinced me dogs aren't a problem.

Have you ever been in a car crash? I'd like to know if I can just turn off my airbags and not use a seat belt anymore, so your input would be greatly appreciated. Millions everywhere want to know.

obsession*

ok, perfect wrote:

zzzz wrote:

Kind of, not really. I was a road cyclist from junior high to college, but mostly a runner since the '90s. I rode my mountain bike once a week last summer.

You didn't address my point. If off leash dogs are such a problem everywhere, how come I can run 2 hours a day for the past 20 years and not get attacked when I often pass a dozen off leash dogs, sometimes more, per run? It's a regional thing.

ok, you're right. Your singular experience has convinced me dogs aren't a problem.

Have you ever been in a car crash? I'd like to know if I can just turn off my airbags and not use a seat belt anymore, so your input would be greatly appreciated. Millions everywhere want to know.

So you're saying that it's the same everywhere, and you think I'm just lucky? And it has absolutely nothing to do with how behaviors of dogs and dog owners might be different in different places? Just how often are you attacked by a dog? Once per week? Once per month? Once per year? I'm at 0 for the past about 14,000 hours of being out on trails with lots of unleashed dogs, sometimes even dozens in a run if I go through the dog park. If your at 1 per 30 hours or even 1 per 300 or 1000 hours, I would suggest the difference isn't mere luck on my part, and that there are really locational differences.

Wondered of things wrote:

I personally have never had a dog attack nor do I know somebody who has. Do y’all really have that bad experiences with dogs?

In the past six months I've had my shorts torn up by a little dog off leash that went for my leg, I've had a woman walking three pit bulls almost lose control of one that went for my leg (fortunately missed), I've been punched in the face by a guy after I got mad because his off leash dog bit my ankle, etc...

It's not the dogs, it's the owners.

I guess another reason would be that I've had a dog with me for the past 20 years. Dogs are not interested in you if there's a dog with you, the diversion factor. Another reason to run with a dog.

My first dog avoided strange dogs, often detouring through the woods. My current dog is confident, and just goes by ignoring other dogs when possible. He says hello if another dog insists, and is cautious, nonthreatening, yet confident with scarier dogs, good at diffusing the tension.

zzzz wrote:

. He says hello if another dog insists,

Found the problem.

"It's a regional thing."

It's a cultural thing. Culture can be created for good or bad. Europeans have a much better behaved dog culture then in the US. Plus the dogs look so much better in Europe. Purebreds. No mutts there.

you didn't answer my question...have you been in a car wreck? If not, does that lead you to believe that people in your area are exceptional drivers? I don't think you have a very good grasp of sample size.

I've been attacked by dogs twice in 30 years........which doesn't sound like a lot, but how would you feel if you were stabbed twice in 30 years?

But I'm sure you won't be, because you live in such a special area with such special people. Blessed you.

Of course, there are regional differences. But the amount of data you have is basically meaningless.

Gravy wrote:

zzzz wrote:

. He says hello if another dog insists,

Found the problem.

?

ok, perfect wrote:

you didn't answer my question...have you been in a car wreck? If not, does that lead you to believe that people in your area are exceptional drivers? I don't think you have a very good grasp of sample size.

I've been attacked by dogs twice in 30 years........which doesn't sound like a lot, but how would you feel if you were stabbed twice in 30 years?

But I'm sure you won't be, because you live in such a special area with such special people. Blessed you.

Of course, there are regional differences. But the amount of data you have is basically meaningless.

I ran into caribou in January with my car. Car got totaled out.

I was assuming the complainers are being attacked frequently, like once per week or month. I used to get chased by a dog about every other time I went by two different specific houses on my bike in when I was in CA. That's more along the lines of what I thought people are complaining about.

If it's two times in 30 years, I would be complaining about every dog I see, I'd complain about those specific dogs. Just like if I were stabbed two tume in 30 years, I wiuld assume all people are bad.

Most LRC posters are pu$$ies who think a dog lunging at you is the same as getting attacked. Whenever a dog has charged at me I stopped running and played with it. Unless you're a total poor who lives in the ghetto the dogs go after you because the chase is fun, they're not going to bite you.

missing a "not" in that last post, you can figure out what I mean

Since I blotched this so bad, tyos corrected:

If it's two times in 30 years, I would not be complaining about every dog I see, I'd complain about those specific dogs. Just like if I were stabbed two times in 30 years, I wouldn't assume all people are bad, just those two assailants.

zzzz wrote:

I ran into caribou in January with my car. Car got totaled out.

I was assuming the complainers are being attacked frequently, like once per week or month. I used to get chased by a dog about every other time I went by two different specific houses on my bike in when I was in CA. That's more along the lines of what I thought people are complaining about.

If it's two times in 30 years, I would be complaining about every dog I see, I'd complain about those specific dogs. Just like if I were stabbed two tume in 30 years, I wiuld assume all people are bad.

Not complaining about every dog i see. I'm complaining about moran owners who let their dogs run off leash in leashed areas because they think "Oh, my dog is fine" and people who own dangerous breeds like pitbulls and let them get with biting distance of other people and other dogs.

Every dog should be under complete control of owner in most public areas unless marked as of leash area. And a lot of people are simply incapable of controlling a dog like a pitbull. there is no good reason for people to be allowed to own them

I agree with you about pitbulls. I don't consider them to be stable or predictable. Even scarier, I hold my breath with the huge mastiffs.

Where I live the local code defines "control by leash" to include electronic collars if used by a competent person and trained dog, so I'm legal with my dog off leash here even where the signs say leashes are required.

Most off leash dogs are good where I live because the are following outdoors people. Runners/bikers/hikers are rational. If they're out there every day with their dogs, they're not going to want people complaining about them every day. The issues are more with the people that take their dogs out rarely or never, so the situation is more often dogs leaving their yards.

Oops! I'm late. Anyway, I had once from my Jack (Dog name), an African Mastiff breed. I bought it from Fine Line Family K-9 and he is very cute. Once I scolded him too much and when I went near him, he bit me (not so hard though). Still, he loves me and protects my kids and this character of him impress me.

Wondered of things wrote:

I personally have never had a dog attack nor do I know somebody who has. Do y’all really have that bad experiences with dogs?

I have a hand that does not work right due to a pit bull attack. Nerve damage.