How best to avoid Rover combat while jogging?

Hi there,

I’m just wondering what other methods (if any) people use to discourage dogs from making you a snack while running past them. I jog with a jogging stroller which seems to attract lots of barks for some reason - more so than if I’m by myself. It happened quite a bit today, and it occurred to me that I would not know what to do if one of the dogs advanced toward us. As is probably obvious from my user name, I love dogs and have never had a bad experience with one, but I need to cover all possibilities where my child is concerned.

Would a whistle do anything? I’ve thought about wearing one while I run for safety in general. Should I carry a stick in the stroller? Scooby snack?

I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or Ideas. Thanks.

I was forced to carry a tiny .22 pistol after being knocked over by a doberman.
I wouldn’t advise you to go to that extreme, but realize if you and child are really attacked, you’ll wish for something more than a Scooby Snack.

They make pepper spray designed for use on dogs. I’ve been this close to buying it for a while now: I live in an “exurb” with lots of 1+ acre lots, and the number of idiots who think that a big lot means they don’t have to physically confine their dogs (with a fence or kennel) is astounding. There are some houses that I dread running by.

I don’t run as much as I should anymore, but back in my high school days (eight years ago? Really? Damn.) I did and I’ve never had a problem with dogs. Where are you running that feral hellhounds leap out of the bushes and try to sastify a craving for the other other white meat? Athens?

Try carrying a water pistol. A squirt in the face with some water might be enough to deter the nuisances. Of course, if you’re faced with a more vicious dog, who’s not just out to protect his turf but to actually hunt you down, you might need something stronger. Which ones are you running across? The protectors or the thugs?

Make yourself big, shout “bad - go home” back away out of their territory. Find another route.

No answer here. Just thought that it was apropos that today of all days I have two huge pawprints on my running pants from my jog in the brisk winter air.
I usually pass by three or four dogs on a run and they always behave themselves. This one decided to leap up on me as if to lick me or something.

Oh, and your handle fits the thread nicely :slight_smile:

Thank you for the replies. I probably should have been clearer that I’m not running in an area where lots of dogs are roaming free, but the majority of houses I run by have fenced in yards with big, barking dogs. I’m more thinking about if one of the dogs were to escape or if the occasional dog I DO see roaming around got nasty.

Jog faster. :smiley:

I do Nordic Walking instead - besides being easier on the knees it gives me two nice poles to whack any hypothetical too-insistent dog’s snout with. Wouldn’t help against real attack dogs, of course.

Two ploys. First, shout “No” in an authorative tone. Most dogs with any training at all know that command.

I used to carry a piece of plastic water tubing (about 28" x 1".) All but one dog ran away when I raised it over my head as if to strike the dog. The one who stayed after that scooted away after one swat.

<Marge Simpson>

Outrun someone weaker, such as Hans Moleman.

</Marge Simpson>
http://www.snpp.com/episodes/5F23

Some tactics I learned in 20+ years of running daily, encountering hundreds of barking dogs, but only having been bitten once. I have had several dogs and love 'em, but you have to know about them.

First of all, as has been suggested, shouting “NO” very often helps and the dog will retreat. However, watch them closely, because in the rare cases when they may be coming toward you still-legged, no wagging tale, snarling, and possibly hair standing, you are in trouble with a vicious dog. 1. Do not look them in the eye. 2. Stop running. 3. try to slowly walk across the street (often off their perceived territory). If all that fails:

Passing places where I knew a dog would come rushing out, I’d always pick up a few small stones (or make snowballs in winter). Just threatening to throw these often makes the dog stop. If not, plinking it on the head usually worked.

You probably carry a water bottle, so just squirting water at the dog, as somebody suggested, very often works great (most bicyclists do this). If you have problems with a dog that consistently comes at you every time you go by, have another water bottle with a mixture of water and ammonia and a squirt of that will almost assure control. However, better paint that bottle red or something so you don’t take a drink from it. :slight_smile:

I tried a couple of different pepper or mace type spray cans, but found that they didn’t spray far enough, especially on a windy day.

One route I used to run had a very aggressive dog, and following all the above rules did not work. He’d come right across the street at me, but when I stopped, yelled, and walked slowly, he never bit me. However, I got sick of this, so started carrying a sawed-off broom handle (not a sawed-off shotgun), and threatening him with that for a few days really worked, and he never crossed the street again.

The one time I got bitten (right on the butt) was by a maverick Saint Bernard that had been terrorizing the neighborhood. He was hiding behind a bush, ran out and got me before I even knew he was there. I stopped as did he, and he came at me again so I got in a really good kick right under his jaw and he ran away.

My ass was bleeding badly, so held a towel to it and went to the animal’s owner. The woman (who had to be pretty stupid to leave this dog out all the time) told me I must have been doing something to aggravate it! Yeah, breathing. As she was so miserable (the paper boy and postman had complained about the dog several times), I called the Dog Control office and they made them keep it inside for two weeks to be sure it (or I) did not have rabies. My doc sewed my but up.

After the two-week period, the damned dog was out again, so I reverted to the broom handle, which he respected. I was so angry about this, I called a lawyer friend. He went to talk to them, threatened a big lawsuit (I was training for a marathon), and settled for $600 and he took no fee. I began think, hell, I’ll be glad to get bitten anytime for $600. You may want to consider that. :slight_smile:

The lawyer also called her insurance company which threatened to raise her premiums if it happened again. Never saw the dog outside again.

I had a few bad encounters with dogs while running or walking. Eventually, I settled on carrying a wooden club about the length of a relay race baton while running. Since I switched over to walking, I’ve “upgraded” to carrying a stout oak walking stick. Never had to actually bash Fido one across the snoot. Simply brandishing was enough to run them off. There was a dalmation, though, who was so aggressive that it would have been a pleasure to brain him if he hadn’t retreated. Why do idiots insist on letting their pets freely roam the neighborhood?

My father when jogging would always carry a 4-foot length of PVC pipe. It was light enough to not be a nuisance, but heavy and long enough to effectively whack the shit out of any dog that started bothering him (although, to my knowledge, he never had to use it).

I want to thank people for the tips, I bike in the warmer months too and often have dogs barking/chasing until I’m off their so-called property. (I walk on the sidewalk, and bike in the street, obviously their idea of property is bigger than mine!) The biking doesn’t worry me so much but at least once I have had a vicious, angry dog come charging up the length of its driveway, snarling and drooling. It scared the hell out of me, but I didn’t run…stood my ground, and very slowly walked off the sidewalk, into the road. The dog stopped right at the edge of its driveway (invisible fence maybe?) but then just stood there, drooling and snarling. i’ve often wondererd what I would have done had he kept on coming.

IIRC, ammonia can cause permanent eye damage. Pepper spray is supposed to be safer, and as already mentioned, they make pepper spray designed for use on dogs.

Really?

I used to work in a chemical repackaging factory and have been sprayed in the face with ammonia, and once the hacking and coughing, and eye watering ended I was just fine. Now diabetic retinopathy is something I consider more possible [being diabetic]