I went to pick up my daughter from her friend’s place the other day. It was the first time she had been there, and I didn’t know anything about the place. It turned out to be right on the outskirts of town. There was a long driveway winding away through the trees, down the hill. Since I was in a bit of a hurry, I decided to drive down the driveway. After 50 metres or so, 2 dogs came out, barking. One was a yellow labrador type, the other was a bigger, brown one, maybe a Great Dane or something like that. The brown one was barking at the car and running circles around it. It ran right across in front of me, so I stopped. Then it just kept running back and forth, sometimes running straight at the car, sometimes running around behind or in front of it.
I thought maybe it didn’t want me there, so I tried to back up. Then it ran behind the car and started swooping at the car from the back, so I stopped again. After a bit, a guy came out from the nearby house, and grabbed the brown dog. He told me that the house I was looking for was on a bit further (maybe 200 yards), and that the dog always did that with cars. He said the dog would run with the car like an escort. He held the dog while I drove on and found the house were my daughter was visiting. It turned out that the brown dog actually belonged to them, not to the first guy. They said the dog is very friendly and loves everyone.
On the way back up, the dog reappeared and ran around the car some more. He would run straight at it from the front, and veer off at the absolute last second. I just kept driving, and didn’t actually hit it, thank God.
Am I right to assume that the dog knows what it is doing and won’t let itself get hit? Should I not drive down the driveway? I don’t really want to walk down, because I’m a little bit scared of such a big, loud dog, no matter how friendly it supposedly is (I don’t hate dogs or anything, but I don’t have much experience with them). Will the dog react badly if it knows I’m nervous?
I’d have a conversation with the parents. Explain to them that you’re uncomfortable with the dog running loose because you’re afraid you might hit it with your car and could they please not let it run loose if your daughter is expected to play at their house. Make it all about your concern for the dog’s welfare and that you’d hate for anything to happen to their daughter’s dog on your account. The dog probably is friendly, but is protecting what he sees as “his” territory. If you come across as an animal lover, the parents will probably appreciate your concern and will take it in a benign manner.
At some later point, if the dog is still running loose, you might have to decide not to take your daughter to her friend’s house anymore, but this should be brought up as a last resort. I wouldn’t bring up your nervousness around big dogs. They may decide you’re a dog hater (even though you say you’re really not). Make it all about how you don’t want to see any animals come to harm, even inadvertently.
If you’re nervous around big dogs, there’s no reason you should have to get out of your car and walk down the driveway. The parents should keep their dog under control, either in the house or properly fenced outside.
Eta, to Cochrane, people who live on farm type property would think you’re nuts if you did what you suggested. They already know their dog does this, and they’re ok with it. Depriving your child of friendship in this situation is silly.
If I had to lock up the dogs every single time someone came over, I’d be annoyed and would probably roundly mock them behind their back. Having to listen to a fucking long winded conversational production about how much you care about my dogs would make me stabby. BUT THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN, I mean DOGS!
I know it’s unnerving at first, but just drive slowly and regularly, it’ll be fine.
I have a friend with dogs like that, it’s really unsettling but that’s what they do. They run circles around the vehicles and the owner drives (slowly) and the dogs act like it’s a game. These are quick/nimble dogs and the owner has probably been doing it with them since they were puppies.
Also, yeah, this is a rural area where the dogs have probably 10 acres to run around on if they want to and the owner was taking us for a tour on a tractor/hay ride type of thing. The tour was probably 45 minutes and it was pretty clear the dogs already knew the path.
Or next time you go arm yourself with a handful of dog biscuits, toss them off to the side when the dogs approach and when they stop to eat, hit the gas and get ahead of them.
(OK, not really. Feeding other people’s animals is a bad idea, but if it’s a once in a while visit thing, I’d sure be tempted!)
My friend had a jack russel that would run alongside cars. Since she lived on a horse riding farm there were constantly people coming and going. Made me nervous as hell. One day the dog got too close to the wheel of the farm truck and was killed.
So, no, they don’t always know what they’re doing, although obviously it’s way more difficult to lose sight of a great Dane!
My first trip to Mississippi I had to get used to the escorts, after a couple of days I just drove normal. Many of those dogs to get killed at different points in their life. They don’t pass on genes for poor dog escorts.
Drive slowly down the drive and call the house on your cell.
I say go ahead and tell them you’re nervous around dogs. Tell them you had an incident when you were young, you don’t care to talk about it, please. Tell them you’re trying very hard not to pass your fear onto your child, but you are finding their set up almost unworkable. Say you are aware the dog is likely a very friendly and likeable dog and you want them to know you really are trying your hardest, and that you’re very sorry to bother them with this.
I don’t know a dog owner who would not willingly honour your request, in good spirit and with understanding.
I’m going to guess they would jump on board with whatever you need to be comfortable coming to their house. No one would feel they or their dog were being judged. Or judged to be a dog hater. Or a whiny complainer, etc, etc.
Yes, it’s a fib I know, but it could move everybody forward to a place where this gets worked out easily, quickly, without a lot of talking, judgement or I’ll feeling. It’s only one conversation, a few sentences long, over the phone.
And the little girls get to be together. Which I’m going to guess, is what everyone involved really wants!
I had a similar problem with a neighbours dog lunging at my jeep. I also noticed someone had bashed into my bumper, didn’t think too much of it, maybe someone in a parking lot somewhere … until I noticed similar damage to my next door neighbours van - same side of the bumper. I put two and two together and let my neighbour know I thought that dog was actually biting our vehicles as we passed.
He had a word with the owner of the dog and it’s since not been allowed on the road.
If they are not muddy, and you are really just worried about hitting them, you could always open the back door and let them ride with you.
Not sure that’s the answer you want to hear, but it’s my preferred response in such cases. Dogs who do this eventually get hit, and I don’t want to be the one who does it.
I haven’t lived in any rural areas, mostly in cities and suburbs with leash laws, so I don’t have any experience with free-ranging dogs. I still think there are circumstances in which owners should have their dogs under control, even if it’s for the dog’s safety. I’m not advocating calling animal control and I said it’s perfectly reasonable for Weedy to consider not bringing her daughter to her friend’s house as a last resort if she’s concerned about hitting the dog. And I’m a dog lover and know from experience that big dogs are mostly goofy lovable slobs. But I still make allowances for visitors and certainly never let my dog run loose. And I live in a community with very little road traffic. Other people’s mileage may vary, of course.
Yes, some dogs do this and the behavior in them is virtually incurable. And yes, they do often eventually get hit. A friend of mine just ran over one of his own dogs that engaged in this behavior. He was driving slowly and even so, ran over his own dog’s head. A big Husky variety, the dog is apparently fine (amazing) – and appears to be finally cured of this obnoxious behavior.
I live rural, keep dogs, always have, and I won’t let them do this. No dog is 100% trustworthy, and yes, your fear is something that can influence their behavior.
If I knew you and/or your child were coming, I’d confine/tether my outdoor dogs for the duration. If you arrive unannounced, however, that’s a different story. My dogs won’t run around your car, but they will definitely let me know you’ve arrived.
Personally, I think it is just a courtesy to make guests feel welcome and comfortable – including accommodating their fears about dogs, whether it pertains to fear of hurting the dogs or fear of the dogs hurting them.
Would the dog get in a strange car? Also, not sure I want a giant bouncy dog in the car with me. But this is a good way to make sure I don’t hit it.
When I was little, we had a dog that chased cars. It only lasted a couple of years before getting run over. This dog seems to want to push the limits as much as possible. I don’t know if it’s having fun playing on the edge, or if it just has no idea it could get hurt.
I do think the parents would think I was a bit overwrought if I asked for the dog to be locked up. They think he is a big ball of lovable fun. I guess if the dog is playful rather than aggressive, then I can walk down. It was pretty disconcerting when it ran in front of the car and started barking. Maybe that’s just what it does.
Since I am old & don’t need to be anywhere, I just teach them not to bother me.
A route I ride a motorcycle on a lot had dogs who loved to chase. I just stop, sternly tell then to, “Go to the house.” repeatedly.
After a bit, they realize I am not going to play their game. After doing this 4-5 times, when I go by now, they know the sound of the bike and they don’t even get up.
Had another place that had a 4 dog pack and they were a bit aggressive. Did my thing for a while and they would only be nice if their owner was in sight.
I went around the other way one time and trolled by and here they came. I just putted about another 200 feet which put me over a crest and out of sight of the house. Stopped and let the dogs get real close and at full bay. Now I had seen the truck at the house so I figured the owner was there. I am out of sight remember.
I took out my weapon and put 4 fast rounds into the dirt at my feet. Bawahahaha, those dogs were flying home. The next month, I never saw the dogs lose but after a while they were back outside. They just held real still until I was passed. he he he
Never had a problem them again.
So, you might do that ‘stop’ and tell them to’ go to the house’ thing.
They will learn you will not play their game and they will start leaving you alone because you won’t play.
I had a coonhound who would “escort” vehicles from one edge of the property to the other, on the shoulder of the road. He would also accompany me on rides (I used to train for competitive trail rides) and would sometimes chase cars that passed us slowly- he stopped after one ran over his foot. He wasn’t damaged but always after that kept to the other side of the horse
