# Stupid People on the Trail... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 2, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-people-on-the-trail/292525 "2005-03-02T01:17:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-people-on-the-trail/292525/21 "2005-03-03T17:24:18Z")
I’m with you on the whole “don’t approach my dog” thing, but if your dogs have trouble with people talking to them (whistling, kissy noises, barking) then I question whether it’s wise to take them out in public. Same with the “running at you” thing - really, if your dog can’t handle people approaching you or talking to you or running past you, why is it out on the trail? Keep your dogs in areas where people aren’t running, and you won’t have problems with people running at you or your dog. If I’m jogging on the trail, I will be running _at_ you if you’re coming the other way, there ain’t no way around it. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-people-on-the-trail/292525/22 "2005-03-03T22:17:22Z")
> [@sj2](#): > > please don’t try to engage me in conversation. Just keep walking/running/cycling/blading. I wear headphones, sometimes with my IPOD turned off. You can then politely ignore others. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-people-on-the-trail/292525/23 "2005-03-03T22:51:34Z")
> [@Terrorcotta](#): > > Why do people bark at dogs?? I don’t get this. What if, in Dog, you are saying something like, “I am the New Meat King of All Dogs! Take me down and all meat is yours!” I do it to my dog just to make fun of her, because she’s so goofy. But then I also meow back at my cats. It’s just funny. Strange dogs? No. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-people-on-the-trail/292525/24 "2005-03-03T23:00:43Z")
The OP has her dogs in a sit/stay and focussed on her on the side of the trail. She is requesting, among other things, that other people do not allow their dogs to run up to hers. Same with children. Seems perfectly reasonable to me. I have three dogs. I love dogs. Whenever I see someone with a dog that I might want to pet I always ask permission of the owner. It only seems polite, not to mention a safe thing to do. Sounds to me as if the OP is handling it exactly right. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-people-on-the-trail/292525/25 "2005-03-04T23:03:29Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > I’m with you on the whole “don’t approach my dog” thing, but if your dogs have trouble with people talking to them (whistling, kissy noises, barking) then I question whether it’s wise to take them out in public. Same with the “running at you” thing - really, if your dog can’t handle people approaching you or talking to you or running past you, why is it out on the trail? Keep your dogs in areas where people aren’t running, and you won’t have problems with people running at you or your dog. If I’m jogging on the trail, I will be running _at_ you if you’re coming the other way, there ain’t no way around it. I agree. And there’s no “right” or “wrong” side of a trail. I wouldn’t count on everyone holding to the same conventions that you do. And I _especially_ wouldn’t expect people to just _know_ that I don’t want them to try to engage in conversation. _Tell_ them it makes your dogs nervous, but for Pete’s sake, don’t be angry because they didn’t read your mind. But I do agree that it’s courteous to ask the owner before you approach his/her dog. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-people-on-the-trail/292525/26 "2005-03-04T23:04:39Z")
Courteous _and_ prudent, I should say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-people-on-the-trail/292525.md?page=1)