To ask whether I should stand still or keep running? Dog related.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

So, dp and I were running this morning through the university along a path which is half cycle path, half pedestrian - nice little run, up hill and down, sadly intermittently a bit spoilt by the waft of dog shit from the verges, but there you go...

As we approached the top of one great big fuck off hill that left me out of breath gentle incline, two slavering hounds from hell quite large labradors emerged from between two bushes barking for all they were worth and standing in front of us jumping up and down. This is just near one of the main car parks.

We stood still and awaited their owner, who emerged in his own good time and came out with the classic 'they won't hurt you'. Love it. He told us 'just keep running, they won't hurt you, they're just out of the car' and the slightly bizarre 'you're the same when you get out of the car'. Well, I'm not, but we'll leave that one.

Now I do think if your animals are going to tear off ahead and stand in front of people blocking their way barking, you ought to put them on a lead the moment you get them out, and that if they escape and are doing that, your actions should be, in the following order:

1. issue whatever orders/reprimands your dogs understand
2. get them restrained
3. apologize to runners.

But then I'm not much of a dog lover, so probably biased there.

However this isn't quite what I'm asking - basically, given that there are cases in which the person is blamed for running away so the dog thinks it is giving chase (like that little girl recently in the news), is it right just to keep going on your way and ignore the dogs (or in this case, actually push past them as they were in front of us) on the assumption that 'they won't hurt you' or to stand still and hope they get tired of it/you?

I would ignore them and walk by, if you remain calm and do not make direct threatening (to them) eye contact and just act like they are not there then they should stop barking and shouldn't chase you. I wouldn't run as they might see it as part of a game.

Being labs they were probably just happy to be out of the car and were shouting good morning at you, but I can understand that for some it doesn't appear that way.

I'd have carried on running, I'm used to dogs though and could tell if they were excited or aggressive.

You can buy anti dog sprays that you could carry in your bum bag, it wont harm the dogs and if it pisses the owner off then tough, they should have their dogs under control. Owners like that give us all a bad name.

Anti dog sprays eh.... good thought!

Either calming tone, talk to dogs but don't make eye contact, then walk by or if the dogs look like they've been trained, Say a firm 'sit' while raising you hand and then 'stay'.

Uncontrolled dogs either friendly or not shouldn't be allowed (I say this as an owner of 5 dogs) If you can't control your dog, you need training. All dogs should be under control either lead or voice.

What is annoying though is when I have my 5 stopped and sat at the side of the path for runners or cyclists and then they choose to run/cycle closet the dogs. Why would someone do that. Its dangerous and unfair on the dogs.

The problem is I suspect most owners would say their dogs were friendly - I'm sure this guy would. I'm just not keen on them jumping up and down woofing at me like mad things!

So I'm guessing my original plan of finding out which car was his and then standing in front of it growling jumping and baring my teeth while dp says 'she won't hurt you, just get in your car' is not a go-er, then?

I wouldn't use 'anti-dogs' spray. Dogs don't like any spray and will remember the unpleasant experience next time when another runner goes by.

Also dogs are legally someone's property, you could get yourself into a damage to property issue, I would have thought.

TBH I've never heard of anti dog sprays before!

In terms of legality though, shouldn't the dog be on a lead anyway in public area/right of way?

No, dogs have to be under control. For my dogs thats off the lead and most other dogs. The laws changed recently about dangerous dogs and my brains little to rusty to remember it all. But basically control is open to interpretation especially when you consider the dogs freedom to exhibit normal behaviour.

Oh I see! Thanks, that is useful to know.

I hate the "Oh he won't hurt you" I don't fucking care, keep you slobbery dog off me and my kid/Dh/Mum why don't all dog owners get that there are a lot of none dog owners who don't want their dog near them.
I've met some lovely dog owners, they keep control at all times, use a lead, and are pleasant. Then there are the others.

Yeah I don't get it when dog owners do this! Their whole "aah dogs will be dogs!!" act with a massive smile on their face. When all you want is for them to get out of the fucking way.

Dp has seen this guy before. The dogs were barking and circling then, and when he lifted his hand away from one of their jaws, the bloke appeared from nowhere and said 'don't raise your hand or he will bite you'. So actually not that friendly, I guess.

I hate hate hate it when the owners act as though the onus is on you rather than them to do the right thing, assuming you know what that would even be!

I my young bouncy lab met a runner the a few weeks ago on a secluded path that is used more for dogs than runners but that's irrelevant lab-dog approached runner, not bouncing, he's just past that stage with people, but will try and get anyone one to play with him runner took a deliberate step towards lab-dog. Not slowing down or anything, but a step towards dog, Cue lab-dog being taken by surprise and retreating very quickly. That runner did in 2 seconds what I have been trying to train into lab-dog for the past 6 months. Lab-dog now does not approach runners. It could just be lab-dogs age (14months)

Lab dog? I just imagined a dog in a white coat wearing safety glasses pipetting something into a vial...hehehehe...

I have always found that if you run 'away' from a dog it will run after you, if you run towards it, it will run away from you

Not sure if that is scientific enough, but has always worked for me

depends on the council as to if dogs have to be on a lead,they have to by law have id tags on,as most have said dont make eye contact and carry on walking,dont run or they may think its a game and give chase,if they wanted to hurt you they would have.

Ugh I hate the 'they won't hurt you' line. I have family that
Do that and I'm always embarrassed when they say it to parents with frightened kids when we're out with them. I just have to walk away because if it was me and my children, I'd be really cross.

Generally I assess as I approach OP and in the case of barking dogs would slow to a walk and walk past (though that didn't stop me being bitten once). Dogs that have their heads down and are more interested in the grass/hedgerow, I just carry on at my usual pace.

Owner was a knob. I always lead my young, bouncy dog if we come across anyone. I think I'd stand still and not make eye contact with an unknown, barking dog. I'd probably find it intimidating and hope that the owner would show up and deal with their dogs.

If I was confronted by two unfamiliar dogs being loud and boisterous, I would probably stand still. Most of the dogs I know would, if they were overexcited anyway and saw someone running, run along with them and jump around them. At best, it's annoying - at worst they might get carried away and a playful grab from an over-enthusiastic mouth can be painful.

We did stand still: they appeared quite suddenly from the side, and having had in dinned in from an early age not to run away, I just stopped in my tracks and waited.

So it was bloody annoying to be shouted at to just keep running!

If you cant get past them and don't like them barking or jumping up at you turn your back to them. Dont turn around until the owner arrives. They won't want to know you if you're not paying them attention.

OP, from what you are saying it sounds if you were unlucky to meet INBRED Labradors. I have seen one or two myself lately, and they are buggers!!
Labradors should never be assertive! Never. That trait goes against all a Labrador should be.

See that's the thing: why would I like them barking and jumping up at me? Even if was keen on dogs, I might just actually want to continue running like I was, not have this bloody great woofing obstacle unsupervised suddenly in front of me! The more I think about it the more annoyed I am at that twat!