Dogs and joggers

[TootsAtOwls]

I'm prepared to be told IABU on this but interested to know what others think...

I have a rescue dog who is mostly fine, always friendly if he meets people in the house etc. However he does sometimes bark at people he doesn't like the look of when we pass them on the street (tall men, people wearing neon colours etc). I am actively working on this with positive reinforcement (I get the treats out before we pass people so he learns that other people are a good thing) and most days pass without incident.

However, I am having trouble with (male) runners. They come out of nowhere, running around corners and hurtling past at full speed. I often don't have time to get the treat into the dog's mouth or he's already too distracted by the runner to take it. So he barks, and lunges (I know he means it in a playful way, but they don't!) They always seem to look back and give me a dirty look as i call out "Sorry!"

But I can't help thinking, if I was running past a dog, I'd either cross the road to avoid them or if that's impossible (say on a canal path) I would bloody well slow down! I get that they don't want to keep interrupting their run with bouts of walking. Bit am I so unreasonable to think that you don't run right past a dog who's looking intently at you (as opposed to a dog showing no interest)? Surely they must see it's going to get them barked at?

let me tell you... I've lost SO much money playing poker with dogs!

I have more of an issue with the certain lady and her posse who shout (on a normal footpath not shared use) "runners coming through" expecting people walking to go onto the muddy verge, they don't even go down to single file. They are notorious here, local Facebook and next door groups bring them up, they obviously aren't members or keep quiet (8-10 women circa mid 30's-40's). If you don't fully move aside eg wearing headphones, she (assume she's the leader as always at the front) thumps you on the shoulder.

Ok feel better for that . You know when someone has been annoying you for ages.

Runner and dog owner. YABU to expect runners to cross the road YANBU to expect a bit of space.

My dog is reactive to joggers. If I see one approaching I make her sit and use the command "look at me" until the runner has gone.

The issue is the ones that come from behind, (99% men) fast, usually fairly silent and so close that they brush up against me. They give me a fright so why wouldn't they scare my dog? It's inconsiderate.

Crikey @gogohmm that's extreme behavior from those runners!

Running non dog owner here.
How far in advance should runners give notice? And how?
I do call out a cooee which often startles - I'm not sure what to do about that? And then as I get closer say I called out as I didn't want to startle.
Usually a dog will be aware of me coming from behind before their owner is.

Joggers are humans. Dogs are well, dogs. Humans trump dogs, I’m afraid. If I were running and your dog lunged at me, I’d do more than give you a dirty look. You would be shouted at for not controlling your dog. It is unacceptable that your dog lunges at other humans.

Thumping me on the shoulder would be the last thing she’d ever do 😝

Unless your dog is deaf, they'll hear the runners long before you do, especially the ones running fast, and especially if they're a reactive dog. Surely they make you aware of the presence of someone running behind you early enough for you to take action?

I think 'runner behind' would do, and whatever distance you reckon you can shout that they could reasonably hear you. Ideally sufficiently far that if they stop and turn, you won't crash into them.

If you're running past someone with a dog, whilst ideally they'll engage the dogs focus on them and move as much as they can, for your safety...

Arc around wherever possible - a head on approach, at speed, in dog language is a threatening or confrontational thing to do.

Eye contact - again if possible, don't stare at the dog, a direct stare plus the head on approach = trouble, it reads as a threat of attack/confrontation.

Slow down a bit - not necessarily to a walk, but a bit would help.

You can argue that owners should avoid all this being necessary til the cows come home and I do agree, their dog, their responsibility... however if you've been knocked over or bitten, you're still injured, being in the right won't change that, so surely its better to do what you can, and lets be honest, these are MINOR things, tiny changes to your behaviour, to avoid harm to yourself and potentially, an animal whose only crime is having a shite owner.

She's 14 so her hearing is probably not as good as it was. Also we have to use major roads to get to the park or woods so it's a loud environment.

Thumping me on the shoulder would be the last thing she’d ever do
same here, jesus christ, I would never do that!
If I'm out running and the path is blocked I slow to a walk and call out, 'excuse me can I overtake please?' then I carefully & politely jog past thanking them as I go
If there's a dog up ahead which looks 'problematic' I'll cross the road, or find some way to give it a very wide berth. If it's too late for that I make polite and smiling eye contact with the owner and say something like 'am I ok to run past?' not because I think I should have to defer to dogs, but because I dont want to get tangled up with them.

Not my problem

Thank you

Whether you have a dog or not, male joggers DO silently and quickly run up behind women. It's almost like gaslighting the denial on this thread.

It does happen. And that's because men have the privilege of not comprehending how scary the world can be for women, even in broad daylight.

All this 'you can hear them coming'. If women are saying they can't then believe them.

OK but where in my posts have I said it is acceptable for a dog to bite someone else's football or jump up at strangers? I've spoken instead about the importance of ensuring that one's dog is trained not to do these things. Whilst also pointing out that if a human runs very close (ie almost touching) to a dog from behind, that dog may instinctively respond.

therefpre I concluded that in shared public spaces there should be an attitude of give and take.

By the way, have you ever thought about getting a therapy dog? They're very good for people with anger management issues.

In defence of male runners, I'm not saying there aren't ones who behave badly, but in my 10 + years of running I've never had another male runner try to intimidate me.
I've had nasty looks from other female runners, comments from men in vans, cheers from builders on scaffolding, patronising comment from a fat man 'have you had a nice little run' ( mid way through a 12 mile run)
I've had some confrontations with male cyclists, and some races with male cyclists also had races with male swimmers, it's such an amazing fun when they think they can beat you and then they find out they can't 🤣🤣🤣

Maybe I'm the bad guy?
with any kind of sporting activity, if I see a man and I think I can take him I will go for it🤩

I'm confused. Are you a dog?

Oh sorry, just read your previous post and on meant you'd target them as your next person to beat

Hehe, no but I've no doubt that those poor humiliated men thought I was a right bitch for daring to show them up
✊😁

If I'm gunning for a pb and your dog on a lead is all over the pavement blocking the whole path and taking up lots of space, like lots of dogs on leads are, of coarse you will get a dirty look. And that would even if walking on the pavement. So many inconsiderate dog owners these days.

This is not my personal experience of running at all. I run, train and race with men and women and apart from friendly competitiveness and some good humoured 'getting chicked' comments, my peers celebrate all our successes.

In a race I'm more likely to chase down a woman and especially one in the same age category as me as that impacts my finishing position.

I'm too slow of a runner to chase anyone down 😭
I'm just pleased I can still do it at my age ✊😁

You're faster than the people not running at all, so go you!