DH is afraid of the dogs he meets while running

[Cantstopshouting]

How does he deal with large dogs snapping and growling and bearing teeth while he goes for a run.

He is not the only person who has had problems with these dogs. Other people have gone elsewhere to run/walk but the route suits DH as he can just walk out the door and run for 30 mins and come straight home. He doesn't want to have to get in the car and drive a 40min round trip to get to a park.

If the dogs know he is scared will a change in his behavior make a difference?

Sorry if this has been done but I couldn't find a similar thread.

TIA

I take it these dogs are off the leash? And their owners aren't there?

the problem is never so much the dogs as the feckless owner I am always weary of them
normally I try to gage the rapport between them
try not to get between them
quickly assess the dog but don't look at it much apart from being aware of it
look confident

but I have had all manner of odd behaviours from owners, most egregious of all throwing a ball across my path which is then swiftly followed by a nutter dog over
Once I even saw a cyclist falling off her bike because it was too late to brake safely and she did not want to hurt the dog - did the owner apologise or even stopped to see how she was> did he heck

and breathe

The dogs are just wandering around on a small back road outside their own houses. Owners either not there or inside the house.

The gates are always open and the dogs wander freely.

Is it particular dogs? If so I would try to talk to the owners and ask them to keep them safely locking in the garden - they shouldn't be running loose.

If it's just dogs in general there isn't much he can do.

If he gets barked at the best thing you can do is stop and face the dogs. Often if you do that they will stop the aggressive behaviour - some dogs are big cowards when confronted and are really just making a noise for the sake of it. Otherwise just keep running and don't react. I have never had any serious problems when running from dogs.

Thanks so much for the replies.

Ormirian he is afraid of dogs in general even though he won't admit it but there are 3 dogs along this route that bother him.

If he just kept his head down and kept running would they ignore him in time?

I wouldn't stop to face the dogs personally- looking directly at a dog could be seen as a challenge. Keeping running might not work either- dogs are programmed to pay attention to moving targets! it can often rile them up more if you are running than if you are walking.
Either change route, or talk to the owners- their dogs really shouldn't be wandering outside and snapping at people- it just isn't safe.

Report them to the dog warden, loose dogs in a public place not under control....

just ignore them and keep running or walk briskly if they chase him. but def ignore just pretend they arn't there.
I would phone th edog warden and let them know their are dogs loose which have behaved aggressively they should be in their gardens. Better for teh dog warden to confront owners then your dh.

When we first moved here I had awful trouble with dogs around here doing the same... the walk to the playschool was a nightmare with 2 small kids. However after a few weeks the dogs recognised me and the kids and didn't even come out anymore once they realised it was just me and I haven't had any trouble from them since.

Doesn't stop me thinking extremely badly of the feckless owners who let them run loose but at least I don't feel as if I'm in danger anymore.

Thank you for all the replies.

DH will report it to the dog warden and walk passed (past?) the dog slower and see how he gets on.

Thanks again everyone.