Mean dog (Read 1337 times)

Again, my perspective is somewhat different because I come from a place where it's commonplace to have dogs off-leash, both in their yards and out walking them too. We even have a couple of dogs that sleep in the middle of Main Street. But don't hate all of us dog-owners, when you're running or any other time.

While I'm violating every rule of the Society to End Comet Topics (SECT) by responding, let me just say: I love dogs. I have three of them. I don't fear dogs. Any dogs. At all. And when Mangy the Mastiff comes bounding towards me and covers me with slobber, I don't really mind at all. I actually like it. But when I get done with my tongue-bath, I tend to tongue-lash the owner. Or throw heavy things. For three reasons: 1) Almost every time - maybe every single time - there is a serious (or fatal) mauling, the owner will say: "but she had never shown signs of aggression!" And they're probably telling the truth, too. But that assurance isn't going to help the victim. Or you, when you lose your house and all your stuff, or try to sleep at night knowing what your negligence caused. On the plus side, this kind of thinking keeps lawyers in business. Their kids need to go to college, too. 2) Some people do fear dogs. I may think its a silly fear, but its real. My fiancee is one of those people, and she frankly won't run with me in our neighborhood because of big, friendly dogs. When they come running out, its not funny. It's crying and hysterics and breaking my ribs because she's hiding behind me and squeezing so tight. If the dog belongs to you, you aren't going to like me. Your dog and I will be just fine. 3) For lots of reasons, most related to # 1 and # 2 up there, almost every place has leash laws. It's possible that you live in an area that does not. I don't know. But here, there are specific laws. I run in parks where there are signs everywhere ... yet every day, at least one dog owner will have their dog off a leash. And call me crazy, but it annoys the piss out of me when people don't have the common courtesy to obey clearly written laws designed to promote safety and simple respect. So back to you: is it legal to have your dogs off a leash? Or illegal? If its illegal - why does "commonplace" matter? Legal or not, if it were your wife or child jogging by somebody's house, and they got hurt or worse - would "they never showed signs of aggression" make you feel better? And here's the question I always want to ask: is it really so hard to train your dogs or take the basic steps necessary to keep them on your property? Even if its legal, this seems like just basic courtesy to me. Not to mention the sad fact that its usually the dogs who pay the price for being allowed to run free. My next door neighbor's was run over by car. Had he obeyed the law, the dog would still be alive. Sweet puppy, too. And this wasn't flak. I'm just curious. Apparently I have to start including emoticons out here, so:

Not to mention the sad fact that its usually the dogs who pay the price for being allowed to run free. My next door neighbor's was run over by car. Had he obeyed the law, the dog would still be alive. Sweet puppy, too.

This actually concerns me more than any potential risk of aggression from a dog. There used to be a very sweet, young boxer on one of my regular running routes. She would always come out and run with me for a little ways, all the while I would encourage her to go home. Her home was on a fairly quiet stretch of road where the speed limit is 55, but people often drive much faster. I haven't seen that pup in a year or more--I have a feeling she met a bad end, which is sad. Leash laws are as much to protect the animals as they are to protect potential human victims of a dog attack.

So yes, I fear dogs, and I hate their owners.

I've read this thread, and I understand the fear well. I occasionally run with a very accomplished trail runner from the area... and she's petrified of dogs. Sometimes we run together so she'll have company in case the random country dog freaks her out (or worse). I'm also a dog owner. A responsible one. This response makes me sad as hell. And that's for real. "I hate everybody who X" is a sad state. No matter what population we're talking about, there's always a minority doing things which makes the majority look bad (example: bike riders in the city who cut me off while I'm running or daredevil in front of me while I'm driving), but I surely wouldn't blindly walk into a group of people I barely know declaring I HATE ALL OF YOU, DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL. Jeez. Edited to add: when I grabbed the quote above, it was a standalone thing at the end of a post, so it held its own context. It has been modified since, several times, and I believe I understand the author's points. And I still say: Jeez.

Some people do fear dogs. I may think its a silly fear, but its real.

TOTALLY agree. Most people are scared of at least something...whether it be dogs, spiders or the dark. One of my best friends is terrified of cats. I'll heartily admit I'm scared of fish and things that swim in rivers/lakes/oceans. They'll eat my legs. Bottom line, whether I think my dog is nice or not, as an owner I need to be responsible. Just like people with cats need to be responsible. And people who have annoying children.

Some people do fear dogs. I may think its a silly fear, but its real. :

I am one of those people and does my heart rate skyrocket when a dog comes running. It has yet to keep me from running, but sometimes I make my husband bike past a certain house while I am running if I see their dog is out.

I like turtles.

Even snapping turtles?

I like turtles.

Mine will chase you down!