A question for owners of aggressive dogs (Read 1445 times)

What is it with little dogs? Napoleon complex? The only time a dog has actually tried to bite me was the insane doxie around the corner. Twice he has crossed the road to try to grab my calf (all he can reach). Both times I had heavy Winter tights on and he was unable to puncture through the fabric. No harm done. Though one of these days he's going to get a foot to the jaw. He's lucky he hasn't been hit by a car running out to attack me. I've had plenty of larger dogs join me on my runs (which is kind of nerve-wracking when they first appear, but it's usually apparent very quickly that they are just friendly). I mostly worry about them following me and getting hit by cars or lost. I do worry about a large, aggressive dog attack, but thus far consider myself lucky and stick to routes where I know the dogs are benign and/or safely enclosed behind fences.

What is it with little dogs? Napoleon complex?

I read somewhere that a lot of small dogs have this "napolean" complex because their owners are less lightly to correct them than a bigger dog. For example, big dogs' bad habits, such as pulling on the leash, are more noticeable when they drag you anywhere they please. Little dogs, with the same habit, are less noticeable because your strength can keep them in check. Owners are also more forgiving with their little dogs than big dogs.

I read somewhere that a lot of small dogs have this "napolean" complex because their owners are less lightly to correct them than a bigger dog. For example, big dogs' bad habits, such as pulling on the leash, are more noticeable when they drag you anywhere they please. Little dogs, with the same habit, are less noticeable because your strength can keep them in check. Owners are also more forgiving with their little dogs than big dogs.

That makes a lot of sense. The big dogs on my routes are pretty universally either completely uninterested in me or wanting to run along and play. Bugs, maybe you're right...1 cyclist and 1 runner in this house...and 4 cats. No dogs.

there are pretty specific rules in many municipalities about when dogs can be required to be killed. you could always let the owner know that you are aware of the rules. usually following an official notification of a complaint (from the police) the owner takes it a bit more seriously. just make sure they don't follow you home the next time. if they figure out who made the complaint then there is no telling what the owner would do. the rules are quite reaonable in our village. if the dog goes off property to threaten a person who is not threatening the dog then they can be notified of a complaint. if the police get another complaint they will issue a warning that the next time there is a complaint the dog may be destroyed. if the dog attacks a person they can skip ahead in the process. the police don't like to go around telling people there dog will be killed and it would rarely ever come to that. but at least maybe people wake up. My funniest story was when I was running on a trail and suprised a large dog who began baring his teeth and barking. Scared me for sure. Just as I started yelling to get the dog to stay away from me the owner caught up. He struggled to get the dog under control and started yelling at me for running on the trail. I was so confused I laughed and I didn't have a reply.

As a vet student specialising in animal behaviour, this thread makes me sad. All these reports of aggressive dogs! The reason most dogs display aggression is rooted in fear - they have many ways of showing submission when fearful but the more subtle behavioural signs are often ignored by us and they come to learn that aggression really makes us sit up and take notice and hence repeat the growling/snarling/biting when next in a similar situation. Kicking the dog wil make it more fearful of whatever triggers the initial attack and more like to jump straight to high aggression when it is next put in a scary situation. However, personal safety should always be top priority and I don't blame the OP in the slightest, and would have done the same if I was in their position. There is obviously a lot of misguided love from the owner that is exacerbating the problem. It makes me mad! Just please don't blame the dog

You seem to be of the impression that dogs are inherently fearful animals. I don't know what they teach you in your classes but I'm sorry, it doesn't work out that way in the real world. Dogs may become aggressive out of fear when being punished or beaten, but when it comes to defending their perceived territory it's not fear that is driving them. A runner passes by 50 yards away, moving away, and they run out and nail them because they are AFRAID of them? Don't think so. In nearly 20 years of running I've racked up close to 40,000 miles, largely in areas with plenty of dogs. I've had THOUSANDS of loose dog enounters...maybe several hundred that involved true aggression....a few dozen where I was genuinely convinced the dog was going to bite me and I left feeling I escaped something...perhaps 2 dozen where I either kicked, punched, or hit the dog with something....zero where I have been bitten. There are aggressive dogs out there. Dogs that, because they are not restrained and not trained/punished, WILL go after someone and WILL bite them just because they pass within their perceived territory. Runners are especially good targets, because dogs react aggressively to them running away. The classic "prey" scenario. I can't count the number of times I would have been bitten if I had done nothing but try to run from the situation, dogs DO react with fear if you confront them and assert alpha control. I love dogs, but if they don't stop when I warn them or for any reason get within kicking distance they WILL be kicked. I've had a few owners come after me too, I typically reply that they should go ahead and hit me, because I blame them not the dog and at least I would get to see them go to jail for assault. The funny exchange is when I ask if they know it's against the law to have their dog loose/off a leash/ etc etc. They ALWAYS avoid the question and go into "they were just playing" or something, so I repeat the question and eventually they either admit they know it or tell me to "F off", which is the same thing. Then I can ask them if they are just stupid or think they are somehow above the law. At this point 90%+ have told me to "F off", which pretty much means I've won the argument IMHO if that is their best response. Typically, I inform them that the first one is free and from then on I will call out animal control for each offense.

"Why don't you put your dog on a fucking leash?" I said. "He's certainly not under voice and sight control."

As a fellow Boulderite, "Voice and Sight Control" is a total crock. About 99.9% of the dogs off leash are under neither... Good on you for kicking the shit out of it. You should have kicked the shit out of the owner too. I had a smaller dog run up to my 3 year old's face at Chautauqua on Saturday. I informed the owner that the dog was going to get the shit kicked out of it if they didn't immediately bring it under their control. They just stared at me blankly and leashed their dog. I'm a dog owner. I love dogs... but I absolutely will not tolerate a strange dog getting in my son's face.

Runner=Cat Person

Yikes... the cats are even worse!! I've only run up on one of these twice (well, twice that I'm aware of)... but I nearly had to clean out my shorts both times.