Dogs! what do you do?

[bryan]

What do you do to defend yourself from dogs on runs?

this morning on a 4.5 run at my one mile mark i was attacked by a large chocolate lab.
as i ran he lunged at me twice catching my pants and the second got my left butt cheek. my pearl izumi syncroinfinity landed right under his chin when i reallized he wasn't finished.
my garmin confirms myh highest heart rate of the run while not actually running.


i was wondering what weapons if any do you guys arm yourselves with.

[Tommy Heikkinen]

One day, a dog chased after me and put it's mouth around my calf without actually biting down but it was still pretty scary. I picked it up and threw it 10 feet through the air back towards it's house and took off sprinting. Now I don't mess with dogs. I find that the best detterent is to chase the dog. They see you running and the little toy poodle starts to feel like a badass and chases you. Just turn and run at it and it will realize that you are the bigger badass. Larger dogs won't usually attack if you are facing them so just turn if they get to close and back up until you exit their "territory". Otherwise a rock or branch to throw works pretty well.

[TRBoone]

I agree be the biggest badass on the block, if that doesn't work resort to the pearl upside the melon. Remember though a dog's head is much harder than your foot, so aim wisely...

[Matthew]

pepper spray will work.

So will a dog be good stick!

I have found if you keep running they chase you more. Call me crazy but what works for me is facing the dog or dogs, this says dont mess with me and if they keep approaching a swift kick to the face works good. You can also stop and take a few steps at the animal to get them to stop for it will put them on the defensive posture and then turn back and start jogging a little and repeat until you are out of there territory.

If you are bitten you want your arm or hand in there mouth if possible. Dont pull it out this will only make them bite harder. Cram your arm or hand in to there mouth then use your other hand when they loosen to grab there bottom jaw and squeeze, snapping the bone and force down ward. I would say you could practice on your dog but you might hurt it so dont. Nor do I advise getting in to the situation.

[Kevin S]

Good discussion. I've been lucky. In running off/on for the past 27 years, I've never had the issue other than a guy walking his dog and he was talking on his cell phone. When the dog jumped on me the third time, I smacked the guy's phone out of his hand and told him to put the dog on a leash (near several busy roads by Johns Hopkins University). However, the other advice sounds good.

If anything, try to keep your limbs close to your body. Natural defense is to put up your arms. Make a fist if necessary (never extend your digits). As difficult as it seems, try to deflect the dog so they have nothing grab onto.

Oh, and those fluffy little toy-poodle squeaky toys? I'll take a cat over them any and every day.

[Beau]

All of these approaches have worked for me over the years. I would add one more: call the police. I moved to this rural part of Idaho a year ago and have systematically removed the threat of dogs along my training courses by calling the police and filing complaints. Most owners simply restrain their animal from that point on (as they are legally required to do in the first place). It is especially important to call the police if you are ever actually bitten. You never know what diseases might be transmitted. A dog owner who allows his animal to run free is likely to have overlooked basic vaccinations.

[Colin]

I get chased all the time by dogs. Although I've never been bitten (knock on wood). But for some reason it seems like no one around here likes to keep their dogs on leashes. Usually if a dog is running at me I always somehow dodge it or deflect it and after that they usually head for home. But if they continue to come after me I simply turn around and face them. This normally sends them on their way.

[Jimmy D]

You can carry either an airhorn or a small bottle of pepper spray. Both will fit fine in the same locations you put you gels. It is hard to do but when a dog comes at you stop running stand still and face them making the biggest presence you can muster. I will usually turn face them and scream like a school girl at them. This startles them and at least lets you determine if they are friendly or mean. Walk away from them rather then running until they are comfortable with you. And if I had been bit I would return in my vehicle and let the owner know so they can take corrective actions or so you can know if this will be a common occurence and animal control needs to be notified.

[Heather!]

no! don't kick dogs! that's such a bullshit things to do. think about it: a dog doesn't realize that you're out for a run, he just sees you charging into his territory - it probably seems like you're threatening him.

don't be a dick, just pick a different block to run down.

[Tommy Heikkinen]

I agree to avoid blatant cruelty to animals, and I avoid dogs along my runs if I can. But eventually a dog is going to come out and start barking. Regardless of whether or not it's intentions are purely defensive or if it just wants to chase something thats running out of instinct, if it comes down to a mild headache for a dog or mangled calf muscle for me, I don't have any regrets about defending myself. It may not be the dogs fault, rather that of a negligent owner who refuses to put a leash on their dog, but a kick is a relatively mild deterrent for a dog who will receive no lasting damage. your foot is covered in cushioning so it's not like kicking an animal with a steel toe boot, it's just enough to shock a dog into letting go and backing up. I love animals but I value my safety and well being over theirs. I would never intentionally hurt an animal unless my safety was on the line and I have never had to kick a dog while running, though I've come close. I wish I could always manage to avoid dogs while running but they are everywhere and confrontations are inevitable and also sometimes dogs are just mean as a result of their owners and they will bite you just because you are there. Could you suggest a more humane method for protection?

[bryan]

i have avoided this route since.
it was the first time having seen this dog and this is the gateway to about five different routes i frequent.i would have to say the real "dick" in this situation would have been the owner who isn't keeping his pets in check.

[Heather!]

that's true. there's no excuse for being an irresponsible pet owner.

[Heather!]

i'm sorry. that first comment probably sounded a little offensive... i just can't support hurting an animal for any reason.