Pepper spray for aggressive dogs?

Train a cat to run with her.

Agreed, but there is no reason that should be acceptable or tolerated.

Yes: But that isn’t solving your wife’s problem.

Funnily enough I went outside, caught up with him and he we had a ‘confrontation’

What was his reaction?

I prefer picking it up in a bag and launching it at them. Yeah I use more bags walking the dog but they soon learn, really pisses me off when I see them doing it outside the garden gate and they are watching me watching them watch their dog.

Its the ones that give it the old “Oh have you got a bag? I forgot to bring one”, you **** moron, you are walking a dog, bring what you need with you to tidy up!

What the dog thinks, or how it interprets the actions of a human is irrelevant. It’s a dog. The dogs owner should have it under control in a public place, end of story

Its not end of story no. Public place my dog is on a lead and a very close, normally a holti or a dogomatic collar type thing. Where we normally walk her, she does as she pleases off lead. Albeit shes 99% playing with a ball and trying to get the other out of my bag so shes focused..I’m not going to call my dog back every time and put a lead on her if I see a runner, wouldn’t bloody get anywhere

On the very odd occasion she does bolt off at someone she always runs straight past them or lays down for a belly rub, we’ve spent a year attempting to train this out of her and spent money on private trainers doing so. Eventually got told by several breeders at crufts, it was a breed thing and good luck with it she’s attempting to herd.

imnotverygood

Agreed, but there is no reason that should be acceptable or tolerated.

Yes: But that isn’t solving your wife’s problem. [/quote]

No but this is. OP only needs to stop being selfish and shell out for a treadmill. Now his wife can continue jogging but she can do so without infringing on any dogs rights to run completely out of control and do what they want.

How’s this for an idea….train dog owners to train their dogs? If your dog can’t behave around humans step off the path and take your dumb animal with you. It might be a wacky idea but I think humans should have right of way.

This.
Enforced by a team of nervous, vigilante joggers armed with pepper spray.
Problem solved

The problem is some owners. I was walking my dog in a park. A Jack Russell ran towards my dog which just put a turn of speed on and avoid it. Then as I walked past around 40 feet from the owner who was sitting on the grass the Jack Russell ran up and started nipping at my ankles. I stopped and shouted at it which stopped it. As soon as I started walking away it was back and I had to pull my leg out the way a couple of times. I tried to walk off a few times but as soon as I turned my back the dog was back in.

Absolutely no reaction from the owner while this was happening. Next time the dog came in I had a good hard kick at it. I missed but the immediate reaction from the owner was an outraged “DID YOU JUST KICK MY DOG!
She was up for an argument but I just walked away as the dog had now stopped trying to bite me leg. either because it realised kit would get kicked or because the owner had reacted.

Unbelievably though. absolutely no reaction which the dog attacks a passer by but outrage when someone defends themself from the dog.

A Jack Russel. No problem. But a big dog could be a serious problem.

Must admit it’s pretty rare that’s the only dog problem I’ve had for years and I walk my dog and jog in an area popular with off lead dog walkers.

Come to think of it the last time a few years ago was a small terrier which tried to bite my legs as I jogged past. Same owner attitude when I didn’t just stand still and let a barking growling dog get hold of my leg.

Theres some stupendous victim blaming on here!

I think there is some good advice on dealing with aggressive/excited dogs here. when dogs attack. Again, having something loud could be a handy backup and would also provide some confidence.
All these people saying to kick the dog etc are being as narrow minded as the cyclist haters out on the road. If anything it is the owner that needs to be punished, not the dog.

If anything it is the owner that needs to be punished, not the dog.

Kick the owner then? Sounds about right.

I’d kick the owner but they are not usually the ones biting my legs at the time.

This is the kind of ‘blue sky’ thinking that got me were i am today…

Your partner get a rucksack full of kittens to take running with her. The extra weight makes her stronger and fitter (Win No.1) but as a bad dog approaches she can deploy a moggy (just like choppers do with flares when locked onto by a heatseaker). Dog is distracted/attracted to kitten (Win No.2). Kitten is killed to death (1 less cat in the world – Win No.3) and partner gets home safe and sound. That’s 3 wins and no laws are broken.

Didn’t read the entire thread so sorry if it’s already ben suggested.

on and on posted something bloody useful back there. Best it’s ignored in favour of bickering though eh. I’ll post a pic to help –

https://www.police-supplies.co.uk/dog-deterrent

DezB – Member

on and on posted something bloody useful back there. Best it’s ignored in favour of bickering though eh. I’ll post a pic to help –

A child’s face.

Well I didn’t want to get in the way of an argument 🙂

OP…

I’m genuinely surprised that 3 pages in & you still haven’t picked up the phone & spoken to a professional!

Why not?

Why rely on anecdotal evidence rather than professional advice??

Or have you? In which case I humbly apologise!

Why not?

Sitting back watching the bickering is too entertaining?

Right, I’m not really sure the OP wants a solution.
1. Talk to the owners, tell them you don’t like their dogs jumping up you and ask them to keep them under control, you may have to do this a few times, people can be quite thick.
2. Do some research (lebowski has linked some good resources) and learn to be more assertive with dogs without resorting to violence.
3. Get a running buddy.
4. Get some of that bite back stuff, try squirting a bit of water in the meantime.
5. maybe run at a different time of day when there are less dogs around.
6. If the dogs are out of control and dangerous, call the police/dog warden, giving precise details.
7. Talk loudly to the local councillor/MP about the problem.
8. Reflect on your own behaviour around dogs, is there anything you can change about your demeanour or body language which may help.
9. Roll in fox shit, it makes you invisible.

These are just a few suggestions, most have already been made, but cock it, lets argue about nothing instead…

Have you ever tried that? IME even following being bitten, dog owners just get defensive and can’t see they’ve done anything wrong. I think the OP mentioned them laughing at their dogs being “playful” which is quite typical. See also: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/why-are-we-seen-as-different

5. maybe run at a different time of day when there are less dogs around.

What if that’s the only time you can run – I used to run a lot at lunchtimes, when plenty of dogs were around and it was on one of those occasions I got bitten. When else in the day do you suggest I did my sessions?

6. If the dogs are out of control and dangerous, call the police/dog warden, giving precise details.

The OP also says they’ve already done that.

8. Reflect on your own behaviour around dogs, is there anything you can change about your demeanour or body language which may help.

Yeah – I’ve been victim blamed on that one before as well, when I’m just out for a run or ride doing my best to ignore the dogs. Because you know I actually like dogs (and don’t even mind them coming up to me so long as they don’t bite).

Right I’m back. Without reading the thread, I am going to assume the OP didn’t get the answers they wanted, so started arguing with everyone in the thread?

Woah there aracer, they are a list of possible suggestions, no victim blaming, i’m genuinely trying to help someone avoid getting into trouble. I don’t think it ever does any harm to reflect on your own feelings and behaviour. If after reflecting, you don’t feel that you are contributing to the problem, crack on.

for the same reasons I took the ‘run somewhere else’ option, probably not an option for a lone female but I now run on the local grouse moors where there’s signs everywhere saying dogs must be kept on a lead, so there’s never any dogs up there, it’s much more enjoyable.

Problem with all this is that many people are idiots and many of them own dogs so whilst in ab ideal world the joggers of this world should be unmolested its not going to happen getting the to shout no or sit or something will make most dogs think twice.

local grouse moors where there’s signs everywhere saying dogs must be kept on a lead, so there’s never any dogs up there,

dog walkers our way ignore all that, includes the heroes with trail hounds, lambing season paah that’s for other people

Here’s an idea no one has mentioned yet:…

GET A DOG!(a rescue crossbreed)

It would love to go running with your wife and dogs are generally ace.

Dog owner for 20+ years plus I regularly encounter ‘problem’ owners and dogs when trying to walk/run/ride shared trails/bridleways.

Most dogs are simply wanting to play – running and waving your arms in the air probably just excites dogs. Simply stop, fold your arms and look away – most dog might have a sniff, but then probably walk off.
If you know the cues, aggressive dogs behave quite differently to playful ones – learn to know the difference. Barking and wagging tail usually means play not aggression.
As well as deterrent, how about simply throwing a few dog biscuits on the floor? Food’s more interesting than humans to most dogs.

The argument about control doesn’t wash with many owners – I had one dog walker try to tell me that I should have turned around, ridden back 200m and waited behind a gate on a bridleway as he had priority and I was the one ‘out of control’ – I was just trying to ride wide and slow. Many dog-owners are f*wits too 🙄

Try a dog repeller / alarm thing. Or try this?

Simply stop, fold your arms and look away – most dog might have a sniff, but then probably walk off.

So OP or I should stop what we’re doing (jogging) stand still and wait until dog and owner leave the area? Perhaps your dog should be on lead and stand still until we leave area?

I too am fed up of dog poop everywhere, dogs off lead and all over the place and more than a few careering towards me on bike or foot.

Christ, what a depressing thread. It’s like reading the comments on the Daily Mail ‘truck’ / cyclist’ post earlier today.

If the OP’s missus wants to be left alone, she should be left alone. End of. All this whataboutery around how she should WTFU or learn to be a dog whisperer is madness. “Maybe it only wants to play!!!1!” Irrelevant, she doesn’t want to. “Have a conversation with the owner” yeah, great, how about “do you have a first aid kit” as an opener? And of course, most dog owners are receptive to constructive criticism.

Pepper spray is clearly the wrong thing, and I don’t know what is, but all the OP asked is “look, how can my wife be safe?” Anyone got any good ideas beyond “its her own fault”?

I agree with Cougar 100%.

but all the OP asked is “look, how can my wife be safe?” Anyone got any good ideas beyond “its her own fault”?

Dude, there’s been loads of suggestions, many of them pretty good ideas, only a few trolls and the odd suggestion that a bit of self reflection is never a bad thing, if not just to eliminate oneself from enquiries, so to speak.
Most of us, even the dog lovers among us, recognise that dogs jumping up at you can be bloody annoying and have tried to help, but to be honest, it’s a pretty difficult problem to solve when all the solutions are glossed over so people can argue.

I can’t be bothered reading 4 pages but I’m a runner/cyclist/dog owner & the main problem is generally dog owners who don’t understand that not everyone likes dogs & runners/cyclists who stubbornly refuse to veer from their intended course because they’re “in the right”.

If you insist on some form of repellant the Police use this:

http://www.bite-back.net

It’s effective.

That said, you’re likely to get a dog lead round the back of your head by an irate dog owner.

It’s difficult to be non-emotive when you’ve had a run in with a dog, but ignore the dog, stop & explain to the owner that they could help by just holdin into the dog whilst runners etc pass. Has to be calm, non-emotive, rational otherwise it just becomes a battle.

I agree with fin25 100%

bongohoohaa
I agree with fin25 100%

Cougar – Moderator

Christ, what a depressing thread. It’s like reading the comments on the Daily Mail ‘truck’ / cyclist’ post earlier today.

If the OP’s missus wants to be left alone, she should be left alone. End of. All this whataboutery around how she should WTFU or learn to be a dog whisperer is madness. “Maybe it only wants to play!!!1!” Irrelevant, she doesn’t want to. “Have a conversation with the owner” yeah, great, how about “do you have a first aid kit” as an opener? And of course, most dog owners are receptive to constructive criticism.

Pepper spray is clearly the wrong thing, and I don’t know what is, but all the OP asked is “look, how can my wife be safe?” Anyone got any good ideas beyond “its her own fault”?

Nail Head + lots, switch this to someone who allows their children to run riot in a public space would you just say “its OK they are only playing” as they throw rocks at you?

If the OP’s missus wants to be left alone, she should be left alone

If the OP’s question had been “My shed keeps getting broken into & all the bikes get nicked. How can I prevent this happening?” I take it everyone would be happy with the answer ” People shouldn’t steal other people’s property”.
Yes, owners should control their dogs…but some don’t. Suggesting that the only solution is getting some sort of physical deterrence is, perhaps, just a little naive.

That was kinda my point; or at least, half of it. (The other half being, what can she really do?)

There’s no point being right if the alternative is being bitten, but blaming the victim isn’t helpful.

Dude, there’s been loads of suggestions,

The bite-back stuff seems to be the only sensible one, and that’s fantastic. All the rest seem to be variations on “go somewhere else” / “learn about dogs.” Sod that.

it’s a pretty difficult problem to solve when all the solutions are glossed over so people can argue.

You’re absolutely right and I apologise if I’ve “glossed over” anything.

Too many cat people in here. Dogs FTW!!