Thank you… She is a gentle patient girl… I have to add that inspite of the fact that she is a “Designer” dog… She was a Rescue… I adoped her from our local animal shelter. She had a huge tumor on her tail, so I guess her previous humans didn’t want to deal wit the vet bills… The wonderful veterinary surgeons at the shelter were able to remove the tumor and even save her tail!! It was touch and go for the tail for a while… but it’s fine now… and it’s beautiful…
That’s lovely, hope you have many more happy years with her.
Our running club has been using the same route to the beach for god knows how many years. The only dogs we have issues with are ones off the lead. I also have issues about the type of dogs people own, such as having a dog that weighs more then they do for instance. Even if the dog that big was on the lead there is no way they could hold it back if it decided to run for it or attack something.
Most runners are considerate with regard to other walkers in that we make sure they are aware of us before we get near them to avoid them getting startled. Dogs though are vary rarely startled but many will tense on our approach and deem us a threat for sure. This, I suppose, is a natural reaction but it doesn’t help the situation whether it is or not.
I used to own a dog but over the years I have come to dislike them intensely having seen them try to attack me, attack others, s*** everywhere, bark continuously but worse of all being used as insane deadly guard dogs or offensive weapons by certain nasty individuals.
Thing is not all people like dogs and I wouldn’t be surprised if some are terrified of them. They are though everywhere. I wonder how many dogs there are now in British Isles? Millions upon millions I expect.
This week I have seen lots of dogs off leads. Some owners have been thoughtful and attempted to get the dog on the lead when I have approached. Why do they do this though? Obviously ALL dogs have the potential to do serious damage otherwise why is there a need for a lead at all? Some people are in charge of dogs that could literally rip you apart should they wish and neither the owner or anyone else could stop them. Oh and this week I have stood in another load of dog mess which stuck to the sole of my shoe for ages and stunk to high heaven.
Aren’t dogs wonderful - not!
Well oddly I use a lead so mine don’t wander off or cause a road accident, doubt either would be ripping anyone apart.
Your dislike of dogs comes through loud and clear can’t help but think it colours your experiences with them.
Poop is mostly picked up where I live/walk rarely do people not pick it up.
Dog attacks are rare but yes can happen mainly not the dogs fault but the other end of the lead.
Runners/cyclists are the bane of our lives however, Mollie is almost deaf so someone racing past gives her hell of a shock, Betty is tiny and gets scared by people rushing up to us and past.
Cyclists are as bad if not worse for arrogantly believing what they are doing is more important than walkers.
We have to share these spaces, slow down and allow everyone to enjoy them.
As they like to say in the States… Guns don’t kill People do… So you can parody that… Dogs don’t present a problem. Careless inconsiderate owners do. If people were more conscious what their animals do… keep them fenced in or on leads… they couldn’t create trouble for other people… Right?
When I walk my dogs, they are always on leads… I go out of my way to detour around runners or cyclists… AND I carry plastic grocery bags to scoop up their poop… Yes… they poop on people’s lawns… but my neighbors always see my hubby or myself picking it up so it’s never an issue.
Shame not all take your approach 
.
Mine are never off lead either but that doesn’t stop runners and cyclists being a nuisance to them.
That part will always come down to training. I’ve had dogs that weighed more than I did but the dogs responded every time - without fail. The only time I’ve had a dog ignore me was the incident listed earlier in the thread - had the runner given me time to reassure my dog that all was well, it wouldn’t have been a problem. As I’ve said, many runners do tend to assume that we all have to leap out of their way in case their momentum is interrupted.
Most runners are considerate with regard to other walkers in that we make sure they are aware of us before we get near them to avoid them getting startled.
Not in my experience they’re not - they have, if anything, an air of arrogance about their right to run. In fact, I’ve often, in the past, referred to groups of runners as being like a pack of animals - they will neither slow down or deviate from their chosen path for anyone, including traffic (I’ve been shocked at how they will run across a road (granted a side road) making drivers slow down or slam on the brakes and the runner then has the nerve to wave a thank you sign at the fuming driver).
Dogs though are vary rarely startled but many will tense on our approach and deem us a threat for sure. This, I suppose, is a natural reaction but it doesn’t help the situation whether it is or not.
Owners are not able to reason with their dog(s) or to explain why this group of people is racing towards them - the dog(s) need time to be reassured all is well. Just as with people, some dogs are more jumpy and uncertain than others.
I used to own a dog but over the years I have come to dislike them intensely
That is quite obvious from your postings - however, you are entitled not to like them.
Thing is not all people like dogs and I wouldn’t be surprised if some are terrified of them. They are though everywhere. I wonder how many dogs there are now in British Isles? Millions upon millions I expect.
And a lot of people do like dogs. I would agree with you regarding the aggressive dogs and those that are owned by ineffectual owners. The Brits have been daft about their dogs for centuries - it’s not a new phenomena!
This week I have seen lots of dogs off leads. Some owners have been thoughtful and attempted to get the dog on the lead when I have approached. Why do they do this though?
Maybe they are aware that their dog will become jumpy with someone racing towards them. If you have owned a dog, as you say you have, you will know that a dog will attempt to protect itself and its owner if it feels there is a threat approaching. Other dogs are happy to let their owners deal with situations. Maybe when you are out running, you could alter your course a little or slow down a bit if there are dogs off the lead or an owner looks a bit nervous. I don’t like men hurling towards me for a couple of reasons but I will always call my dogs to me and put them on the lead but I do expect runners to take equal responsibility and not expect everything to run to suit them.
Obviously ALL dogs have the potential to do serious damage otherwise why is there a need for a lead at all?
To stop them running into the road, to stop them from running up to other dogs, to stop them from trying to join in games with children, to stop them from having a stand-off with runners 
Some people are in charge of dogs that could literally rip you apart should they wish and neither the owner or anyone else could stop them.
Which is why all dog owners should receive training (along with their dog obviously!)
Oh and this week I have stood in another load of dog mess which stuck to the sole of my shoe for ages and stunk to high heaven.
That is horrible isn’t it but you can hardly blame the dog for that - if we didn’t have a sewage system, you’d be leaving your mess lying around as well (as I believe you did on one run not too long ago).
Aren’t dogs wonderful - not!
I think they are (well, some of them anyway)
Lol. This issue will never be resolved as far as I’m concerned. The one thing that we all agree on - whether you like it or not - is the fact that dogs cause a lot of hassle for people.
No dogs - no dog related hassle!
I would counter: … is the fact that people cause a lot of hassle for people. No people - no people related hassle
And I’d vote for that one 
Bit extreme innit :shock:?
When I read the corresponding post of yours to my dogs, they said much same 
Mine just shrugged and giggled a bit. But they are both enjoying there ice cream at the moment so it could be that they were referring to.
I’m going to google and see just what the figures are like for murderers, rapists (scratch that one, I think the dogs might just tip the balance from what I’ve seen in parks and on the beach), starting wars, breaking into people’s homes, mugging, oh the list would go on and and not a dog in sight would there be
That’s a bit harsh
Absolutely although Mollie is quite a good mugger she has a passion for balls and will mug anyone who is carrying one LOL
I blame Betty, ,Mollie was a model citizen before we got Betty pup she is leading her into bad ways LOL
Exactly my point - 2 in fact ;-).
How does she get on with ‘obtaining’ barely eaten Cornettos 