detpilot

So, I just got back from a nice run on an overnight in SCE. A little more than halfway through, in a residential area, there is a guy bringing groceries in from his car. As I pass, I hear three barks, and see a medium sized dog running from the garage straight at me. Fortunately, the owner dropped his groceries and dove for the dog, grabbing him by the collar and wrestling him back inside.

I can't help but wonder what I would have done if he weren't there- there were no big sticks around, and I would have had to resort to "hand to paw" combat with the animal. Obviously, we can't bring much with us on the road thanks to the TSA, or I'd run with a baseball bat, so what do you guys who run all the time do to prepare for this possibility?

N9373M

Have the number of a personal injury attorney available, preferably printed on your jogging shirt.

uvuflier

Cover yourself in wolf urine. That should keep them away.
Or this...Dazer II Ultrasonic Dog Deterrent

Timbo

When I was a kid, I was a Paper Boy. My older brother and I had about 66 houses to do, every afternoon, and 6am on Sundays. We would split the route, each of us going in a different direction, so we were not together for 'mutual support' when it came to charging Dobermans and Germans Sheppards (the Pit Bulls of the day).

We rode bikes but we had to deal with bad dogs on a daily basis. There were a couple things we used.

My mom told me to cary a squirt gun and squirt them in the face. That worked on a couple of them, but later we started filling the squirt guns with Mr. Clean ammonia cleaning fluid! A good blast in the face with Mr. Clean and they'd turn quick!

My brother prefered to carry a baseball bat in his basket and just wave it at them, that would turn them around, usually. He only made contact with one of them I think.

I used to run on layovers, until I had my back surgery! Now I ride a bike for excercise (at home) and get chased once in a while. I've found that if you just stop short, turn and look right at them, take a couple steps towards them, with a 'mean face', raise your arm like you are going to smack them, yell at them too, that will stop most of them.

But if you keep running, they will keep chasing, and they are faster than you are!

Even The Dog Whisperer gets bitten once in a while! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY-_v...eature=related

Of course, if he'd used the Mr. Clean, or the baseball bat, he wouldn't have!

Oh, and just in case we have any PETA freaks here, I love dogs and own 5 of them, and my wife has a cat. Two are labs, a Blue Healer (my favorite) a Jack Russell Terrorist, and my daughter's toy Poodle (the smartest, by far!). But when stray dogs chase me, I just act like I'm going to KILL them, they always stop and think it over.

dspilot

Carry a small dispenser-type bottle with you (the kind in the travel toiletries section at any big box store) that is less than 3 oz. or whatever the TSA deems "safe" nowadays. You can keep whatever concoction in it that works for you. I have heard of using ammonia before too, but I have sprayed a dog in the face with straight water before while on my bike and it stopped them. Sometimes stopping and yelling works too. I generally find that when I am riding, once I stop they don't care anything about me anymore. But, some dogs are just mean and want to come after you. Fortunately, I know where most of these are on my regular routes, and can either be sure and have my "Halt" ready, or have the speed necessary to blow past them. I know that this is a somewhat different scenario than jogging on a layover, but I do that too, and find that once you start to learn dog behavior in general, you have a pretty good leg up (couldn't resist) on the situation. Good luck.

FlyJSH

It's no Louisville Slugger, but have you thought about carrying your Maglight?

FlightGear

Firstly the owner should be shamed for educating his dog in this way.

Secondly, and i realize I am running the risk of sounding like a soft leftie pinko commie... But...

Don't be afraid of being submissive to the dog. Don't smile [bare your teeth], don't tower, don't hold eye contact and if you do have to retreat resist the urge to watch the dog, look past the dog at the ground, spot it in your periphery. And take the RayBan aviators off, you just look like a monster with mirrored eyes.... to a dog

If you are not confident or comfortable enough and would prefer a chemical protect-ant; citronella. To a dog this smells, well, like dog crap smells to us and your'r not going to create a legal issue.

Ifihadaboat

This exact thing happened to me on a trip last year in the north woods of Wisconsin. A guy was out chopping wood and his dog started to chase me. It was a German Shepherd and it was obvious right away that I couldn't outrun the dog (an uneasy feeling to say the least).

My only choice was to do what Flightgear said and to stop and stand still as the dog approached. He ran past me then stood and barked at me from 10 feet away. This went on for 30 seconds until the owner showed up.

I run outdoors at home and on trips every chance I get and this is the only run in I've ever had. Could have been much worse and it keeps me more aware to this day!

Boat