10 replies to this topic

[fluidmoves]

Another reason why i hate running at night. Went out tonight for my tempo run two thirds through huge Alsation german Shepard comes for me and i mean comes for me. No owner in sight and certainly didnt hear one calling out to it, my guess let it out for a run because there was a bit of rain around and was too lazy to go out themselves. I serioulsy thought i was a dead man this thing kept coming at me no matter how much i yelled and screamed at it it would not back down. I reckon i was running backwards for nearly 50 mtrs screaming at it, it would slow down and then come for me again. The spike in my heart rate is huge jumps something like 15 beats.

I am curious to know what others would do in a situation like this. I have always been told to show no fear and make as much noise in an attempt to scare the dog off, but tonight this nearly did not work for me.

[Caterpillar]

From
http://marathon-trai...-you-not-to-run


Distance runners are probably more prone to a dog attack then than others, because running can take you to places unknown and the running movement stimulates the dogs aggression levels and predator instincts.
If you are lucky you may simply be frightened by an attack, or suffer a non-life threatening bit that needs minor medical attention whilst on the extreme end of the scale it could result in severe trauma (both physically and emotionally)  or at worst death!
Everyone has probably been chased by dogs at one point in their life but here are a few tips to give you the upper hand and the ability to protect yourself by not amplifying the situation. Knowing what to do when a dog is attacking you makes you prepared, not helpless, and out from total danger zone. It gives you a sense of security, comfort, and safety. Not only that but it also lessens your fear, and worry of being hurt by such sharp-teeth animals. Panic will be no longer your option when under such mishap as being attacked like a helpless prey.

US Reports show that every year nearly 5 million people are attacked by loose dogs. A thousand people are sent to the ER each day because of dog attacks. Most of the victims are the young ones and half of them have been bitten in the face. Dogs having access to the face of their prey means victims have no total control of the situation.

An Aggressive Dog

Encountering dogs and smiling at them is friendly but dogs might take it the wrong way. They might see your teeth as a fight sign and they are in for the go! Don’t look at their eyes as well. They might see that as a threat. If you happen to be running when attacked, stop. Stop and walk in the opposite direction of the dog. Just slowly walk away. You see, you are not as interesting for them as when you are running, so just walk. Don’t turn around or look back.

A Pursuing Aggressive Dog
If a dog still wants to attack despite your best efforts, you have to stay calm. Remember, panic is not an option. Just stand very still. Don’t yell or scream. Although flight is your body’s first response, NEVER run. Movements make them more predatory. Stand still and in a calm voice, say “Sit” or “No” or “Go Home”. Just know they’re like kids who obey those they feel have the upper hand.

A Real Crazy Aggressive Dog
If the dog tries to jump on you, turn to the side and push it off with your forearm. Straddle the back of the dog with your body mass and try to hold the dog’s back of the neck. The pressure you apply to it will immobilize them. In that way, they might try to scar your face or bite any part of you, but to no avail. You are holding the back of their neck and straddling their back. You have the upper hand! Stick is also a great tool to scare them away. You can also try to scare them by stones. The moment you act like getting some stones or any stick, they would try to leave you alone.
If you do happen to be attacked please report the incident to your local animal control to avoid future dog attacks, to you and your fellow runners.
Hope we haven’t scared you too much….. Have a safe and fun run!

[vat]

Give your local council a call with as many details as you can remember of the incident.  They most likely won't be able to track the dog down, but if there are similar reports of incidents in the area they can build up a pattern in that area and narrow it down.

Dogs are great - but some of their owners, not so much.

[B+]

Get totally aggrresive back, most people have a large level of fear about their own safety and at some level not wanting to hurt the animal in question, as odd as that sounds. But you need to hold your ground and be aggrresive back. If the dog is agro enough it's probably going to bite anyway so you may as well be ready to inflict some pain yourself this will normally have the dog back off and may provide enough time for you to get out of it's territory.

See attached photo, my 10 year old sons leg after being chased and bitten by a blue cattle dog. Required plastic surgery and a fair bit of time off sport.
 leg.jpg   29.58K   26 downloads

Train safe

[cjr]

I cycled across the Southern USA a few years and lost count of the number of feral looking dogs I got chased by as no properties are fenced. Most were not as feral as their owners though, who often thought it was funny. I came across lots of other cyclists who had got badly injured by trying to outrun or confront dogs by being aggresive, hitting them or spraying them with pepper spray. What I found worked every time was to just stop, talk to the dog in a gentle voice and walk away slowly

[lactatehead]

fluidmoves, on 07 August 2011 - 11:19 PM, said:

Another reason why i hate running at night. Went out tonight for my tempo run two thirds through huge Alsation german Shepard comes for me and i mean comes for me. No owner in sight and certainly didnt hear one calling out to it, my guess let it out for a run because there was a bit of rain around and was too lazy to go out themselves. I serioulsy thought i was a dead man this thing kept coming at me no matter how much i yelled and screamed at it it would not back down. I reckon i was running backwards for nearly 50 mtrs screaming at it, it would slow down and then come for me again. The spike in my heart rate is huge jumps something like 15 beats.

I am curious to know what others would do in a situation like this. I have always been told to show no fear and make as much noise in an attempt to scare the dog off, but tonight this nearly did not work for me.

You got my heart rate going just from reading your account. I had a similar experience with an Alsation and once with a Rottweiler. Luckily for me, the owners eventually realised what was going on and pulled their dogs off. I cannot tell you the best thing to do with an aggressive dog but I have learnt different ways of avoiding them. I try and read their body language if I see one ahead of me. If there is no owner in sight and the dog is looking jumpy and alert I tend to change course. I do not have a strategy for dealing with them at night.

[chrizz84]

same thing happened to me one rainy nite only the dog was a rotti it charged me from about 150 meters away and crossed 4 lanes of a highway and nearly got hit by a car.It only stoped when i ran at it and yelled at it.You are best of running at the dog or standing your ground do not run away you wont win.If that dosent work you may have to fight the dog.think going for its eyes would work but i have been told by a rotti owner you have to pull its front legs apart to disable the dog.this would be worst case but if you got a 60 kg dog running you down you better be ready to fight

[jpol3692]

I remember posting something similar recently - I've decided that if I'm ever in that situation, I'm taking matters into my own hands. We have a right to wander the streets without being mauled.

[Shahanga]

Dogs were always a bit of an issue when i used to run in Kununurra- mostly nuisance value that's all though (thankfully).  But i was only on short runs and in daylight.  might have been a different story at night.  Living in the deep south rarely see them except "out for walkies" on a leash.

[fluidmoves]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I was told today one trick this person uses is a little perfume bottle of Amonia and they spray it in the dogs face. Apparently they hate it and just run, that said i wouldnt have wanted this dog to have got any closer so i could test this theory out.

As a rule if i see a dog early enough i would stop head the other way or give it a wide birth. I totally agree with the non agressive approach but the talk nicely to it etc would never have worked last night. The first time i saw this dog was as it was charging straight at me and it meant business. The problem in this case was although i could scare it off it kept coming back and even as i tried to leave its territory it continued to come after me and in trying to leave the area it seemed like it took that as me being scared and therefore was more aggresive. I dont reckon i would do anything different if it happpened again. i just have my fingers crossed i have a peaceful run in the morning  

[B+]

fluidmoves, on 08 August 2011 - 11:35 PM, said:

Thanks for the responses everyone. I was told today one trick this person uses is a little perfume bottle of Amonia and they spray it in the dogs face. Apparently they hate it and just run, that said i wouldnt have wanted this dog to have got any closer so i could test this theory out.

As a rule if i see a dog early enough i would stop head the other way or give it a wide birth. I totally agree with the non agressive approach but the talk nicely to it etc would never have worked last night. The first time i saw this dog was as it was charging straight at me and it meant business. The problem in this case was although i could scare it off it kept coming back and even as i tried to leave its territory it continued to come after me and in trying to leave the area it seemed like it took that as me being scared and therefore was more aggresive. I dont reckon i would do anything different if it happpened again. i just have my fingers crossed i have a peaceful run in the morning  

You may face bigger threats running the streets of Melbourne with a little perfume bottle in your hand...........

Train safe