How to deal with dogs while walking/running

[Anonymous]

spray bottle filled with water. and also carry a whistle, for more purposes than just the dogs.

[Anonymous]

When I lived in a similar part of the country, I would walk with pepper / bear spray and a pocket with rocks I picked up along the way. Would throw rocks at the pit bulls first and then resort to the pepper / bear spray. Most ran away after the first rock.

If they came in our yard and acted aggressive my dh would come at them with the weed wacker, or get a bb gun with flat pellets and shoot at them until they left. It's what we had to do to train the mean pitbull across the street that the owners let run all day. We couldn't even get our mail until the dog learned we would shoot him if he crossed the street.

These were on larger lots in the deep south. Two people were attacked by roving packs of dogs in the state while I was there and both died.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:spray bottle filled with water. and also carry a whistle, for more purposes than just the dogs.

Yeah, this isn't going to do squat in a redneck part of the country with dogs kept as "guard dogs." It would be fine for the dc area. If you spray water and blow a whistle, you will be bleeding out by the time someone gets there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pepper or bear spray.

Years ago I ran a relay race in very rural NC once where it was known there were unleashed and fairly aggressive dogs on the course. Organizers highly recommended pepper/bear spray.

This seems like a huge liability on their part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I lived in a similar part of the country, I would walk with pepper / bear spray and a pocket with rocks I picked up along the way. Would throw rocks at the pit bulls first and then resort to the pepper / bear spray. Most ran away after the first rock.

If they came in our yard and acted aggressive my dh would come at them with the weed wacker, or get a bb gun with flat pellets and shoot at them until they left. It's what we had to do to train the mean pitbull across the street that the owners let run all day. We couldn't even get our mail until the dog learned we would shoot him if he crossed the street.

These were on larger lots in the deep south. Two people were attacked by roving packs of dogs in the state while I was there and both died.

Geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm in the outskirts of Valdosta, Georgia. I've run into this frequenly in the deep south, unfortunately. (Back to DC in two years, thank goodness)

In that case run with a pistol and solve your own problem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:spray bottle filled with water. and also carry a whistle, for more purposes than just the dogs.

Yeah, this isn't going to do squat in a redneck part of the country with dogs kept as "guard dogs." It would be fine for the dc area. If you spray water and blow a whistle, you will be bleeding out by the time someone gets there.

Well then OP needs to run indoors or carry pepper spray. or a gun. is that redneck enough for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm in the outskirts of Valdosta, Georgia. I've run into this frequenly in the deep south, unfortunately. (Back to DC in two years, thank goodness)

In that case run with a pistol and solve your own problem

You can't just shoot someone's dog. And yes, rednecks start caring at that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm in the outskirts of Valdosta, Georgia. I've run into this frequenly in the deep south, unfortunately. (Back to DC in two years, thank goodness)

In that case run with a pistol and solve your own problem

You can't just shoot someone's dog. And yes, rednecks start caring at that point.

Huh? Of course you can. On a short leash with an owner by its side, no. But an off leash dog not under control and running up to you? You absolutely can shoot strange animals approaching you.

[Anonymous]

Oh wow, I'm just blown away but the regional differences. I'm living on Mount Desert Island in Down East Maine. The Rockefellers gave 1000 acres of land, including about 25 miles of gravel carriage roads, to a private charity in 2015. It is open to the public and dogs are actually allowed off-leash on those carriage roads (not off-leash on the adjacent Acadia National Park federal lands). My pup walks or runs at least two miles with me OFF-LEASH on those privately held carriage roads every day during the summer. I cannot imagine living in the south for so many reasons!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh wow, I'm just blown away but the regional differences. I'm living on Mount Desert Island in Down East Maine. The Rockefellers gave 1000 acres of land, including about 25 miles of gravel carriage roads, to a private charity in 2015. It is open to the public and dogs are actually allowed off-leash on those carriage roads (not off-leash on the adjacent Acadia National Park federal lands). My pup walks or runs at least two miles with me OFF-LEASH on those privately held carriage roads every day during the summer. I cannot imagine living in the south for so many reasons!

You're no different than south Georgia rednecks. Keep your dog on a leash, no one cares how well-behaved it is, and we all know about the carriage roads, so no need to condescend.

[Anonymous]

Honestly if loose dogs were common and running was my hobby then I’d probably get a concealed carry, but in my case since it’s not as common we just take pepper spray.

And to cancel the people suggesting that you’re not allowed to shoot or spray a threatening dog, of course you are, and you should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh wow, I'm just blown away but the regional differences. I'm living on Mount Desert Island in Down East Maine. The Rockefellers gave 1000 acres of land, including about 25 miles of gravel carriage roads, to a private charity in 2015. It is open to the public and dogs are actually allowed off-leash on those carriage roads (not off-leash on the adjacent Acadia National Park federal lands). My pup walks or runs at least two miles with me OFF-LEASH on those privately held carriage roads every day during the summer. I cannot imagine living in the south for so many reasons!

What is your point? That you’re inconsiderate and trashy but luckily nobody has shot your dog yet?

I honestly can’t figure out what your point is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:spray bottle filled with water. and also carry a whistle, for more purposes than just the dogs.

Yeah, this isn't going to do squat in a redneck part of the country with dogs kept as "guard dogs." It would be fine for the dc area. If you spray water and blow a whistle, you will be bleeding out by the time someone gets there.

Well then OP needs to run indoors or carry pepper spray. or a gun. is that redneck enough for you?

WATER? a WHISTLE? No way. She would be dead.

[Anonymous]

This thread makes me grateful that I don't live in an area like the OP.

As a runner I do have occasional issues with dogs and their oblivious owners on the path, but it's almost never an aggressive dog where I feel like my safety is in jeopardy. If I had to deal with loose dogs that included pit bulls, I would rethink my entire approach to running outside.