Anonymous wrote:As someone who runs with dogs, some hints / suggestions / pleas that will make things easier for all of us to share the sidewalks and trails:

My dogs like people. They--like most animals--don't like being startled though. If you can avoid startling them, everyone will be happier.

If I see you coming, I will try to avoid you, generally by darting into the street. The sidewalk isn't really wide enough for all of us. But I'm only human and cannot see around corners or through or over minivans in driveways, etc. We aren't exactly stealthy though, so I'd be surprised if you couldn't hear us coming (dog tags are pretty noisy). If you cannot hear us coming, you might want to turn down the tunes a bit.

It would help if you followed the rules of the road and jogged on the side of the street with the opposing traffic. You should be jogging toward headlights, not having them come up behind you. This is for your safety, not just mine.

If a lunging dog (on a standard leash, not the horrible extendable leashes that I would like to see banned) can reach you, you are too close to the person on the other end. I would consider that violating my personal space if I didn't have the dogs with me anyhow. Standard leashes are six feet long, by the way.

I can't speak for all dog owners, of course. And I don't disagree that some owners have been terribly negligent in their training. But understanding can help prevent problems.

I hope you never have the need to use pepper spray on humans or canines.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I run with a taser. Fuck with me and I will zap you multiple times. You will continue to get zapped until he police arrive. I hold it in my hand, ready for use. I also run in the dark.

Are you some kind of running vigilante?

Anonymous wrote:I run with a taser. Fuck with me and I will zap you multiple times. You will continue to get zapped until he police arrive. I hold it in my hand, ready for use. I also run in the dark.