My relationship with dogs
Jan2520121:15 p.m.
I quite like dogs. When I was younger I always wanted to own a dog. I love watching them having fun on the beach. I even fancy getting a dog one day BUT when I go running I turn into a dog hater or maybe I should say I turn into someone who hates dog owners! Why do some dog owners not put their pets on a short lead when you meet them on a narrow path? Would it really be too much trouble to call a barking dog back and making sure it actually does come back? What about dogs that jump up on you even if you have stopped running? I'm sick and tired of people telling me that their animal is friendly. I don't believe it. It might be the loveliest dog in the world but I do not want it anywhere near my legs! A couple of weeks ago I had a completely pointless arguement with an elderly lady whose dog had nipped me in the leg as I ran past it. No major harm done and I just carried on running while rubbing my sore leg until she shouted after me that I should not be running on a footpath. I stopped, turned round, walked back and we ended up accusing eachother of unreasonable behaviour. I thought an apology would have been nice but of course we couldn't agree and I was quite tempted to report her. Who do you report a biting dog too? No idea. All this came flooding back today as I was out for a run. I saw a bulldog about 200m ahead of me, no owner anywhere. I decided to be careful and stopped to have a drink. As soon as the dog saw me it came charging towards me and started growling. I thought it best to try a friendly approach and began chatting to the beast. To my surprise it stopped growling and started jumping up instead. It then kept running after me, jumping up and generally being really annoying. I walked slowly for about 300m before it got bored and ran off. Immense relieve on my part! On a positive note, the remainder of my run was very enjoyable and dog free!
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Comments (4)
giff1967 'You can report dog bites to the police. The old lady has failed to keep her dog properly under control, which is an offence. You may draw a dead end if you don,t know who she is though. Good luck.' added 25th Jan 2012
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Johnf 'Like you I have no problem with dogs, just the owners of loose ones that they can't control. I had an incident a couple of years ago which ended up with 4 hours in the A&E at hospital waiting for treatment and then a week of antibiotics. I did report the woman, who had 5 dogs without leads, to the police and she was cautioned under one of the sections of the dangerous dogs act.' added 25th Jan 2012
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philk 'Dogs eh? We all hate owners who do not control; their dogs or, just as bad, those on long leads that let them out so the lead stretches across the path in front of you. I am a jogger, not a bloody hurdler! I hate them. BUT, I am a dog owner and I sometimes take mine with me. He ignores people (get's in their way sometimes but he has as much right to be on the path/field/woods as them) but he hates other dogs! So I have to keep an eye onhim at all times anyway just in case he meets another one he wants to scrap with.' added 25th Jan 2012
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DPH 'You have my sympathies too - I got bitten on the lower calf some time ago by a collie, but it really makes me cautious now when I see dogs out & about. I got aTetanus jab, antibiotcs & loads of bruising around the wounds, but sadly, no apology from the farmer whose dog it was :( I mentioned it to the local PCSO & apparently he had to go there for a chat, as it appeared I hadn't been the only one the dog had taken a bite from' added 28th Jan 2012
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