I have been frightened to death on many occasions by joggers appearing from nowhere.  It doesn't help that on one occasion I was mugged by someone I heard running up behind me who I assumed was a jogger but wasn't.  Perhaps the fear is my problem, but I wouldn't stop my dog from barking at someone who appeared suddenly - you might be grateful for that behaviour one day.

Joggers in a field aren't sprinters on a track - no jogger goes that fast. Do all anti-jogging dog walkers just look straight ahead, oblivious to everybody else around them ?. The ones that don't check are the middle lane drivers - happy to carry on going ahead, ignoring anything behind and around !. Get wing mirrors !.
As I said before, I'm always checking who's behind me when I'm out walking my dog - a) to be nosey and b) so I know which dogs are about.

> Do all anti-jogging dog walkers just look straight ahead, oblivious to everybody else around them

No - some of us do have some common sense ....

But you can't be looking through 360 degrees ALL the time otherwise you aren't giving your dog any attention. Also, in my husband's case, the jogger had come over the brow of the hill. He ran so close to my husband that he almost knocked him over. Is that reasonable ??? The jogger must have known that my husband had no idea that he was behind him :( Some of the 'joggers' are runners NOT joggers.

Daisy

I always look all around me - however, I was once surprised by someone who did mean to harm me, he came up behind me with no sound and very fast.
I did turn around literally at the crucial moment and he jerked his head away from me and walked on past. He kept looking at me and trying to see where i was, and i kept to the parts where other folk were and safely made my way home.

I just want to point out that, even with plenty of care, it is amazing how fast someone who means business can creep up behind you...:(

Lindsay
x

I'm not anti-jogger - just anti bad manners :(

If I walk up behind someone with the dogs, I will make a large detour around them. If I am in the field and someone walks/jogs towards me, I will step out of the way. I just expect joggers to give me/other dog walkers the same level of courtesy that they would expect. Footpaths are for walkers, certainly not cyclists and, I suspect should it ever come to court, not runners. There is a great difference between fun joggers and runners and I would class the latter in the same category as cyclists :(

Daisy

The original post started by saying that it was 'very exposed arable land, usually pretty empty'. Now personally, in that situation, I would be constantly looking around and would be well aware that I was vulnerable. Where I walk is pretty spooky - believe me, if I think I'm the only one there I have my mobile in my hand.

I wonder if there is a jogging website somewhere with a thread about what to do when you see a walker with a dog, off lead !. I'm sure, lots of non-dog owning joggers, seeing a dog running free would probably assume that it would be safe to run past. Not everybody has experience of dogs like we do.

One of these cases where it needs a bit of give on both sides.

Exactly!!

THere is always TWO sides, that is two sides that both need to show a bit of courtesy. I am not anti jogger or anti cyclist, i accept that we all have a right to use the same places, however i do think that this needs give and take on both sides. I am more than happy to recall or down my dogs when there is a jogger coming, (or anyone else for that matter) but i need to know they are there before i can do that. In this anti dog world i do all i can to prevent my dogs from bothering others and am always on the lookout for anyone that i need to avoid or recall my dogs for. However i am a human being, not an owl and i can't see 360 at once. I need to be able to look forwards to see where i am going as the path is quite pitted and i was playing with my dogs at the time. I was on a public footbath in the field that backs onto my house, so i don't tend to feel unsafe usually. and for the record the field has recently been ploughed, and my dogs were on the path and i find it quite offensive that you would suggest otherwise, what has that got to do with joggers? You are just trying to start an argument. The jogger was on the mud part of the field, as the path is quite narrow. Had he said excuse me then i could have moved across to let him pass on the path. It was too windy to hear footsteps, but a simple cough or excuse me would have done.
Is it really so terrible to suggest that people have manners? Do you not say excuse me to people when you have to get past and haven't enough room to do so SAFELY? I imagine most regular joggers are aware on the effect that they have on dogs, so they should know better, in much the same way as i expect people to control their dogs. Its a 2 way street.

"Why should the jogger warn you?

Just because some people have dressed as joggers to commit crimes why are all joggers to blame

I have to say that the comment is almost offensive.

Surely if you are worried about this you should be aware of what is going on around you?"
Sorry can't do quotes - but where on earth did i say this, i have never implied this at all, i actually said that my dogs never usually bother about joggers, and thiat this happened the once. I can't say its something that has preyed on my mind at all until now. I've always known what was going on around me this incident as there are few dogs that we occaisionally meet that my dog doesn't particularly like - hence why i walk somewhere i can see around me.

Sorry Lucy, are you replying to my message - I'm confused (not difficult !). I didn't say your dogs weren't on the path. I'm not trying to start an argument - I'm just a jogger with a dog !!.

It seems that the best thing for a jogger to do when approaching anyone else, especially from behind is to make sure they're aware of your presence so you don't scare them or their dogs. It's worth remembering that not everyone has good hearing, especially if the wind's blowing from them towards you, and many people have ipods ...

My dog met a jogger for the first time this morning.  I did turn round to see him approach.  My main fear was that Meg being a collie would chase him - I told her to 'leave' immediately which of course she didn't.  He just laughed and carried on running.  I warned him that Meg may chase after him - actually she danced around him.  He didn't mind and the fact that he took little notice of her meant that she did come back to me (well past me so I had to tell her down - which to my relief she did so I could put her lead back on) Phew!  I think joggers really have to be aware of dogs and act with caution even if it means altering their rhythm.  Many years ago our dog ran out of our gate (being a totally soft Irish setter and very little traffic it was accepted) to find a jogger approaching - taken by surprise she barked - taken by surprise himself he yelled at the top of his voice - a sort of growl really.  She really didn't know what to say or do after that!

Willis stole someones walking stick once over Cannock Chase. Very embarrassing. I had to prop the old bloke up whilst Jon retrieved it. I was mortified. He was only a puppy, but a Dane pup looks like a full grown Lab so puppy excuses mean nowt :D

:P Willis certainly has character! :D

Lindsay
x

From a jogger/runners point of view.......
I dont tend to let people know I am there unless I cant get past them without them moving out of the way.
I am so concentrated on my running that I dont tend to notice anything but the bare esentials in front of me, and I dont tend to like to use energy saying anything when I am on a good training run.  A nod or a quich thanks on the way past lets them know I have seen them.
That said I will give people, with or without dogs as wide a berth as possible for my own saftey. One thing a dog running through your legs when you are jogging is a very dangerous thing and could end up hospitalised or out of running for a long time due to injury  (yes it has happened)  Secondly, I am a faemale that runs on her own. The less people know I am there the safer I am to being tripped up or attacked myself. Yes I know I am probably the last person anyone would attack, bieing 5' 11" and running but you always have to take these things into consideration.
I dont tend to even flinch when a jogger runs past as I know they are focused on what they are doing.
Sorry probably not what you all want to hear but thats my view on it.
Lea :)

Doesn't it all come down to commonsense though? Everyone ought to be alert enough to know what's going on around them whether they are jogging, walking dogs or riding bikes and commonsense should tell any bloke that their intentions are likely to be misread if they suddenly and silently appear too closely behind a lone woman. No matter that the lone woman in question could nail their nads to the nearest tree without drawing breath.

I don't see any reason to be anti anyone sharing space but it shouldn't be too difficult to exercise a spot of spatial awareness rather than wandering around all "Hello flowers, hello trees".

Well where I come from it's always the owners fault if the dog attacks the jogger or walker or a cyclist....... dogs always have to be under control and there's no way you can get away with it if your dog attacks someone.

Actually I just realized that it's kind of the same in UK as well: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/397 (look under dangerous dogs).

I'm sure that it's the same . However, the point was just being made that if someone was, say, lurking in the bushes or behaving suspiciously then if a dog was just protecting his/her owner, then this might be excused :)

Daisy

Thre is never an "excuse" for a dog biting someone else.  End of.

It is the owner that should be making the risk assessments and decisions, not the dog.

Those people who have dogs that are "trained" to do manwork in Working Trials/Schutzhund do not have dogs that randomly attack others for no reason. They bite when commanded to and not otherwise.

If you have a dog that does not have a stable temperament, on these occasions either keep it on the lead or desensitise it to such events.  In any case of this type the dog is not under control and thus both it and the owner are subject to criminal proceedings under the DDA and/or civil proceedings under the Dogs Act 1871.

If someone is "lurking" in the bushes having a pee/dump/playing hide and seek etc, that is not "suspicious".  If you wish to have a dog that protects you then it needs to be properly trained and controlled.

If I was "nipped" (euphemism used for biting by the owner) by a dog I would certainly report it and have done.  If I can control my dogs I see no reason why others should not do the same.

> If I can control my dogs I see no reason why others should not do the same

Unfortunately, life is not perfect and neither are most people :(

Daisy

Unortunately they and perhaps their dogs, pay the price for their negligence.  Not to mention of course those who have been bitten............

Perhaps it would be better then if the 'average' owner never had a dog :( Unfortunately, most dog owners have to learn by experience - some good, some bad and range from the minor to the more serious. Very few people intend to be 'bad' owners, but somewhere along the line 'risks' have to be taken - ie letting a dog of the lead for the first time and it is down to the experience of the owner as to how this is managed. There have been many times that I have felt like rehoming one or both of my dogs for different 'training' reasons. However, I have experienced friends who have encouraged me to keep going, never making me feel a failure. Hopefully, I am now more experienced and would deal with things differently should I ever have another dog :)

Daisy

Quite, my first dog nearly went on a one way trip to the vets on several occasions.  He taught me a lot, mostly about the importance of having a dog under control, which has meant that my subsequent dogs have been/are.

However, I do agree, that many people should have nothing more demanding than a gerbil, at least the potential for damage to it and others would be vastly reduced! :D

> He taught me a lot, mostly about the importance of having a dog under control, which has meant that my subsequent dogs have been/are

Once we realised we had a problem with joggers with Tara, we have been very careful with her. Unfortunately this means that we can only let her off the lead where we have a clear view of entrances to fields, so that we have the opportunity to have her under control by the time that they 'arrive'. She is a lot better than she used to be and now takes very little notice, unless they startle her by running around a corner suddenly (she is, of course, on a lead then). Unfortunately, we are never going to be in a position to allow her to be off lead fully , as we can't risk 'testing' her :( We are in the process of buying a house which has a large field, so Tara can run free to her hearts content. A bit of a drastic solution, but it's our way of ensuring that she never has the opportunity to chase a jogger again.

Daisy

I agree with what you say Tohme.  I am a hopeless trainer though so I take another route which is to avoid owning, as best I can, the sort of dog likely to be prone to "Jogger Reaction" :) 

"I am a hopeless trainer though so I take another route which is to avoid owning, as best I can, the sort of dog likely to be prone to "Jogger Reaction"   "

How very sensible, if only more people took this option.................

hi isabel, just wondering which type of dog would never chase a jogger? one of my schnauzers is terrible and the other isnt bothered. is there such a breed?

No I doubt there is a breed that never would :)  that is what I meant by "as best I can".  There are, I believe, breeds that are more inclined to be disinterested.

I'm only guessing, but I'd imagine breeds with generations of enhanced herding instinct are more likely to herd (ie chase!) them, and those lne-bred for generations to guard would be more likely to alert the owner to their presence (ie bark!). My own breed has an inclination to run with them (not chasing) - the generations of breeding to follow moving horses and vehicles is still there. :)

> but I'd imagine breeds with generations of enhanced herding instinct are more likely to herd (ie chase!) them, and those lne-bred for generations to guard would be more likely to alert the owner to their presence (ie bark

Aussies are bred to do both :D :D :( :(

Daisy

Following Daisy's post, if you take a look at this http://www.photosbycedarglen.com/Albums/2005%20Highlights/2005_highlights.html , you can see what Aussies are bred for!

As Gabrielle says - Aussies are NOT for the faint-hearted (and Im not suggesting that Daisy is!!!:D :D :D )

Margot

> and Im not suggesting that Daisy is

LOL :D :D

Daisy

Take no notice of what she says - she pops her peke in her handbag when she goes for a walk :D

If I had a Peke there is no way I am getting hairs in my Prada.  I can't image what Paris is thinking :rolleyes:

What's a Prada ?? Is it like a Skoda ?? ;)

Daisy

:D

Prada is italian for self respect :)

Just as well as I don't drive one of them then :D

Daisy

My dog wouldn't chase a jogger unless they had a duck tied to their bum ;-) Maybe not even then. :-D would depend on how fast they are and how juicy the duck was

So far as breeds that are that way inclined, I suppose Nips might chase a jogger but only if it was a very fast and very small hairy jogger that smelt of decomposing rabbit or pheasant. But fortunately we don't have many hobbits round this way... ;)

But fortunately we don't have many hobbits round this way... ;-) LOL, that's a good one! ;)

The two dogs that barked at the jogger were a goldie and a springer, i wouldn't class either of these dogs as likely to be jogger aggressive. Its just one of those things as they haven't done it since, and they have met several joggers - including the same one since, but this time they have seen him coming. Dogs can be unpredictable sometimes, you can only do your best, we are only human.