I’ve Got Big Problems With Your Dog

I probably shouldn’t make this any more personal than I have to, but the truth of the matter is that I have a lot of anger about the way people let their dogs go loose and threaten people who run, bike or otherwise attempt to enjoy the outdoors.

A number of runners I know been attacked and bitten while they were running. For my part, I have racked up an untold number of ugly confrontations with everything from ankle-biting Chihuahuas to aggressive pit bulls.

A lot of people would probably see this as a “no-big-deal” issue, but for me it is a nuisance that is as constant as it is easily solved - with a leash.

It bugs me that, according to these people, I shouldn’t have a problem with their dogs chasing after me when I run past, that I should just laugh and take it all in stride. Or maybe it’s my fault for provoking them—you know, by being out there running in the first place.

I should have been polite and stayed home so that the owners could enjoy the (illegal) convenience of forgoing the leash. My right as a pedestrian to enjoy the road or trail might as well not matter because it’s nicer for the dog to be able to be able to sniff trees or chase squirrels unimpeded.

Because certain dog owners lover their canine friends so much, I guess it might come as a shock to some of them that there are other members of the population, who aren’t always thrilled by them. So yeah, go ahead and love your dogs, take 'em to the dog park now and then, but it’s not my responsibility to be amused when a dog takes chase. After this happens a few hundred times, even a well-behaved dog unleashed can be a source of concern.

Though the owners walking unleashed dogs are a common hazard, another source of grief is the dogs left in the yard unleashed or unfenced. It’s probably not great for the dogs’ safety to be able to wander the neighborhood, and it’s not legal, and it's never been great for runners who get attacked and bitten. As with people who walk their dogs sans leash, I think that most of the time this has to do with people who think they understand their animals and seem genuinely surprised when they become aggressive. 

While I’m at it, I should throw in that I’m not exactly thrilled about the invisible fences either. Why? Because it means playing the guessing game when I see an aggressive dog running towards me and not knowing if it’s going to get that zap, or if I’m going to have to aim a kick at it as it goes for my leg. The only choice is to see it as a likely threat. At least owners who go this route could opt to keep the white flags as a courtesy to passersby.

I see the simple steps of leashing dogs and making sure that they stay in bounds as a matter of respect. The outdoors are a resource enjoyed by many people including runners, dog walkers and people running with dogs. While some might see it as better for the dog to enjoy the open air uninhibited, I say that people who would like to enjoy themselves outside safely should have the right of way.