Man's Best Friend?

Last night on dailymile.com I was messaging back and forth with some of my dailymile running buddies who live in a more rural area than I do. They were talking about being chased by various dogs on their regular runs. I'm a city boy and usually the only dogs I encounter are the pampered variety on leashes. I'm not a huge dog lover but I have nothing against them either. JayJay is our family dog. He's a beagle. I could write many a post on the adventures of JayJay such as the time he ate the lawnmower, ate our heating unit, ate one of the kids' bikes, ate the outside door frame...you get the point. In those cases I was the one foaming at the mouth, not the dog. I'm not exactly sure what I'd do if I encountered a mean, loose dog while on my run.

I guess first of all you can't assume that every dog is a killer on the loose. There are friendly dogs who just want to visit and play. Sometimes, however, their friendly exuberance can get in the way of a runner, possibly tripping him/her and causing a fall. Then there are the barkers and the chasers. From what I understand, this in of itself is pretty normal dog behavior. The dog's protecting his territory and telling you who's boss. Usually this dog is all bark and no bite. However, if he's a chaser, this can sometimes be a tripping obstacle for a runner. And then there are just the mean ones who seem to have a vendetta against you. These are the ones to worry about because they're unpredictable.

So what do you do? Most dogs don't like loud, sharp noises. There are special "dog whistles" on the market that produce a loud shrill noise that dogs don't like and will usually turn-tail and run upon blowing. Most of these "whistles" actually aren't whistles any more, instead they are ultrasonic battery-powered contraptions. There are also dog repellents on the market such as Direct Stop and Halt! They're similar to pepper-spray that people use for personal protection. Throwing an object near (not at) will sometimes deter a dog. Sometimes just pretending to bend down to pick up something will be enough of a deterrence. One of my dailymile friends said that just reaching for the pepper-spray can on his hydration belt keeps one persistent dong on his route at bay. Evidently the dog has been previously sprayed and knows what's about to come.

There are some dogs that you should just try to avoid. Stray/wild dogs may be a problem in more rural areas. These dogs can be very unpredictable and could possibly be rabid. Certain breeds of dogs can be more aggressive and unpredictable that other breeds with strangers. If one of these types of dogs is on your running route, the best thing to do may be to find an alternate route. Better safe than sorry. Listed below are some tips from CBS Early Show contributor and veterinarian Debbye Turner , on what to do when you encounter an aggressive dog or if your attacked by a dog.

What To Do If You Encounter a Seemingly Aggressive Dog:• Stand still. If you keep approaching, the dog will interpret this as an attack.
• Don't make eye contact. This is a challenge to the dog.
• Don't smile. The dog thinks you are "baring your teeth" at him. This is an invitation to fight.• Wait for the dog's owner to come and restrain the dog.
• Respect the dog's wishes! If the dog is barking and growling, he is expressing his definite displeasure with your actions. Don't push the envelope. Most dogs make good on their warnings!

What To Do If You Are Attacked by a Dog:
• Don't move! You cannot outrun a dog, no matter how fast you are. Running only provokes an angry dog.
• Look away. Staring an aggressive dog in the eyes is a challenge.• Use a soft, soothing tone of voice. Loud, angry-sounding words and screaming only spur on the dog.
• Keep your arms to your side, with your fingers curled in so the dog can't bite them.
• If he bites you, DO NOT PULL AWAY. This only spurs the dog on. Remain calm. Try to ram a stick, broom handle, etc down the dog's throat to make him gag and let you go. Don't hit the dog. Again, that just makes the situation worse.
• If you are on the ground, curl into a fetal position. Cover your head and neck. Lay perfectly still. Usually a still target is boring to the dog and they will retreat.

I've mentioned it in previous posts, but it's always best to run with a buddy. Stray aggressive dogs is just another good reason to have a buddy with you. Dogs may be less likely to bother you if you're not alone. If one of you is attacked, there's another person there to help fend off the attacking dog as well as to seek help.