RANT: (Irresponsible) Dog Owners

Yeah, you are totally out of line.  You didn't bother to determine that this guy is SPECIAL, and that the rules that apply to everyone else don't apply to him.  What were you thinking? 

I encounter this situation on just about every ride that I take that uses a trail between my town and the next one.  It's frustrating.  But so many people ignore the leash laws that, well, it's a big task trying to get all the leash-free dog walkers to care about anyone but themselves.  I usually yell to them to grab their dog when I am approaching if they haven't already done so.  Just the easiest way to deal with it.

The only thing worse is the retractable leashes with the micro thin leash line that you can only see as you trip over it since the dog and the owner are on opposite sides of the path.

Got to love those!! 

No, not at all. It was perfectly acceptable for you to give him a friendly reminder of the rules.

I was running at a park a few weeks ago and up ahead saw a young golden retriever off the leash. I knew that as soon as he saw me, he'd be coming to check me out. Of course the dog ran over and jumped right up on me. I was totally cool with it as I expected it and the dog was super cute. But, it really bothered me that the owner didn't even apologize. Maybe he was embarrased, but he just ran over to me, grabbed the dog, put the leash on and walked off. Not a word was said.

I have this happen at least a few times a week. It really used to annoy me, but now I just slow down, get by the dog and continue running. The world is full of idiots who think the rules don't apply to them. It's just part of life. No sense getting worked up over it.

The ones that bother me more are loose dogs in a neighborhood where the owner is not around. On my bike I can always sprint and get past them, but on the run I have to stop and yell at the dog. I've got 4 dogs of my own so I have a fairly authoritative tone of voice that always gets the dog to back off, but it takes time out of a good workout.

Definitely a defective owner.  I would have done the same thing.  Actually I did something similar once a few months ago, it was early on a Sunday morning and I was running in a neighborhood when TWO unrestrained dogs came charging at me.  Barking, snarling, the works, no person in sight.  I froze, and they stopped about one foot in front of me (edge of their property line), still growling and snapping.  The front door was open and I screamed some very choice words to whomever was inside.  What else can you do?

People must be getting lazier because I NEVER have had a dog problem until this year.  Now I get charged frequently by unrestrained dogs.  It's great fun. 

Good one!

X2 ... classic! 

avjetdale - 2008-09-16 11:58 PM I love dogs but not when they are jumping on me clipped into peddles. I had one dog do this everyday as I rode by. Once he knocked me over. Thats when we did some "Dog Training". Power-Mite Considered: "Compact" Hot-Shot Typical User: Dairy farmers, vets, hog producers, some cattle producers Main Features: Compact size (6 1/4" Great for close-in work Product: Power-Mite Hot-Shot (Compact) Description: The Power-Mite (PM) is the perfect hand-held prod for anyone doing close-in work. Makes a great second prod that easily fits into your pocket or optional leather holster.

That's a nifty gadget! I wonder if it would work on my wife.

The bolded part above kind of caught me.  Those dogs were in their yard unrestrained because it's their yard.  Not seeing a problem with that situation.

But,  I agree that if you do not have a handle of your dog, you need to keep them on a taught leash at all times.  It kills me to see so many people struggling to handle their dogs on a leash.  The funny thing is that it's usually the small yappy dogs that are pulling at the leash and dragging the owner around. 

I walk my dog off-leash 90% of the time.  If I see someone or another dog that I don't recognize I tell her to sit and put the leash on.  It's completely unacceptable for my or another dog to approach another dog or person without "consent".    I do like the encourageing them to run with you thing.  That would be great!

I'm totally with ya dude. We walk our dogs at night. Otherwise we are constantly accosted by other peoples' leashless dogs.  My previous corgi was a bit dog-aggressive. My bad I suppose, for not spending way more time and training on the issue. However, I always walked him on a 6' leash as is required by city code and do my best to avoid problems.

Always always always, it was the roam-free dogs who would race across the park, or run across the street or come from 2 blocks down - and be right in his face. The owner would be yards away hollering "He's friendly!!!" at me. Nice. Mine would show his teeth, the other dog would charge, and I would have a dog fight on the end of my leash and having to kick their dog off my dog while hoping not to get bit. The owner rarely apologized, just glared at ME for minding my business 100 feet away! Nice relaxing walk - NOT!

I think it's the whole "my dog is my child" attitude. You're supposed to think everything their dog does is adorable and clever and they don't feel any need to control it in any way. Never mind that many people are afraid of dogs, and frankly very few people enjoy strange dogs running up to them and getting them muddy or slobbered on.  He's 'friendly' so you shouldn't mind tripping over him or getting knocked down or getting your own dog stitched up.

Watching non-skinny people run is comical?

Wow, I learn something new every day here.

Actually, people like this have poorly behaved children as well.  The problem is not treating the dog like a surrogate child. The problem is NOT treating the dog like a surrogate child. Neither children nor dogs automatically are socially appropriate in their behaviors.  Both have to be trained to restrain their impulses for the the greater social good.  Neither should run up to strangers and get them dirty. Both CAN be trained, using the same basic ideas of behavioral modification (though generally not the same types of rewards and reinforcers - few children are motivated by pepperoni slices and fewer dogs are motivated by stickers).