"It's OK, He won't bite"

[JohnK]

IIRC



I re-read this thread, and I'm not seeing anything to suggest that anything other than a small/tiny minority of dogs to sit in the 'problem' category.

Yep and as is often the case the minority is misunderstood .

[zimmer]

My friends run with their dogs and they are brilliant. I now walk for the first 400 yards of my run through a park. Last time I ran through 4 dogs off leads, two decided I was meat from 50 yards or so - no eye contact or threatening behaviour from me. What do I do? Dogs in this country have more rights than me.
Did run round York few weeks ago, no probs with dogs or owners. Live where I do with 'big lads' with even bigger dogs. My calves and butts have had their treats - twice in the last 6 years.

[sore legs]

Just like in any animal, humans also being classed as an animal, even the best trained and completely reliant can surprise. It is not always possible to read the situation with animals no matter what behaviouralists say.

I received approximately 15 puncture wounds to my arm from a Rhodesian Ridgeback before I had to choke it off myself. The dog was actually my family pet. I had it assessed and the conclusion was that it was a 'bad dog', so it was rehomed out of the way.

So what am I saying, you can simply never know what is going to happen, including the reaction of wary runners but it is the few that will always cause the reaction and create the headlines.

[shaunaneto]

If you ask me the real danger lies with the hidden power of Felis Silvestris Catus

[shaunaneto]

Dogs to be honest, aren't that devious

[shaunaneto]

Mind you...

I'll stop now

on this thread at least

[Ilkley Swimmer]

Ok. I think we've established that those of us who've had bad experiences with dogs (and we are hardly a "minority" it seems) are able to distinguish those occasions from being rescued by Lassie or licked by next door's puppy.
But some of the comments have reminded me another classic:-
"Don't be scared" or (after an attack) "It's because he knew you were scared"...

[Stolly]

Pfft, some dog owners don't have a clue what their dogs are really thinking

5dd0adb1483d6e750f9964f5aa096254 by piemonster, on Flickr

Thanks Shaun, fantastic

[Stolly]

To paraphrase Ygritte from Game of Thrones, "you know nothing"

Dogs are fricking awesome

[sore legs]

To paraphrase Ygritte from Game of Thrones, "you know nothing"

Dogs are fricking awesome

Awesome !