I became a dog owner last year and, let me tell you, training that puppy has been one of the hardest things I’ve done. One of the most important bits of training, to me, was teaching him not to chase runners when we’re out.
I’ve been chased by dogs when out running and even bitten by one, so it was really important to me that my own dog didn’t do this. And while there are many bits of his training that haven’t been perfect, he’s not interested in runners. I’ve succeeded in making him believe that runners are boring.
This article should be unnecessary because owners should be making sure their dogs don’t put runners in this position. But as that’s not always the case, here’s some advice on what you can do if you’re nervous when running near dogs.
Meeting dogs on the run
Even the most dog-loving runners can find themselves feeling anxious when a loose dog appears in their path. And while most dogs are friendly, curious or just a bit excitable, encounters can quickly go wrong.
So what can you do to stay safe and avoid getting bitten or chased by dogs on your run?