Joggers grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[wellygoggles]

I walk 4 yo Fergus around the streets on a static lead with a Halti, but when we get to large, open grassed areas. e.g. the golf course, I change over to his extension lead so he can run here, there and everywhere (and hopefully tire himself out). I was walkomg with a friend and her very placid dog the other day when 2 joggers came up behind us and the first we knew about them was when Fergus lunged at them. Well anyone would have thought that had been mauled by a pitbull! The bloke said Fergus had bitten him (how with his Halti on is beyond me cos when he pulls against his lead, the Halti tightens around his muzzle). There was no blood or any sign of grazing on the blokes bare leg. I apologised and that's when the other jogger lashed out at me saying "you dog owners are all the same - you think your dogs can't do anything wrong". I assured her I did not think that and what Fergus had done was wrong. I then said they teach children not to run past dogs, perhaps joggers should take heed of this and give dogs a wide berth. The fuss these 2 people made was unbelievable and very upsetting. I went to see my local vet who is also an animal behaviourist and she said terriers were bred to catch fast moving prey, so when they see joggers they want to join them.

I am now learning to walk Fergus on a very short lead and always on the inside SIGH

[Malcolm's Dad]

I walk Malcolm in a park that is busy on the weekends. People walking by are no problem, but he wants to get those bicycles. He almost takes my arm off lunging at the cyclists, I have to keep an eye out for them. Adults are not supposed to ride on the sidewalks, but they do anyway. Sometimes Malcolm will stand still and then try to ambush the bicycles. This might be part of the hunting instinct, he is like a cat waiting for a mouse.

Those joggers should be glad it was a Cairn. If it was a real pit bull they would find out what getting mauled is really like.

[kintra]

Zach used to be a lunger during walks, but I worked long and hard on his heel/focus commands. As soon as I see somebody coming near, I remind him he's in a heel position and if I can feel him start to lose focus, I simply give him the command "watch me"...he knows the second I say that his eyes and attention need to be on me.

[Hagar]

Renny is just fine when we encounter people walking. When we meet or are being passed, I pull off to the side to let them pass, and Renny will be as friendly as can be. Let the same person jog or ride a bicycle and he comes unglued and growls and snarls at them.

I don't know what his problem is with joggers, but can understand his attitude towards bicycles. When he was about 4 months old, I had him on a walk and a kid on a bike came from behind us and almost ran over Renny. He has hated bikes since.

[Liz in PA]

My Hogan doesn't "attack", but he does try to keep up with anybody faster!

I think the joggers are partially responsible: It's common courtesy to announce your presence on a path when you come up on somebody, ESPECIALLY when there's a dog which might dart. I always thank people that say "ON YOUR LEFT/RIGHT" when they get ready to pass.