The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck
Dogs love to chase. One of their favorite things to chase is runners. Even a normally lazy dog will become suddenly active upon seeing a runner. While many dogs are typically friendly, their natural instinct is to chase, especially someone unfamiliar in their surrounding territory. In turn, when runners see a dog growling or barreling towards them, their natural instinct is to bolt. However, this is the last thing runners should do.
Check out the following tips runners should follow when confronted by a dog:
1. Stop immediately. While it can be a terrifying moment, you should stop the moment you see a dog coming at you. Most times, the dog will stop chasing you and you reduce the risk of it biting you. When the dog has calmed down enough, slowly walk away until you get to a safe distance to resume your running.
2. Avoid eye contact. Dogs consider eye contact a form of challenge. Therefore, you should always avoid looking them in the eye. Stand sideways so they don’t consider you a threat.
3. Stand rigid. Keep arms and legs firmly in place. Form a fist so that the dog cannot bite your fingers. Many dogs will come close enough to sniff you, but will bore easily if you pose no threat.
4. Don’t panic. Yelling, screaming, or other loud sounds can irritate the dog enough to act out in rebellion.
5. Throw something. If available, throw a stick, backpack, jacket, or anything that may cause the dog to chase so that you have time to move away. Some runners even carry dog treats.
For the most part, following these tips will help runners avoid a dog attack. However, in some cases, an attack is unavoidable. If this occurs, do what it takes to protect yourself. Use your body weight and push down with the hard points of your hands and knees so the dog cannot move. Carry pepper spray. If you fall, cover vital areas such as ears and throat. Seek medical attention if a dog bites you.
Jill Starbuck has 20 years of experience as a business writer, editor, and market research analyst. She is a certified health coach through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America. She is also the co-owner of a running business. She can be reached at jillstarbuck@hotmail.com.
