The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck
I love dogs. In fact, I’m the proud owner of two beautiful eight-year-old dogs, a Siberian Husky and a Golden Retriever. They make up part of my family. Along with my dogs, I also love to run. However, more often than not, dogs and running do not mix.
There is nothing like a dog charging and growling at a runner to ruin a great pace or a leisurely jog. Unfortunately, this happens frequently. Whether in the country or in town, dogs will chase runners. The friendliest of dogs even leave their own yards to chase runners. Whether out of optimism or confidence, many dog owners swear their dogs will not hurt us. Yet, these are the same dogs that corner us, growl at us, and have even bitten us. Dog owners must understand that a dog may act differently around runners, especially when the dog owners are not present. Runners catch dogs off guard; therefore, the dogs automatically become defensive. They simply respond the way dogs are meant to respond. However, their natural instinct can cause serious issues.
If you’re a dog owner, please review the following tips on how to protect local runners and children (because they run too!):
1. Never assume your dog won’t bite. Just because your dog has never bitten anyone doesn’t mean it won’t. It’s best to assume your dog will bite. Almost all of the dogs that have threatened us on our runs have no history of violence. The dog owners are genuinely surprised.
2. Follow leash rules. If your town has leash rules, please adhere to them. Many times owners will let their dogs out for a few minutes to do their business. But those few minutes are when we’ve come across these dogs. Try letting them out the back door instead.
3. Keep an eye on your dog. Almost every time we’ve been cornered or bitten by dogs, the dog owners are nowhere to be found. Or they are completely oblivious. Typically they are in their house, but have no clue as to what is happening outside. This happens 9 out of 10 times.
4. Vaccinate routinely. In the event your dog bites a runner, chances of serious problems arising from the bite are lessened when a dog is updated with its shots. Approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, making dog bites the fifth biggest reason for emergency care visits. Of those dog bites, more than 50% result in infection.
5. Check leashes and chains for defects. We witnessed a dog come completely off its chain while on one of our runs because the cord it was chained to had become worn.
Avid runners will run at any time, even in the early morning and late evening hours. They also run in rain, high winds, and snow. So, please be aware that a runner could be coming around the corner at any time. As the weather gets nicer, more runners and children will be outdoors. Please help protect them by following these tips.
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.
