Walking Past a Dog Walker

[srswans]

What’s the proper protocol for walking past a dog walker say on a sidewalk at a rec center?

This morning I was attempting to pass a dog walker when the dog startled then growled and bared its teeth at me. The walker didn’t register my presence until the dog reacted. He then commanded the dog to stand down and moved over.

The walker was wearing headphones over a hood so he probably wouldn’t have heard me even if I had said “Good morning” or “excuse me.”

The walker was moving slowly and using the entire sidewalk. He also made some comment about “not a good idea.”

I just want to get home without being bitten.

[Bill14564]

What’s the proper protocol for walking past a dog walker say on a sidewalk at a rec center?

This morning I was attempting to pass a dog walker when the dog startled then growled and bared its teeth at me. The walker didn’t register my presence until the dog reacted. He then commanded the dog to stand down and moved over.

The walker was wearing headphones over a hood so he probably wouldn’t have heard me even if I had said “Good morning” or “excuse me.”

The walker was moving slowly and using the entire sidewalk. He also made some comment about “not a good idea.”

I just want to get home without being bitten.

When I come up behind someone using the entire sidewalk I usually step into the road to get past them. For most of my walk I am walking against traffic so stepping into the road is fairly safe. If I need to get by in one of the other sections, I just look carefully for traffic and then walk quickly by and back onto the sidewalk.

If someone is walking towards me on the sidewalk then I almost always move to the right hand side and stay on the concrete. If they aren't in a wheelchair then they don't need the entire walk (and if they are then I would give them space). I am also stubborn enough to stay on the walk on general principle even if this risks being bitten.

[VApeople]

I don't like dogs.

If we see one when we are walking, we get really far away from them.

[Stu from NYC]

Guess they guy decided he owned the whole sidewalk. I would have said behind you but that would not have helped.

[Velvet]

My neighbor walks a lot, 20 miles a day. He walks with a “walking” stick, had to use it on bob cats in the early mornings over the years. So far no dogs.

[Two Bills]

It is the dog owner's responsibility to have the dog under control at all times, and I may add, they are not under control on an extendable leash which seems to be the default choice these days.
However, discretion is advised when you spot a dog obviously not under control.
When/if you are passing any dog, continuous eye contact is not advised, the animal could perceive this as a threat. Look, but glance away between eye contacts, it shows you are not a threat, and respect their space.
A casual, neutral, early greeting, will usually put owner and dog in non-aggression mode.
Any dog worth its keep, will go into defense mode if it thinks it, and especially its owner, is under any threat.
I have never been in fear of any dog, wary, respectful, definitely.
I do worry about many owners though!

[CarlR33]

I would have handled it the same way I handle someone talking on a cell phone walking aimlessly down an isle or sidewalk, when I realize they have no idea I am there as they approach. I stop and simply stare at them (as they approach) until it registers I’m there. It normally works.

[DAVES]

Guess they guy decided he owned the whole sidewalk. I would have said behind you but that would not have helped.

People are people. They do not get perfect when they get older; More likely they get worse. I call them astronomers. They think the world revolves around them. They have always been astronomers.

For people that have a dog that growls and bears it's teeth. You either need to get THAT DOG trained or have it euthanized.

[fdpaq0580]

It is the dog owner's responsibility to have the dog under control at all times, and I may add, they are not under control on an extendable leash which seems to be the default choice these days.
I have never been in fear of any dog, wary, respectful, definitely.
I do worry about many owners though!

I approve this message! Dogs are (almost) never the problem. It's the owners.

Stay off my lawn. Not one foot, not one paw, then you will never have to clean it up.

[fdpaq0580]

I just want to get home without being bitten.

Single file, pass on the right. No one in the street, no one on/in grass or shrubs. People first (we are the "alpha" and set the rules for dogs to follow). If there is aggression, the prime aggressor is at fault. If you get bitten, dogs owner is 100% responsible. Call 911. Get police report. Call Dan!
PS: best if there is blood. Just saying.
Have a nice day and glad I could help. 😀🫠😉

[Gpsma]

Growling snarling dog….thts dangerous. Its florida, stand your ground….it applies to dogs too.

I like dogs…dont like many of their owners here in TV. Treat them like they are children nd you are suppose to love their fur babies

[Michael G.]

I always love it when the dog owner says: "Oh don't worry, he wouldn't bit".

It's a animal people, wake up, the only defense a dog has is biting when alarmed.

[Normal]

Pepper spray seems to deter aggressive animals. These people have the dog park to walk their animals in.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

People are people. They do not get perfect when they get older; More likely they get worse. I call them astronomers. They think the world revolves around them. They have always been astronomers.

For people that have a dog that growls and bears it's teeth. You either need to get THAT DOG trained or have it euthanized.

Why euthanize a dog whose owner has chosen not to train it? Maybe euthanize the owner, and let the dog have a better home.

As for me, I'm not afraid of dogs. I'm respectful of their "territory" which includes a perimeter around whoever is on the other end of the leash. If I'm passing someone walking their dog, I just pass them. If they're in the middle of the sidewalk - well unless they have a corso or St. Bernard, there's still probably enough room for me to pass them on one side or another. I ignore the growls. They're warning me not to get cozy. I'm not intending to get cozy, so I just keep walking and minding my own business.

I've been lunged at by three dogs in my entire life, never bitten by any. The first that lunged at me was a chihuahua. He snapped his jaw toward me. I put my hand across its lower jaw, palm facing down, and clamped onto it. The dog was 100% helpless at that moment, and whimpered until I was damned ready to let it go. And then it scurried away from me like the little freakish dog-rat that they are.

Second was another chihuahua. They're just nasty creatures. Same response, same reaction.

Third was a Ridgeback. It was my fault, I reached to pet her without asking permission from her handler. She lunged in defense. I backed off and sat on the ground, head down, submitting. She took a few sniffs, and ignored me again, and all was well.

[biggamefish1]

All of god's creatures have their place in life. Next time make your presence known to the dog well before passing. The dog was just doing what a dog will do when startled, going into protection mode. Next time make yourself known and just whistle or say I'm passing neighbor before coming across unknown to the dog who is just doing his/her job.

[Topspinmo]

What’s the proper protocol for walking past a dog walker say on a sidewalk at a rec center?

This morning I was attempting to pass a dog walker when the dog startled then growled and bared its teeth at me. The walker didn’t register my presence until the dog reacted. He then commanded the dog to stand down and moved over.

The walker was wearing headphones over a hood so he probably wouldn’t have heard me even if I had said “Good morning” or “excuse me.”

The walker was moving slowly and using the entire sidewalk. He also made some comment about “not a good idea.”

I just want to get home without being bitten.

I don’t get close to dogs when I walk even if I have to go out of way. When walking my 10 pound yorkie I don’t let her get close to anyone even if I have to walk around who even near. Never know how some will react. There some dog haters out there or people who just hate and go off like firecracker good example was church property when dog owner didn’t have dog leaches and it woke someone up in cart which threaten to come back with ball bat. Dogs are supposed be on leach at all times.

[MarshBendLover]

Golf cart has a horn, bicycles sometimes, walkers/runners never. I carry a small air horn. Short blast will get his attention and keep dogs back.

[Topspinmo]

Guess they guy decided he owned the whole sidewalk. I would have said behind you but that would not have helped.

No different than pack of humans walking blocking diamonds lane or MMP. When traffic approaches more than one walking together should file in single file on edge not hog whole lane putting themselves in danger.

[Topspinmo]

People are people. They do not get perfect when they get older; More likely they get worse. I call them astronomers. They think the world revolves around them. They have always been astronomers.

For people that have a dog that growls and bears it's teeth. You either need to get THAT DOG trained or have it euthanized.


“ You either need to get THAT DOG trained or have it euthanized.”

Even puppies growl and show their teeth.. when playing… guess need to euthanized them. :shrug:

[fdpaq0580]

Pepper spray seems to deter aggressive animals. These people have the dog park to walk their animals in.

Pepper spray? For the owner, yes! For the dog, only if it is allowed to attack. I say "allowed", because the owner has the responsibility to be in control of the animal 100% of they time. If they can't or won't accept that responsibility, they shouldn't own the animal.

[fdpaq0580]

Even puppies growl and show their teeth.. when playing… guess need to euthanized them. :shrug:

Now yer talking! 🤠

(Relax. Just a bit of sarcasm.)

[BPRICE1234]

Just announce yourself at least to the dog. Just because a dog growls and shows teeth, that is most likely fear and not aggression.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Just announce yourself at least to the dog. Just because a dog growls and shows teeth, that is most likely fear and not aggression.

Sometimes it's a warning. It depends on what the dog was trained to do. I worked in a warehouse office, with a guy who had two pitbulls living there. They were bait dogs that were abandoned on the side of the road, and my boss rescued and rehabilitated them. He trained them to guard the warehouse. If he was walking them -outside- the warehouse, they would growl and bare their teeth when a stranger approached the man. But they wouldn't attack. It was just a warning, basically alerting my boss that someone was approaching.

If a stranger walked into the warehouse without being invited in and introduced to the dogs first, they would've ripped the stranger to shreds. But once he introduced me to the dogs, I could come and go as I pleased, even if he wasn't in the building. The female, Bella, would sometimes sit on my feet while I was working on the company spreadsheets. She was awesome.

[Ignatz]

Deleted

[Rocksnap]

Pepper spray seems to deter aggressive animals. These people have the dog park to walk their animals in.
You carry pepper spray when walking TV? I’m impressed! I do when walking in the woods, if panthers or bears are a threat. But in the concrete jungle? Ok, ok. New York, San Francisco and the like it would be a good move. But on a TV sidewalk?

[Pamela1130]

I just move aside and let the dog and walker pass and smile hoping the dog will come up to me for a pet.

[Sandy and Ed]

Why euthanize a dog whose owner has chosen not to train it? Maybe euthanize the owner, and let the dog have a better home.

As for me, I'm not afraid of dogs. I'm respectful of their "territory" which includes a perimeter around whoever is on the other end of the leash. If I'm passing someone walking their dog, I just pass them. If they're in the middle of the sidewalk - well unless they have a corso or St. Bernard, there's still probably enough room for me to pass them on one side or another. I ignore the growls. They're warning me not to get cozy. I'm not intending to get cozy, so I just keep walking and minding my own business.

I've been lunged at by three dogs in my entire life, never bitten by any. The first that lunged at me was a chihuahua. He snapped his jaw toward me. I put my hand across its lower jaw, palm facing down, and clamped onto it. The dog was 100% helpless at that moment, and whimpered until I was damned ready to let it go. And then it scurried away from me like the little freakish dog-rat that they are.

Second was another chihuahua. They're just nasty creatures. Same response, same reaction.

Third was a Ridgeback. It was my fault, I reached to pet her without asking permission from her handler. She lunged in defense. I backed off and sat on the ground, head down, submitting. She took a few sniffs, and ignored me again, and all was well.
Interesting. Suggest never put your hand palm down OVER a dog’s head. Instead offer the back of your hand to smell. Of course first ask permission of the owner. I also find that sitting down rather than towering over a dogs head is a better way to introduce yourself to another’s animal. Of course I am not suggesting that you do this on Canal Street sidewalk

[opinionist]

I like dogs.
I like to hold my hand out to see if they want to "say hello."
I had one bite me in the hand, and I am more careful now.
I have the scars on my hand to remind me.
A few dogs are very protective, and the owner should be careful to warn others.

[Cuervo]

I love dogs, over the holidays I went to see my daughter in PA., my daughter is 5' tall and has one of the sweetest dogs, but he is not small. I've gone out with her when she has taken him for a walk many times. But this time we barely got out of the house, and he was dragging her around to the point where she brought him back into the house and let him out in her back yard. Now I have seen this happen a couple times in The Villages where the owner of large dogs cannot control them and I'm sure the owners do not have the option of a back yard. All I'm suggesting before you rescue or purchase a dog just made sure when the dog reaches maturity that you will have the capability to control them.

[airstreamingypsy]

My neighbor walks a lot, 20 miles a day. He walks with a “walking” stick, had to use it on bob cats in the early mornings over the years. So far no dogs.

I almost spit my coffee out, he thinks Bobcats are going to attack him?

[BBBnWitty]

No different than pack of humans walking blocking diamonds lane or MMP. When traffic approaches more than one walking together should file in single file on edge not hog whole lane putting themselves in danger.

Same with cyclists

[Normal]

Same with cyclists

Actually cyclists should be in the road obeying traffic patterns and laws.

[Bwanajim]

My dog Zola is very well-behaved. The proper way to walk your dog is in your left hand so walk on the left side of the trail. That way, if people are coming, I could just step a little to the left and she’ll walk in the grass. She’s very friendly and will sit when I tell her to sit. People seem to be walking on the right hand side of the walkway with their dog and the dogs in the middle of the walkway .
Please walk your dog on the left side of the walkway in your left hand.

[Betty Wagner]

I have had 7 dogs and when walking and people are approaching, I move aside, have my dog sit and wait until they have passed. Same for bike riders. Usually the give me a thank you.

[Normal]

I have had 7 dogs and when walking and people are approaching, I move aside, have my dog sit and wait until they have passed. Same for bike riders. Usually the give me a thank you.

Thank you. Picture a leash wrapped around a bike pedal when the bike was moving along at 15 mph. It wouldn’t end well for anyone.

[CybrSage]

Why euthanize a dog whose owner has chosen not to train it? Maybe euthanize the owner, and let the dog have a better home.

As for me, I'm not afraid of dogs. I'm respectful of their "territory" which includes a perimeter around whoever is on the other end of the leash. If I'm passing someone walking their dog, I just pass them. If they're in the middle of the sidewalk - well unless they have a corso or St. Bernard, there's still probably enough room for me to pass them on one side or another. I ignore the growls. They're warning me not to get cozy. I'm not intending to get cozy, so I just keep walking and minding my own business.

I've been lunged at by three dogs in my entire life, never bitten by any. The first that lunged at me was a chihuahua. He snapped his jaw toward me. I put my hand across its lower jaw, palm facing down, and clamped onto it. The dog was 100% helpless at that moment, and whimpered until I was damned ready to let it go. And then it scurried away from me like the little freakish dog-rat that they are.

Second was another chihuahua. They're just nasty creatures. Same response, same reaction.

Third was a Ridgeback. It was my fault, I reached to pet her without asking permission from her handler. She lunged in defense. I backed off and sat on the ground, head down, submitting. She took a few sniffs, and ignored me again, and all was well.

This is a great example of why a great many people like dogs and dislike humans.

[CybrSage]

Actually cyclists should be in the road obeying traffic patterns and laws.

Bicycles are allowed on the multi-modal paths in The Villages, Florida. These paths are designed for non-automotive traffic such as bicycles, golf carts, pedestrians, and skaters.

[Normal]

Bicycles are allowed on the multi-modal paths in The Villages, Florida. These paths are designed for non-automotive traffic such as bicycles, golf carts, pedestrians, and skaters.

They are, but should yield right of way to all pedestrian flow whom have less options.

[Bill14564]

They are, but should yield right of way to all pedestrian flow whom have less options.

You have that backwards.

Pedestrians should be walking against traffic on the MMPs so they can see traffic coming and ensure their own safety.

Bicycles have far fewer options for movement than a pedestrian.

In the end, both should put aside feelings of entitlement and just make good choices.

[Normal]

You have that backwards.

Pedestrians should be walking against traffic on the MMPs so they can see traffic coming and ensure their own safety.

Bicycles have far fewer options for movement than a pedestrian.

In the end, both should put aside feelings of entitlement and just make good choices.

Actually my paradigm was the narrower MMPs that disallow golf carts here and would be considered sidewalks. There are MMPs that permit golf carts and certainly that would mean walking against traffic just like walking on a road.

[Indydealmaker]

Pepper spray seems to deter aggressive animals. These people have the dog park to walk their animals in.

Dog parks are not a good idea if unmonitored. Just bacteria breeding grounds.

[Cuervo]

I almost spit my coffee out, he thinks Bobcats are going to attack him?

Bobcats will attack.
I lived in upstate New York and on the news one day there was a report of a boy walking to school that was attack and was injured, but luckily, he had the ability to fight it off.

[fdpaq0580]

I have had 7 dogs and when walking and people are approaching, I move aside, have my dog sit and wait until they have passed. Same for bike riders. Usually the give me a thank you.

Could be a looong day if there is much traffic on the trail/sidewalk.

[fdpaq0580]

Deleted

Sorry I missed it. Must have been a great post.

[fdpaq0580]

You carry pepper spray when walking TV? I’m impressed! I do when walking in the woods, if panthers or bears are a threat. But in the concrete jungle? Ok, ok. New York, San Francisco and the like it would be a good move. But on a TV sidewalk?

I don't think he/she meant that they carry it. Just offering it as an option for others.

[fdpaq0580]

I almost spit my coffee out, he thinks Bobcats are going to attack him?

Hey, if a chihuahua will attack, what make you think a bobcat won't? Stranger things have happened.

[HORNET]

Dogs are just animals!

[Velvet]

Hey, if a chihuahua will attack, what make you think a bobcat won't? Stranger things have happened.

Don’t know, never walked with him, but he used to work for NASA and I don’t think he just does things Willy-nilly.

[fdpaq0580]

Don’t know, never walked with him, but he used to work for NASA and I don’t think he just does things Willy-nilly.

You are probably correct.

[fdpaq0580]

Dogs are just animals!

Absolutely true!

So are we.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Interesting. Suggest never put your hand palm down OVER a dog’s head. Instead offer the back of your hand to smell. Of course first ask permission of the owner. I also find that sitting down rather than towering over a dogs head is a better way to introduce yourself to another’s animal. Of course I am not suggesting that you do this on Canal Street sidewalk

Yup I learned that, about sitting down. Now whenever I'm walking toward someone who is walking a dog that I'd really LOVE to pet (always big dogs, I'm not a small-dog fan), I ask - and then sit on the grass with my arm out and let the dog approach me. There was one guy in the area who had a Newfie mix, and the goober knocked me over with a nudge of his head. We wrassled a minute or two, and it was just SUCH a joy. There's nothing like wrestling with a happy energetic slobbering bundle of fur that stretches out almost as long as you are tall.

[Carlsondm]

I am a walker and a cat person. I usually walk on the water side when I encounter a dog walker . Have not met a mean dog yet .. in 6 years. I meet protective dogs that sit in front of their owners or bark once or twice to do their guard dog thing. All have been well behaved fortunately and I’m a petite woman. These are fur babies to me, and responsible owners. I am in South Villages near Linden. I think the dogs sense your personality. No mean dogs here.

[Lea N]

It is the dog owner's responsibility to have the dog under control at all times, and I may add, they are not under control on an extendable leash which seems to be the default choice these days.
However, discretion is advised when you spot a dog obviously not under control.
When/if you are passing any dog, continuous eye contact is not advised, the animal could perceive this as a threat. Look, but glance away between eye contacts, it shows you are not a threat, and respect their space.
A casual, neutral, early greeting, will usually put owner and dog in non-aggression mode.
Any dog worth its keep, will go into defense mode if it thinks it, and especially its owner, is under any threat.
I have never been in fear of any dog, wary, respectful, definitely.
I do worry about many owners though!

Good advice.

A long time ago we lived in Port St. Lucie. We moved there before it had been built up and there were woods all around.

I walked early before the sun came up to give me plenty of time for a long walk with my dog before work.

One morning my dog and I walked by a house we had walked by many times before. It was about 6:30 am and still dark. A dog came out of it's yard, sat in front of my dog and started growling at her. My dog weighed about 55 lbs. and the other dog I'm guessing weighed about 85 lbs.

The dog kept growling. My sweet girl just sat by my side. She never growled. She was calm. I told the dog to get away and threw in a few choice words. I don't know how long this lasted but it felt like forever. The dog growling and my dog just sitting there.

Finally, the owner of the dog came out of her house, in her bathrobe with a cup of coffee in her hand. She just stood there, watching ...

I said "WOULD YOU CALL YOUR DOG OFF!!!" She called her dog and it immediately went to her side. We never walked by that house again. After telling people about our story I learned to carry mace, or bear spray just in case.

[Kelevision]

What’s the proper protocol for walking past a dog walker say on a sidewalk at a rec center?

This morning I was attempting to pass a dog walker when the dog startled then growled and bared its teeth at me. The walker didn’t register my presence until the dog reacted. He then commanded the dog to stand down and moved over.

The walker was wearing headphones over a hood so he probably wouldn’t have heard me even if I had said “Good morning” or “excuse me.”

The walker was moving slowly and using the entire sidewalk. He also made some comment about “not a good idea.”

I just want to get home without being bitten.

I would never walk directly up to or pass a dog on the sidewalk unless I knew the dog. I’d move to the road, or a rec center has plenty of room to pass, you don’t have to stay on the sidewalk. Dogs on leashes can have different temperaments than off leash dogs.

[Topspinmo]

Absolutely true!

So are we.


But dogs are NOT vindictive :oops:

vin·dic·tive
/vinˈdiktiv/
adjective
having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.

:eclipsee_gold_cup:

[admiral72]

Follow the Navigation Rule on Collisions. Avoid the RISK of a collision. In other words, avoid the risk even if you are right.

[JRcorvette]

If you walk a lot using walking sticks are a good idea. The aluminum ones are very light weight!

[fdpaq0580]

But dogs are NOT vindictive :oops:

vin·dic·tive
/vinˈdiktiv/
adjective
having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.

:eclipsee_gold_cup:

That's why we love them. Almost no amount of abuse will make them get even with their owners. They live in the moment and a pat on the head makes everything all right.

[mikempp]

People are people. They do not get perfect when they get older; More likely they get worse. I call them astronomers. They think the world revolves around them. They have always been astronomers.



For people that have a dog that growls and bears it's teeth. You either need to get THAT DOG trained or have it euthanized.

Maybe we need to have whining old people euthanized?

[fdpaq0580]

Maybe we need to have whining old people euthanized?

No sport in that. Some of us are mostly dead already. Don't push! I said, "mostly dead", not, "completely dead".
🙂🙃🫠😉

[JMintzer]

No sport in that. Some of us are mostly dead already. Don't push! I said, "mostly dead", not, "completely dead".
🙂🙃🫠😉

Where's "Miracle Max" when you need him?

https://www.timothykrausebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Miracle-Max-1.jpg

[CFrance]

I don't like dogs.

If we see one when we are walking, we get really far away from them.
That's a good idea for you, and for the dogs. No point needs to be made by either party.
I walk my dogs down the middle of the street in our neighborhood, to avoid people's grass. If traffic approaches, we move to the curb. I prefer not to use sidewalks. I don't take them to rec centers. They're very friendly dogs, but I don't want them to encounter difficult situations with people who don't like dogs. I wear a headset and listen to a book on tape. Even so, I can hear traffic and people and can see what's going on.

I would give anyone walking a dog a wide berth out of courtesy.