Walking Past a Dog Walker
 

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.

I don't like dogs.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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. 😀🫠😉

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

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.

Pepper Spray
 

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

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.

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.