Talk of The Villages Florida - Walking Past a Dog Walker

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- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - Walking Past a Dog Walker (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/walking-past-dog-walker-355741/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by srswans (Post 2400069)

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.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 2400078)

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAVES (Post 2400099)

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:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2400123)

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topspinmo (Post 2400141)

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

Now yer talking! 🤠

(Relax. Just a bit of sarcasm.)

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPRICE1234 (Post 2400198)

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2400123)

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?

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2400124)

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

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.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 2400079)

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?