I went for a 20K run this morning - took a few gravel roads I never runned before.
About 14-15K from start, I had to pass a farmstead (the road is owned by the commune, hence everyone has right to travel on it), I noticed there were dogs on the property (typical watch/hunting dogs, mid-large stature) so made myself visible for the dogs and the farmstead owners (they noticed me for certain):
- Took away buff, so they could see my face
- Decreased pace
- Coughed/cleared my throat
As closing in (10 meters from farmstead), the dogs went totally insane - went after me at instant (they were not in a cuddly-attack mode), so had to take another route. Lucky for me, they only went 50-100m from farmstead, then returned back to their turf...
Took another route to avoid confrontation with the dogs and inbred banjo-duelling locals...
Later, about 1.5-2K from mentioned encounter, another confrontation was underway... A few inbred (and most likely, intoxicated) locals were out on a hunt. I could easily spot them walking along the edge of the forest (had seen their cars on the way up the hill), suddenly, one hunting dog went after me in great pace. He/She spotted me 600 metres away and just went as a bullet at me - I took it lightly - when he/she came close (20 metres), he/she began to stare and growl (Fido did not look too happy to see me), so I went totaler krieg and stared intense back and growled. Fido must have been suprised/spooked by my reaction, because he/she gave out a cry and went down the hill...
None of the dog handlers called their dogs back! It is not the first time this happens... I've been attacked earlier, chased, bitten etcetc. I'm not afraid of dogs nor inexperienced by their nature, however, trained watch -and huntingdogs are not to be taken lightly. If it's a dog that is happy and-/or interested, I don't mind if they chase me or wants to greet. When meeting dogs (or other animals, including people) I always make myself visible as much as possible and avoid getting to close - however, most people doesn't seem to grip it goes the other way around too.
How do you act when being chased by not-so-friendly animals, especially dogs? When no option of alternative routes (avoiding conflicts in first place) ofc.
I don't want to hit them - if anyone should get a beating, it's the dog handler. However, if an animal, human as non-human, attacks me - I sure do give them hell. The chance of success against a trained dog is minimal.
I was thinking of a dog whistle in case of emergency, from vegan ethics, would that be justified?
I do take alternative routes mostly to avoid, but recently, those problematic dog handlers have become more common - no matter where I run.
Inbred local: [sarcastically] Running?
Me: That's right, a jog.
Inbred local: What the hell you wanna go fuck around with that forest for?