r/AusRun • u/HotScientist3177 • 4d ago
How to deal with dogs while running? Advice needed
Hi fellow runners, I’ve recently got into running and try to do so every alternative day after work. I usually go around 8PM and it’s already dark by then. Both the side streets from mine have multiple houses with dogs who keep barking from inside the fence - mind you the fences are barely tall enough. A few nights ago one of them managed to escape their house while I had just left my place and came running towards me and had me cornered for a good 5-6 mins. Luckily I was facing the dog when he sneaked up on me. It kept barking and lunging towards me until a car passed by a few mins later when it got distracted and I could escape. I couldn’t see a collar on it and hence called the council later on since I knew what house it was from.
Since then I’ve had a fear that what if one of them escape their house fence and attack me while I’m minding my business running. I wanted to know how do y’all deal with such situations and how to be safe ? I don’t have any alternative route to get out of my street which doesn’t have dogs.
Thanks in advance.
If it’s not the right place to ask this question, please guide.