Ive never had a problem with dogs before this year. I even used to like it when walking from the car park across a field which was popular with dog walkers and watching the dogs running around.

However somethings changed this year, and dogs seem to be pretty aggressive towards me. I think its likely the hat I wear, usually with some sunglasses, and the big backpack I have on. Maybe its also the fact usually Im off the path and in the middle of some bushes or something. 3rd option is maybe the dogs dont like the smell of DEET or something that I put on my gaiters.

Anyway, this week Ive literally had a dog barking and growling in my face whilst I was doing my boots up, Ive had dogs growling as they have walked past, a few have run off the path and across to me to jump up and down and bark repeatedly. And today whilst walking back to my car I had 2 (separate occasions 5 mins between) large dogs run up to within a few feet of me growling and barking. The last one was huge dog and while I was walking it was getting to the point I was wondering whether itd actually bite. Ive got no qualms with kicking a dog in the side of the head as hard as I can, or whacking it with my stick if it attacks, but given the size of this one (something along the lines of a Great Dane) I dont think id have had a chance. I love animals but Im not just going to stand there and be mauled by someones poorly trained pet.

Just curious what peoples thoughts are on this. Im starting to think that dogs should be on leads wherever they are if they behave like this. I understand that the owners come to secluded forests so that theyre away from the public so the dogs can come off of the leads, but at the same time I dont believe that the risk of a dog attacking another person, or even another persons dog/wild animal, should be allowed. I mean, there have been dog walkers where the dogs have been perfectly fine and just ignored me, these are fine, well behaved animals which have obviously been well trained. I dont believe letting a dog run 100m away from the owner and then basically saying "come on " progressively louder at the dog is acceptible, given that the dog is threatening to attack someone.

Today was bad enough that Ive had to read up on what to do with aggressive dogs to avoid an attack. Only help Ive seen so far is to stand still and be unthreatening and avoid eye contact, which is what I am doing anyway when working. I guess when walking along paths itll help as Ill know to basically stop and wait for them to pass, which might help. But this comes back to the leash thing as usually the dog is so far away from the owner its literally going to be a 5 min wait for them to pass ><

your a bad egg

Ive been saying for years that you should have to have some kind of licence to own a dog. Nasty things.

Maybe people should need a licence to have babies too . . . Speakers Corner awaits me . . .

Oh dear. At least she seems to have taken responsibility.

Are you a Terminator, Chris?