Stupid owners should be Tazered. I changed one of my running routes because of some really bad dog owners. One day this big mutt came off his proprerty and charged down the road at me so I froze. These four 25-30 year old guys came out, beers in hand laughing. The dog's fur was up and he was MAD. I tried to calmly tell these bozos that I would appreciate if they got their dog under control. They just looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. Finally I said that if the dog bit me I would sue them for everything they own, they mumbled some profanities and called the dog back. I have not run that road since. Hopefully this won't happen to you. If you don't want to carry pepper spray, ammonia in a water pistol works as well.

Truth in lending - I have two dogs and they are always on leashes. When people pass I out myself between the dogs and the people. My dogs are female greyhounds and while they would not attack anybody or anything, other people don't know that.

This seems to be a common problem with not only runners, but cyclists as well....like you said, it isn't the dogs' fault, natural instincts, etc. That said, call your local animal control or Sheriffs' Office if you have no animal control. Depending on your locals states laws, they should be able to solve the prblem for you and future runners in the area. Usually confronting these type of owners is pointless..if they were responsible owners you wouldn't be having the discussion in the first place, so letting the local "officials" deal with them is usually the better course. Labs are great, but be careful with the Chocolates, if you're going to get bit by one, it'll be a choc, then a yellow. Until recently it was thought it was a genetic trait, but it appears that the chocolate gene throughout the dog world is predisposed to the aggressiveness.

Not all Choc's are aggressive, but just be careful when you meet one ! Believe it or not, if you have the opportunity and they're not coming up from behind, if you call them to come to you it confuses the heck out of them!

Good luck!

Getting blindsided by a strange dog is always scary, even when it's being overly friendly.  I agree with Fistsofury.  You should seriously consider wearing one earpiece when you run, so you can hear potential danger approaching.  Safety first! 

That said, I hope the dog's owner takes extra precautions to keep his Lab in the yard or, better yet, indoors.  That way no one gets hurt! 

We live in a rural area where too many people let their dogs roam free.  It's why I don't run around my neighborhood.  We own ten dogs ranging in size from an Akita to a Chi-Pug mix and NONE of our dogs are allowed to leave the property unless they're leashed.  It's just not conceivable to me!  Not a week goes by that we don't see dead pets lying by the roadside; it's unforgiveable. 

I don't know firsthand how effective this tool is actually, but I've been told that a stun baton works really well at scaring off potentially dangerous dogs.  Something about the electrical charge when you activate the baton scares the dogs off.  I'm wondering if a stun gun would be just as effective since it makes the same noise.  It would also be effective should your attacker be human, right?

W   

I know you are not a dog person - and probably never will be after this experience - but I thought I'd share my resolve to the problem.  I have had many similar encounters, and find them equally disturbing!  After a year of research I decided to get a running buddy that could help me out in these situations.  Of course this was one of many reasons, but I became the proud "mommy" of a boxer.  Unlike the awful dog owner you had to experience - we have spent countless hours in training and are working on our Canine Good Citizen certificate - which is kind of besides the point...but - since I started running with my 75 pound "cupcake in a mean suite" I have not had any attacks, lunges or even many barks from other dogs. 

Now, I know this is not an option for all and in some cases it may cause even more trouble - but I personally feel safer from everything!  And I have a running buddy that gets me out of bed every morning at 5:45 and can't wait to pound the pavement or trails - rain or shine!