At the end of a hike on the north side of Guardman Pass, two dogs – each of large size, in a no-dog area – came running at me barking and growling. One started classic pack instinctive hunting tactics, flanking me, while the other stayed to my front.
I did what I’ve learned in past dog encounters: Do not show fear, stand your ground, and use whatever is available to create what will appear to the dog to be a huge pair of jaws/weapon grasped between both hands. That accomplishes three important strategies: 1) The dog will go for the item that is the weapon, instead of your hand or arm; 2) You have your weapon ready to block the dog; and 3) You look more imposing.
In my case, I used my walking ski pole. It looked like I was going to have to use it, until the owners appeared and managed to back them down. One of them said, “Sorry, they’re both really young and just have a lot of testosterone.” Phew! I always feel better when I’m bitten by a young dog with testosterone. I also was thinking, “Well, I’m a not-so-young guy with not-so-much testosterone, but enough that I was about to jam my pole into your dog’s head.”
“Don’t worry, they wouldn’t ever bite someone,” one owner said. I suspect most dog owners think that, right before their dog bites into someone’s leg.
Loren M. Lambert © June 24, 2016
I did what I’ve learned in past dog encounters: Do not show fear, stand your ground, and use whatever is available to create what will appear to the dog to be a huge pair of jaws/weapon grasped between both hands. That accomplishes three important strategies: 1) The dog will go for the item that is the weapon, instead of your hand or arm; 2) You have your weapon ready to block the dog; and 3) You look more imposing.
In my case, I used my walking ski pole. It looked like I was going to have to use it, until the owners appeared and managed to back them down. One of them said, “Sorry, they’re both really young and just have a lot of testosterone.” Phew! I always feel better when I’m bitten by a young dog with testosterone. I also was thinking, “Well, I’m a not-so-young guy with not-so-much testosterone, but enough that I was about to jam my pole into your dog’s head.”
“Don’t worry, they wouldn’t ever bite someone,” one owner said. I suspect most dog owners think that, right before their dog bites into someone’s leg.
Loren M. Lambert © June 24, 2016
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