on dogs

I wouldn't describe myself as a "dog person." I think one of the main reasons I don't like dogs all that much is because they are always trying to attack me while I am running, or at least they appear to be. There are three different types of dogs I typically encounter when I'm out on a run: loose dogs, wild dogs, and dogs at an angle.
Loose dogs are dogs that are allegedly being taken for a walk by their owner. More accurately, the owner is going for a walk on their own, and their dog happens to be in the same general vicinity. The dog is, naturally, unleashed. Generally the owner will be walking either ahead of behind the dog, depending on which way they are traveling relative to me. It will always be structures such that the dog is in between myself and the owner as I approach. This maximizes the likelihood that I will be eaten by a crazy puppy whose owner is calmly and ineffectively reiterating "stay." When the dog breaches my comfort zone (about 10 feet), I stop and walk. If someone can explain to me why a person that is jogging slowly is a significant threat to a dog, but a walker is of no concern at all, I would love to hear about it.

Wild dogs might as well be wolves. They often travel is small packs, with no human beings in sight. They sense my presence from a good quarter mile away, and stare me down as I approach them. On a wide trail, they will walk softly towards the side of the trail I am on, attempting to surround me. My zone is a bit bigger with wild dogs, and I slow to a walk when I get within about 25 feet or so of the pack. I walk quietly along the side of the trail, their eyes piercing my skull like laser beams. Their interest drops off significantly after I have passed them, but they continue to stare for a good minute or so. Eventually they go back to sniffing each other and I go back to running.

Dogs at an angle, I was rather pleased with myself for coming up with this term. This refers to leashed dogs who, given the chance, would tear my limbs off. Why are they at an angle? Apparently attacking dogs lead with their head. But due to the fact that they are restrained by a leash, they can't actually step forward while in this position. Thus they end up leaning at an angle towards whoever it is they are trying to attack. I tend to feel the safest around these dogs. However, it is not because I have any confidence in the ability of the owner to restrain them, especially while they are busy chatting on a cell phone, sipping on their tall decaf vanilla soy latte, checking their email, etc. Rather, I assume if I was attacked, I could easily trick the dog into attacking its owner instead of me.

Maybe I'll take up swimming instead.