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I don't think I've been in this thread - but now I have a story to tell.
I've been trying to walk more and had some 4 mile loops from my house kinda established. A bit over a week ago I was on the last mile of a loop and on a street I dont frequent when I ran into three loose dogs, 2 pitt type and a German Shepherd. I was already tired because I had dressed to way too warm. Spring is tricky. Anyway, the dogs were loose and across an empty lot about 40 yards distant. I was maintaining a steady pace on the sidewalk. Suddenly, I felt an inquiring nip on my fingertips and a light nudge on my thigh. And then I had the two pitts jumping around me, nipping at my hands, and shouldering me. The shepherd circled and joined the barking. I crossed my arms like I was going to jump on an airline emergency slide, and just kept a steady pace, and yelling NO - to no effect. When I'd walked a lot or two past the empty lot where I picked them up, they went back - I was probably skirting their perceived territory.
I was unharmed, but I was concerned that things might escalate. My watch showed that my heart rate had spiked a little right then.
I'm of sturdy build (hence the increased walking) so their shoulder nudges didn't have much impact. But if I was a skinny person, they might have. I don't know what they would have done if I had shown signs of panic or tried to hit them. I think if they knocked someone off their feet, it would get ugly fast. I feel like these dogs were starting playfully, but prodding, poking, looking for a reaction. I'm a dog owner - that may have helped in interacting with them.
That's my short story for the day.
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