Thanks Adamski for your view as a dog owner.
I actually live out in the countryside so I am used to most people having a dog or two, the only difference I see if how behaved they are.
Where I live most dogs never leave their owners side, and even when let loose they never run too far away. When one does stray too far one call from the owner and back they go which is something I haven't seen much in the city.
Far too many times I have seen the owners just talking away to people, completely oblivious to what their dog is even doing only noticing when barking starts or if someone else points out the dog is gone.
The part that annoys me more than most if that when a dog misbehaves it seems to be my fault, enticing the dog to chase me because I am running. It's also these type of owners that feel they do not need to clean up after their dog, either trying to hide it or leading the dog to a place that is hard to see.
While I know good and responsible dog owners are out there, and I do give dogs that are on a lead a wide birth while jogging just to be safe. Sadly a lot of owners just do not care what their dog does, seeing every action as just curious behaviour or playing. When I used to live in Hereford I was nearly bitten by a rather nasty dog at a young age, hence why I have such a dislike of them.
I feel there is a misconception around dogs, they are always portrayed as mans best friend, loyal to the end but in reality, it's not the case. The very fact there have been dog attacks in the past prove no dog is truly loyal or tame, any dog can turn out of the blue.
Thing is a dog is an animal that was bred to help us hunt and protect us. Instead, it's now treated like an accessory, dressed up in cloths and shoved into bags hence the more stupid dog breeds even my cat could beat up. I think this is something that some owners don't consider when buying a dog and end up with a breed they just can't handle.
I can't blame the dogs for what they do but I do blame the owners who don't see the other side of dogs and what they can do. I would say I see you as a proper dog owner, you know the breed of your dogs and what they can do, you keep an eye out while with them and by the sound of it you don't treat them like children.
I wouldn't mind it if they created and area where dogs can freely run without getting in the way of other people. dogs owner can sit down have a chat and due to the fence, I can go past with out having to worry. We fence in areas for kids to play, make areas for people to skate board why not a place for dogs ?