Running Into Legs

[turnerkirkgate]

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When my 8 month old whippet is running free he often runs back to me at full speed straight into my leg. On two occasions this has caused me to fall over and I am now worried that if he hits me from front on he could break my leg! His head appears tough enough to withstand the collision. We are novice dog owners and wondered if anyone else has experience of this behaviour and how it can be avoided. He is more nimble than me and if I side-step he will alter his course just as quickly! Help please, before I am incapacitated!

 

[jaybe]

All whippet owners get used to being bowled over, with the occassional somersault. Most Whippet pups can't use their brakes (or judge distances for that ). It does improve as they get older. Sorry can't give you any advice until then, I was lucky to have fairly good reactions.

 

[FifeJillandIan]

Blue is nearly two and a half .... we've developed quite quick reactions!!! The trick is to hold your nerve and leave it to the last moment before you side step :lol:

 

[Louise_Simon]

Daisy is 4 and still uses me as her breaking system :clown:

 

[jinnyfizz]

Mmmmmm, this sounds familiar :-

Welcome to the world of whippets!! I have been lucky so far, but I'm expecting to be caught out one day with 6 of them running around

I think you have to develop eyes in the back of your head and maybe crouch down before he reaches you to give you more stability :thumbsup: Good luck! :luck: :luck:

Any pictures of your young hooligan?

 

[clare Bow]

The joys of having a running dog :lol:

Best thing to do when your pups running free is to just stand still and not dart about trying to dodge him your find that he will run past you.

I learnt my lesson a few years back with my large lurcher who at the time was 9 months old and weighted about 60lb at the time he came running at me full pelt i tryed to move out the way and he went straight into me and took me clean out i came crashing down, i was winded and one side of my body was black and blue i was in bits :wacko: . I learnt my lesson for sure that day and when my lot are free running i never move out of the way.

Touch wood it's never happened to me again since and that was 5 years ago, but never say never :lol:

Clare

 

[Seraphina]

Yes, that sounds very familiar. After years having my knees destroyed, I developed a strategy:

1- hold my nerve and do not step aside

2- as they come close to me I scream repeatedly STOP STOP ,STOP and wave my arms madly

3- assume crash position; with my knees slightly bent to absorb the collision, should the above measures fail

However it does seem to work and the dogs do skid stop in front of me, or change direction in the last moment. The only minus is that the other people in our park look at me bit strangely. Small price to pay for intact knees

 

[meddling]

Seraphina...you post made me laugh so much!

Bluebell has never banged into me, but when playing with other dogs she will whizz through tiny gaps between people leaving the following dog to crash into them lol, she is so agile she gets it spot on everytime!!

My Boxers used to regularly take us out

 

[Nicola]

Would it help turning sideways, and bending your knees slightly to brace yourself when they approach? I do that everytime I come home, but the short run up doesn't have the same impact I know. :sweating:

 

[AnnSa]

I've been decked by Sada and Kaya, Zana still has the pleasure 8)

Im just glad i walk on sand most of the time. I am getting good at

the sidestep though :lol: .

 

[quintessence]

I've been decked twice by Sparky, the last time is the reason my knee is so painful now. Dylan is a much faster runner and yet he is a clever boy and always runs straight at me and then at the last minute to my side he just knows that you don't run into your humans, Sparky is a slower runner but just forgets to stop until you are flat on your back with his nose in your face.

Jenny

 

[NickyVN]

I am presently sporting a lovely bruise on the back of my leg, and also one on my knee!! How don't they get a headace!!

 

[Esty]

I've not actually taken a dive (yet) but have a few bruises. Ros and Grover bowled my son off his feet last week in the dog park, though, and he's a tall 12 year old. Luckily he used to do karate and knows how to fall

Best to stand still, turn sideways on and swerve your body without moving your legs! Takes practise!

Good luck and welcome to whippets! Sorry that's not much help....

 

[bertha]

I stood side ways on an empty beech and my two still managed to get me, they put my knee out. I don't let them hit me side on anymore! Too painful. You just have to wait and side step at the last minute.

Having a large greyhound hurtling towards you is very un-nerving, she always swerves at the last minute so I just pray she never hits me!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[meddling]

I've been decked twice by Sparky, the last time is the reason my knee is so painful now. Dylan is a much faster runner and yet he is a clever boy and always runs straight at me and then at the last minute to my side he just knows that you don't run into your humans, Sparky is a slower runner but just forgets to stop until you are flat on your back with his nose in your face.
Jenny

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[turnerkirkgate]

Hi, thanks for reassurance - got lots of responses and I am now aware its a common problem. Lots of tips on avoidance tactics! I am new to this so struggled to upload pictures - will try again, but he is black like I see one of yours is - beautiful creature even if dangerous! Julie
Mmmmmm, this sounds familiar :-

Welcome to the world of whippets!! I have been lucky so far, but I'm expecting to be caught out one day with 6 of them running around

I think you have to develop eyes in the back of your head and maybe crouch down before he reaches you to give you more stability :thumbsup: Good luck! :luck: :luck:

Any pictures of your young hooligan?

 

[turnerkirkgate]

have now got some pictures on my personal page which you can see - julie

Hi, thanks for reassurance - got lots of responses and I am now aware its a common problem. Lots of tips on avoidance tactics! I am new to this so struggled to upload pictures - will try again, but he is black like I see one of yours is - beautiful creature even if dangerous! Julie
Mmmmmm, this sounds familiar :-

Welcome to the world of whippets!! I have been lucky so far, but I'm expecting to be caught out one day with 6 of them running around

I think you have to develop eyes in the back of your head and maybe crouch down before he reaches you to give you more stability :thumbsup: Good luck! :luck: :luck:

Any pictures of your young hooligan?

 

[~Annie~]

I've found that if I hold my ground they actually generally miss me ... it's like a game of chicken. I suspect that their intention is to just brush past us ... it's us moving that causes the problem. Not been decked yet ... but I have had some really interesting bruises. Carrying a ball or three in your pocket also helps ... if you have a ball you can throw it a couple of feet to the side of you and with any luck they'll aim for that!

Annie

 

[gilliwigs]

Little horrors aren't they - I'm sure they do it on purpose just to scare us! (w00t) :lol: If I'm with someone else I usually try and hide behind them!!! :- Rachel (rls22) will confirm! :b But if I'm on my own, I try and stand my ground and not sidestep - they usually sidestep too so end up crashing into you if you move. :clown: Not easy to do with a couple of whippets hurtling towards you! (w00t)

 

[jade scott]

My dog was 30lb when racing and as a national champ was pretty fast when he wanted to be, but due to the fact we live miles from any tracks etc to train him we ran him to rag- generally a fluffy golf head cover or somthing like that and that was mighty scary having him run straight at you, the best thing to do is to stand perfectly still, having the rag deffinately helped give him something to concentrate on. I've not yet been decked by Tig but i am sure there is time left.