Close Encounter With An Alsatian

I do brisk walking on alternate days to keep me healthy and to sweat away the body toxins. I would normally go around my neighbourhood roads as there is much less traffic and less danger from stray dogs. However, on this day, after having gone four rounds without any incidence, I suddenly came face to face with a tall Alsatian. The creature simply came from no where after I rounded a corner. It was almost 3 ft. tall, and almost 4 ft. from head to tail.

When I do brisk walking, I am normally not so concerned about the goings on in houses around me. I would rather look down more often on the road 2 to 3 steps ahead so I do not step on rubbish, puddles, potholes or cat and dog shit. So when this Alsatian suddenly rushed up to me to block my passage forward, I instantly froze on the spot. After about three seconds, I tried to move sideway and forward, but it also got in front of me, but it did not bark.

My reflex to the blockade was to put my hand slightly in front to try and stop the attack, if it had come. Then I put my hands down as the dog circled me and started sniffing. It was a good 8 seconds. Somebody suddenly shouted and the Alsatian's attention was temporary diverted, but it did not go away. I realised then that the pet's owner was around. He was a good 15 ft. away, standing next to the open gate. He stood at the same spot, and did not come forward to try restrain or shoo it away.

The owner commanded the dog to go back into the house. When it looked back but did not budge, he shouted the second time. This time it retreated to the gate, still looking attentively at me. I took this opportunity to move forward briskly. I avoided the road in my next round, just not to test my luck.

Was it scarry, you bet. But some how, this flight and fright reflex from the adrenalin did not seem to take place. I could not run way from it when it blocked me, and it did not immediately pounce on me. I do not know what was it that helped to sooth the situation and prevented any possible injury, had it attacked straight away. Perhaps, by not moving, when the dog is up close, I probably signaled to the Alsatian that I was not unfriendly. After-all, both my hands were empty.

I had met a few dogs barking and trying to come forward while I was doing brisk walking before, but it was never this close. They stopped coming to me and went away slowly once I stopped moving and looked them straight in the eyes. That may be it. The action and inaction that saved me.

Talking about rearing dogs, I believe how a dog owner disposes off the dog's poo says a lot about the civic-consciousness, or could'nt care less mentality of the owner. I have lived in a place where the owner simply washes the poo into the street in front or down the open backyard drain, with the hope that the slope will take the stench away from him/her. What effect that has on other road users and neighbours are none of his concern.