Dogs forcing extra gym time - not happy

[Murali]

So I hit the gym whenever I feel like it, mostly at 6 am or 9 pm (don't ask how I manage to be up that early and still stay out that late). My routine was simple – walk to the gym, work out, then jog back home because it's about a kilometre away, which also gave me a decent cardio boost and saved time.

Everything was fine until a new dog moved into my block. Even the stray on the second floor is scared of him, and the neighbours treat him like the respected elder of the area. Usually the other dogs ignore me when I return, but this one follows me – not at a walk, HE SPRINTS. So I have to sprint home too. There's roughly a 400 m gap between where he hangs out and my house, and I'm sure he's not doing it because he thinks I'm a thief; his goofy eyes just say he's having fun. I tried "walk with confidence", but he lunged at me with his mouth open and I had to run again. Now I do my cardio on the treadmill and take a rapid ride home. He never attacks the bike I use to go to the gym, it's only my return that irritates him. I swear, if I ever get the chance I'll confront the second‑floor dog and his gang.

[Harshit]

[Mayank]

I also stopped going to the gym early because of the dogs parading around my area. I got bitten once during a morning walk – stray dogs are crazy out here. Today I had to use a scooter to get to the gym. They're ruining my peaceful morning cardio, and it's frustrating. Our country has no proper spaces free from stray animal problems. I don't want to befriend ten‑fifteen strays just to have the right to walk and breathe outdoors. God, we're so poor and unorganised. I'm not even in a village, just a tier‑1‑ish city.

[Prakash]

That's why my running hobby died on day 1. I went out for a run and four dogs gave chase – they literally chased me. I screamed, ran like a headless chicken across the park, and hid behind three old men.

[Manoj]

This cracked me up, haha.

[Shanta]

Bhai, next time he follows you, chase him back and assert your dominance. ☝☝

[Avni]

Just get a pepper spray or a bear spray and use it liberally.

[Kanchan]

Now I even have to travel 1 km by scooter because of these damn dogs. This morning at 5 am they really gave me a hard time.

[Aftab]

This reminds me of the time I switched tuitions because of those annoying stray dogs.

[Tarun]

Bro, just stop and stand in front of him when he starts running. I'm sure he'll get scared and turn back. If you sprint faster, he'll just see it as a sign of fear.

[Aarti]

A similar thing happened to me. In my previous neighbourhood there were about four or five stray dogs on the road. I never had a problem – I'd walk confidently and sometimes even stared them down. Then a new female dog showed up and started targeting me. She chased me every time, and the other dogs joined in. I swear, if that dog had been alone, I'd have ended up on the news for animal cruelty. Ever since that day I've been scared of dogs.