RECENTLY while jogging – a conflict story from everyday life

"He's not doing anything. He just wants to play." is almost a serotype, particularly popular with owners of listed dogs. Sabine Tritthart was personally affected by one encounter and recounts how she was able to remain calm during a conflict with the dog owner.

Sabine Tritthart: "In Konfliktsituationen ist es mir ein besonderes Anliegen, dass sich Menschen ehrlich mitteilen und nicht schweigen."

It was a mild summer evening when I decided to go for a run in the nearby forest. The birds were singing, and the pleasantly bright rays of sunlight shone through the canopy of trees and pines. Just what I needed to escape the stress of the week. Quiet and peaceful. After a 45-minute run, as I was about to enter the final stretch, I was forced through a narrow path lined with bushes when a large Rottweiler suddenly appeared in front of me. I stopped so as not to appear threatening and even said, "Oh, you're so sweet and well-behaved," probably more to calm myself down, but the animal still looked no less aggressive to me. I was really stressed about showing this dog my back. I thought, "He's sure to bite me from behind. OH NO—why me in this forest, with this dog?" Pure stress, but also a sense of survival. My heart was beating faster. The images in my head raced—at the same time, I could already see the headline in the local newspaper.

"Back!" A man in his seventies hurried toward us. "I'm sorry, he doesn't mean any harm. He just wants to play," he said, grabbing the dog by the collar. "He doesn't look like he just wants to play," I replied, trying to remain calm. "Why isn't he on a leash? There's a leash law here." The man frowned. "Oh, come on. Bruno is harmless. He needs freedom to run around. He's not doing anything." "That may be true," I replied, "but there are rules, and they're there for a good reason. Not everyone feels comfortable with an off-leash dog, especially when it seems as aggressive to me as yours, which is also quite large, and the breed is already a threat."

The situation was becoming increasingly tense. "You're probably one of those people who doesn't know anything about dogs," the man said irritably. "Bruno would never hurt anyone. You're exaggerating and your face is already red." "The red color in my face is from RUNNING, not just ANGER!" I retorted.

"It's not about not knowing anything, I like dogs," I explained. "It's about feeling insecure. And I'm certainly not the only one. Please take responsibility for your dog. Neither of us will be better off if I get bitten and you have to pay a fine—besides, I don't want to have a bite wound—I don't even want to think about it."

In this already emerging conflict, I tried to express my feelings and perspectives despite my breathing difficulties and my excitement. "Hope dies last," I thought to myself in this situation. Actually, I just wanted to get out of this forest safely!

The man mumbled something unintelligible while holding the dog. "Maybe you should find another place to run if this doesn't suit you." "Maybe you should respect the rules when you're out in public," I replied calmly. "It's for everyone's safety, including your dog."

He looked at me for a moment, then turned around and walked away without a word, pulling the dog on the leash, who also dared to glance at me.

I leaned forward, took a deep breath, and felt the tension slowly dissipate. This encounter had marred my relaxed run, but I was relieved that it ended without injury and that I had stopped to clarify the matter. Briefly, I considered not speaking to the man and simply continuing on. But I couldn't do that in this situation. I wanted to clarify the matter. Something inside me said, "STOP—this is going to be addressed!"

As I walked home, the incident never left my mind. It was a clear reminder of how important it is to follow the rules, live respectfully with one another, and be considerate of others. The forest is there for everyone, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure it remains a safe and pleasant place. For everyone.

As I write this story now, I'm grateful that nothing happened to me. I'm proud of myself for confronting the conflict instigator directly, for not keeping my mouth shut, and for potentially protecting another person from harm.

In a conflict situation, it's valuable to maintain a respectful attitude, communicate clearly, and avoid creating additional drama. Being factual, clear, and non-personal has been a great support and helpful experience for me. In conflict situations, it's particularly important to me that people communicate honestly and don't remain silent. Emotions and feelings are there, and they should be acknowledged. Sharing them creates incredible transparency and clarity.

Conflict Barometer

People involved:	🧨🧨
Escalation:	🧨🧨
Relevance:	🧨🧨🧨
Possible empathy:	🕊🕊🕊️
Solution options:	🕊🕊
Achievable compromise:	🕊🕊

The Conflict Barometer is a non-scientific attempt to assess conflict situations. Depending on the severity, up to three sticks of dynamite or peace doves can be awarded.

Author: Sabine Tritthart, MSC

is a trainer and business coach, mediator, and owner of a practice for personal development and potential development. She sees herself as a sparring partner for executives and has many years of experience as a member of the crisis intervention team at Austrian Airlines.

Tel: +43 676 912 55 73 - office@sabine-tritthart.at - www.sabine-tritthart.at