A KEEN runner has told how he was left shaken after being attacked by a dog whilst out jogging.

Robert Shaw was on the coastal path between Lunderston Bay and Inverkip when the animal, which was on an extendable lead and wearing some form of muzzle, bit him on the leg.

The 62-year-old, who lives on Inverkip's Main Street, had to hobble home and go to Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

He said: "I I noticed a woman coming in the opposite direction with two dogs on leads.

"One dog was small and dark coloured, with the other dog being a larger gold coloured German Shepherd type dog.

"At this point I could see the larger dog coming towards me.

"As it approached I stopped jogging hoping it would just walk on.

"But it just carried on and bit me on my left thigh where I had virtually no protection as I was only wearing shorts and a waterproof top.

"At this point the woman shouted at the dog and pulled it away.

"After complaining to the woman and showing her my injury I had to walk back home to Inverkip and then drive out to the A and E department at Inverclyde to get my injury checked out."

Medics cleaned Robert's wound and gave him antibiotics.

The following day Robert, who is a member of Inverclyde Athletic Club, reported the incident to the police.

He is now calling for dog walkers to be more responsible and in control of their dogs as he says the next time it could be a child who is attacked.

Robert said: "The dog did have a single leather strap around the back of its mouth but the dog was still able to bite me with the front of its mouth.

"This type of muzzle is insufficient and this dog needs a full mouth muzzle to protect against injury to adults and children in the future."

He hopes that by speaking out, it will encourage dog owners to ensure their dogs are fully trained and under control.

Robert said: "I would advise the woman to enlist her dog in a professional dog training course and fit a full mouth muzzle on her dog to help avoid any adult or child being bitten in the future.

"I won't let this stop me jogging but I think I'll be more wary when passing dogs in the future."

This week it was revealed that the number of dangerous dog notices issued in Scotland has risen by almost 270 per cent in the space of six years, according to official figures gathered from councils.

The statistics show that since the system of Dog Control Notices (DCNs) came into force in February 2011, the number handed out each year has jumped from 92 to 339.

DCNs are issued to owners of dogs that have been shown to be “out of control” and require the owner to modify and manage their pet’s behaviour in the interest of public safety.

The notices also put a legal duty on dog owners to keep their pets under control, and may contain a number of actions that they have to complete within a set period.

These can include keeping the dog on a lead or muzzling it while in public and completing a training course.

All dogs issued with a DCN are also implanted with a microchip.