Dogs!

[Seigi]

Anyone ever hit a dog when cycling down a cycle path? I've just missed 2, that's more than usual, I normally just skim one every other day but it seems that owners can't keep their dogs under control for the most part and the owners look at me like it's my fault, I'm very respectful when going past people, I ring my bell about 30m away, and if they show no sign of moving I keep ringing (Just in case they didn't hear, I've had times when I've been behind the elderly and they don't hear until you're right next to them), but when it comes to keep their dogs under control they seem to fail at it. The other day there was 3 dogs with two owners and instead of shifting to one side the owners stood on either side of the path with their dogs expecting me to go through to middle...felt illogical...

So yeah, anyone ever hit a dog? Or another pet?

 

[lulubel]

I've been hit by one. Does that count?

Its owner let it out of the garden just as I was going past, uphill and slowly. (Admittedly, the garden had a high wall and she couldn't see I was there, so it wasn't deliberate - just irresponsible.) I heard the dog snarling and growling after me, so stopped abruptly and got my feet down. The dog went head first straight into my leg and its teeth snapped shut on air, so I think the collision saved me from a bitten leg.

I've nearly hit quite a few dogs, and this is just cycling on the roads. Even when the dog runs straight in front of your wheels, the owners still look at you like you were in the wrong.

 

[coffeejo]

Round here, people seem to be quite courteous regarding their dogs. I've only come across one that wasn't called to heel and he wasn't a problem at all ... well, apart from the fact that he wanted to follow me.

 

[TheDoctor]

Never collided with a dog. I've come close to hitting a few owners, mind.
The issue is (I reckon) that dogs don't know what cyclists are, and they like to chase things.
If you say something to the dog, it recognises that it's one of the big things that runs the show and tells the dog what to do.
Until then, it's confused, but it's quite happy chasing this thing that's trying to get away.

 

[zacklaws]

I've had a few near misses, but last year, I had a Gypsies, Jack Russell come for me, I predicted it happening as, Gypsy Caravans = dogs, so I put a sprint in to get past fast, at first it made for my ankle, then decided to go for my front wheel, and as it got its head down low to bite my tyre, I went straight over its head and rolled it over and left it squealing and whining limping back to the caravan.

At that point, I heard the owner shouting out, "what the f***s going on out there" and looked behind to see them run out of the caravan, so I put an even faster spurt of pace on to get away.

A while later I found the same caravan down a different country lane, but thankfully it was tethered.

Dogs on extending leads are my pet hate, dog on one side of the road and owner on the other, when you approach, the owner moves to the side of the road where the dog is, but the dog crosses over as well to the other side, then you spot the lead, one day I will scoop up a dog on its extending lead.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Had my leg bit by a terrior once. Owner blamed me as I was on a bike and the dog didn't like them. Met same dog next day. Dog tried to bite me again and I kicked it away. (I hate harming any creature but I value my blood). The owner went balistib. I offered her my phone so she could report incident. She put dog on lead and walked off. Every time she sees me she rushes to put dog on lead and gives me killer looks but no more dog attacks.

 

[Norm]

... and the owners look at me like it's my fault

Maybe it was.

Dogs and kids cannot be tightly controlled, expect them to dive under your wheel and ride accordingly.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Maybe it was.

Dogs and kids cannot be tightly controlled, expect them to dive under your wheel and ride accordingly.

Dogs should be under control at all times in public places. That either means a lead or a dog that responds instantly to commands. Children are another matter. Don't think you are allowed to put a collar and lead on them

 

[Crackle]

Dogs should be under control at all times in public places. That either means a lead or a dog that responds instantly to commands. Children are another matter. Don't think you are allowed to put a collar and lead on them : D

We've done this one before. It doesn't mean instantly and if it's a shared use path and the owner is in the process of bringing the dog under control, well then you just have to wait. And the joke about children is thin. I get the impression you don't really understand things outside your world view and it's becoming tiresome.

 

[edindave]

Lots of dogs on the paths round these parts. Never have any probs with them though.
You get to recognise the regulars after a while and predict their behaviour.

I see the same dithery old labrador nearly every day. It flops rather than walks and is prone to make sudden turns/stop in your path, so I know to slow down and anticipate what it might do.
I reckon it must be a good age age. One of these days I expect it won't be there... which is kind of sad to think about.

Cyclists just have to be considerate for pets, children and other folk on the shared paths.

 

[TheDoctor]

Shared path. The clue's in the name

 

[kedab]

Shared path. The clue's in the name

i don't encounter this particular issue as i don't seem to come across many living animals while cycling on 'the road'

 

[Angelfishsolo]

We've done this one before. It doesn't mean instantly and if it's a shared use path and the owner is in the process of bringing the dog under control, well then you just have to wait. And the joke about children is thin. I get the impression you don't really understand things outside your world view and it's becoming tiresome.

Crackle. I have been involved with animal rescue for over 20years. If a dog is know to to behave badly towards other entities the owner has the responcibility to ensure to dog is controled. If a dog who hates bikes is being walked on a shared ped & cycle way the dog must be on a lead.
Of course I always slow down for dogs and usualy stop and pet them and 99% of owners will control their dogs when they see a bike coming. What I dislike as was the case in my post are owners who feel dogs have absolute right to do what they want. As it happened I was stopped when I was bitten the 1st time so rode past dog the second time. What did I do wrong?

 

[Spinney]

Dogs should be under control at all times in public places. That either means a lead or a dog that responds instantly to commands. Children are another matter. Don't think you are allowed to put a collar and lead on them

Not far off, though...

 

[Newcyclist]

ive woke up next t a few