Hello and please help if possible

[angel1173]

Hi there
I live in Stockport, Cheshire and enjoy cycling for leisure but have been restricted recently due to a dodgy knee!!

I am appealing for help from any cyclists or groups, the problem is as follows:

I have 2 springer spaniels and one has a real problem with bikes, well any kind of moving wheel! I have walked them alongside my daughter whilst she rode her bike, he accepted this with no issues so foolishly I thought problem solved!! Until next day he promptly chased after an unsuspecting cyclist (who quite rightly gave me a right mouthful but apologised once I explained that I had foolishly thought he had been cured by the previous days result!) Both the cyclist and the lady who runs the dog obedience classes we attend suggested I join a forum, so here I am putting out a plea for a group of cyclists who could spare me some time one weekend to cycle with my dogs and I, using a water spray to spray him everytime he attempts to attack (he will be leashed!!)

Both dogs love to be able to run freely when out walking but I am constantly on guard and looking out for cyclists so that I can grab him before he springs into action meaning that our walks are not pleasurable, especially since he has caused whiplash to me as he goes ballistic trying to pull whilst I am holding him back. It is also restricting our locations as we are sticking to the places we rarely see bikes, which basically means we have a choice of 2 walking areas!!

This request is to help protect cyclists from my harmless dog, he generally only goes for the wheels but as you will understand this poses a threat to both the dog and the cyclist.

Many thanks
Sam (desperately frustrated)

 

[palinurus]

I'd suggest removing your email address from your post, people can send you a PM through the forum or respond to your question here.

I'm not sure what to suggest about your dog though.

 

[angel1173]

Thanks Palinurus

Done that

Sam x

 

[HJ]

Might be an idea to post this in the Cafe with a more informative title so that it gets more reads. Would offer to help if I was closer...

 

[bauldbairn]

Welcome to the CC forums angel1173.

Good luck getting your dog sorted out.

 

[Wobbly John]

Your dog chases cyclists and you struggle to control it...

Both the cyclist and the lady who runs the dog obedience classes we attend suggested I join a forum, s
Sam (desperately frustrated)

... so you think a forum full of cyclists is the place to start?

 

[angel1173]

Firstly, thanks to HJ I wish you lived closer too, your offer is appreciated though . Thanks also to Bauldbairn for your constructive message, I too hope to get him sorted .

Really offended by wobbly john's hurtful comment, initially when we got these dogs back in October control was an issue but I have to stress that 6 months on I have control of my dog at all times now I know he has a fear of wheels he no longer has the opportunity to chase bikes, as he is leashed when I know we are in areas frequented by bikes!! Gather you are not a dog lover, but I have no issue with that all or have you had a bad experience with dogs ?? All I ask is for you to take into consideration that dogs have fears just as much as you or I, it's just easier to get the help if you have 2 legs and opposable thumbs!!

As I said and you quoted joining a forum was suggested by the trainer and another cyclist in order to seek help for him to overcome his issues. Where else can we seek strangers to help, (this may also be the issue since he happily accepts family members on bikes!!)

Stress again that the issue isn't control... it's his fear of wheels!! I am trying my hardest and if you watch some of the dog training programmes e.g. Dog Whisperer and It's me or the dog, they suggest very similar tactics.

If you can come up with a better idea (that doesn't involve putting him to sleep!!!) then please be my guest and PM me instead of passing judgement when you don't even know me or my dog!!

Rant over sorry but I get so upset with prejudism!

Sam (not so much desperate... just frustrated!)

 

[Steve Austin]

I would if i lived closer..

 

[Bman]

I can understand your frustration, but to explain why Wobbly John probably made that comment:

Not all dog owners are as concerned/responsible as you seem to be about training their dogs. You wouldnt believe how common it is to have dogs chase, bark or attack cyclists.

How do you know your dog is scared of wheels? Ive known dogs to chase lots of things (cars, bikes, joggers, postmen, cats etc) in the past and none of those instances seemed to be because the dog was "scared" of them.

My suggestion: You mention water spray. I assume you use this to discourage unwanted behaviour. Why cant you spray him yourself when he reacts to a cyclist, instead of getting a cyclist to do this for you?

 

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I will addmy pennies worth, having been going through a simmilar thing. I have two border terriers, and like getting them used to anything, I just associated bikes with food, this is the only way I see to a dogs heart, if you want them to get used to something, use food.

I would be careful using a water spray, as in the dogs mind, you will be punishing him, for something he is scared of. I would be asking a local person, someone in the village with a bike, a neighbour or familymember, I mean you can get bikes of some sort for free from the tip these days, then you are free on time, no restrictions to get them used to it.

I can fully understand you asking on the forum, and good idea, but if someone offers, it may be for a couple of hours, and I know my dogs take longer than that.

Anyway, that is my oppinion, and please don't find it offensive in anyway.

Cheers

Dave

 

[angel1173]

No offence taken and thanks for the advice, what I didn't add was that whilst cyclists have the water spray I will be distracting with treats, although I have added this fact in the posting on the cafe area. The water spray is more to discourage the unwanted behaviour as this is the method used in the home and encouraged by our trainer, I must add this is used very infrequently and can count on 2 hands the number of times we've used it during the 6 months our boys have been here, in addition the water spray is used only for barking in our home as they used to bark at the cats, in some weird way they think the water is fun as they are springers they think it's a game and stop the barking. Most of the time they spot the spray being picked up and the barking ceases.

The problem with the water spray and doing it myself is that I don't have a free hand as I have 2 dogs, both leashed, one busy pulling to get to the bike, even if it was just 1 dog, still would struggle as when he pulls boy does he pull! Also he ends up fighting with the other as bless him the other dog tries to control Buster for me!!

I have never come across this with any other dog I have owned before, in my favour though I have always had pups from the time they were old enough to leave their mother, these springers were 17 weeks when we saved them from their breeder, they then had a further 5 weeks unable to get out and about due to their vaccinations etc so until 22 weeks of age they had no socialisation skills or experience of the big wide world, all in all I think we are blessed that bikes are the only major concern.

I get so jealous when I see other dog owners able to walk their dogs unleashed without having to worry about injury to cyclists!! I know that with more training etc my dog will improve.

Bongman thanks for explaining Wobbly John's possible reason for his post, I have now calmed down thanks... We can only assume it is fear as he was happy to run alongside our daughter, however I realise that I didn't make it too clear that it's not just bikes, it's wheels in general, he used to bark at prams too, although there is less danger of injury and this has lessened due to stimulation, prams are easier as they move slower than cycles. It seems that moving wheels are the real issue since he has happily sniffed wheels of stationary bikes with no problems, thanks to co-operative cyclists who have been happy to stop and help.

I have sometimes wondered if the chasing is indeed part of their DNA as springer spaniels are used for hunting but most people I have spoken to reckon it is fear and possibly 'defending' mode as it seems strangers on bikes trigger him. (He probably thinks I'll fall over or get run over by a cyclist since I am so accident prone and fall over for no reason at times LOL!!)