Bongman said:
Maybe....
I rekon its because (at least some dogs) think you are trying to evade them or that its a game. Joggers also get the same treatment as us cyclists.
You would probably find that most of the dogs would turn and run if you stopped to let them catch you (as well as shouting "get back" as another poster mentioned).
They sure do. A nasty old git whom I have written of previously on here was in the local park again late this afternoon with his vicious mutt that has previously bitten me on my left ankle.
Anyway arrived into park, running around perimeter. He and another woman and mutts were on the other side and the dogs hadn't spotted me. Couldn't see if the dogs were on leads, extendible or not. As I ran around came along the other side but would cross over a small footbridge onto larger fields. Anyway they were at least 100m away but the mutt Jack Russell I think, spied me and came sprinting over barking and snarling. It got within 15 feet of me before I exited right across the footbridge. The nasty old git owner was screaming at the top of his voice for it to come back to him. No effect what so ever. So carried on running with the mutt chasing barking and snarling at me from the other bank. Carried on round the huge playing field. It must thave been about 5 minutes later I got back to the entrance completing my first lap. The nasty old git, woman and mutts have moved to the other side of the park standing in a place that he knows I will run through or have to pass close to. As I get nearer to them I see the mutt is still not on it's lead despite the nasty old git knowing I am running around the park from 5 minutes previously when he could not control his mutt when it came chasing after me. Anyway I give them as wide a berth as possible without ruining my route, 50 yds away I'd say, but the mutt spies me and chases straight for me barking growling snarling, head down ready to bite. The mutt runs around me a couple of times choosing it's moment to strike. The old git is shouting for it to come to him. No bl00dy effect. The mutt then makes a b-line for me ankles so I position myself to give it a huge Johnnie Wilkinson boot. It darts away around the back of me so I turn to chase it away as this old git has no control over of it what so ever. The nasty old git then starts shouting foul abuse at me for trying to kick his dog. He is going to do all sorts, that I am being watched, that he knows where I live and that he is going to call the police. I tell old man his dog should be on a lead especially as he clearly has no control over it and more importantly as it has just chased after me not 5 minutes before. The nasty old git continues shouting abuse like a care in thecommunity patient "You're a f*cking self-gratification artist, I'll have you!" "Right old man you want to put that to the test I'm right here come on then!"
I shall be contacting plod tommorrow as I am sick of this old git allowing his dog to terrorize me in this public park. I wouldn't mind if it was on a lead but it never is. And I do know where he lives, about 50 yds from the park in a bungalow the type only old people live in. Don't have a problem with old people or bungalows, just this git and his mutt, and those who are also crap drivers and invariably try to knock me off the bike. Anyway he should have a nice surprise when he gets a knock on his door from plod in the next few days.
Last week another dog owner this time a dopey woman with a big grey dog the size of a donkey allowed it run the length of one of the football fields, which she shouldn't have been on with a dog anyway, for it to bark and jump up at me. I was crapping myself as it could have caused me serious injury. I stopped running and stood perfectly still. When it reached me it went for my arm, which made think "That's it, I'm it's next bone!" but it sniffed my arm and then buggered off, all the while she was screaming after it to come back to her which it didn't. When I reached her I told her there was a big sign at the entrance to the playing fields that dogs were not allowed on the football fields and mores the point her dog should be on a lead. She started to argue and swear at me. I wasn't in a position to get too angry with her as had her dog taken exception to me or viewed me as being aggressive or threatening to her it might well have reassessed it's view of me that I was benign and instead as fair game for it's next dinner. No apology from the woman what so ever. Bitch! I hate dogs and their stupid owners.
