Dog hating cyclist

[vernon]

Some cyclists are egocentric tools who are pre-occupied with the destination objective and not the ride.

 

[Minotier]

These dog threads can get very emotive, there's no need. I like dogs, other people don't like 'em, that's fine, we're all different it's no biggie.

Anyway, here's a bit of dog control. I did this with our Spaniel about half an hour ago. Can you tell I'm on a day off?

We have two springers and when out on shared paths get them to lay at our feet whenever cyclists or runners approach.
We think this action lets other path users see that the dogs will not suddenly leap in front of them or block the path.
The thing is we spent hours training them, most dog owners do not even bother with the basic sit, stay, down commands.
Sadly we see as many examples of poor dog control as we do of reckless out of control cyclists.

 

[Doseone]

To my mind the scenario should go something like this:

Dog walker on narrow path, sees cyclist in distance. Calls dog to them, moves to the side of path and either puts dog on lead or does a sit stay and gently holds the dog by the collar to indicate to the cylist that the dog is under control.
Cyclist on narrow path sees dog walker, slows down, pulls over towards one side of the path and carries on cycling past dog owner who has dog under control as above.
They pass each other and say a cheery hello without incident.

It's a shared path. There is responsibility on both parties to act in an appropriate manner. Any deviation from the above is unacceptable and should result in an apology from one party or the other.

 

[Doseone]

We have two springers and when out on shared paths get them to lay at our feet whenever cyclists or runners approach.
We think this action lets other path users see that the dogs will not suddenly leap in front of them or block the path.
The thing is we spent hours training them, most dog owners do not even bother with the basic sit, stay, down commands.
Sadly we see as many examples of poor dog control as we do of reckless out of control cyclists.

Absolutely right. Training a dog takes time and bucket loads of patience, but it is a fundamental part of owning a dog, for its safety and well being as well as that of others and yourself.

Springers, I love them to bits but they are effing mental. We have two too.

 

[Sandra6]

To my mind the scenario should go something like this:

Dog walker on narrow path, sees cyclist in distance. Calls dog to them, moves to the side of path and either puts dog on lead or does a sit stay and gently holds the dog by the collar to indicate to the cylist that the dog is under control.
Cyclist on narrow path sees dog walker, slows down, pulls over towards one side of the path and carries on cycling past dog owner who has dog under control as above.
They pass each other and say a cheery hello without incident.

It's a shared path. There is responsibility on both parties to act in an appropriate manner. Any deviation from the above is unacceptable and should result in an apology from one party or the other.

What about on a wide path? And when you don't see the cyclist until they're almost on top of you and going at a ridiculous pace?
I only get annoyed with dog owners when they stand in the middle of the path and stare at me as their dog runs around the bike.
I don't mind slowing down -and I expect others to do the same - but I object to having to come to a full stop until they eventually get hold of their dog.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

To my mind the scenario should go something like this:

Dog walker on narrow path, sees cyclist in distance. Calls dog to them, moves to the side of path and either puts dog on lead or does a sit stay and gently holds the dog by the collar to indicate to the cylist that the dog is under control.
Cyclist on narrow path sees dog walker, slows down, pulls over towards one side of the path and carries on cycling past dog owner who has dog under control as above.
They pass each other and say a cheery hello without incident.

It's a shared path. There is responsibility on both parties to act in an appropriate manner. Any deviation from the above is unacceptable and should result in an apology from one party or the other.

as per my previous post on this thread, this is exacty what I do in both guises but regardless of path width. 10 recent years of living with dogs, 30+ years cycling around other peoples dogs, never an incident or problem. It's not rocket science and neither inconveniences the other. I have more problems with idiot children playing chicken and stepping our or pushing one another into my path, even with adults present.

dogs off leads can be under far better and more obedient control that wilful a**ehole children are. If we want to claim dogs are only under full control when on a short lead than we should be looking at controlling children up to the age of consent by keeping them on baby reins too.

 

[DRHysted]

Seriously though. If a dog isn't on a short lead it isn't under full control.

And every single cyclist rides through red lights.

See if you can post incorrect information so can I.

 

[Crackle]

To my mind the scenario should go something like this:

Dog walker on narrow path, sees cyclist in distance. Calls dog to them, moves to the side of path and either puts dog on lead or does a sit stay and gently holds the dog by the collar to indicate to the cylist that the dog is under control.
Cyclist on narrow path sees dog walker, slows down, pulls over towards one side of the path and carries on cycling past dog owner who has dog under control as above.
They pass each other and say a cheery hello without incident.

It's a shared path. There is responsibility on both parties to act in an appropriate manner. Any deviation from the above is unacceptable and should result in an apology from one party or the other.

50% of my interactions are like that, the recall or wait is 100% for me but 50% of cyclists don't slow down or even warn others of their approach. Or smile. I normally say something sarcy under my breath as they pass and what I didn't realize is that I've inadvertently trained the dog. He now comes back, not only when I say 'here' but also when I say 'another farking cyclist lad'.

 

[vernon]

And every single cyclist rides through red lights.

See if you can post incorrect information so can I.

If you can squander electrons on pointless rhetoric so can I.

 

[vernon]

Really, even an obedience show trained dog?

I like obedience show trained dogs but I can't eat a full one.

 

[Stonechat]

As a cyclist and dog owner, And I cycle and walk my dog (not at the same time) along our towpath, I have some views.
Dogs are frequently off lead, and even if well trained can be slightly unpredictable (especially if cycled at).
The nominal speed limit is 8 mph for cyclists. I like most cyclist do exceedwhen the path is clear, but the key thing is users of the twopath respecting each other. Some cyclist weave through dogs & their owners, small children and their parents in an unsafe way.
Similarly some dogs are not sufficintly under control.
Mutual respect is the key

 

[Davidc]

While there is no speed limit (sorry Stonechat) on shared use paths* any speed over about 8 to 10 mph is, IMO, irresponsible. The chances of having a small child or toddler run out, a frail elderly person walk into your path, and so on is too high to risk more. it takes longer to stop the faster you go, same principle as in a car.

As far as dogs are concerned, despite not liking them I have no wish to hurt any of them and it's quite right that riding deliberately at an animal is illegal. At the same time it helps if dog owners keep their pets under close control on a short lead, as they're supposed to in a public place. Many irresponsible ones don't, but then there are plenty of irresponsible cyclists who break the rules - so overall it's pots and kettles.

Self preservation should persuade cyclists to go sensibly near dogs, coming off isn't a good experience and is nearly certain in a collision with a dog. Concern for their dog should make dog keepers keep them out of contact with bikes. I read (don't know how accurate it is though) in one of my dog-mad daughter's pamphlets that a bike at 10mph/ 15kph weighing 100kg or more is almost certain to do a serious or fatal injury to a dog.

*Local bylaws may impose limits, for example on Bournemouth sea front and some Royal Parks, and the CRT advice for towpaths is 8mph assuming it's continued from BW days - unless I've missed it being added to their bylaws as compulsory.

 

[Inertia]

I cycle along a towpath for a fair part of my journey and most dog owners are very responsible on my stretch. Only one oldish woman let her dog run off on its own and when I encountered it I would go very slow till I had gone past it. Pretty much every other owner will stop and either keep a hand on the dog or put it on its lead if its not already.. I always say hello and thanks and get a response or smile in return, that's the way it should go. Maybe you could confuse the hell out him, smile and say hello when he passes.

I'm afraid I side with Vernon, you may think its well behaved and it may well be but its still an animal with instincts and can surprise its owner as well as the biker. Even if its the most well behaved dog in the world, why would you trust a stranger on a fast bike which can do serious harm to the dog, to not be a complete tool, which it sounds like the biker in your post is?

 

[Stonechat]

Brilliant! My dogs a complete idiot. I can make him sit and wait at his mealtimes, and he has some recall, but there are certain situations in public places where he's a complete loon, so I have to be very careful with him.

Fetching the ball is no 1 favourite activity for our Cavalier, would be hard to get him to wait - we's halfway there before the ball has left my hand