jeltz said:
I'm not specifically referring to cycling. I'm on the mutual respect side of things and just think that a minority of dog owners are ignorant and/or have a bad attitude.
Most dog owners are good and control their animals. Some however let them jump up, snarl and chase; walkers, runners, horse riders, cyclists and other dogs. The stock response is usually "He/she won't hurt!"
Actually I agree with that - I'm more nervous of dogs when I'm on foot - and I'm generally not a "dog person"
About 2 years ago I was strolling arond Colchester enjoying an archaeological site (which is one of my hobbies). I was with my parents.
A girl in her late teens / early twenties appeared with a dog. No idea what breed but definitely an "attack dog" - ie small but some sort of terrier. It had no lead or even a collar and she had no control over it.
It randonly went for me - I think dogs do recognise humans that don't like them - and sunk it's teeth into my leg, drawing blood through my jeans (It was only a puppy or I wouldn't have a leg probably)
The girl just laughed and made no effort to control it despite my parents' (and my) shouts. In the end I kicked it off and she grabbed it.
She then launched into a tirade - calling my 68 year old Mum a c*unt, for example. Obviously to distract us in case we tried to report her. But what could we do - no witnessses, in a field in Essex.
Obviously the dog was young and untrained and probably the girl should have been "put down" rather than the dog
In the end we just decided to leave and retired to the more refined area of Cambridgeshire where my parents' live
I was fine although it does take surprisingly long to feel comfortable around dogs again. I have absolutely no sympathy with dog owners who'se dogs irritate/frighten me. No amount of "he's only trying to be friendly" works
Generally - like on a bike I avoid dog walking areas. ie I tend to stick to the roads when walking / cycling / driving - to me they're all means to get from A to B
What I really hate is people taking their dogs to the beach (which is not allowed by local by-laws).
