Extendable dog leads

[GrasB]

I come across a ped walking their dog, the dog is well behaved & is trotting along besides its owner sniffing around in the verge, it looks up at me then continues to sniff around the in the verge, I slow down & give them a wide berth just to be safe. The problem is the ped is actually walking 2 dogs, the other one is somewhere deep in the ditch on the other side of the road on the end of an extendible lead. It being dark & the lead being black I don't see the damn thing so the next thing I know I'm eating tarmac, the ped is on the deck & there's a dog scrabbling around next to me trying to get away but is pinned down by the lead now wrapped around the my front wheel & chainring. This is the second incident in recent months with a dog the opposite side of the road to its owner on an extendible collar... why do people think it's okay to have a dog running across the road in the pitch black on the end of a thin lead that's hard to see? What if I'd been a car not a bike, surely the damage would have been far grater than scrapes & bruises.

 

[Bman]

Eek!

I've had some near misses like the one you describe but its never actually happened.

Hope you and the bike are ok!

Come to think of it, Ive shared road space with an unusual number of "out of control" dogs this week..... Must be something in the air.

 

[GrasB]

I was only doing about 5mph so the damage is scuffed saddle, bar tape & a few bruises, the dog I could see looked like a very lively one that may well decide to come up & say hello.

 

[2Loose]

OMG.

Glad you weren't going fast or it could have been very bad for you and at least one dog.

 

[HLaB]

On a path I would expect it but on a road, OMG! I hope you scrapes and bruises aren't too bad.

 

[ohnovino]

I've had dog owners on shared use paths politely stand to one side and smile at me, and only at the last minute I've realised there's a lead stretched across the path

 

[Trumpettom001]

Not quite what happened to you - but not a million miles away!


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS36QvTxvbA

 

[snapper_37]

It's about time they banned the stupid things (leads not the dogs ). Glad you're ok Grasb.

 

[400bhp]

I come across a ped walking their dog, the dog is well behaved & is trotting along besides its owner sniffing around in the verge, it looks up at me then continues to sniff around the in the verge, I slow down & give them a wide berth just to be safe. The problem is the ped is actually walking 2 dogs, the other one is somewhere deep in the ditch on the other side of the road on the end of an extendible lead. It being dark & the lead being black I don't see the damn thing so the next thing I know I'm eating tarmac, the ped is on the deck & there's a dog scrabbling around next to me trying to get away but is pinned down by the lead now wrapped around the my front wheel & chainring. This is the second incident in recent months with a dog the opposite side of the road to its owner on an extendible collar... why do people think it's okay to have a dog running across the road in the pitch black on the end of a thin lead that's hard to see? What if I'd been a car not a bike, surely the damage would have been far grater than scrapes & bruises.

:snigger: The picture in my mind is quite funny.

 

[Brommie77]

Sorry to hear about that GrasB, but at least the dog was actually on a lead, most of the dogs I encounter are off the lead, and when "pom-pom" legs it over the road snarling and frothing at the mouth the owner shouts "hes only playing dear, he's ever so friendly", I worry - lots!

Out of interest - what do other commuters do when dogs try to attack you, I know that dogs tend not to like the sound of a bike, so I tend to stop where possible - ususally the dogs then sniff a bit and run off, but the other day I had one who was 'rounding me up' and I was not allowed to move in any direction, until the owner sauntered over the road to tell it "what a naughty doggy" he was

(Part of my commute is through a park, but I have started avoiding it recently!)

 

[snapper_37]

what do other commuters do when dogs try to attack you

I must either be the Dog Whisperer or live in an areas where all the doggies and humans are feeling the love. Never been attacked or threatened by a dog when out and about. Where's Crankers when you need him? He was always getting so called attacked by various furry beasts.

If I was - I'd just stop still until the 'considerate' owner had got it and then let rip at them. If a dog tries to attack you, it's not under control and it should be reported, simples.

 

[HLaB]

Out of interest - what do other commuters do when dogs try to attack you, I know that dogs tend not to like the sound of a bike, so I tend to stop where possible - ususally the dogs then sniff a bit and run off, but the other day I had one who was 'rounding me up' and I was not allowed to move in any direction, until the owner sauntered over the road to tell it "what a naughty doggy" he was

(Part of my commute is through a park, but I have started avoiding it recently!)

Touch wood, I've never been attacked by a dog proper but most of my riding is on road and they'd have 2 1/2 ton of metal to argue with. On the odd occasion I have been on a path I've done an unclipped trackstand and if you are not moving they tend just to ferret around.

I've never been comfortable with dogs though I was attacked by one as I walked through a park when I was about 8. I was lucky it was quite a chilly day and it tore my new body warmer apart rather than me. The excuse the owner gave was it was bullied as a pup by boys with blond hair and tends to react to other folk with blond hair (I had blond hair then)

 

[Brommie77]

If I was - I'd just stop still until the 'considerate' owner had got it and then let rip at them. If a dog tries to attack you, it's not under control and it should be reported, simples.

Oh I did don't worry - but she really didn't see that it was either her or her dogs fault - in fact it was mine for being there (and yes it is a path that cycling is allowed). What really got me was the fact that the dog was also running through the childrens play area, and whilst there were no kids playing, I dont like what dogs tend to leave behind them when owners are not responsible...

 

[Zoof]

I come across a ped walking their dog, the dog is well behaved & is trotting along besides its owner sniffing around in the verge, it looks up at me then continues to sniff around the in the verge, I slow down & give them a wide berth just to be safe. The problem is the ped is actually walking 2 dogs, the other one is somewhere deep in the ditch on the other side of the road on the end of an extendible lead. It being dark & the lead being black I don't see the damn thing so the next thing I know I'm eating tarmac, the ped is on the deck & there's a dog scrabbling around next to me trying to get away but is pinned down by the lead now wrapped around the my front wheel & chainring. This is the second incident in recent months with a dog the opposite side of the road to its owner on an extendible collar... why do people think it's okay to have a dog running across the road in the pitch black on the end of a thin lead that's hard to see? What if I'd been a car not a bike, surely the damage would have been far grater than scrapes & bruises.

Well written Grasb, you made me feel like I was in the Ditch with You.

 

[pshore]

I was only doing about 5mph so the damage is scuffed saddle, bar tape & a few bruises, the dog I could see looked like a very lively one that may well decide to come up & say hello.

Did you get their details GrasB ? Are they going to cough up for the damage ?

Those bloomin' dogs and owners should have compulsory insurance and registration plates !