Son knocked off by loose dog

[Pikey]

You know most of that is old ideas, and is really out of favour with dog trainers these days.

Lol, quite possibly so. It's mostly a ranting drunken hash of the ideas we were taught at agricultural college... That may or may not have been twenty years ago now

 

[pawl]

Hi All,

Not sure what I'm after really, perhaps just a space to vent?!

Had a brilliant ride with my son today (7) by the time we got home we'd covered 19 miles, mainly on road, little bit off road and a sandwich stop. Not bad for a little one hey!?

We live in a very touristy area, and as soon as the sun comes out all the clueless city folk like to come to the countryside and bimble around in everybody's way talking about how 'quaint' the countryside is in their shiny wellies with their black labradors whilst shouting to Jonty and Meredith to 'breathe it in' - but I digress. . . (apologies to anyone out there who I've just described lol!)

During our ride, mainly on country lanes, we passed many a family like the above, mostly with off lead dogs. Many which weren't interested in us and behaved themselves, one spaniel which actively ran towards my front wheel and narrowly avoided getting squashed and then finally the golden retriever. We didn't even see it, it was in the verge, the family made no effort to call the dog or alert us to the fact it was there and just as we were about to pass, it bounded out of the verge in front of son who hit the dog full on, went over the handle bars and narrowly avoided being run over by err me behind him! The people then shouted at 'stupid bella' the dog whilst I helped son up, straightened his handle bars, brakes and seat. I turned to them and said 'it's not a stupid dog, you should have it on a lead' - which was pretty calm for me (think I was mainly in shock, thought of plenty of things I could have said to them after the event!). The man eventually came over to me, said are you ok to son who was desperately trying not to cry in front of these people, and then said 'she's never done that before'. Not sure if that was meant to help?!

The thing that bothers me is the dog wasn't doing anything wrong, it didn't try to run at us or chase us like the earlier spaniel, it was just being a dog. It wasn't being naughty, it wasn't the dogs fault, it certainly wasn't my sons fault yet the people looked like the felt no responsibility laid with them at all? raaaaa...... and breathe

Main thing is son is ok, hopefully not too put off, cut knee and scuffed his pride and joy bike, stopped for ice cream at the end of the ride so *hopefully* all is forgotten!

Riding with a friend a few years ago he was knocked of by a dog He grabbed the dog to check its ID disk dog responded by biting him
Road rash and dog bite nasty

 

[Yazzoo]

[QUOTE 3972029, member: 9609"]I don't feel that being attached to 2, 3, 4, or more wheels, powered or unpowered should automatically give anyone greater rights than others. "get out of my way I'm coming through" - what is it with people on bikes or in cars that everyone else needs to watch out? Others should be allowed to be out with their dogs exploring the countryside too, and no, dogs should not be forced to be kept on 6" leads. And in exactly the same way people in large 4x4s have no right to squish cyclists, cyclists have no right to squish dogs.[/QUOTE]

I'm not in any way saying they should have got out of our way as it's our priority. My point was these inconsiderate people did nothing to protect their dog, or my son. Their action in this situation could have avoided it all together. I never said dogs should be on 6" leads.

If everyone behaved considerately, thinking of other road users (whatever form that may be) then there would be space for everyone to get along and use the roads etc. These particular owners lack of thought for their dogs safety, and that subsequently of my son, is what caused this (avoidable) accident

 

[Yazzoo]

Riding with a friend a few years ago he was knocked of by a dog He grabbed the dog to check its ID disk dog responded by biting him
Road rash and dog bite nasty

Ow! Hope he was ok

 

[CopperCyclist]

Most pet owners have insurance.

Most (if not all) insurance policies cover third party liability.

You could, if you'd have wished, asked for their insurance details to put a claim in - that could have worried them, as just like with cars, their premiums would rise next year.

I'm not saying I would have done that - to be honest I'd have reacted very much the same as you and put it down as an accident, however the attitude of the owners could make me think about at least mentioning it!

Glad there's no real injury to anyone, and hopefully it's a learning experience and the owners may react differently in the future, which would be the best outcome for all!

 

[cd365]

I couldn't recognise the people again I don't think to be honest, wasn't that interested in looking at/talking to them - could see son was upset/hurt and trying to save face in front of them!

I'm not really one to cause a fuss and shout at people in the street etc, when I got home and told OH he said the same sort of thing, 'they were lucky it was you and not me!'

I know it's irrelevant but for the record son was riding towards them, on the left, a sensible distance from the curb, I was behind him, we were prob going less than 10mph, he was on a roadworthy bike fitted with mudguards, lights and reflectors, wearing a fluro yellow jacket, helmet, cycling gloves (luckily!) - not sure what else there is!

Sorry but I think the son is also part to blame for riding too close to the verge, but he's only a youngster and will learn. Over the years, I've had many rabbits and foxes and even a few deer leaping from unseen reaches of the verge. Can't really argue that they should be on leads!

Did you miss that bit @mjray ? How can you apportion any blame to a 7 year old child? It was the dog owners fault for not being in control of their dog. Hopefully in the future they will be aware of what could happen.

 

[mustang1]

The man eventually came over to me, said are you ok to son who was desperately trying not to cry in front of these people, and then said 'she's never done that before'. Not sure if that was meant to help?!

Your reply:
" I've never punched anyone in the nose before either and you don't seem particularly apologetic".

Sorry to hear about your son falling over. Good ride though and you remained calm. Like you said, your kid is OK.

 

[mjr]

Did you miss that bit @mjray ? How can you apportion any blame to a 7 year old child? It was the dog owners fault for not being in control of their dog. Hopefully in the future they will be aware of what could happen.

No, I didn't miss it, but what most cyclists seem to consider "a sensible distance" from the edge is far too close. I did acknowledge that he's a youngster, so it's a bit harsh to blame him, but it could so easily have been a wild animal rather than a pet dog.

 

[Profpointy]

In fairness, from the OP's (quite reasonable) description, it sounds like the dog simply darted out of the hedge without looking properly (hey, it's a dog), rather than being a dangerous slavering brute running amok. It would be a pretty sad day if people couldn't take their dogs for a stroll on a country road allowing them to rummage for rabbits or whatever in the hedge. Of course it's bad luck if you then run into the thing, but maybe it is just an accident, and a price (the innocent) have to pay for people in general being able to do nominally perfectly reasonable things.

By a parallel, should kids not be allowed to play football in the park in case the ball runs out and a (completely innocent) cyclist is knocked off as a result?

Glad the lad is (basically) OK, though don't doubt it hurt

 

[Milkfloat]

I think the most important question is .....

How is the dog, any injuries?

 

[Yazzoo]

Yelped once hit and slinked away after being yelled at but seemed fine physically!

 

[roadrash]

Riding with a friend a few years ago he was knocked of by a dog He grabbed the dog to check its ID disk dog responded by biting him
Road rash and dog bite nasty

OI im not that bad

 

[Lonestar]

Dogs are funny things when it comes to bikes.I was waiting at the lights at the Green Man waiting to cross legally.I had just passed an owner and their dog.So I had stopped.Owner and dog come up behind me and dog suddenly goes into one.I think the owner was shocked and I was not too impressed.It happens,dogs can be unpredictable obviously.On my bike tour in Thailand the tour leader was using his water bottle to fend off dogs that came at us.

 

[Drago]

Old fashioned Blumels pump with half a kilo of washers stacked inside the end sorts them out

 

[glenn forger]

God, you're like Alf Garnett. Desperately out of touch with the modern world.