Son knocked off by loose dog

[Yazzoo]

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!

 

[simongt]

Tricky one this. Do you ring your bell in good time / call out 'Cyclists' in the hope that they may respond accordingly, or simply take a chance - ? In my experience, dog owners usually restrain their dog/s when they see me coming and I always thank them for their consideration. But as you rightly say, it's not the dogs fault, just poor training by the owners.

 

[Yazzoo]

Sorry, didn't make it clear, these people were walking towards us and had definitely seen us. With the others that had been walking the other way I usually shout 'good morning' or something similarly non-controversial to alert people to our presence!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

dogs owners are responsible for them; you can get liability insurance for them. if you can identify the owner, they would be liable for any damage caused by the dog, assuming that your son was riding with due care and attention…

 

[Pale Rider]

There is an offence of having a dog dangerously out of control.

The clown owner of this dog qualifies.

He is fortunate you didn't make more of a fuss.

https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview

 

[Big Dave laaa]

Dogs should be on a lead in public and under control at all times. Your son's behaviour is irrelevant in this incident. You are a better person than me that's for sure because I'd have gone mental.

 

[Mrs M]

Hope the wee chap's ok and it hasn't put him off.
Some folks just don't think .

 

[Yazzoo]

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!

 

[Sara_H]

Awww.... hope the little fella's ok.

 

[Crackle]

Hope he's OK. I'm a dog owner but I've been bowled over by a loose Labrador whilst out running and then severely licked for my troubles before I could gather myself. Under the circumstances a vent is entirely appropriate. Rather cowardly of the owners not to take the responsibility they should have but such actions are not just confined to dog owners and I think I'd have been far less controlled than you.

 

[Pale Rider]

Dogs should be on a lead in public and under control at all times.

Under control, yes, but I don't think strictly from a legal point of view the dog has to be on a lead.

Common sense says the simplest way to control a dog is to have it on a lead, but I suspect there would be an argument that a well-trained dog could be under control without being on a lead.

 

[Drago]

No lawful requirement fora lead (local by laws notwithstanding), just that they be under control. My Lab is a trained SAR dog and returns, walks to heel etc on command with no hesitation. When he's wearing his harness - whether or not the lead the lead is attached - he knows It's business and obeys instructions without hesitation.

When he's out of the harness at home, in my Dads field etc the little bugger ignores me completely!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Hugs to the wee man, hope he's better soon!

 

[Yazzoo]

This is partly my point I think, the dog wasn't 'out of control' per se, it was just wandering around the lane being a dog - they don't know to look out for cyclists when popping out of the verge - the earlier spaniel I would have said was out of control, we had to stop so they could reclaim their dog, god knows how far it would have chased us otherwise!

For the record I'm a dog lover (I was the only person that asked if the dog was ok!) we have 3 of our own, only one of whom I would trust not to be interested in exciting things like kids on bikes - but then this retriever wasn't interested in us, it just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and it's owner did nothing to protect it or us

 

[400bhp]

Was this on a public road? If so, then the owner is liable for any damage caused by the dog.

I'll refrain from saying how stupid the owners are until you've clarified the above.