how to deal with dogs?

Adam Lea said:

What should
I have done in this situation (I would like to avoid this happening again in
future)?

Kick the dogs hard. You are doing them a favour by training them.

You might like to consider the same treatment for the owner :-)

James

Adam Lea said:

I encountered rather an unpleasent situation on the way to work this
morning. As I was cycling down a public byway I encountered a woman walking
three dogs (going in the same direction as me, therefore facing away from
me). Usually when encountering pedestrians I cycle slowly behind them and
they move over to let me past after a few seconds, so I decided to do this
here. Unfortunatly one of the dogs heard me and went for me, which then
brought the other two in. I was forced to stop and had to do my best to get
past them at which point the woman had a go at me for not giving her
adequete warning of my presence. As I cycled off I still had one of the dogs
chasing me for a good few hundred yards until it eventually got bored. I
thought afterwards that had I given a verbal warning wouldn't the dogs have
attacked anyway? I didn't respond as I thought she may have had a point but
surely this doesn't justify having poor control over your pets? What should
I have done in this situation (I would like to avoid this happening again in
future)?

Thanks

Adam

Ring your bell well in advance of your approach, then pass quickly. You
*do* have a bell don't you?

Adam Lea said:

I encountered rather an unpleasent situation on the way to work this
morning. As I was cycling down a public byway I encountered a woman walking
three dogs (going in the same direction as me, therefore facing away from
me).

<snip>

Quoted message said:

As I cycled off I still had one of the dogs
chasing me for a good few hundred yards until it eventually got bored. I
thought afterwards that had I given a verbal warning wouldn't the dogs have
attacked anyway?

You don't mention having given any audible warning of your approach.
What's wrong with ringing your bell well in advance, giving the ped
plenty of time to take control of her turd dispensers? That's what I
do, and it usually works. I still get the occasional idiot who takes no
notice, but that's where having a chainring at the level of the doggy's
teeth comes in handy...

Quoted message said:

I didn't respond as I thought she may have had a point but
surely this doesn't justify having poor control over your pets?

HC Rule 42:
"Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a short lead
when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists."

Not that most of them take any notice.

Quoted message said:

What should
I have done in this situation (I would like to avoid this happening again in
future)?

I've noticed that swearing loudly at irresponsible dog walkers is
popular, and understandably so. Doesn't seem terribly productive to me,
though. So, ring your bell well in advance. If the ped still doesn't
take proper control of the animal(s), and you're not in too much of a
hurry, have a polite word with her explaining the dangers of loose dogs
to cyclists and mentioning rule 42. Sometimes it works. If it doesn't,
then fire off a letter to the local rag explaining the dangers of loose
dogs to cyclists and mentioning rule 42. It'll make you feel better and
you never know, it might make some of them think.

--
Danny Colyer <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

Danny Colyer said:

Adam Lea said:

I encountered rather an unpleasent situation on the way to
work this morning. As I was cycling down a public byway I
encountered a woman walking three dogs (going in the same
direction as me, therefore facing away from me).

<snip>

Quoted message said:

As I cycled off I still had one of the dogs
chasing me for a good few hundred yards until it eventually
got bored. I thought afterwards that had I given a verbal
warning wouldn't the dogs have attacked anyway?

You don't mention having given any audible warning of your
approach. What's wrong with ringing your bell well in advance,
giving the ped plenty of time to take control of her turd
dispensers? That's what I do, and it usually works. I still
get the occasional idiot who takes no notice, but that's where
having a chainring at the level of the doggy's teeth comes in
handy...

Quoted message said:

I didn't respond as I thought she may have had a point but
surely this doesn't justify having poor control over your
pets?

HC Rule 42:
"Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a
short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared
with cyclists."

The problem with the highway code is that it's only drivers of motor
vehicles that are expected to have read it.
--
Cheers
the.Mark

"the.Mark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Danny Colyer said:

Adam Lea said:

I encountered rather an unpleasent situation on the way to
work this morning. As I was cycling down a public byway I
encountered a woman walking three dogs (going in the same
direction as me, therefore facing away from me).

<snip>

Quoted message said:

As I cycled off I still had one of the dogs
chasing me for a good few hundred yards until it eventually
got bored. I thought afterwards that had I given a verbal
warning wouldn't the dogs have attacked anyway?

You don't mention having given any audible warning of your
approach. What's wrong with ringing your bell well in advance,
giving the ped plenty of time to take control of her turd
dispensers? That's what I do, and it usually works. I still
get the occasional idiot who takes no notice, but that's where
having a chainring at the level of the doggy's teeth comes in
handy...

Quoted message said:

I didn't respond as I thought she may have had a point but
surely this doesn't justify having poor control over your
pets?

HC Rule 42:
"Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a
short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared
with cyclists."

The problem with the highway code is that it's only drivers of motor
vehicles that are expected to have read it.
--
Cheers
the.Mark

1. I don't have a bell.

2. I didn't have advanced warning of the dogs as I encountered them as I
rounded a bend.

Adam Lea said:

1. I don't have a bell.

I recommend buying and fitting one, then.

Quoted message said:

2. I didn't have advanced warning of the dogs as I encountered them as I
rounded a bend.

Getting into the habit of ringing your bell before rounding a bend on a
path likely to be shared with peds should help.

--
Danny Colyer <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

"Adam Lea" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I encountered rather an unpleasent situation on the way to work this
morning. As I was cycling down a public byway I encountered a woman walking
three dogs (going in the same direction as me, therefore facing away from
me). Usually when encountering pedestrians I cycle slowly behind them and
they move over to let me past after a few seconds, so I decided to do this
here.

....

Quoted message said:

What should I have done in this situation (I would like to avoid this
happening again in future)?

I call out 'hello' or 'alright' or something similar when I'm sufficiently
far behind them that their reflex of 'ooh, what's that, hmm, something
coming, better dodge, oh no, think about it a bit more, ah, nom that way
will be better' gets them into the right place. I'm normally riding in
fairly quiet places, so don't really have to shout much. If I see they
haven't noticed, I'll try again, but rather louder - and by then I'll be
closer too. But normally I don't need to, and often I get an acknowledgement
from them.

BTW this happens most often on a single lane road where I'm doing 20mph or
so - I very rarely need to slow down.

cheers,
clive

Danny Colyer said:

I've noticed that swearing loudly at irresponsible dog walkers is
popular, and understandably so. Doesn't seem terribly productive to me,
though. So, ring your bell well in advance. If the ped still doesn't
take proper control of the animal(s), and you're not in too much of a
hurry, have a polite word with her explaining the dangers of loose dogs
to cyclists and mentioning rule 42. Sometimes it works. If it doesn't,
then fire off a letter to the local rag explaining the dangers of loose
dogs to cyclists and mentioning rule 42. It'll make you feel better and
you never know, it might make some of them think.

I wonder what the chances are of getting the Daily Wail to start a
campaign decrying hooligan dog walkers.

--
Don Whybrow

Sequi Bonum Non Time

"Religion has convinced people that there's an invisible man
living in the sky, who watches every thing you do every minute
of every day. And the invisible man has a list of 10 specific
things he doesn't want you to do. And if you do any of these
things, he will send you to a special place, of burning and fire
and smoke and torture and anguish for you to live forever and
suffer and burn and scream until the end of time. But he loves
you and he needs money." - George Carlin

Chris Smith said:

Adam Lea said:

I encountered rather an unpleasent situation on the way to work this
morning. As I was cycling down a public byway I encountered a woman
walking three dogs (going in the same direction as me, therefore
facing away from me). Usually when encountering pedestrians I cycle
slowly behind them and they move over to let me past after a few
seconds, so I decided to do this here. Unfortunatly one of the dogs
heard me and went for me, which then brought the other two in. I was
forced to stop and had to do my best to get past them at which point
the woman had a go at me for not giving her adequete warning of my
presence. As I cycled off I still had one of the dogs chasing me for
a good few hundred yards until it eventually got bored. I thought
afterwards that had I given a verbal warning wouldn't the dogs have
attacked anyway? I didn't respond as I thought she may have had a
point but surely this doesn't justify having poor control over your
pets? What should I have done in this situation (I would like to
avoid this happening again in future)?

Thanks

Adam

Ring your bell well in advance of your approach, then pass quickly.
You *do* have a bell don't you?

I have 2 bikes, one with, one without. I find that shouting "Hello" gets a
better response than the bell, so that's what I do.
--

Martin Bulmer

Quoted message said:

1. I don't have a bell.

2. I didn't have advanced warning of the dogs as I encountered them as I
rounded a bend.

No need for any of these if you have a decently weighted pump.My
favourite touring pump cost and weighs a pound and is made of chinese
steel and can be seen poking out of a pannier on the right hand side
just behind the saddle.They do not like it up'em you know.
TJ

Don Whybrow said:

Danny Colyer said:

I've noticed that swearing loudly at irresponsible dog walkers is
popular, and understandably so. Doesn't seem terribly productive to me,
though. So, ring your bell well in advance. If the ped still doesn't
take proper control of the animal(s), and you're not in too much of a
hurry, have a polite word with her explaining the dangers of loose dogs
to cyclists and mentioning rule 42. Sometimes it works. If it doesn't,
then fire off a letter to the local rag explaining the dangers of loose
dogs to cyclists and mentioning rule 42. It'll make you feel better and
you never know, it might make some of them think.

I wonder what the chances are of getting the Daily Wail to start a
campaign decrying hooligan dog walkers.

The thing to bear in mind is that for some people dogs
seem to be ersatz family and if you fend off the advancing teeth
with your foot, the dog's minder (the parent) will not be able
to distinguish you from someone who is senslessly and for no reason
kicking their small child in the head. They may well react accordingly.

To avoid unnecessary pain you need to do whatever is necessary to
pacify the lunatics.

So yes it really was your fault that an untrained (or indeed
one trained to attack cyclists) dog chased you and it is your
responsibility to take adequate care around vulnerable
children^h^h^h... dogs who are free to roam where they please
and attack anyone they like.

The only thing on the planet that comes before dogs in the
hierarchy are motor vehicles and their drivers. They can
kill dogs and anything else that comes to their attention
with impunity.

In article <[email hidden]>

Adam Lea said:

I encountered rather an unpleasent situation on the way to work this
morning. As I was cycling down a public byway I encountered a woman walking
three dogs (going in the same direction as me, therefore facing away from
me). Usually when encountering pedestrians I cycle slowly behind them and
they move over to let me past after a few seconds, so I decided to do this
here. Unfortunatly one of the dogs heard me and went for me, which then
brought the other two in. I was forced to stop and had to do my best to get
past them at which point the woman had a go at me for not giving her
adequete warning of my presence. As I cycled off I still had one of the dogs
chasing me for a good few hundred yards until it eventually got bored. I
thought afterwards that had I given a verbal warning wouldn't the dogs have
attacked anyway? I didn't respond as I thought she may have had a point but
surely this doesn't justify having poor control over your pets? What should
I have done in this situation (I would like to avoid this happening again in
future)?

I usually slow right down or stop and make friends with the dogs, but I
do that whether I'm cycling or not because I like dogs. If you dismount
and talk to them they realise that you're just a person, they don't have
anything to worry about and you're not something to chase. The dogs'
human usually intervenes at this point because they don't want some
weirdo bothering their mutts, we exchange pleasantries as they herd or
tether the beasts and I'm on my way.

"Rob Morley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>

Adam Lea said:

I encountered rather an unpleasent situation on the way to work this
morning. As I was cycling down a public byway I encountered a woman
walking
three dogs (going in the same direction as me, therefore facing away from
me). Usually when encountering pedestrians I cycle slowly behind them and
they move over to let me past after a few seconds, so I decided to do
this
here. Unfortunatly one of the dogs heard me and went for me, which then
brought the other two in. I was forced to stop and had to do my best to
get
past them at which point the woman had a go at me for not giving her
adequete warning of my presence. As I cycled off I still had one of the
dogs
chasing me for a good few hundred yards until it eventually got bored. I
thought afterwards that had I given a verbal warning wouldn't the dogs
have
attacked anyway? I didn't respond as I thought she may have had a point
but
surely this doesn't justify having poor control over your pets? What
should
I have done in this situation (I would like to avoid this happening again
in
future)?

I usually slow right down or stop and make friends with the dogs, but I
do that whether I'm cycling or not because I like dogs.

As do I but it's their effing owners that [censored] me off. Mind you, cat lovers
are worse!

Adam Lea said:

Unfortunatly one of the dogs heard me and went for me, which then
brought the other two in.

The trouble is, unless the dog owner sees you coming from a long way
off and/or already has the creature on a short lead you'll be upon them
before they've had chance to react and get them reigned in.

Giving out 2nd hand advice here because I haven't needed to try it
myself yet, but unless the dog is clearly a nutter it will usually
respond to commands from a firm calm adult voice. Try standing still,
looking it in the eye and telling it to "sit", or even "bad dog, go to
bed". Running (or cycling) away will just get it more excited.

Upon the miasma of midnight, a darkling spirit identified as graham
<[email hidden]> gently breathed:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I usually slow right down or stop and make friends with the dogs, but I
do that whether I'm cycling or not because I like dogs.

Quoted message said:

As do I but it's their effing owners that [censored] me off. Mind you, cat lovers
are worse!

??? I've had cats almost all my life, never yet taken one for a walk
down a shared-use psyclepath though. Is this some new leisure activity
for cats mine is missing out on? :-)

--
- DJ Pyromancer, The Sunday Goth Social, Leeds. <http://www.sheepish.net>

Broadband, Dialup, Domains = <http://www.wytches.net> = The UK's Pagan ISP!
<http://www.inkubus-sukkubus.co.uk> <http://www.revival.stormshadow.com>

Adam Lea said the following on 03/08/2006 21:46:

Quoted message said:

What should
I have done in this situation (I would like to avoid this happening again in
future)?

In my opinion, (and what I do), is to ring my very old-fashioned loud
bell at a reasonable distance to give them an opportunity to reel in the
dogs. Most of the problems occur when from the owner's or dog's POV you
suddenly appear silently from nowhere, and the defensive instinct kicks in.

Despite my bell being loud enough to wake up Quasimodo ("the bells, the
bells" - it was mine he heard!), people don't always seem to know what
the noise actually is, so then I resort to shouting "Excuse me please",
again from a reasonable (but obviously closer by now) distance,
sometimes a couple of times. If all that fails, then sod 'em, I've
usually got past by then!

Generally though, I often find that dogs are often much better behaved
than the owners, and the only problems I've had are where the dog is on
the end of one of those stupid thin black leads stretched across the
path, at night, and I can't even see that there is a dog ferreting about
in the hedge until I almost or actually ride over the lead.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

graham said the following on 04/08/2006 02:10:

Quoted message said:

As do I but it's their effing owners that [censored] me off. Mind you, cat lovers
are worse!

Uh? How many cat lovers do you see taking their cats for a walk? My
cat is intelligent enough to take himself out for a walk :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Adam Lea said the following on 03/08/2006 22:41:

Quoted message said:

1. I don't have a bell.

Get one!

Quoted message said:

2. I didn't have advanced warning of the dogs as I encountered them as I
rounded a bend.

If it was a blind bend, you could have rung your bell as an advanced
warning to anyone around the bend who couldn't see you either. Like we
all do, of course. Don't we????

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Adam Lea said:

I encountered rather an unpleasent situation on the way to work this
morning. As I was cycling down a public byway I encountered a woman walking
three dogs (going in the same direction as me, therefore facing away from
me). Usually when encountering pedestrians I cycle slowly behind them and
they move over to let me past after a few seconds, so I decided to do this
here. Unfortunatly one of the dogs heard me and went for me, which then
brought the other two in. I was forced to stop and had to do my best to get
past them at which point the woman had a go at me for not giving her
adequete warning of my presence. As I cycled off I still had one of the dogs
chasing me for a good few hundred yards until it eventually got bored. I
thought afterwards that had I given a verbal warning wouldn't the dogs have
attacked anyway? I didn't respond as I thought she may have had a point but
surely this doesn't justify having poor control over your pets? What should
I have done in this situation (I would like to avoid this happening again in
future)?

Ride a trike!

(the dogs are normally trying to bite your moving
feet, and they normally chase from the rear; this
means they normally throw their snouts
into your rear wheel if you're on a trike ;-)

BugBear