Serious Problems With Dogs Whilst Out Cycling

Unregistered. · 22-09-2011 04:51PM

robinph wrote: »

I think the jif lemon thing is meant to be filled with water

No, it's not.

ednwireland · 22-09-2011 04:52PM

g0g wrote: »

I spend enough time there to observe how many idiotic pet owners live there! We simpy shouldn't need to be having discussions about how to deal with them - the problem is with the irresponsible animal owners. I don't have a problem with a dog that comes down to the gate to just bark at me, but once they leave the property where they belong they're simply an accident waiting to happen.

totally agree,
rant
its like that speed kills advert, and the young fella overtakes a car on a straight road with dashed lines and the judge says you were doing an inappropriate speed , no iyts cios someone let there dog run on the road

/rant

Rob A. Bank · 22-09-2011 04:55PM

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Get one of these: Dog Repeller

Fine... until you meet an angry deaf mutt

The long distance cycling site CrazyGuyOnABike has a detailed look at all the options and comes down in favour of pepper spray.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/dealingwithdogs

pmcd22 · 22-09-2011 04:58PM

If i see a dog out, i take my foot out of the cleat. If they start to come towards me then i go towards them causing them to back off and take a defensive approach.

Its the little ones that come out from nowhere. Was hitting around 33km/h and could heard cars coming from behind on a 100km stretch.. Thankfully the car slowed down before coming to me as the dog came out fast and stayed right beside my bike for a good few seconds. Car backed off me so that was good driving on his part. He wasn't one of these drivers that stays at 100km/h and stays tight to ya when overtaking.

I did feel like going into the owners house and give him a good scare on how he his animal nearly caused a serious accident in which he would have being held responsible for but I was focused on my cycle and didn't feel like stopping.

SWL · 22-09-2011 05:03PM

g0g wrote: »

I spend enough time there to observe how many idiotic pet owners live there! We simpy shouldn't need to be having discussions about how to deal with them - the problem is with the irresponsible animal owners. I don't have a problem with a dog that comes down to the gate to just bark at me, but once they leave the property where they belong they're simply an accident waiting to happen.

I have had problems with dogs.

One Sunday morning out on a newly bypassed road a guy was out walking his dog. This was not the “dogs patch” as soon as the dog spotted me he ran towards me barked and eventually showed his teeth. I dismounted the bike and really wanted to shove my pump down his throat as the dog was becoming more and more aggressive. I assumed once the owner got near he would deal with the situation instead unbelievable he walked right pass me while the dog continued to bark. I ask him if he could get his dog under control so I could continue, we swapped some colourful words and eventually I told “If your dog bites or damages my bike I will be suing you”. The dog was immediately put back on a lead.

Again had a similar problem with another dog on a route I used, the problem with this mongrel was if he was on the road as you approached it was almost impossible to pass. One day I got so annoyed I turned for home got into my car and drove back to the house, again I told the owner that on several occasions his dog was causing a public nuisance. If he bites me or causing me to crash and damage my bike I will be suing – never had a problem with that dog again – they put him on an extended lead that restricted him from roaming around the roadside.

Moral of the story – tell the owner you will sue.

furiousox · 22-09-2011 05:06PM

One of the lads in our group was constantly being terrorised by a vicious jack russell....until he blasted him in the chops with a bottle of vinegar!

ednwireland · 22-09-2011 05:08PM

furiousox wrote: »

One of the lads in our group was constantly being terrorised by a vicious jack russell....until he blasted him in the chops with a bottle of vinegar!

glass bottle of malt vinegar i hope

andy69 · 22-09-2011 05:52PM

these little f**kers chase after me all the time. and the road is uphill, and goes south, so usually I've a headwind, and it's near the end of my spin so sprinting past is too tough

ThisRegard · 22-09-2011 06:16PM

So was anyone actually attacked in this thread ? All I've read about so far is about dogs chasing and barking and then some "it's s bloody disgrace I tells ya" type replies.

Back in my day we'd run past angry german shepherds for the thrill of the chase, now we have cyclists avoiding routes were little yappy dogs live.

Weylin · 22-09-2011 06:21PM

Mr Marri wrote: »

The loudest roar you've got will normally scare them off, failing that just forget they're there and peddle faster. those small dogs are tough so your unlikely to do much harm even if you end up cycling over one. my biggest concern with dogs is that they can be so busy chasing me that they might get hit by a car.

that would be the LEAST of my concerns.:)

g0g · 22-09-2011 06:23PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

So was anyone actually attacked in this thread ? All I've read about so far is about dogs chasing and barking and then some "it's s bloody disgrace I tells ya" type replies.

Back in my day we'd run past angry german shepherds for the thrill of the chase, now we have cyclists avoiding routes were little yappy dogs live.

So do we have to be bitten or cause a crash before it counts as a problem? Sound logic. Are drunk drivers not a problem then til they hit someone and should we let them continue on?

ednwireland · 22-09-2011 07:40PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

So was anyone actually attacked in this thread ? All I've read about so far is about dogs chasing and barking and then some "it's s bloody disgrace I tells ya" type replies.

Back in my day we'd run past angry german shepherds for the thrill of the chase, now we have cyclists avoiding routes were little yappy dogs live.

Didnt read my first post. Had a collie put two large holes in my calf. Came running out of a drive straight for my leg. I always watch collies other dogs are mostly noise

ThisRegard · 22-09-2011 09:17PM

ednwireland wrote: »

Didnt read my first post. Had a collie put two large holes in my calf. Came running out of a drive straight for my leg. I always watch collies other dogs are mostly noise

Sorry, didn't spot it as you said.

But generally in my experience dogs are just out for the chase and can be by and large safely ignored, they're like kids playing knick-knack, they get the most enjoyment out of those who react most. Best thing for the persistent gits is the water though.

Shadow78 · 22-09-2011 09:47PM

Cayenne Pepper is supposed to work wonders. Water + cayenne in a bottle or you could try this

blorg · 23-09-2011 03:57AM

Small dogs I turn around and head the bike straight back at them. I chased one a good few hundred metres with it jumping up and bouncing off the hedge until it finally found a gap it could get through. I find this hilarious.

Bigger dogs there are two options. First is to outsprint them. If you can't do this you need to stop and face the dog with the bike between you and the dog. They won't, even in a pack, go around the bike. A frame pump raised in an aggressive manner is effective, as is pretending to throw stones (at least outside Europe, where throwing stones at animals and children is the standard way of making them go where you want.) I've never needed to actually hit a dog but I wouldn't shy from it if necessary.

If you have panniers the dog will latch on to them before your ankle. Worst I had was a pack of Turkish Army alsatians at a checkpoint in Kurdistan; they were handled by stopping/facing and then the army throwing stones at them while I made my escape.

Redmond101 · 23-09-2011 07:16AM

Clip off and a a little kick will normally get rid of them!

Personally I don't like doing this and it would be more of a nudge than a kick incase anybody thinks I'm being cruel to animals

Taffy Kat · 23-09-2011 08:16AM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Sorry, didn't spot it as you said.

But generally in my experience dogs are just out for the chase and can be by and large safely ignored, they're like kids playing knick-knack, they get the most enjoyment out of those who react most. Best thing for the persistent gits is the water though.

That's possibly true. It doesn't make them less of a nuisance though. If, for example, my neighbour was a gun enthusiast and every time I walked past his house he trained his AK47 on me should I just let it slide because its his idea of fun? Perhaps I know he's not a murderer and is highly unlikely to ever pull the trigger. Does it make it any less worrying?

Half the problem is the attitude of a lot of dog owners that dogs are equally or more important than humans. I know for example, if my Grandad's dog had been chasing someone and the person complained my Grandad would kick the dog up the ar5e. My Gran might be less helpful to the passer-by though.

seamus · 23-09-2011 09:08AM

Shadow78 wrote: »

Cayenne Pepper is supposed to work wonders. Water + cayenne in a bottle or you could try this

Only thing is I don't know who has the space to carry a spare water bottle to fend off dogs. Plus, what if you drink it by mistake :eek:

If, for example, my neighbour was a gun enthusiast and every time I walked past his house he trained his AK47 on me should I just let it slide because its his idea of fun? Perhaps I know he's not a murderer and is highly unlikely to ever pull the trigger. Does it make it any less worrying?

I think you're overestimating the danger posed tbh. In this country, dogs are massively unlikely to fatally attack someone. It's been at least 20 years since anyone was killed by a dog in this country afaik (excepting the woman who killed by the German Shepherd's sperm, gotta watch that one). Dog bites are a good deal less rare, but very rarely do they do any permanent or serious damage. Though they hurt like a bitch cos they're puncture wounds more than scratches.

A more accurate comparison would be a BB gun, I guess.

blorg · 23-09-2011 09:16AM

Redmond101 wrote: »

Clip off and a a little kick will normally get rid of them!

Personally I don't like doing this and it would be more of a nudge than a kick incase anybody thinks I'm being cruel to animals

I really think that's a bad idea, the dog probably has more coordination than you do on the bike and there's a fair chance it will end up biting your leg. I keep my body away from the dog at all times. I'm really quite careful around animals here as there is a risk of rabies not present in Ireland.

Taffy Kat · 23-09-2011 09:37AM

seamus wrote: »

Only thing is I don't know who has the space to carry a spare water bottle to fend off dogs. Plus, what if you drink it by mistake :eek:

I think you're overestimating the danger posed tbh. In this country, dogs are massively unlikely to fatally attack someone. It's been at least 20 years since anyone was killed by a dog in this country afaik (excepting the woman who killed by the German Shepherd's sperm, gotta watch that one). Dog bites are a good deal less rare, but very rarely do they do any permanent or serious damage. Though they hurt like a bitch cos they're puncture wounds more than scratches.

A more accurate comparison would be a BB gun, I guess.

I think you're missing the point. Why should I be at any risk of being hurt, even forgetting being killed, when I'm going about my daily business and not bothering anybody? And it doesn't take much imagination that someone wobbling on a bike to avoid a dog could unwittingly manoeuvre themselves into the path of a vehicle, much more likely to kill.

The simple answer to all this would be introducing a law whereby if a dog chases someone it gets put down because of the danger it poses, regardless of whether it bites or not.

Dubba · 23-09-2011 09:45AM

I find that if I stop peddling the dog usually will lose interest but if there getting to close I'd do as blorg said and get off the bike, face them down and they'll run off whimpering. I suppose its a territorial thing and you've to show them who the big dog is :pac:

seamus · 23-09-2011 09:46AM

Taffy Kat wrote: »

The simple answer to all this would be introducing a law whereby if a dog chases someone it gets put down because of the danger it poses, regardless of whether it bites or not.

Punishing a dog for being a dog.

It wouldn't solve anything because the same person will just get another dog and let it do the same thing.

There is already sufficient law to deal with dogs out of control, there's just no will to enforce it.

It's the red light jumpers == we need moar laws for cyclists argument all over again.

And it's Friday too.

Taffy Kat · 23-09-2011 10:31AM

seamus wrote: »

Punishing a dog for being a dog.
It wouldn't solve anything because the same person will just get another dog and let it do the same thing.

There is already sufficient law to deal with dogs out of control, there's just no will to enforce it.

It's the red light jumpers == we need moar laws for cyclists argument all over again.

And it's Friday too.

I was being flippant when I made that remark, but was driven to it because I can't stand the f**king hippy animal brigade who think animals are at the same level as humans so if a dog, for example, bites a person its ok cos its a lovely wee doggy. I invite any of those morons to stick their head in a tiger's mouth... sure tis only doing what a tiger does poor wee pet...

Though a "your dog chases someone, it gets put down" might solve half the issue, at least those who care about their dogs might be less inclined to let them loose. Would pose another problem though, those who don't care about their pets might be more inclined to leave them loose in the hope they'll chase someone. Though I can promise, if a doggy ever bit my little boy then the dog will be put down, I'd see to it myself.

Having said all that, I actually love dogs. I think they have a wonderful role to play in our lives, and as you suggested, it isn't the dogs fault if its loose and it chases. Perhaps a better idea would be a law which stated if a dog chases someone then the owner is put down.

ThisRegard · 23-09-2011 11:01AM

You seem to have a hang up on what might happen with dogs around, it's the cats you really need to be worried about. Have you learned nothing from youtube and You've been Framed ? They wait in the long grass and then BAM! Straight onto your face and are gone as quickly as they appeared.

-K2- · 23-09-2011 11:10AM

Taffy Kat wrote: »

Though a "your dog chases someone, it gets put down" might solve half the issue, at least those who care about their dogs might be less inclined to let them loose. Would pose another problem though, those who don't care about their pets might be more inclined to leave them loose in the hope they'll chase someone. Though I can promise, if a doggy ever bit my little boy then the dog will be put down, I'd see to it myself.

In the absence of damage to a bike or injury to a cyclist, how would you enforce such a law? It would be cyclist's word against the dog's

Taffy Kat · 23-09-2011 11:15AM

ThisRegard wrote: »

You seem to have a hang up on what might happen with dogs around, it's the cats you really need to be worried about. Have you learned nothing from youtube and You've been Framed ? They wait in the long grass and then BAM! Straight onto your face and are gone as quickly as they appeared.

Yeah, I've always been skeptical about those videos though. Always look faked. Any chance you could upload a video of your good self being attacked by a cat, a leopard preferably?

-K2- wrote: »

In the absence of damage to a bike or injury to a cyclist, how would you enforce such a law? It would be cyclist's word against the dog's

Don't be silly, cyclists can't talk

.

seamus · 23-09-2011 11:44AM

Taffy Kat wrote: »

Yeah, I've always been skeptical about those videos though. Always look faked. Any chance you could upload a video of your good self being attacked by a cat, a leopard preferably?

The daddy of them all;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjFywJrn7WQ

Can't trust cats.

smacl · 23-09-2011 11:48AM

seamus wrote: »

Punishing a dog for being a dog.
It wouldn't solve anything because the same person will just get another dog and let it do the same thing.

There is already sufficient law to deal with dogs out of control, there's just no will to enforce it.

Hmmm, according to the law, if a dog is out of control or stray, i.e. in a position to be a problem to cyclists, the owner could receive a whopping €20 or €30 fine. Not quite up there with the death penalty in terms of a deterrent, perhaps. Might as well threaten the owner with penalty points on their dog license.

Now if a dog attacked you, or caused you to have an accident while it was not being controlled by the owner, and you had witnesses, and you could prove it all at a future date, you could theoretically take a civil action against the owner. Difficult and expensive enough to pursue that it is also not a major deterrent.

Personally, I think the law should have much stricter penalties for dogs that a causing a potential threat or even a real nuisance to members of the public.

And it's Friday too.

Yay! Proper technique for handling annoying small dogs;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyUd6NV2hIA

seamus · 23-09-2011 01:03PM

smacl wrote: »

Hmmm, according to the law, if a dog is out of control or stray, i.e. in a position to be a problem to cyclists, the owner could receive a whopping €20 or €30 fine. Not quite up there with the death penalty in terms of a deterrent, perhaps. Might as well threaten the owner with penalty points on their dog license.

Now, now. Just because it's Friday that doesn't mean you can misrepresent the truth.

The warden has the power to bypass the on-the-spot fine and go straight to court and give a €2,000 fine. Which is significantly bigger.

Besides, even at €20 or €30 a pop, if it was enforced properly anyone would get pissed off after the 3rd or fourth fine and stick a lead on.

neris · 23-09-2011 01:08PM

if their little ****s like jack russells get off your bike and run at them chances are they,ll turn and scury and if u manage to catch up with them a swift kick under the tail woudl probably do

Serious Problems With Dogs Whilst Out Cycling

Comments