cycling in county Meath - dogs outside gates- MOD WARNING post #45

sushmita · 14-02-2016 01:35PM #1

Dear cyclists,

I wonder if I'm the only one worrying about some dogs here and there living with their owners in their houses, but that for some reason the gates are left open.
The dogs come outside and they bark, and I don't know what are their intentions.
I admit I am scared of dogs and I'm not a very fast cyclist. It has happened a couple of times that some dogs ran and followed me, I cycled as fast as I could, I could feel my heart beating in my throath. I shouted 'keep your dogs in', but I'm not sure that the owners were at home and that they could hear me. Fortunately the dogs gave up at some stage, but I was really scared.
I tried another road, but this is much longer for me to go to hill of Tara, beside almost on the top of the hill... there was another dog outside waiting for me!
Thank you for advising.

07Lapierre · 14-02-2016 02:01PM

If you can't outrun the dog, stop and face the dog (with you bike between you and the dog) the dog will retreat (most of the time).

If it's a really big dog, just cycle fast enough to stay a few feet ahead of the dog...the dog will stop before you do.

Pinch Flat · 14-02-2016 02:18PM

Spray a water bottle in their face works as well

Buzwaldo · 14-02-2016 02:25PM

Contact local authority to tip off the dog warden. Will pay them a visit, explain that they are personally liable for any harm their dog causes. Usually addresses the issue.
Agree with above re facing them down. Most will just back off. Easy for me to say though, not so easy if you have a fear of dogs.

dr.fuzzenstein · 14-02-2016 02:31PM

Might seem counter intuitive, but cycle slower. The dogs only chase you because you're going fast. I cycle past a house with an Alsatian and he always would run after me, so I slowed down. He kind if comes out and has a look, but doesn't run after me know.
If you cycle past the same dogs a lot, you might stop and get to know them. Seriously! But slowing down will work, going past as fast as possible will only get them to chase you. I know its an old chestnut, but if you don't worry about the dogs, they won't worry about you. Its all about approach.

Eamonnator · 14-02-2016 02:43PM

There's a stretch of road between Walterstown and Garlow X, in Co. Meath, and I think,every dog in Ireland lives on it.

brocbrocach · 14-02-2016 02:48PM

Most dogs are only out for a bit of fun and to chase the "enemy" away from their territory. They're not out to attack you at all. Dogs that bite people don't survive for long in Ireland.
It helps to eye up the dogs, threaten them in an angry voice and even lift your leg from the pedal, as if you're going to kick them. They will still bark and chase a bit to show that they protected their master but they don't do any more than give you a shock. I'm not sure I agree with stopping and confronting the dog.
Calling the dog warden is a massive over-reaction in my opinion. If the dogs are really dangerous you can be sure that the people who live in the area will have had it dealt with at an early stage. The countryside is full of dogs, most of them roaming freely around their farms and houses, and we're very lucky that we can be 100% sure they don't have rabies here.
It's important to evolve a strategy to deal with your fear of dogs though because wherever you cycle in the countryside there will be dogs and calling a warden afterwards is no good to you at the time it actually happens.

brocbrocach · 14-02-2016 02:49PM

.

Pkiernan · 14-02-2016 02:55PM

I empathise with you OP.

Most of the replies here are idiotic. The dogs are not out for a bit of fun. And their actions can lead to considerable injury to a cyclist.

Round my way I successfully managed to boot one in its nose and head with my steel toe work runners which I wore after it came after me the day before. These are too heavy for normal cycling though. Plus on really big dogs there no guarantee it will break his nose.

The only long term solution is for the dog to be kept inside the fence or put down.
Do you know anyone who can cycle behind you in a car once or twice and run it over when it goes for you?

brocbrocach · 14-02-2016 02:58PM

Pkiernan wrote: »

I empathise with you OP.

Most of the replies here are idiotic. The dogs are not out for a bit of fun. And their actions can lead to considerable injury to a cyclist.

Round my way I successfully managed to boot one in its nose and head with my steel toe work runners which I wore after it came after me the day before. These are too heavy for normal cycling though. Plus on really big dogs there no guarantee it won't break his nose.

The only long term solution is for the dog to be kept inside the fence or put down.
Do you know anyone who can cycle behind you in a car once or twice and run it over when it goes for you?

I've cycled on country roads most of my life and never been bit by a dog. In fact, I don't know anyone who has been.

Wishbone Ash · 14-02-2016 03:05PM

OP - I cycle a lot in Wicklow and rarely encounter dogs but they seem to be everywhere in Co Meath. I hate dogs myself and would generally be afraid of them. I usually only cycle in Co Meath when in a group where it doesn't seem so bad. Otherwise I stick to busier main roads.

The bottle trick works well if you can see the dog in advance and the surface is reasonable to allow cycling with one hand while squirting with the other. Dogs won't continue to pursue you - once you pass 'their' property they'll retreat.

Eamonnator wrote: »

There's a stretch of road between Walterstown and Garlow X, in Co. Meath, and I think,every dog in Ireland lives on it.

Have you ever tried Dunsink lane in Finglas? I've never encountered so may dogs on such a short stretch of road.

Wishbone Ash · 14-02-2016 03:10PM

brocbrocach wrote: »

I've cycled on country roads most of my life and never been bit by a dog. In fact, I don't know anyone who has been.

Have you never had a dog trying to rip a overshoe off? Presumably if the overshoe or shoe itself wasn't there it would be one's ankle that would be ripped.

I find it hard to believe that you don't know anyone who has been bitten by a dog?

The tax man · 14-02-2016 03:13PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Have you ever tried Dunsink lane in Finglas? I've never encountered so may dags on such a short stretch of road.

FYP.:P

selous · 14-02-2016 03:13PM

Pkiernan wrote: »

I empathise with you OP.

Most of the replies here are idiotic. The dogs are not out for a bit of fun. And their actions can lead to considerable injury to a cyclist.

Round my way I successfully managed to boot one in its nose and head with my steel toe work runners which I wore after it came after me the day before. These are too heavy for normal cycling though. Plus on really big dogs there no guarantee it will break his nose.

The only long term solution is for the dog to be kept inside the fence or put down.
Do you know anyone who can cycle behind you in a car once or twice and run it over when it goes for you?

:D:confused:

bitethebullet · 14-02-2016 03:15PM

This is a problem around Bellewstown also. Nearly went under a car last summer when a dog viciously went for me. Got a fright tbh and nearly came off.

Luxman · 14-02-2016 03:23PM

We were in a group (about 12) last Nov from Drumree to Dunsany and a dog bolted from a house and hit the guy on the inside, he didn't come off but to say they only want a chase is not correct. The water on the nose trick does work well and can give the dog enough of a fright to stall and allow you to get away. To be honest its the fright that gets me when they gallop along side you without barking.

velo.2010 · 14-02-2016 03:36PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

OP - I cycle a lot in Wicklow and rarely encounter dogs but they seem to be everywhere in Co Meath.

Houses in Meath appear to be built closer to the road with smaller gardens. They seem to be relatively new build houses too - boom time etc. Down in Wicklow, it looks like more dwellings are set back from the road on more land. Perhaps that's a reason, I don't know.

There's a bastard of a dog on the way out of Donadea forest on toward Timahoe in Kildare. He doesn't give up! For a time too, there was a dog either side of Athgoe hill near Newcastle, South Co. Dublin. The dog on the Newcastle side would lay buried in the long grass and wait till the last moment to make his move. He appeared to be old and is probably no longer around. He could mess up your heart rate approaching that steep climb first time round, for sure!

Wishbone Ash · 14-02-2016 03:42PM

velo.2010 wrote: »

..He could mess up your heart rate approaching that steep climb first time round, for sure!

Reminds me of that bloody dog on the last homestead on the way up Priest's Leap (Cork Side). As if trying to deal with a 20%+ gradient wasn't enough!

brocbrocach · 14-02-2016 03:44PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Have you never had a dog trying to rip a overshoe off? Presumably if the overshoe or shoe itself wasn't there it would be one's ankle that would be ripped.

I find it hard to believe that you don't know anyone who has been bitten by a dog?

Sorry, meant while out cycling. I was bitten a nice few times as a youth but not for a while tbtf.
Everytime a dog comes near me i lift the foot on that side as if to (and sometimes intending to) kick it inna face. So therefore no ripping. Admittedly this does take a second but you can usually predict where dogs might be lurking anyway and be half-prepped for them.
The shock factor and subsequent evasive swerves are the biggest danger I think, although I've never come across a dog bowling into a bike like Luxman describes above so ye might be better of ignoring me. You'd figure Darwinism would get rid of those types soon enough though.

PucaMama · 14-02-2016 03:51PM

Pkiernan wrote: »

I empathise with you OP.

Most of the replies here are idiotic. The dogs are not out for a bit of fun. And their actions can lead to considerable injury to a cyclist.

Round my way I successfully managed to boot one in its nose and head with my steel toe work runners which I wore after it came after me the day before. These are too heavy for normal cycling though. Plus on really big dogs there no guarantee it will break his nose.

The only long term solution is for the dog to be kept inside the fence or put down.
Do you know anyone who can cycle behind you in a car once or twice and run it over when it goes for you?

You kicked a dog in its nose and head with steel toe boots. Were you trying to kill it??

baba_bear · 14-02-2016 03:56PM

Pkiernan wrote:

Most of the replies here are idiotic. The dogs are not out for a bit of fun. And their actions can lead to considerable injury to a cyclist.

@ Pkiernan, you should be ashamed of yourself. Cruelty to animals is not something that one should boast about.

ednwireland · 14-02-2016 04:25PM

brocbrocach wrote: »

I've cycled on country roads most of my life and never been bit by a dog. In fact, I don't know anyone who has been.

good few years ago now sheepdog put two nice holes in my calf reported it to the garda dogs kept in mainly after that

Pkiernan · 14-02-2016 04:41PM

PucaMama wrote: »

You kicked a dog in its nose and head with steel toe boots. Were you trying to kill it??

They weren't steel toed boots. They were steel toed runners.
I was trying to stop it from attacking me. I was successful.

Pkiernan · 14-02-2016 04:43PM

baba_bear wrote: »

@ Pkiernan, you should be ashamed of yourself. Cruelty to animals is not something that one should boast about.

Where was I boasting?

You're the type who would rather see a cyclist injured and possibly killed than a rogue dog taught a lesson.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Captain Havoc · 14-02-2016 04:50PM

baba_bear wrote: »

Perhaps you should cycle elsewhere. I'm sick and tired of groups of cyclists congregating on the road where I live in County Meath. These cyclists find it perfectly acceptable to urinate and spit outside my house. Furthermore, they block up the roads by cycling two and three abreast. Residential areas are not designed to be cycling tracks for your pleasure.

This forum is for cycling take your ranting else where.

Richard tea · 14-02-2016 04:51PM

OP, I would go the Dog warden/Council route. Rural dwellers seem to think its ok for their dogs to roam free. Take note of how many dogs chase you and from what house they came from. After a few weeks of evidence, bring it to the wardens attention. A friendly chat from the warden should have the owners cop on.

Solobally8 · 14-02-2016 05:03PM

Apologies :-)

Domane · 14-02-2016 05:57PM

As a cyclist, motorist and owner of two dogs, I'm pretty taken aback at the vitriol here. I don't agree with dogs running loose as they're a hazard to all road users but kicking them? Just keep cycling and they'll give up. However if they bite you, then all bets are off. If either of my two dogs chased a cyclist or car, then they'd get locked in the dog run. If they bit someone, then they'd be put down.

It all comes down to personal responsibility and having consideration for others, no matter if you're a dog owner, a motorist or a cyclist. We all have to live on this rock so just keep your dogs under control, drive safely and don't cycle so you block a car behind you. Problem solved

brocbrocach · 14-02-2016 06:18PM

ednwireland wrote: »

good few years ago now sheepdog put two nice holes in my calf reported it to the garda dogs kept in mainly after that

Ok fair enough!
But from the way you describe it it sounds like it was very exceptional in your cycling lifetime - once? Don't get me wrong once is enough but I'd like to think that 99% of dog chases don't involve biting.

As for kicking the dogs, if they get too close then I think a kick is a valuable lesson. Putting steel caps on to kick an animal in the face is a bit chilling though.

07Lapierre · 14-02-2016 06:44PM

A dog tried to bite the front wheel of my bike once......he lost a tooth! I doubt he ever tried that again!

tigerboon · 14-02-2016 08:07PM

I don't think I have ever been out for a spin where I wasn't chased by dogs. In fairness a dog is a must have in the country for security. I wouldn't normally do anything different. Just keep plodding along, it will chase you for a little and when you get to the next dog's territory he will take over. Maybe go for early spins before the mutts are let out

cycling in county Meath - dogs outside gates- MOD WARNING post #45

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