Dear mountain bikers.. from trail runners

[Quagga]

Being angry at the owner is not going to stop the dog from biting me. It does not matter about anger in that moment. It matters about me protecting myself. I will do whatever it takes.

As for the owner I can almost guarantee you that it is not the first or last time that animal has gone for someone. You cannot help people who don't have manners. But maybe a hefty vet bill will get them on the right track?

When the dog went for me the owner clearly stated that his dog does that all the time to cyclists. He had not a care in the world.

That is where I have the problem, why hurt a dog SOOOO much that it needs medical attention? I would do the min to stop the dog and then the owner might need to go see the doc and have a hefty med bill 

[lechatnoir]

it's simple...

 

IF present = agro dog + me, THEN protect self until dog retreats

IF present = agro dog+owner+me, THEN instruct owner to get dog safe, ELSE protect self

IF present = agro dog+agro owner+me, THEN protect self until owner and dog retreat.

IF method.protect>=injury, ASSIGN blame, THEN goto police

 

a bit simplistic perhaps and one has to assess the situation before reacting... i'd suggest that mountain bikers react to trail conditions continually and react appropriately... i guess it's that last word that's SO important...

 

a case in point... Hout Bay dunes last week... dog is boisterous around horse. rider alights, pepper sprays dog, dog owner incensed... oh... dog was not on lease, and horse was spooking... sorry for doggo, but leash next time would prevent that

[Chris_]

agro dog + agro owner + agro me = ?

[GaryP]

Interesting discussion... In general, I tend to agree with Quagga's comments as it is often stupid owners and not stupid dogs that, in my opinion, are the problem. However, as Copperhead has had a few experiences of actually being attacked and bitten by dogs, I also see and understand his point of view too.

 

Most dogs I come across, especially on my commutes, seem to belong to stupid owners who don't know how to control their dogs. It is especially surprising to me that these owners also often seem to think that it is not their fault if they can't control their dogs and that I must just put up with it. In most cases, however, I just jump off my bike, get off on the other side of the dog, make threatening noises, spray some water, shout at the owner, etc. and everything is OK. However, there is one medium sized black dog that seriously wanted some flesh which meant that I needed to change my route... No matter what I did, he just seemed very aggressive, and I was not comfortable riding/walking past him.

 

As an animal lover with dogs, etc. at home, I generally would not want to hurt any animal. As mentioned, proportional evasive action usually works for me in preventing dog bites. However, if necessary, I think I too would use some force, e.g. kicking to stop an animal if I needed to. It would most likely be my last resort though, just because I don't really blame the animal in these situations but rather the owner.

 

Ciao.

[lechatnoir]

agro dog + agro owner + agro me = ?

post here and we'll bring shovels....

 

but you raise an important point... there most often IS agro... and when the owner says 'that's the first time he did that', the agro climbs I'm certain...

 

it's a situation primed for 'dwissness'... the only one not being the dwiss is always the doggo

[HDW]

That is where I have the problem, why hurt a dog SOOOO much that it needs medical attention? I would do the min to stop the dog and then the owner might need to go see the doc and have a hefty med bill 

 

I have said it before in a different thread and I will say it again - if a dog attacks me, my kids or my animals in public I will 100%, absolutely go all out in defence, as I have done before with a very cocky spaniel that liked to run out if his yard and attacks pedestrians and their dogs while the owner often stands and look while working in his garden (garden looks like sh*t anyways). Now, I have a massive, strongly built Shar Pei who will tear him to shreds, but do you know what it costs to pay a vet to fix a dog bite on your dog? So after a few kicks the first time and a heated discussion with the owner of the dog I left, only to return on my usual route a few days later. Same thing happened, same owner doing nothing, so I picked up a big ol' stick and hit the spaniel over its stupid snout a couple times really putting my back into it, and it wasn't pretty. But guess what? It has never happened again, so either the spaniel learned from this, or the owner did (he did threaten me with violence on the day but it was funny because hes like 70+), but that dog is no longer attacking innocent humans and animals in the street.

 

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to restore the natural order in the world.

 

[Headshot]

What we all as humans do, all the time, is see things from our own perspective. I have always had a dog in the house from an early age. I do not fear dogs and have rarely had any incidents with dogs while cycling ( see my post above) and only one really unpleasant incident quite recently. This is why i can see Quagga's point quite easily. Other people dont have my experience, like my wife for instance who was knocked down and bitten by a GSD as a child. I love GSD's and have never had an issue with them but she isnt a fan. One of my kids friends has big dogs at home but is terrified of our flat faced tiny Boston Terrier. 

 

Last year I was bitten badly enough to need the ER. The rescue dog had nipped me before when fetching my son at his friends house. A few months later it did that same and managed to rip some skin and i needed stitches. ( 2 hours and a medical bill later I was home)

 

The owner is a single mother and relies on the dog to keep her young teen son safe while she goes out ( a dubious parenting approach IMO) and knows the dog is a problem. She even claimed to be having the dog put down. She has never done so and its still alive and kicking. She paid for my med bills and my ripped jeans. All of this is to illustrate that humans rather than the animals are often the issue as has been pointed out by others. 

[Mojoman]

Personally I find when a dog is after you it's best to stop. Put the bike between you and the dog and tell them to sod off...if you try and ride away or take swings it's just good sports for the dog....but it does get fun when there is a pack...!

[dave303e]

A dude choked out a cougar while out on a run a few weeks back, why we even worried about dags...

[HDW]

Personally I find when a dog is after you it's best to stop. Put the bike between you and the dog and tell them to sod off...if you try and ride away or take swings it's just good sports for the dog....but it does get fun when there is a pack...!

 

Yes, I agree. Get off the bike and fight like a real man. Kick that sucker right in the bollocks, and the continue with a fatal throat chop. Take no prisoners. 

[Quagga]

Yes, I agree. Get off the bike and fight like a real man. Kick that sucker right in the bollocks, and the continue with a fatal throat chop. Take no prisoners. 

Trolling much?

[Gen]

 

 

What we all as humans do, all the time, is see things from our own perspective. I have always had a dog in the house from an early age. I do not fear dogs and have rarely had any incidents with dogs while cycling ( see my post above) and only one really unpleasant incident quite recently. This is why i can see Quagga's point quite easily. Other people dont have my experience, like my wife for instance who was knocked down and bitten by a GSD as a child. I love GSD's and have never had an issue with them but she isnt a fan. One of my kids friends has big dogs at home but is terrified of our flat faced tiny Boston Terrier.

 

Last year I was bitten badly enough to need the ER. The rescue dog had nipped me before when fetching my son at his friends house. A few months later it did that same and managed to rip some skin and i needed stitches. ( 2 hours and a medical bill later I was home)

 

The owner is a single mother and relies on the dog to keep her young teen son safe while she goes out ( a dubious parenting approach IMO) and knows the dog is a problem. She even claimed to be having the dog put down. She has never done so and its still alive and kicking. She paid for my med bills and my ripped jeans. All of this is to illustrate that humans rather than the animals are often the issue as has been pointed out by others.

That is a problem.. too many people get dogs for the wrong reasons... those dogs more often than not don't get the attention they should be getting and def don't get training either.

 

When my kids walk our dog they do so with a stick in hand.... if you can't look after your animal and it charges my kids or me it is going to get a smack...cause shouting STOP, voetsek or f-off doesn't work.

 

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[HDW]

Trolling much?

 

Not in the slightest. I will have absolutely no problem with kicking a dog in the nuts out of self defense. Will not think twice about it.

[babse]

Not in the slightest. I will have absolutely no problem with kicking a dog in the nuts out of self defense. Will not think twice about it.

same 

[Quagga]

Not in the slightest. I will have absolutely no problem with kicking a dog in the nuts out of self defense. Will not think twice about it.

I hope you never do it where I can see it, as I will do the same to you on behalf of the dog.

 

There are other ways of "self defence"

[HDW]

I hope you never do it where I can see it, as I will do the same to you on behalf of the dog.

 

There are other ways of "self defence"

 

No problem, if I attack you or the dog out of the blue then please, kick me in my nuts. I deserve it.

 

Just like the dog will deserve it when I kick him.