Went on a cheeky ride today. My regular route goes past a farm where there’s always a couple of dogs barking behind the gate. Except this morning the gate was open.

One of the dogs shot out and chased me. It was running beside my ankle, barking wildly.

So I stopped, put my sunglasses on top of my head, took off a glove and offered it my hand to sniff, while saying something like ‘who’s a big boy then’. Cue the waggiest greeting ever. Having established we weren’t a threat to each other, we went our separate ways.

This post isn’t in response to the one below, or the countless other dog threads we’ve had, nor to criticise the people who really have been bitten by dogs . But I thought it was useful to remember that dogs are frequently prisoners of their instincts and that a little dog psychology can defuse things most of the time.

dog whipsperer=RAD

This dog has been enslaved by warlike goblins. There is no point in trying to negotiate with it.

you should see the dogs at the farm near me; i dunno what they are but our eyes are level when i’m sat on the bike, they weigh more than my car and they look **** rabid.

if they had ever broken out of there 8ft high compound i would probably freeze to the spot, piss myself and cry!

BD – you’ve posted some weird sh*t today, man. Go lie down.

reminds me of my grandfather when approached by a dog. “Oh, it’s OK. Animals like me”, as he bent over to stroke its head. It bit him.

Some are friendly, some are not. Kicking them isn’t the right thing to do most of the time; stroking them isn’t always the right thing to do, either….

lol at the goblin dog.

I think my basic point, as someone who has trained specialist dogs in the past (for disabled people), is that dogs can’t help some of their responses to situations. They will chase fast-moving objects, they will defend ‘their’ territory. But, knowing how to approach dogs (or let them approach you) can stop what seems like an attack. Most dogs just want to check you out.
OMINT – golden rule with strange dogs, never ever pat the head!! They **** hate it.

if you felt it was going to cause you halm then a good boot would be acceptable .

Was out on a group darkside ride once around Newmarket. Going past the big posh estates, when those at the back of the pack started to come flying past us at the front at an alarming speed. One kindly mentioned “look behind you” as he tore past…

I can only assume that this monster of a dog had vaulted the fence as we rode past. It was ferkin massive, and very, very p!ssed off. They must of fed this thing a kilo of horse steroids every day.

Fortunately it’s bulk meant it was not built for endurance and it couldn’t keep up. But you wouldn’t of stopped to let this bad boy sniff your hand.

Did wonders for raising the pace of the ride though.

OMINT – golden rule with strange dogs, never ever pat the head!! They **** hate it.

Quite. I’d bite if some stranger patted me on the head..!

I have the local farm dog chase me too-makes me ride faster!

I think it could bite if it wanted too but is having as much chasing as I do getting away.

Hey Eddie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfv2diohUXE