[Closed] RANT: People who ride trails with dogs

Half the stories on here don't sound to be riders with dogs rather, dogs being walked by trails by none riders. SO not relevant as such. Dog shit on trail boils my piss, by when I've seen it commited its by none riders, who often walk their dogs round the red route at S'burn...

I sometimes take the bike to the woods with my dogs but it is mostly
more of a Ramble on foot. I can take in the Scenery and the pups can safely dart off after something that looks/smells interesting.
I can't imagine taking them to a TC. Doesn't sound like fun to me.

nwgiles - Member
How about if I take the misses, she is a bit of a dog does this count?

As long as you 'clear-up' after her.

[i]I can't imagine taking them to a TC. Doesn't sound like fun to me.
[/i]

Same here, Trail centres are generally dull and full of weekend warriors getting in the way and being noisy whilst rad.

The "my dogs well-trained" so therefore i'm allowed posts...
🙄

There was a couple (man and woman) with 2 dogs riding at Hamsterley the other Sunday morning.

They were riding against the normal flow of the trail with the 2 dogs zig-zagging randomly all over the place. There were 5 of us and we had a choice of stopping, crashing or riding over one of the dogs.

They were lucky we are nice people so we stopped (although one of our group did pass a few choice words in their direction). They were clearly into their riding as they were both on decent bikes and kitted out well. You'd have thought they'd have more self awareness.

It didn't make me mad but it was mildly irritating.

Someone going the wrong way with out of control dogs is just an idiot, in this instance, accompanied by their dogs.

Fair enough if you think dogs on trails is against the law. But by the same logic no cheeky riding for you. That too is against the rules... also, there could be dogs...

I'm wondering what your trail centres are like, they sound awful I go to a 'TC', its a great big bloody forest, with some trails in it. I can count the people I meet on the trails on one hand (not including those who just sit about in the car park). Quite often the dog walkers, walkers, and equestrians out number the cyclists I see.

Has anyone asked the forestry commission where they stand on the issue. I would of thought it would be dogs on leads at all times.

I struggle with long sentences

There is a huge difference between a well trained dog off lead and a dog that has no idea. No issue with well trained dogs at trail centers.

FFS People let their children out unsupervised on these things which is much worse 😀

No time to reply at the mo really but what the heck. About to take him for a lap of QECP red trail. Bet it'll be yet another ride where we don't meet anyone at all.

What you should be directing your ire at is people who can't control their dogs/kids/grannies. You've fallen into the classic trap of meeting a few people who's animals weren't 'controlled' or maybe you hared up to them at high speed and startled them, who knows other than you? Whichever, you have then decided that 'all dogs on trails are evil and want to knock me off then poo on me'. Now, that attitude annoys me, and like all dog owners I am very protective of my little furry blighter but I don't then decide that 'all non dog owners are evil and want to knock me over and poo on my face'. (as an aside we treat him like a hairy family member because he is effectively the replacement for the child we are unable to have)
As per usual though this argument will just go round and round and round between the + and the - so here's a pick of the little bastard enjoying himself with a bike involved, just to get your Monday off to as good a start as mine.x
[img] [/img]

101!

[img] [/img]

Why spoil a dogs day with tossers who feel that is acceptable ANYWHERE to ride faster than their stopping distance.

This has been done to death already but that's just a stupid statement. The big issue is dogs (and once a stag) that come across the trail with little/no warning. Are you suggesting everyone should ride downhill segments at slower than walking speed based on the off-chance that a dog might come at them across the trail?

There we have it mattbe, take your dog out riding when quiet like a sensible non numpty person and not when its a busy weekend or a busy trail centre. Why anyone would visit one of these places when they are busy is beyond me. I somehow ended up riding Glentress on a Sunday and it was packed full of numptys on long travel full sus bikes wearing full face helmets and full body armour. It was awful.

I somehow ended up riding Glentress on a Sunday and it was packed full of numptys on long travel full sus bikes wearing full face helmets and full body armour. It was awful.

How bloody ridiculous - So you're saying that full-face / full body armour-wearing riders are ALL numpties ❓

How bloody ridiculous - So you're saying that full/face full body armour-wearing riders are ALL numpties

Of course they are, just like all dog owners are malicious towards cyclists and all blah are this etc.

This thread is just from the rant generator
PEOPLE WHO ________ AT _________ SHOULD BE SHOT

To put a few back on track -

stoofus - Member
Oi, people who ride trails with your dogs, this post is for you.

Don't be so * irresponsible. I'm not talking about dogs running with your riding on a bridle way but I'm talking about trail centres and riding with your dogs running behind, in front, to the side and in between my * wheels.

If I'm nailing a corner and a dog suddenly appears, I'm going to try to avoid it. Probably injuring myself in the process, possibly hurting your dog.

If I hit your dog, I'm sure you'll be yelling at me, telling me I should have been on the look out for him/her. Well hear this, no i **** shouldn't. There are signs everywhere saying these are designated mtb trails, it doesn't say bring your dog. You'll be shouting at me, telling me I dont care about animals, well I do. I care so much I don't bring my dog. I walk it in fields where it's not going to get almost certainly hit by 80kg of mountain bike and rider.

So if this was you this weekend and you're reading this, grow up and take some responsibility for the animal you apparently care for.

Simple fix:

On the night before your unsheathing of the gnar. fill one ziplock bag with a mix of energy bars and beef jerky. then place on radiator overnight.

Upon arriving at the start of the trail empty the bag underneath a close bush.

Now you can ride assured knowing any trailmutt passing will gourge itself on the trailside bounty and not only will it now continually overtake its owner but upon getting back in the car unleash an odour so pungent neither can be guaranteed to arrive home alive.

Also: add nunn tabs for the "rabies" look

Having been on a couple of group rides where people have taken their dogs with them, I have two views on this.

1st ride - well trained, well behaved dog, don't know wht it was but for the vast majority of the ride (over 95%) the dog ran along side / just behind it's owner. It did get distracted once, ran after my mate then 'probably' realised what it was doing, stopped smack bang in the middle of the trail and turned back on itself - I just missed the creature.

2nd ride - different dog, different owner; what a bloody nuisance, the thing (labrador I think) was just plain dumb, zig-zagging everywhere, doubbling back on itself, was responsible for 3 crashes and caused general havoc. It's owner just responded with shrill shouts of it's name every once in a whiel that did **** all.

From what I can gather, even a well trained & obedient dog can cause problems. So if you're gonna take your dog riding, do it when it's not busy. Like a lot of the responsible owner further up the page seem to do.

Orange crush I think that you may be letting prejudice taint your comprehension of what you are reading. That para of the land reform act does not make it illegal to have a dog on a trail centre at all and a dog under control can go anywhere.
I'm as against out of control dogs anywhere as the next person but it's out of control humans that are the real problem here, in trail centres or otherwise. Be it dog owners or muppets going too fast to stop. A dog is just one of many things you may encounter including downed riders, children, downed trees and wild life. The collective acceptance here that trail centres are put aside for bikes to go as fast as possible is wrong and worrying. If you cannot stop in the distance you can see ahead then you are out of control and acting irresponsibly.
I've ridden with a dog at trail centres - Llandegla early morning before it opened and Moray Monsters where the chances of seeing anyone else is very remote anyway. I'm loving the assertion that people who take their dogs cycling are lazy. If those posters can think of another way to get a collie lurcher to run at 15-20kmh for a few hours without a bike I'd love to hear it. Y'see farmers are reluctant to let you let your dog chase their sheep around all day. There's no wonder they call this place simple tard world.

Swinley Forest yesterday.
The long fire road with the hills on the way back to the look out. A man with one arm forced to get off his bike half way up one of the hills because a dog got in his way. Couple on bikes were out with a dog. The woman did look a bit red faced when we passed them.

If those posters can think of another way to get a collie lurcher to run at 15-20kmh for a few hours without a bike I'd love to hear it

Lead attached to car/motorcycle/Jet.

How you get your dog up to speed isn't really my problem, it's yours. It only becomes my problem when I see it in front of me whilst I'm on my bike at a trail centre (rarely). Soon after that point however, it becomes your problem again.

Recently started taking my springer on short rides, just the local forest where I usually don't come across any other people. It is fun trying to catch him but I know he would be apita for other riders as he will beat me up any hill and then come back looking for me. I am trying to keep him just in front of me, but not very succesful yet.
He won't be coming on group rides or tc rides though even if or when trainned.

I was at a trail centre at the weekend
One of our group had his dog with him
I am definitly in the "slow mates" class of rider
I also smell feintly of cabbage.

I'm off to birch myself 😳

Wouldn't take ours to a trail centre, but have taken one of them around the local FC forestry "unofficial" trails...

Can understand the rant - but to the ranters - you do know that these aren't exclusive* mtb trails don't you??

* "dedicated" deliberatley avoided

It only becomes my problem when I see it in front of me whilst I'm on my bike at a trail centre (rarely)

He runs alongside my back wheel. He goes for a shit/piss/drink when I stop and tell him to. In the very unlikely event that you were to see him out with me and you did have a problem with it I'd love you to come tell me. No really I would.

fervouredimage - Member

If those posters can think of another way to get a collie lurcher to run at 15-20kmh for a few hours without a bike I'd love to hear it

Lead attached to car/motorcycle/Jet.

How you get your dog up to speed isn't really my problem, it's yours. It only becomes my problem when I see it in front of me whilst I'm on my bike at a trail centre (rarely). Soon after that point however, it becomes your problem again.

*Applause*

devs - Member

It only becomes my problem when I see it in front of me whilst I'm on my bike at a trail centre (rarely)

He runs alongside my back wheel. He goes for a shit/piss/drink when I stop and tell him to. In the very unlikely event that you were to see him out with me and you did have a problem with it I'd love you to come tell me. No really I would.

How about just leaving the mut at home...

[i]..........but i dont understand why anyone would want to take their dog with them when they go cycling.[/i]

I suppose I don't really - I'm taking my dog for a walk on my bike. I guess that's slightly different. As for why, the reasons are many and varied, but include - it's a great excuse to ride everyday, it's quicker and the dog likes it.
But yeah, I definitely wouldn't take her to an MTB only trail centre, that's just ignorant to other users.

How about just leaving the mut at home...

Please, don't ever get a dog, for the dog's sake.

Thanks.

There's a [willful?] confusion going on here. It seems some of you go to really busy 'Trail Centres', and it seem those here who take their dogs riding (which doesn't include me, I left it too late to train him to run by the bike) think that is a bad idea, but have places where they never see anyone and ride with their dogs without incidence. That is to say, what some of you have encountered does not represent the entire spectrum of trail hound ownership, because the responsible ones go at such times that the weekend peak time crowd NEVER SEE THEM. But that doesn't mean they don't exist. It just means they fall outside the scope of what you have experienced, so you need to use a little imagination and actually read what's being said...

... or of course, just sling mud for the sake of it...

To those who posted pics, those are fine looking trail hounds gents! happy riding.

unklehomered - Member

How about just leaving the mut at home...

Please, don't ever get a dog, for the dog's sake.

Don't ever ride on the same trail as me for your dog's sake.

Dogs ... yup I've got one. Would I like to take him out for a ride with me? Sure. Would I do it? Nope.

I've taken him a few times riding down canal towpath, and he loves it. He stays in front of the bike, quite a way in front of it. But I wouldn't want the responsibility of him on a ride.

A trailcentre is a dedicated MTB route, where people do not expect to see dogs. Hitting one causes distress to the rider, the dog and the dog owener. At Llandegla, there are notices not to take dogs onto the trail. That said, I've seen a couple of people there, on a weekend with a well behaved dog following very close behind. I haven't had an issue with it.

I've also taken the dog for a walk around Llandegla, where I let him off the lead. Before approaching any crossings between the walking routes and bike routes, I'd make sure he was close at hand.

Out on a bridleway, then if someone wants to take their dog, I have no issue. If I were riding, I'd have to be cautious of horses, other bikes, pedestrians, kids, sheep, cows, missing OAPs on invalid scooters, etc. Bridleways are shared usage. Although some of the stories I've heard about dog owners going OTB after hitting their own dog ... I'd rather not take that risk!

Now, regarding this comment:

How do you feel about young kids on the trails, could you stop for one?

Excellent point. For those who expect the trails to themselves, don't ride at a trail centre, where it's open for all users. Everyone was a beginner once, and you will encounter people with kids, or just slower riders. My son is 4, and I feel he's outgrown some of the green routes. He's a little slower in some sections, but capable of getting down a blue route safely. I spoke to one of the intructors who works at a local trailcentre and explained that I was concerned about taking him onto one of the blue runs, and upsetting some of the more competent riders who may come steaming up behind us. His reply was "The trail centre is for everyone, and people need to be aware of that. If someone is trying to get their personal best time ... then the weekend is not the time to do it."

So slow-improvers; kids; or even people who have just had an accident may be encountered enroute. If you don't like it, don't ride at a trail centre during peak hours!

Sorry for slight thread divert!

Don't ever ride on the same trail as me for your dog's sake.

Errrr, why?

How about just leaving the mut at home...

Because he, and I, love going out for a blast with the bike. It's very rare that we'll do a trail centre and unheard of to do one that's busy but I would have no doubts about doing it if it was my only practical option. And I would really really love an 80kg wikid awsum radskillzdewd to come tell me how wrong I was.

Thread title should definitely be

"Rant: People who ride trail CENTRES with dogs"

Unless the OP is one of those people who think trail centres are the only trails of course 😉

Excellent point. For those who expect the trails to themselves, don't ride at a trail centre, where it's open for all users.

No it's not, as has been said, it's the unpredictability of dogs that is the issue. A small child is unlikely to be running across my path, or towards me at 25mph+.

I can't take my dog on rides because she just ends up trying to bite the front wheel, causes a bit of a distraction tbh.

I have to say that I'm happy with well trained dogs on the trails with their owners, have only seen it once and it didn't cause me an issue at all.

Mine isn't well trained, so will be staying at home whilst I enjoy trying to stay upright.

Is Trail Centre the big ones including a bike shop, two cafes, you pay for parking etc... as opposed to just a trail, in a forest? If so, then I might tend to agree unless on a quiet winter midweek day, I don't tend to go to trails like that very often, I find their just so full of .... 'people'. 😛

No it's not, as has been said, it's the unpredictability of dogs that is the issue. A small child is unlikely to be running across my path, or towards me at 25mph+.

Go back and re-read my post. I'd finished on the dogs issue and was talking about children.

How do you feel about young kids on the trails, could you stop for one?

On a green/blue or any family route yes! I'd positively expect to see them and ride with this in mind.

But a dog...NO - Even a well-trained one is prone to distraction and therefore unpredictable behaviour at the mere scent of another mut's sh**e.

FWIW - it's worth i owned a dog, he lived 18 years. Did I ever take him on a trail... No sir.

Did he enjoy his share of walks elsewhere...til he dropped some days.

Never took him riding trails with me even though it did cross my mind from time to time.

I suppose some people are just more considerate/responsible/less selfish than others.

Go back and re-read my post. I'd finished on the dogs issue and was talking about children.

Yes, but the inference from the dog owner (which you said was an excellent point) is that if you can't stop for a dog, how do you stop for a child.

My point is that it's not an excellent point, they behave entirely differently.

One thing dogs don't ever do on the trails is stop for a group chat right in the middle of the trail and then not move out of everyone elses way until you've had to virtually stop and wait for them to move.

These are probably the same morons who stop with their shopping trolleys diagonally across the whole aisle and the entire store is gridlocked whilst Mr Selfish-and-Oblivious decides which beans to buy.

[i]My point is that it's not an excellent point, they behave entirely differently.

[/i]

Not got kids yet have you Nick... 😉

I watched a man and his dog doing Berm Baby Berm at GT on Saturday. The guy reached the hairpin and the dog got confused trying to shortcut a good section of the trail. The rider carried on down the trail and the confused dog launched at full speed up the trail. Long shouts then followed from down the trail before the guy then pedals back up the trail in the wrong direction.

I love dogs and can see why people want to include them as it must be a ball for the dog but I think common sense has to be applied and a busy trail centre on a weekend at peak time is not the best idea. You can be lucky and have no issue or you can be unlucky and maybe a dog or rider could be injured as a result.

[i] or you can be unlucky and maybe a dog or rider could be injured as a result.[/i]

Good point - has [u]anyone[/u] [u]ever[/u] been injured by a dog on a trailcentre trail? Or is it just mild annoyance?

Not got kids yet have you Nick...

Fair point! But as the early comments referred to dogs being faster than any riders I'll stand by my comment that a dog 'doing it's thing' is more of a risk than a child, who at worst will probably panic, stop and fall over. I've had that happen when I came face to face with one on a piece of singletrack. After checking she was ok I had to chuckle.