[Closed] RANT: People who ride trails with dogs

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

Ive rode into my dog 3 times, each time I went OTB like hitting a dalmation sized concrete wall, he was fine.

devs - Member

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.

Chances are the awesome dude kids whizzers you mention would hit a jump double back-flip, forward flip then land on you...

Not sure where the "80kg" reference comes in to it.

bad dog owners are the same a bad parents, totally unaware that they are being inconsiderate to others (or don't give a toss). either way it comes back to get em. The dog will eventually cost them for it's trouble and their (trained to be) inconsiderate kids will shove em in a home for their house value as soon as they are old. 🙂

Classic. haven't read a thread like this on STW for ages 🙂

FWIW I totally agree with the OP in that taking a dog to a trail centre, especially on a weekend is selfish and irresponsible. But taking one out on quieter trails is in my eyes, fine. The ironic thing is that these segregated mtb trails were designed around reducing user conflict, seems that they've just created another 🙄

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.

You understand that being overweight and a dog owner doesn't make you a) scary or b) 'ard don't you?

[i]Ive rode into my dog 3 times[/i]

That don't count... Running over your own dog is your own stupid fault (or your dog's!)

fervouredimage - Member

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.

You understand that being overweight and a dog owner doesn't make you a) scary or b) 'ard don't you?

😆

I blame the magazines that publish long artfully photographed articles on such activities

I was thinking that... although that article did detail how to properly train your dog. Ooooh, I found a new can, worm anybody?

Worms on trails - now that I don't mind...

As long as they're trained properly.

"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 did not say it was illegal to have a dog "on a trail centre", please read what I said more carefully.

I have no prejudice - merely stating the rules as I read them. Dog must be under proper control, generally held to be close control - normally meaning on a lead.

Access rights are not exercisable on land "set out for a particular recreational purpose" which sounds like a pretty good description of a trail centre [u]route[/u] to me. This would also apply to the happy hikers who insist on walking on the Glentress bike trails instead of on the dedicated walking trails there (which the rule equally prevents people using whilst cycling).

The overarching principle is responsible use and, in the context of the above, I would suggest that if a dog caused injury on a dedicated bike route there would prima facae be failure to achieve the required level of responsible use.

Isn't one of the official trails at Cannock named Follow the Dog? Is Cannock a trail centre? Should this trail be renamed during busy periods? What are the dogs' opinions about all this?

Right. I'm off to the local swimming baths where I plan to train my dog to swim behind me.

Where exactly are all these dogs at trail centres? Is it a common problem? Is it really that dangerous? Has anyone actually ever been injured by such a collision? Or is it just a case of people having an online moan?

I've seen about 3 hounds in the last year at GT. None were causing any issue to other trail users. There is one particularly mad spaniel who takes the berms better than I ever could, as well as getting better air over the tabletops.

Awesome hound, although I do have an issue with him not wearing a helmet....

I soon gave up reading this thread but....

My woman is American and she says that over there you NEVER let your dog off the lead except in your back yard or maybe in some areas of some parks. Which is a lot more responsible.

LOL - and you can't go mountain biking anywhere, in fact in the 'land of the free' you can do pretty well fork all!

If I ever ride a UK trail centre again, I'll make sure I bring a hippo with me. It'll fit right in 😉

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scruff - Member

Ive rode into my dog 3 times, each time I went OTB like hitting a dalmation sized concrete wall, he was fine.

I got the spaniel the other day too - on a road section between bridleways. She was getting a bit tired and decided to run into my wheel - 29ers really do go over anything(oops!)

I don't have a problem with a good rider taking a VERY well trained dog to a trail centre if done at a quiet time. I wouldn't take mine for a couple of reasons, mainly because I want to concentrate on my riding and not on the dog, but I have seen dogs that are safer on the trails than a lot of dick heads that you get riding their bikes. But 99% of dogs should not be anywhere near a trail centre.

When I take my dog on my local trails we pull over for any other users - bikes, horses, walkers and I always warn people that there is a dog with me if they cannot see her.

Just to clarify the full face/body armour numpty thing. All the ones I came across that day really were.

anyone else got the bike hound ad on the right? lol

thats a lovely looking dog walleater

mrvear - Member
Just to clarify the full face/body armour numpty thing. All the ones I came across that day really were.

You took the time to get to know them ALL?

[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/pics-of-mountain-biking-dogs-please ]How things have changed on here in 3 years[/url]

New to this trolling thing but its far to easy 😉 Of course I don't think or know they are all numptys, that would be stupid.

Singlespeed_Shep - Member
How things have changed on here in 3 years

They haven't changed - start a new thread with that title - I bet it goes well.
I could post my video

mrvear - Member
New to this trolling thing but its far to easy Of course I don't think or know they are all numptys, that would be stupid.

Just what I was thinking.

As a dog owner I think its wrong that dogs are at trail centres. They are purpose built trails for bikes, nothing else.

Once came across a dog with owner going down Hully Gully. I had to brake because of the dog, and the owner didn't look best pleased that I didn't stop!

Normal countryside not a problem.

Singlespeed_Shep - Member
How things have changed on here in 3 years

Good thread 😀

my dog is very well trained,has done most northern trail centres with me and is fast(and has the sense to move when a bike is coming)
this could go on forever as said before have some riders got a issue with anyone slower or less skilled than they are?

Once came across a dog with owner going down Hully Gully. I had to brake because of the dog, and the owner didn't look best pleased that I didn't stop!

Wasn't 'devs' was it? 😆

I often hang around my local trail centre with my shot gun. If I see a dog "worrying" the riders then I just shoot it.

at least they create an unpredictable situation you have to respond to, rather than the prescribed procession of IMBA rider control features.

I wish I had a dog that would run all day with you on the trails.

Wasn't 'devs' was it?

You wouldn't come across me on a trail. The chances of you catching me up are very very slim but any attempt to overtake without sounding your bell first would see you pwned with bombers on the way past. possibly in the style of the angry NZ trail centre video. We haven't seen that for a while have we.

I take my dog riding with me a lot, quite often at Glentress and quite often at the weekend, he's never got in the way of anyone else and he absolutely loves it. If I'm out with the kids and have to let faster riders past he'll stand motionless at the side of trail until told otherwise.(lots of ****ing idiots out there who don't have the brains to give a couple of kids a decent head start down a trail section)
He's been conditioned to accompanying bicycles since he was a pup, short rides along the river, to the shops etc. (He will also walk off the lead anywhere and never stray from my side, because he's well trained.)

It's not a case of all dogs are bad/all dogs are good it depends on the dog and owner. If you can't control your dog don't take it with you to a trail centre, but to say trail centres should be a dog free zone is just daft.

Take my mut to trail centres now and again.No one's said anything negative to me yet...well there was one time
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Orange Crush - Member

I did not say it was illegal to have a dog "on a trail centre", please read what I said more carefully.

Orange Crush - Member
Groundskeeperwilly - Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. Para 9(d). In fact I would go further and say that para 6(1)(e)(ii) [b]makes it illegal to have a dog on a specific mountain bike trail at all.[/b]

If your point is that trails at mountain bike centres are different to mountain bike centres then well done. Fizzy cola haribo to you. It is not illegal to have a dog on a specific mountain bike trail. Nor is it illegal to have one running about out of control, it just removes your right to access. In my book this means the land owner can ask you to leave. Nothing else.

Reasoned debate results in agreement - is that a first on here?

Devs and I both seem to be of the opinion that the access legislation's intent is that the situation does not arise.

The, somewhat lengthy, code is here

for those interested.

It is not illegal to have a dog on a specific mountain bike trail.

It is stupid tho'.

Wasn't 'devs' was it?

You wouldn't come across me on a trail. The chances of you catching me up are very very slim but any attempt to overtake without sounding your bell first would see you pwned with bombers on the way past. possibly in the style of the angry NZ trail centre video. We haven't seen that for a while have we.

You come across as a dead-ringer for the tit in that video - buzzz, buzz, buzz.

Very good patriot pro. Your minute step down into childish insults kind of negates any point you were trying to make, albeit pathetically. If you'd like to be quiet now whilst the adults talk, I'd quite like to hear what they have to say.

I have nothing against dogs, but for the vast majority of people they ore nothing more than a luxury 'vanity' item, a lifestyle choice. My problem is only with people who seem to think their dogs are more important than other people. I sometimes experience the odd idiot dog owner along the canal towpath, who let their poorly trained dogs wander about when there are cyclists and children about, but most are ok.

I accept that if i'm to enjoy my lifestyle choice of riding a bike, I must be considerate to other towpath users, and give way to others etc. I expect the same behaviour from others, including dog owners. As for trail centres etc; perhaps some dog owners need to rein their egos in a biot and just leave the dogs at home. It doesn't matter how well trained you think your dog is, you are deluded if you think that, as it's ultimately a wild animal and therefore unpredictable. You don't have the 'right' to take your dog wherever you please, but people have the right to go about without fear of being attacked or otherwise hindered by dogs.

I have nothing against dogs, but for the vast majority of people they ore nothing more than a luxury 'vanity' item, a lifestyle choice. My problem is only with people who seem to think their dogs are more important than other people. I sometimes experience the odd idiot dog owner along the canal towpath, who let their poorly trained dogs wander about when there are cyclists and children about, but most are ok.

I accept that if i'm to enjoy my lifestyle choice of riding a bike, I must be considerate to other towpath users, and give way to others etc. I expect the same behaviour from others, including dog owners. As for trail centres etc; perhaps some dog owners need to rein their egos in a biot and just leave the dogs at home. It doesn't matter how well trained you think your dog is, you are deluded if you think that, as it's ultimately a wild animal and therefore unpredictable. You don't have the 'right' to take your dog wherever you please, but people have the right to go about without fear of being attacked or otherwise hindered by dogs.

Exactly. Some people just think because it says on paper that they can, then absolutely should. The ability to make careful and considered decisions based on their own circumstances and use considered judgement seem utterly beyond the realms of so many people.

Not so long ago I was taking my dog ( west highland terrier) and young nephew for a walk in one of these combined cycle/walk/go ape type forest places. It was very busy being a sunny Saturday afternoon and I came across an area that was marked 'Dog walk area'. I wasn't entirely sure what this meant at first but then a sign further along said that dogs could be walked without leads if under control as cyclists were not allowed in this particular spot. Now I opted not to take my dog off the lead because a) he was 10 months old b) he's a disobedient little sh!t c) I'd never see him again d) I never would take him off the lead anywhere.

So, as I continued to walk this Labrador came hurtling towards us smacked straight into my Westie, flipped him upside down and then carried on bolting down the path. Needless to say after checking my terrified dog was ok the oblivious owners of the Labrador walked by and I asked why their dog wasn't on a lead as he was clearly out of control. Their response was "because this is a dog walk, you're allowed to take them off the lead!" When I questioned their logic and pointed out that because it says you can do something, doesn't mean you should they looked utterly bewildered and could not grasp that simple concept. The very notion that they may have to make their own choices beyond that of a sign terrified them and I fear that from reading this thread that same mentality exists amongst so many on here.

Interesting to hear that people riding thousands of pounds worth of bike for fun, in their own time, consider dogs to be a luxury lifestyle choice.

Interesting to hear that people riding thousands of pounds worth of bike for fun, in their own time, consider dogs to be a luxury lifestyle choice.

People? Person I think you mean. One person made that point.

Well if we're to descend into ultra pedantry may I point out that after said person made their "point" your very next statement was a very agreeable "Exactly." This suggests that you agree quite strongly wouldn't you er.........agree?

I don't think it's really ultra pedantry. You may use that terminology to defend your own nonsensical response to one comment from one person if you wish.

If you read my own response you will see quite clearly which point I was agreeing with, you will also see quite a few times where I mention my own dog so far be it from me to suggest that a dog is merely a luxury lifestyle choice.

Interesting to hear that people riding thousands of pounds worth of bike for fun, in their own time, consider dogs to be a luxury lifestyle choice.

If that's aimed at me, then I'd also consider cycling to be pretty much a 'luxury lifestyle choice', other than commuting. I can't see how owniong a dog, for the vast majority of people, is in any way 'essential'. The only people who 'need' dogs are people like farmers, security guards/police, and blind people. Everything else is simply because people want to own dogs. IE, a lifestyle choice'. Given that dogs can be quite expensive to own, I'd go far as saying it's a 'luxury lifestyle choice'.

and my bikes don't cost 'thousands of pounds'. And my commuter is hardly a 'luxury' item!

I struggle with long sentences other than to say that I never consider my dogs to be a 'lifestyle choice'. I've always had dogs and while there are some who look upon dogs as little more than a fashion accessory, which I would assume is where the reference comes from, for most owners they are a a great deal more.

PS. wouldn't dream of taking mine to a trail centre - why would I when there are countless places far more appropriate and enjoyable for them and me.