[Closed] Trail centres and dogs.

Pook, have you got a dog yet ?

I what way did the presence of the dog affect the outcome. Surely the guy in the middle of the berm was the problem?

He was on the crest, the dog was running around. I just had that one experience (luckily turned out fine) and decided that I had no desire to come around a rocky corner and run my front wheel into a poor pooch. I neither want to do one any harm (I would feel awful) nor do I want to faceplant a rock (I would feel awful).

I love taking a dog with me on the bike, but I also realise that it isn't really sensible when there are a ton of people around on bikes (like at a trail centre).

I thought trail centres were routes specificly for biking ie no walkers so why should dogs be allowed? Unfortunately some dog owners do think they are special.

Unfortuntely some non dog owners think they are special too...

Poo on trails. Bloody annoying whether you have a dog or not, are on a bike or are out for a sunday stroll. Trail Centre or just local wood trail. Pisses me off. Just as much as the reactionary 'dogs are evil and their owners support the EDL' type comments that are par for the course on the lovely, balanced STW.

Still, having just come back from a quick ride before work (very soggy out there!) with him and seeing precisely nobody else out I'm sure I was inconveniencing hundreds of trail users. Oh, if you are at QECP today BTW, I now feel I ought to warn you that about 10 m off the Orange trail, just before the first hairpin on the first climb will be a rain sodden pooh, just inside a holly bush....

I don't understand why you would take a dog round either, although I don't own one. Can a dog happily do 15-20 miles at a bike pace? What about drinks for it? Do they use nuun tablets?

I've seen dogs on the trails a few times. Didn't really bother me and I like dogs anyway so don't mind if they "get in the way" as you can stop and pet them for a bit 😆

M6TTF - yes, depending on the dog. Mine out distances me when riding. Of course he falls behind on downs but catches up fast. He drinks from puddles and I carry a collapsing bowl to fill from my camelback if needed. I also carry some snacks for him and poo bags. He rides with me at Swinley and on the downs. As much as I like riding with him, I don't take him to trail centres, mainly because of the comments above. He's a lovely friendly dog but you can't predict people (!) but also because I want to be able to concentrate more on my riding at them and therefore not be concentrating on where my dog is (which is a major part of my rides when I do take him riding).

might not have been a dog could have been a fox or a cow or a horse or even another rider.. or did you do it yourself..

I still don't have a dog.

LOL STW at its best

i realise this adds nothing to the ride"debate" but it is more of a rant from some.

Brightened Sunday morning tho

might not have been a dog could have been a fox or a cow or a horse or even another rider.. or did you do it yourself?

simon.. you've been back in our country all of five minutes and already you're slagging off our ways..

some of us.. nay most of us, like dogshit on our trails.. cowshit on our roads.. sheepshit in our fields.. horseshit in our hair and houses and foxshit on our feet..(I just miss the days when we had dogshit on our pavements and in our kiddies parks too) If you don't like our shit eating ways naff off back to nobsville..

x

I like dogs but I don't think they should be at trail centres. In my experience they never listen to the owner and just wander back and forth in front of my front wheel. It's safer for the dog and the rdiers to leave them at home and take them for a walk when you get back.

some of us.. nay most of us, like dogshit on our trails.. cowshit on our roads.. sheepshit in our fields.. horseshit in our hair and houses and foxshit on our feet..(I just miss the days when we had dogshit on our pavements and in our kiddies parks too) If you don't like our shit eating ways naff off back to nobsville..

Not read all the posts, but, seriously, if you cand avoild a bloody dog on the trails then you must be one seriously SHIT rider. Are you also the type of person who grumbles at beginners going slowly and when someone stops to repair a puncture? i.e. A bit of a pillock?

[b]Not read all the posts[/b], but, seriously, if you cand avoild a bloody dog on the trails then you must be one seriously SHIT rider.

i.e. A bit of a pillock?

Err.... piers Morgan?

I'm pretty certain I've ridden through fox shit

You'll KNOW when you've encounterd fox poo. Oh the smell!

That's what their new shock is called. Fox Pu

and would it be presumtious to say that maybe the locals had been walking dogs for many years before the MTBer arrived?

I expect they would claim that, and so do you it would seem

oh come on..

I think we're all aware that walking dogs in the woods was invented a very very long time before middle aged self-important prats playing on bikes in the woods was invented..

Are cats ok at trail centres? Never seen any trail cats at them so was wondering if it was frowned on? Trail cats are trained to poo in other people gardens, so should be fine at trail centres.

Only had one ride incident with a dog. It nonchalantly stepped out from a behind a tree onto the singletrack in front as I was zooming - I steered for the bushes. It wandered over and licked me while I was extricating myself. The owner turned up and laughed. No harm done.

What about swans at trail centres ?
They can break a man's arm. That's true, that is. And broken arm's even worse than dog poo.

AND dog poo can't break your arm.

(i don't have a swan)

a poo poultice can be very effective in aiding any injuries that occur from swan related incidents..

The lady walking her two dogs the wrong way on the sherwood pines red on Tuesday almost had me cr*ping on the trail !

She tried doing the decent thing by pulling them to the side of the trail, but as any dog will do when u pull his collar ... Just swung his backside broadside. All I heard was 100kg of riding companion clattering to a stop behind me.

I always bike in the woods with the dog ,its the only way to give him enough exercise.I dont do trail centres so its not me and my dog

I would rather dog poo than those idiots who pick up the poo in a bag then tie it to a tree. KILL THEM.
Can I say that next doors cat pooed in my car. I HATE CATS

"Not read all the posts, but, seriously, if you cand avoild a bloody dog on the trails then you must be one seriously SHIT rider. Are you also the type of person who grumbles at beginners going slowly and when someone stops to repair a puncture? i.e. A bit of a pillock?"

The last time I had to avoid a dog was in Hully Gully at Gisburn. The owner was trying to grab his dog in one of the dip sections as I approached. That meant I had to slow to an almost stop, because I am sure he would have been a bit upset if I had ridden over his uncontrolled dog. If a rider had just been stopped in the bottom of the gully then there wouldnt have been as much need to slow down as you would know they wouldnt unexpectedly move.

I'm a dog owner and would never take my dog to a trail centre, because unless some thing has changed, they are designed for riding bikes round.

If thats not the case I might start walking round them, or even have a go in my sons go-kart as I'm sure that would be fun too.

I was riding at Nant Yr Arian a few weeks ago blasting the swoopy singletrack. we came flying round a tight bend only to find a woman rider with two huge bull mastiffs on the trail, the poor dogs looked exhausted and were almost too large for the narrow section we were on. Not to mention scared!

Crazy!! 😯

LOL at the usual STW reactions.

Same people on here complaining about dog poop in the woods are probably the same people who leave their empty cans of monster energy drink at the top of each downhill!

FACT 🙄

I take my dog riding with me about 4 times a week, he doesnt like trail centres because the terrain is dull and lifeless, much like the typical trail centre warrior.

We stick to natural stuff and he has a great habit of finding new trails.

If he does a sh1t I bag it and hang it on a tree, next to my punctured innertubes.

I don't see how it should be any different for natural trails to a trail centre. Its still the outdoors.

There are well trained dogs and badly trained dogs, but most importantly there are more badly skilled mtbers at trail centres who cause alot more issues.

"I don't see how it should be any different for natural trails to a trail centre. Its still the outdoors."

Because trail centres are specifically built for biking not for walking dogs !

Because trail centres are specifically built for biking

Because trail centres are specifically built for biking

Partially true.

There is no specific exclusion of dogs, children, stag do's, weekend warriors. They are there for sharing.

"They are ? I thought most of them were specifically built for growing trees and the trails were added later.
Is there a trail centre in the UK that is solely for biking, with all other users excluded ?"

Yes Gisburn has signs saying no walking, bikes only, as did Kiroughtree when I was there. As did CyB back in the day, but I admit I havent been there for a while.

If thats not the case I might start taking my 90 year old granny out for a walk round the Gisburn trails, Im sure would be interested to see what this mountain biking lark is about, and she wouldnt hold people up too much. In fact I might bring along my 18month old son too, he can walk for about 200yds at a time, ok he doesnt always go in the direction you want him to, but its ok he wouldnt get in the way much.

I don't mind dogs on the trails... my pal and I always take his choc lab, but then he also takes poo bags.

what is worse and totally not connected is knobs on scooters in skateparks!

hi all,

Our border collie has probably clocked up more trail miles riding with us - both on FC trail centre and REAL bridleway riding than the majority of internet warriors on here...

The dog can run - I mean RUN all day and still want to play with her toys - we have to be careful how much she does to prevent overuse injuries - a 15/20 mile ride is NO bother to her at all - she is actually way quicker than me or my riding mates apart from balls out long grass descents.

On routes like the brecon gap or walna scar or long all dayers in the quantocks / exmoor she is faster than us !

She can be seen wearing a fluro yellow coat which allows other trail users to see her and take note. She has been atop nearly every bikeable peak in the lakes / wales / peak in both winter and summer including cadair idris / hellvellyn / skiddaw / ben lomand - I would rather have her around than a lot of humans to be honest...

We are just back from doing a weeks riding up in scotland. No problems with the dog. Everyone we rode with were quite surprised how quick and most importantly how CONTROLLED she is - ie waits to be told to cross a trail / road etc - she is exceptional - my springers arent the same and I wouldnt take them out in the same way.

Her crap is carried out by me or her when she has her panniers on ! I hate poo bags in the trees !

I would like to see less of the dog hate and appreciate that forestry land is for everyone. If my dog ever slows you down it would be a fault of mine for not stopping to let you past - tbh it rarely happens !

paul

wake up, leave them at home when you take the bike out

Please correct yourself?

wake up, leave the bike at home when you go for a walk

FFS, next time it might be a childs face/swan/guardian reader you run into!

Yes Gisburn has signs saying no walking, bikes only

All year round, Gisburn Forest offers different experiences for different people. Explore on foot, on horseback, by bike. Find popular trails and quiet glades.

Enjoy a walk alongside Stocks Reservoir or up into the forest or try our two funky forest bike trails, the choice is yours.

"I don't see how it should be any different for natural trails to a trail centre. Its still the outdoors."

Because trail centres are specifically built for biking not for walking dogs

They aren't (won't go into this as other have.)

If you are walking your dog you go on the walks (paths) if you are riding your bike with your dog you go on the trails.

Got to say most of the dogs I see in the forst with riders are amazing and have no problems with them at all. I do have a problem with people walking there dogs around the trails. Especially when your on a nice bit of singletrack go around the corner to see a walker on one side of the trail with a dog on the lead on the other and then give you a look of disgust when you have to slam on your brakes.

You'd think the schools are out with the replies on here...

OK
Dog owner? yes
Hate dog owners who don't clear up? yes. shoot them.
Go riding with the dog? Yes
Go riding with the dog to a trail centre? No. The idea seems a little silly to me, but there you go. Best go wild in the mountains, so long as you can control the dog where livestock are about.
Clear up after the dog? yes
Does the dog love it? Hell yes
Does the dog need a drink? Hell yes, carry couple of bottles for the pooch specifically, plus streams are very handy. Always clear up after dog no matter where I am, even in the middle of nowhere.

Have to say I'm in the camp that says you shouldn't take your dog on a trail. If you're near a trail centre you're also near natural trails. You may have a well trained dog and clear up after them, but there's no accounting for the d* heads who have no skill and wobble about frantically if they see a pooch that they're not expecting.

I love the predictability of this place.

Thread Title includes "Dogs"
Pro dog and Anti dog protesters line up
Everyone shouts at each other
Nothing changes
Start a new thread about helmets
Pro helmet and Anti helmet protesters line up
Everyone shouts at each other
Nothing changes
Thread Title includes "Dogs"
Pro dog and Anti dog protesters line up
Everyone shouts at each other
Nothing changes

FFS, no one is going to take any notice - if people want to take their dogs with them, they will. If people don't want to see dogs, they'll moan (on tinternet, not in real life).

Oh yeah, it's discussion - and it does get entertaining at times.

(Dog owner but wouldn't ride anywhere with them as they'll make me crash)