I’ve just reread this thread but replaced “dog” with “child”.
Ok...
Doesn’t apply to all, obviously
No s***.
This analogue doesn't work. If children were running off the and on to trails in front of other riders then it would, but they don't, they just ride down on bikes like other humans. So it doesn't.
Trail dogs, in the right place, are great. This would be in a group that all approves, the dog is sensible and well trained and the trails are quiet enough that everyone has space.
Taking a dog to a busy trail centre is irresponsible. Much as having a child run down after you taking short cuts across the trail. Which they don't.
I blame Instagram...! I actually do. I also use the gram but this kind of projecting "check my cool and edgy life with my dog" nonsense when you're just going round Degla is rife.
I’m a dog owner and would not consider it, self righteous on trend look at me thing.
Trail centres are for bikes and that’s it.
Or should I start bringing my horse too? Try and beat me at that game of top trumps
I don't think your horse would fit through those little gates you often get at trail centres.
Wow the responses here explain why I prefer dogs to people...
There are plenty of people who probably say the same sort things about cyclists (motorists, ramblers, land owners, horse riders)
I am of the opinion live and let live..
99.9% of people wont let their dogs run free if they are going to attack people.
99.9% of people wont let their dogs run free if they are going to attack people.
It's not about attacking people tho, which is abundantly clear from the thread. Sounds like you can't see this from the perspective of others.
Both me and a mate have trail dogs and regularly ride at Cannock just very very rarely the dedicated trails as even the most well trained dog will get in someone’s way.
A few times I’ve started the Follow The Dog trail with my hound and realised its busy so turned off and headed for the off piste or fire roads!
The biggest problem with riding with the dog is he’s so fast that we catch a lot of riders who can be startled by 35kgs of dog charging past followed by me flat out blowing like a steam train to keep up, he then waits at the end of the section.
I did see a chap whilst I was walking with a trail dog yesterday at Cannock and thought that’s a terrible idea as it’s probably the busiest its ever been.
I would never take mine to a trail centre at a weekend or bank holiday etc.
there is no need for them unless you live somewhere with wild animals that pose a threat to your life. in those situations they are very useful
edit
and why are the called trail dogs? do people have specific dogs for a specific use?
Stupid idea in the UK - some of the Pinkbike US/Canadian sick edit ones where the dog is running through an empty loamy forest possibly but on UK hardpack weather proof trails it's not fair on the dog joints.
If you have a Husky/Malamute/KBD/REL ie sled pulling type dog then a Bikejor scooter with a proper harness would be fine but wouldn't make for well rad sick edits.
Yet again some pro-dog people can’t understand that even though their amazing and well trained dog is amazing other people might be incredibly uncomfortable around loose dogs. How sad.
Let alone how stupid it is taking a dog on trail centre singletrack.
It’s not about attacking people tho, which is abundantly clear from the thread. Sounds like you can’t see this from the perspective of others.
I am a mountain biker so I can see it from that perspective, if a dog jumps out on me I should be prepared to stop and I will hear it coming as I pay attention to what is happening around me.
Anything could jump out at any time i dont see why a dog is different to a deer, cow, sheep, child etc.
But I must admit I have never had a dog jump out of a random bush into my path maybe I am doing it wrong.
Wow, things really blew up in this thread! Where I live, we don't really have trail centres. We do, however, have dedicated mountainbike trails, where you would not expect to encounter walkers, horses, kindergartens... Whatever.
But that's really not the point. The point is that even though the owner may know that their dog is extremely well behaved, I don't. And that means that when their dog comes pelting towards me at full speed, it makes me nervous.
And it seems that I am not alone.
Is this thread specifically about trail centres? The OP didn't mention centres, yet all the anti dog brigade seem obsessed with them?
Not all mtb trails are at centres!
Recently met a bunch of 5 hunting dogs on a local trail and they followed me for a while, even blasting full pelt down a downhill track ahead of me. Was it safe? Probably not but it was fun as f*k. Have occasionly encountered cows, sheep, horses and goats on different rides, you deal with them and slow down or speed up as necessary.
If a (non aggressive) dog makes you nervous out on a ride, maybe you should just stop for a few seconds until the danger has passed.
Trail Centres are clearly a no no, but off piste is fair game IMO. You shouldn't be riding your bike there so you've got no right to piss and moan if someone else who shouldn't be riding their bike there also brings a dog.
I've got a dog, but she's a target-focused ****-wit who is great for 99% of the the ride and then is a giant PITA when she ****s off at mach 5 after a squirrel/rabbit/falling leaves/shiney thing so I don't take her on bike rides, even though I really wish I could. I do sometimes take my bike on dog walks though because she loves to run and will happily do 15-20mph if given the space to do so.
there is no need for them unless you live somewhere with wild animals that pose a threat to your life. in those situations they are very useful
Do you mean dogs in general?
and why are the called trail dogs? do people have specific dogs for a specific use?
According to you, to prevent bear attacks
Wow, things really blew up in this thread! Where I live, we don’t really have trail centres. We do, however, have dedicated mountainbike trails, where you would not expect to encounter walkers, horses, kindergartens… Whatever.
But that’s really not the point. The point is that even though the owner may know that their dog is extremely well behaved, I don’t. And that means that when their dog comes pelting towards me at full speed, it makes me nervous.
And it seems that I am not alone.
As I said 99.9% of people wont let their dogs off the lead if they aren't safe to be off their leads most dog owners do not want their dogs to bite people.
Anyway regardless of if it is a dedicated mountain bike trail or not you should expect the unexpected, I have had people walking down the middle of dedicated mountain bike trails. Yes its a bit annoying but so what its 5 seconds of inconvenience.
As I said 99.9% of people wont let their dogs off the lead if they aren’t safe to be off their leads
I think your numbers are a little optimistic. Too many people assume everyone else is comfortable with their dog running up on them, trying to hump other dogs, barking at strangers and generally not being suitable for off-leash exercise.
If a (non aggressive) dog makes you nervous out on a ride, maybe you should just stop for a few seconds until the danger has passed.
I'm not worried about it biting me. I'm worried about it causing me to crash, and possibly lose another month off the bike, or else I collide with it, and I injure the poor thing because it's dumb owner thought it was a good idea to let it run on a trail centre track.
I chased a badger down a trail once, should have made a thread about how angry some badgers are
In reality though i hear what you are saying. I don’t take my lab riding as it’s not fun for me and she wants to chase squirrels
Nothing to add more than that really!
Actually, @lat say what?!
" 99.9% of people wont let their dogs off the lead if they aren’t safe to be off their leads"
Jesus wept, I've been unlucky! I never knew the number was so low.
The riders who have their "trail" dog following behind, how do you know when it's had a shit on the trail? I particularly enjoyed having to jet wash dog shit off my bike and clothes after a visit to Cwmcarn in September. Can't you keep the dog in your T5 until you've finished your ride?
Has the op tried a moustache, or a bag of man up and stop whining...
The riders who have their “trail” dog following behind, how do you know when it’s had a shit on the trail?
They don't care or "stick and flick", only one person I remember has ever discussed picking up, he used a Tupperware box
@Pitdog... Just asking if trail dogs were something I alone am wary of.
Seems that is not the case.
Some dogs are very friendly, and I have no probmems with them, as long as they are not a risk to me or others. Other dogs tend to bark a lot, then roll up in a pit of their own dogs eggs. I have nothing but pity for those sorry animals.
I can’t think of many bike ride related things I’d like less than bringing the dog. Used to run with our lab a bit but we both didn’t really enjoy it.
Also get the shits a bit when nearly running one over at a trail centre.
Rescue, trail or both.
I've ridden down a trail at cannock before (FTD) with a bloke I didn't know following a way behind with his trendy "trail dog" joining down the trail. The bloody thing was flying. It clearly did it regularly but was really off putting as he was running either right up my arse or alongside me. I honestly thought I was going to crash as I lost concentration wondering when the damn thing was going to run across my front wheel.
Why? There's plenty of other places to run your precious dog that it would enjoy just as much. Imo it's become "cool" to have a niche trail dog along with your niche boutique bike. You have to show everyone how quick/cool your MTB/trail dog is. Why don't you stick a Santa Cruz sticker while you're at it too? Well, you can all sod off before you cause someone a serious crash.
Mmm wah mmm wah...
I don't ride trail centres so can't comment on that.
As a huge dog/animal lover my concern has been hitting/killing a dog on trails to be honest. That said, I'm a bimbler most of the time and (pre Covid) will happily slow right down for dogs to either make a fuss of them or chat to the owner if so inclined.
Basically id feel shit if I hurt a dog even if it was patently the owners fault. I'm not getting into the damage that could happen to me too of course.
I've only come across a few people with on dedicated mountain bike trails with "trail dogs" and haven't had any issues although I don't it's a great having one at trail centres.
It's all the other folk who think that it's ok to let their untrained dog off the lead in places like:
- Play parks
- Playing fields (pitches etc)
- Fields with livestock
- Moor land with nesting birds
Wow. Like reading a thread on carsaregreat.com about cyclists!
I strongly suspect that a swathe of the anti riding with dogs brigade above are anti dogs full stop. Not all, but most. Which explains a lot.
Given that I can ride on a bridleway with my dog whenever I like, we'll stick to the argument about trail centres. I have to say that I for one resent people with a chip on their shoulder spouting off about Instagram, SantaCruz, T5s and the like. That's just stereotyping and we all know that stereotyping is stupid, right?
Bottom line is people are allowed to take dogs to trail centres. They're allowed to, it's not against the rules. I accept that some might not like it, but that doesn't make it innately evil, or even wrong per se. That said, all riders should treat each other with respect and that goes for dogs too. If you can't control your dog, don't take it riding. Anywhere.
And finally, my dog always used to follow me. Because she wasn't allowed to overtake and couldn't anyway. If you're being caught by the rider/dog combo in front, let them past. You'll never see them again. Peace
I’d never take mine to a trail centre but he loves a mess around in the local woods, I can’t keep up with him on flat singletrack.
We do little runs, I wait while he chases squirrels, plays in streams. We don’t do big distances. It’s his play time more than my ride.
We’ve never got in anyone’s way.
When we’re finished I load my niche bike back into my combi van. This is the way.
Do you mean dogs in general?
no. i mean why do people have a ‘trail dog‘.
and why are the called trail dogs? do people have specific dogs for a specific use?
According to you, to prevent bear attacks
as it’s a uk forum my question was asked with that in mind and i was talking about the leisure dog owner as opposed to the professional dog owner.
edit- actually i don’t care what people want to call their dogs. do what you want and be happy.
i generally have no issue with dogs (or is it the owners?), but i’m not a doggy person. to prove my credentials, just yesterday i saw two dogs and i greeted them with a hello and associated pleasantries, but i don’t want to own a dog.
to get back to the original question which i completely ignored, i can understand why folk would be disturbed by a dog chasing/jumping up at them/barking at them while they are out for a ride or a walk and generally minding their own business.
people without dogs don’t disturb people with dogs half as much.
My experience of "trail hounds" slow to a crawl on a windy bit of trail as dog does doggy things, worry the whole time that I'm going to run it over as it randomly changes direction.
Catch up to rider in front.
"That your dog?"
"Yeah so??" (Stroppy dog owner)
"Jolly good I thought it was lost"
Trail centres are for bikes and that’s it.
Exactly, that's why we get annoyed by runners, horses, walkers on trails designated for bikes.
I don't have any bother with people taking the pooches out to the wilds, but if they can't be controlled when a bike comes by in a place where a bike can legitimately be, and/or likely to be encountered, keep it on a lead.
I've never been attacked by one, but have had to make mad avoidance moves and had many start to follow me a long distance from their owner.
The things I have learned on here so far:
The only mtb trails in the uk are in trail centres
Taking a dog out with you on a bike is a fashion statement.
The uk ground is too hard for a dog's paws and making it run on this near tarmac like surface is actually cruel.
Mountain bikers have neck problems and would be unable to tell if their dog had stopped for a dump on the trail. As a result, dog poo is a common obstacle on trails - like tree roots and rocks used to be once.
A dog is only necessary if used to protect you from a bear. But riding a bike in bear territory it's absolutely necessary and fine to do.
I really do feel I've stumbled into some parallel universe daily mail comments page.
You forgot children and dogs are exactly the same Scott.
This thread is pointless. Dog people and non dog people will never agree.
I sort of like dogs but I don't want a dog and when I talk to otherwise rational people about dog ownership they sound decidedly irrational to me. I guess non doggists have to accept dog thing as we sort of coevolved with the pesky animals so there must be some kind of dog centre in the human brain that is activated in the doggist.
Dog people and non dog people will never agree.
The key is "is mutt well trained" A well trained dog even at a trail centre is not an issue with me.
Can we agree?
Ever since a dog sent me over the bars when I was bimbling through the park, I steer well clear and slow right down. This one was off its lead with a runner. Thinking I was well clear of it, it darted in front on my wheel. I was annoyed I'd crashed but was more concerned about the dog. Thankfully it seemed ok. Unfortunately they are too unpredictable so I wouldn't want to be anywhere near one off lead on a proper trail. Had one chase me down on a natural trail which made contact with my leg. That was dangerous for us both on a rocky and rooty descent.
I still like seeing dogs when I'm riding but I'm now very cautious if they're off lead and anywhere near the the bike.
Taking a dog out with you on a bike is a fashion statement.
Some people really do say some stupid shit don’t they.
Taking a dog out with you on a bike is a fashion statement.
Some people really do say some stupid shit don’t they.
It's not a natural thing for a dog to do so until a 'Llangdegla' breed evolves with big thick NikeAir Max style pads and extra joint cartilage for rad schralps and scrubs it's going to have to just be a fashion rad-to-the-max living the lifestyle thing
It’s not often you see Llandegla and Rad to the Max in the same sentence
Thanks for proving my point RustyNissan
