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especially at first when it feels like you’ve got a small alien in the house that you don’t understand, wails at night, won’t crap where you want it to, bites anything and everything, scratches, barks at random things, seems hungry all the time even after being fed, eats things it shouldn’t, sicks up things it shouldn’t have eaten, pees in the most expensive places…
Absolutely cannot wait.
People, places, sights, sounds, smells – as diverse and as much as you can before they’re about 14 weeks old. It really worked. He wasn’t scared of fireworks, buses, horses, people in wheelchairs, thunder – it helps so much.
Mines almost 3yo, now and very much agree with this, but hes a 'ratter' and can still bolt after a rodent or a plasic bag blowing across his line of sight, if the mood takers him.
For that reason he's never off the lead, unless in a place he can't escape from - as much for his own safety than anything else.
I've had arsehole cyclists silently speed up behind me with no warning on a few occasions, arseholes exist in any demographic group.
I’ve had arsehole cyclists silently speed up behind me with no warning on a few occasions, arseholes exist in any demographic group.
I'm interested in this... I definitely agree arseholes exist in any demographic group, but I don't understand why a cyclist speeding up would make them an arsehole.
As a dog-walker it must be slightly surprising to have a cyclist pass quickly, however as a cyclist if there's a dog on the path and I can't predict what it's going to do, I'd rather be out of its way as quick as is feasible. I don't think any cyclist wants to hit a dog, do they? I did it once in a park, a small dog ran at full pelt out of a bush and although I slowed down a lot and swerved, I still couldn't avoid hitting it. It was un-harmed, yelped and ran back to its owner, but there's no way I would have wanted to hit it on purpose or intentionally done anything near a dog that would cause it to jump nearer my bike.
The 4% rule applies.
4% of the population are arseholes. They are in your work, your family, your street, they are cycling, they are walking dogs, they are driving cars. They are arseholes. They are everywhere. No point stressing about it, it is just statistics and fact. In this thread people have noticed that the 4% are buying pullies (and cycling up behind people)
In some sectors the number is higher than 4%, sometimes significantly so. But that baseline figure remains the same. Sometimes best to accept it and move on.
however as a cyclist if there’s a dog on the path and I can’t predict what it’s going to do, I’d rather be out of its way as quick as is feasible. I don’t think any cyclist wants to hit a dog, do they?
Of course not, I ride a bike and have a dog that I walk with (usually on tow paths) , and drive, so I can see all aspects.
It's about being aware and responsible, and warning people of your approach.
I'm happy to stand aside on a tow path to let bikes past, if Im aware they are tanking up behind me... one time my little dog almost got T-boned (was on a lead), was someone a bike, luckily I heard his tyre noise and got the dog out of the way just in time.
I know it's uncool, but use a loud bell, people! it's not a silver bullet but it helps, unless your a jogger with headphones on (thats an argument for another thread lol!) 😀
I did shout after him, something along the lines of 'get a bell, W***er!' and got an insult back whilst the P**k peddled off. If I had been able to catch up with him, I'd have kicked him off his bike into the canal, and I'd have chucked his bike in after him.
I did shout after him, something along the lines of ‘get a bell, W***er!’ and got an insult back whilst the P**k peddled off. If I had been able to catch up with him, I’d have kicked him off his bike into the canal, and I’d have chucked his bike in after him.
As violence always makes the world a better place....
The cyclist then climbs out the canal, follows you home and torches your house in the middle of the night.
Everyone lives happily after except you and your family who burn to death.
etc etc
With the increase in dog ownership during lockdown I fear this will only get worse
https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/news-and-events/media-centre/press-releases/be-dog-safe/
There is some good advice in the article too
if there’s a dog on the path and I can’t predict what it’s going to do, I’d rather be out of its way as quick as is feasible
Er, everything I know about dogs tells me it's better to go slower (or stop). eg. Easier to avoid if they walk in front of you (they nearly always do) and far less likely to chase a slow moving thing. I encountered quite a few this weekend just gone, slowed down, owner got the dog under control and I passed, thanking them and the dog with a smile. Why do people get all angsty and make life hard for themselves? Oh yeah I forgot, cos they're dicks.
I did it once in a park, a small dog ran at full pelt out of a bush and although I slowed down a lot and swerved, I still couldn’t avoid hitting it. I
"I had to swerve all over the place before I hit him."
We have spend time socialising him with other dogs and people though haven’t cracked the separation thing yet
Hmmm. You want to get that one done ASAP.
Our previous dog (rescue) was 1 year old when he arrived, never separated from family/pack/etc (not trained at all as it goes) and was a complete nightmare as regards separation anxiety - didn't get over it fully until about age 6.
“I had to swerve all over the place before I hit him.”
Context though, I've hit a Spaniel which launched out the bracken at Swinley (Owner nowhere in sight). I can probably stop in the distance I can see, I can't stop in 6ft though.
The 4 legged equivalent of this:
In the dog owners' defense, whoever they were, I'm not sure the average dog owner probably understands MTB trails any more than the average MTBer understands dog psychology (see the number of forum users who'll happily resort to kicking them).
Er, everything I know about dogs tells me it’s better to go slower (or stop). eg. Easier to avoid if they walk in front of you (they nearly always do) and far less likely to chase a slow moving thing. I encountered quite a few this weekend just gone, slowed down, owner got the dog under control and I passed, thanking them and the dog with a smile. Why do people get all angsty and make life hard for themselves? Oh yeah I forgot, cos they’re dicks.
+1
Unless you're so unfit that braking and accelerating is a chore, just slow down and pass them.
You wouldn't accept "I went past you fast and close to minimize the time I spent in the other lane" from an overtaking car driver, would you?
Met a bloke for the second time on todays lunchtime walk. 17 wk old Lab puppy off the lead. Perfectly fine with my 2 spaniels and very submissivem but then just follows us as obviously 2 dogs to play with is far more exciting than going back to the owner who was practically whispering his name! This is the same as happened the first time out paths crossed. I have to hang around until he comes and puts it on the lead. Today I decided to just keep walking with my 2 and see if he goes back. Obviously he didn't so I had to stop eventually.
Owner walks back to us "oh I thought he was getting better at coming back". Inside I'm screaming he's 17 weeks old FFS! He's not going to come back to you when there's dogs to play with! You have to make yourself more exciting than them you big lumbering idiot of a softly spoken whispering man! Externally of course I just make polite noises and keep on my way.
Next time the internal screaming might just become external. I'm not a confrontational person but how else is he going to learn? This is a grown man, looked around late 50's - surely can read a little bit about puppy training? One day that dog is going to leg it after something and he'll be wandering around whispering it's name for days.