My turn for a common rant. Cycling along a quite lane this morning, collie type dog takes a bite out of Mrs Kilo. Drew blood. Mrs K did nothing wrong just some idiot not controlling their dog. The owner even tried to deny the dog had bitten Mrs K. Surely it's not that difficult to keep your dog under control.
Report it to the police. What if it were a child cycling past? Dog owners are like drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and just about another other group. Mostly sensible but with a fair few reckless or negligent knobbers. Hope Mrs K is not too badly hurt or shaken.
I got bit by a collie while riding up at whinlatter, it was off lead and the owner didn`t seem concerned as i cycled past, there was no warning at all, the dog just turned and bit my ankle as i pedaled past, drew blood and ripped my sock! He was concerned then! I did report it to the police, collies are nut jobs, they should be on a farm working all day not as a family pet. Hope the Mrs is ok and definitely report it to the police.
Surely it's not that difficult to keep your dog under control.
Depends on the dog and (more specifically) the owner. Most owners have a fairly rudimentary control of their dog at best.
Collies are hard work - done well they'll obey anything at a distance of a half a mile across a field but they're bred for that. If they're not given that outlet, they'll develop all manner of neurotic behaviour.
Definitely report to the police with as much detail of owner and dog as possible. Hope Mrs K is alright.
I recently got bitten by a small bully thing.
The owner legged it with the dog.
I think dogs should be on a lead in public, no exceptions and no trail dogs.
l hope Mrs Kilo is ok.
We have 2 collies, the do listen and they do return on command.
Ours are friendly but we have the space to run then round, we do take them cycling but we intentionally avoid trail centres on busy days just because.
Had a labrador run at me twice this morning threatening to bite.
After the first attempt the owner said, sorry, it's because you're running. Er OK, how about get it under control?
After the second time I just looked pittyingly at her; idiot.
Hope Mrs K is OK.
Got chased by a wee yapping thing yesterday, had to circle around and pedal back to it's owner, as it wasn't paying any attention to it's name being yelled at it. Did I get any thanks? No I didn't, but i didn't get bitten either so there's that I suppose
Some folks just haven't got a good grasp of the social contract, their dogs aren't going to be trained, and they seem determined to make their dogs behavior everyone else's problem. thankfully they're the minority of folk.
Is it acceptable to bite dog owners?
'OOh, I don't normally do that but you surprised me, just dithering around in the middle of the path staring at your phone, clutching your coffee cup and ignoring the rest of the world. I don't know what came over me'....... as I run off up the path to bite another dog owner and claim that I've never done it before.
It’s always the owners that are the problem. Many seem incapable of controlling their kids let alone an animal
It seems to be becoming a more regular occurrence.
I took the kids up to Dundee to see their grandparents over half term and a spaniel first chased our 11 year old daughter 50m across a play park then turned around and chased our 7 year old daughter in the opposite direction. Both were in tears and absolutely terrified.
The owners response - "He's just noisy don't worry" as I ran at the dog chasing and nipping at the youngest and nearly volleyed the ****ing thing on to the railway lines. It's lucky I missed by an inch.
The owner made no attempt at all to call off his dog and thought I was being unreasonable in robustly telling him to get his dog under control.
I'll bite...
Dogs as a common pet is ridiculous. They're wasteful, dangerous, loud, dirty, hard to control, frequently poorly trained and generally make most other people around them uncomfortable. Additionally they're a very significant cause of foodstuff related pollution.
Could be worse, could be a cat
Been bitten/scratched twice. Dog on lead lurched at me on a shared path (heavily used) and it's claws drew blood - my colleagues were more concerned than I was. Then local park, again shared use, problems with a a GS and then a lab. Both reported to dog warden. The GS incident, the owner just said kick it ! I did get bit on my hand.
The Labrador incident got out of hand. Two ladies walking dogs, one I'd seen before (it's on my commute so you get regulars). Lab goes for me. Stop bike, get of and tell them to control the dog. The lady I'd seen before screams at me saying she'll get her husband on me, etc etc. Anyway roll on a few weeks, she stops me, when she's on her own. She was shaking with fear, but apologised profusely and said she behaved terribly. It wasn't even her dog. I let onto her when I see her.
The dog warden wasn't much use. I explained this was a kids park, and dogs should be under control. He just advised carrying a 'dog spray'.
The law is pretty clear that dogs should be under control in public spaces at all times. It doesn't require them to be on a lead, but if a dog goes for you and it's not on a lead it's a clear cut case.
Did a 10 mile loop yesterday in the local country park and had no problems with any of the dogs running loose - either well trained or my slowing down around their walking owners didn't make them think I was a threat to be chased or bitten. Ironically the local muzzled XL Bully is as good as gold walking on her lead, and seems to like a bit of fuss if you stop for her.
There's a lot of local chatter if dogs attack locally, culprits soon know their dogs are on the radar. Also a lot of private dog parks where they can be let loose away from the rest of us, which is a good thing.
Obviously going to jinx myself here but at least where I usually ride it does seem to have improved which I was putting down to dogs that had been bought in lock down have gotten older and calmed down somewhat.
I think it has been said already, its the puppies bought during covid, that aren't recoil trained by the owner that can only see their phone in their hand, completely missing the dog 'pile' they left which doesn't get picked up whilst the dog wonders around without control.
Ironically the local muzzled XL Bully is as good as gold walking on her lead, and seems to like a bit of fuss if you stop for her.
Weirdly there's a chap I see regularly and he's obviously bought an XL bully for the looks of the thing, and it'd sooner roll over for you to better scratch it's belly than go for your jugular. He still keeps it muzzled and on a leash though, unlike some of the cock-a-poos that are frankly a bit soft in the head.
I think it has been said already, its the puppies bought during covid, that aren't recoil trained by the owner that can only see their phone in their hand, completely missing the dog 'pile' they left which doesn't get picked up whilst the dog wonders around without control.
There's also a circular thing where people see other dog walkers with loose dogs and think it must be ok to let their dogs run loose as well. I've never seen as many loose dogs on shared use paths as I've already seen this year. Summer will be horrendous, or maybe the increased numbers of other users might persuade the dog walkers to get their animals under control.
The law is pretty clear that dogs should be under control in public spaces at all times. It doesn't require them to be on a lead, but if a dog goes for you and it's not on a lead it's a clear cut case.
Last week I watched a dog walker get pulled over by their dog on lead when the dog wanted to run at me. The falling man narrowly avoided knocking over the women he was with. It was pleasingly satisfying! 😀
It’s always the owners that are the problem. Many seem incapable of controlling their kids let alone an animal
For once I agree with you. Having a dog is a commitment many aren't prepared for.
It seems to be becoming a more regular occurrence.
Nah, people have always been bellends, this isn't new. I was bitten by a dog in the 1970s for the crime of "being a small child on the swings."
Nah, people have always been bellends, this isn't new. I was bitten by a dog in the 1970s for the crime of "being a small child on the swings."
In the 70s around here there were plenty of loose dogs, just sitting outside their homes, wandering the streets, etc. What you didn't see was people driving their car to a beauty spot to let their animals run wild for 200m and shit - that was all on the pavements around their homes. Then it became bad behaviour to own a dog and just chuck it out of your house, and for a long time most dog owners were fairly responsible - understanding that having a loose dog on a cycle path isn't a good thing, for instance. There has been a definite change in peoples' behaviour since covid, partly down to massively increased numbers and partly down to learned behaviour.
I got a nip on the ankle by a small yappy dog. Apparently it was my fault as I as wearing a red jacket and I looked like a postman 🙄
I can't remember my exact response as it was a while ago now but it wasn't polite.
obviously bought an XL bully for the looks of the thing, and it'd sooner roll over for you to better scratch it's belly than go for your jugular.
Isn’t this why they’re so dangerous? Superficially they’re sweet and friendly but have both the capability and unpredictability for incredibly serious injury.
Thanks for the good wishes, fortunately she wasn't too shaken although quite annoyed at having to get a tetanus jab (we are waiting at the doctor's for this now). What is more annoying is that when we were chatting about it en route to here she said she was actually stood still when the bloody dog bit her.
I got a nip on the ankle by a small yappy dog. Apparently it was my fault as I as wearing a red jacket and I looked like a postman
I had the same once on a canal towpath, it got a grip on my shoe and hung on as I did a couple of pedal revs before letting go.
The small yappy ones are the worst by a long way, they're never trained.
My dog isn't an off lead dog, as she has been a dic* in the past, mainly to other dogs. On occasion to humans, but rarely and mainly if hooded, and drunk, or both.
People aren't required to have any form of education or training to take on a dog, imagine just letting people out in cars without any lessons! It takes a lot of effort to train a dog and even more if it's a working dog, or rescue.
As has been said above, the problem isn't the dogs, it's the owners.
I’m not sure if this has become common practice in other places, the amount of idiots walking their dog on a 10m plus training lead! There’s no control over the dog whatsoever.
Was out running this morning, down a track (public right of way) through a field (that isn't) which normally has sheep or cows grazing in it, and has signs at either end saying "keep dogs under control, calving season starts in March". Was pretty shocked to see a collie off lead haring through the field in the opposite direction; and about 3 minutes later, 2 people who I presumed were the owners.
I wanted to shout "you know the farmer could shoot your dog", but just ran on thinking that just when you think people can't be any worse...
What is more annoying is that when we were chatting about it en route to here she said she was actually stood still when the bloody dog bit her.
I had that, the last time I got bitten. I had stopped for the professional dog walker as she made her way up a track, and was chatting to her when her own dog, not one of her walkees, wandered around behind me and bit my leg. She was ever so apologetic and, after coming out with the standard cliche about never doing it before, told me that she walked along the bike tracks because they didn't have so many other dogs to annoy 'her' dogs. I'll bet the owners might have been surprised to find that their prized pets were walked along marked MTB trails.
It’s not too difficult but it is much easier to put them on a lead.
Hope your Mrs is Ok.
Collies can nip, it’s in their nature from herding.
its the puppies bought during covid, that aren't recoil trained
Probably for the best. I'm not sure teaching them to shoot is wise.
I’m in the STW dog thread, originally with my own dog. After his passing I volunteer at a local animal sanctuary / dog rescue.
Now that they know I’m one of the good ones (and not just someone who turns up once so they can put it on their CV) they are less guarded to me with their comments on the original owners of the dogs.
There are are some truly damaged dogs, and lots that haven’t been cared for. Quite a few of the dogs I walk have never encountered a kissing gate/stile or river! One lived in an apartment all its life and toileted on the balcony.
I spend my Sundays with some lovely dogs but the majority have been let down by humans.
If it is a genuine working dog, I'll usually stop. I get that collies are born and bred to run round in circles biting herbivore ankles, so I'll modify my leisure sensibly and within reason. I guess I've been nipped loads due to growing up in Gwynedd so I'm less fussed, I know they're happy to nip but it's not their nature to savage someone or bite and hold.
Family dogs on walks though? No, they should absolutely not be biting people. I think labradors can be the worst for this as they are cute and docile with their owners. There was a nasty lab-Malinois cross where I used to live that fell into this category, really dangerous.
Hope Mrs. K. recovers OK.
Unfortunately a lot of dog owners seem to realise that to have a dog on a lead is compulsory on a pavement or shared path. If the dog isn't on a lead then the dog owner will be presumed at fault if anything untoward occurs.
Good luck with getting some to understand that this does not mean it is OK to have a black stretchy lead right across the unlit sea front path in the dark and wondering why runners and cyclists get caught up in it.
From the Highway code:
Rule 56
Dogs. Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists or horse riders.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-about-animals-47-to-58
The small yappy ones are the worst by a long way, they're never trained
Yes, my theory is the people most inclined to get the small yappy ones are also the least inclined to train a dog properly.
After my dad passed and eventually the lovely black lab he had trained also passed, mum got a small yappy type dog and has barely trained it. Can't be trusted off lead, pain in the arse even on the lead 🙄
Where I live is fairly rural. The local Facebook page has regular posts from farmers pleading for dog owners to keep their animals on leads as they're constantly killing sheep or scaring them into miscarriages during lambing season
This morning someone put a post up with a graphic photo of a young deer that had just been savaged by a dog and was again pleading for people to keep their animals under control.
They won't, of course. The sense of entitlement of some dog owners seems to extend as far as killing livestock being perfectly acceptable
Its pretty simple, most people don't train their dogs.
I've got a Cocker Spaniel. Her recall is very good, because I spent hours training her, from a few months old, I was training recall using a long training lead and teaching her the basics. When I meet other owners and dogs when I'm out a lot of them say "Oh I can let them off the lead like that, they never come back" I mean do they think its magic that my dog comes back?
But I also know my dogs limitations, her walking to heel isn't brilliant, so I keep her on the lead on pavements and any busy shared paths or areas.
I think it has been said already, its the puppies bought during covid, that aren't recoil trained by the owner that can only see their phone in their hand, completely missing the dog 'pile' they left which doesn't get picked up whilst the dog wonders around without control.
Things I don’t get - and yes, we have a dog:
- Dog being off their lead in a public place.
- People walking a dog but being on their phone.
- Listening to music/podcast/audiobook whilst walking a dog.
- Letting your dog poo everywhere.
- ’Trail dogs’
Dogs are animals - there’s always a danger of them being being spooked/getting over excited and out of control, so ours stays on a lead when we take him out - also we would be devastated if we lost him.. I walk our dog and it’s focus time with him, so I’m not on the phone, listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks - I enjoy the time and I hope he does too. Pick up after your dog - it’s not hard. ‘Trail dogs’. Purpose-built trail surfaces are hard on dogs feet and whilst our dog can walk for miles - its at his pace. The amount of ‘trail dogs’ out of control on trails has always been mad.
I had one chase/have a go a while back (years), owner shouting like hell with no effect. Now I know the dogs name and encouraged it along for a mile or two. It gave up and probably got lost.
Had a ride around Wye Valley for day.
Later, on the way back the dog was back out for I guess its second walk.
Upon seeing me again the owner, scrambles to get it on lead and succeeds.
As I ride by, I'm dutifully informed that "I'm a child" for my earlier behaviour. 🙂
🙂
A Child.
That learnt em'.
Hope Mrs K is ok?I think it has been said already, its the puppies bought during covid, that aren't recoil trained by the owner that can only see their phone in their hand, completely missing the dog 'pile' they left which doesn't get picked up whilst the dog wonders around without control.
Things I don’t get - and yes, we have a dog:
- Dog being off their lead in a public place.
- People walking a dog but being on their phone.
- Listening to music/podcast/audiobook whilst walking a dog.
- Letting your dog poo everywhere.
- ’Trail dogs’
Dogs are animals - there’s always a danger of them being being spooked/getting over excited and out of control, so ours stays on a lead when we take him out - also we would be devastated if we lost him.. I walk our dog and it’s focus time with him, so I’m not on the phone, listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks - I enjoy the time and I hope he does too. Pick up after your dog - it’s not hard. ‘Trail dogs’. Purpose-built trail surfaces are hard on dogs feet and whilst our dog can walk for miles - its at his pace. The amount of ‘trail dogs’ out of control on trails has always been mad.
Pesky dog walkers listening to podcasts.How awful...
Could be worse, could be a cat walker listening to Joe Rogan
I was walking into town the other day, listening to a podcast (don't worry, I don't have a dog)
Heard jingling behind me, thanks to the magic of bone-conducting headphones...
Next thing I know, I got 'clothes-lined' at thigh height from behind by a jogger on my right, and a dog on my left. One of those go jogging with your dog attached to your waist things.
Sometimes, dog owners. No sometimes people aren't that bright.
Can't beat a good STW dog thread for all the apologists coming out with Olympic grade bollocks like "it's ok for dogs to nip people, it's just their breed." I bet if someone kicked a bitey dog's fkn head in and then protested that they were "just a bit kicky" then the owner might have something to say about it.
People trump animals, end of discussion. If you can't be arsed to train your hound or to buy one of the non-bitey variety then it's not as though muzzles don't exist.
I’m not sure if this has become common practice in other places, the amount of idiots walking their dog on a 10m plus training lead!
Those retractable leads are a menace. I had one just last week, some gimmer on the pavement with his dog on the other pavement on the opposite side of the road. If I hadn't processed it in time I would have driven over the lead at best if not also dragged the dog under my wheels. It's not even like they're easy to see, black cord against Tarmac.
We have 2 collies, the do listen and they do return on command.
....said every owner of an off the lead dog that has bitten a cyclist. Or a child.
Pesky dog walkers listening to podcasts.How awful...
make like Fran Leibowitz; "Pretend you live in a city". If you want to walk your dog on a long retractable leash while listening to Joe, then **** off to the middle of nowhere, otherwise, don't act all surprised when I come past you on my bike on the TPT on the outskirts of the largest urban areas in the north west.
Pesky dog walkers listening to podcasts.How awful...
I'm with jamj on this. Concentrate on the dog otherwise like Mrs Sandwich you'll end up on your arse and losing the earbud you were listening to the podcast on. She will not understand that our Dingus Dog can tell when you're not focussed and he will take advantage. So far the only person suffering is her on two occassions she has been bruised and muddied with the dog on the lead and I've had to go and use HMV to recover a dog from the middle of a huge puddle.
@redthunder I regularly stomp on when we're bothered by uncontrolled dogs. Not my problem if your dog goes out of the park with my dog and gets lost, train them to recall or don't let them off. it's not rocket surgery.
I've had to go and use HMV to recover a dog from the middle of a huge puddle.
Was it in the middle of a huge gramophone horn?
There’s a theory that the reason we have so many dogs off leads is due to the lack of poisonous or venomous wildlife.
If people’s fur baby was at risk of being bitten by a snake or eating a cane toad you can bet they’d be a lot more careful
(Stands by for an Aussie telling me I’m wrong…)
I like dogs and I am usually very tolerant but the other day I was chased by 2 little yappy ones. Bit of a dick move but I just kept going at about their speed without letting them near me. They chased me for about a kilometre before I sprinted off
Its all about the dog and how well trained it is. I have known dogs that never went on a lead as they had no need to. I have cycled along a mixed use path and on ringing my bell when I saw a man with 5 collie type dogs milling about he called "down" and they all got out of the way and dropped down and kept still. I have also been bitten by a dog without any warning as I cycled past and have known dogs that have to go on a lead before they leave the house and are never off it outside the house.
If more of us would report dogs and their owners and sue the owners for the damage the dog does I hope incidents would decrease. the dog owner is liable for the damage the dog does
Its all about the dog and how well trained it is. I have known dogs that never went on a lead as they had no need to.
Of course, the problem when you're approaching a dog that's not on a lead is that you don't know whether it's well trained or not. Being on a lead is it least a sign that the owner has some tiny bit of control, even if they do drop the lead immediately that the dog sprints away...
thats when you ring your bell and see what happens. From at least 50m away