Chased by a dog

[Audicab]

I thought I'd post this here instead of the cycling forum as hopefully you'll advise with knowledge of dogs.

I was cycling to work this morning along a bridleway next to a river in Nottingham which is on the edge of a park. A very popular area with dog walkers, cyclists and runners etc.

I heard a dog owner screaming at her dog repeatedly to come back but it was focused solely me, about 150 meters away. It wasn't barking but when it got up to me it started as well as jumping up at my leg and snapping as though it was going to bite, probably getting about a cm away from my legs with it's teeth. It then ran round to the other side of me an did the same again, this carried on for 3 - 4 minutes.

It never bit me but it did look like it wanted to at times.

I'm reasonably confident with dogs but didn't really know the best thing to do so slowed down and carried on cycling, once I realised it wasn't biting me started talking to it gently and it went away.

The owner was nowhere to be seen by this point and had walked out of the park.

I guess the options I had were stopping and getting off my bike, kicking the dog, shouting at the dog, cycling faster or doing what I did.

What would you recommend.

Thanks

[P700DEE]

The best is that the dog is behind you and that you out run it so never gets close. The owner is at fault they should not have a dog off lead if it is not controllable. If it were to bite you then even more serious for them! Some dogs just like to chase things, some are said to dislike the noise of the wheels, at least in this case you are not riding past their house so the "attack" was not territorial. If you can't outrun a dog , stopping is best as then they can't trip you up, the owner has a better chance of catching up and in the worst case you can use your bike to get between you and the dog. As you are no longer worthy of chase and not making wheel noises you might be lucky and the dog becomes bored and responds to the owner. I would never advocate hurting any dog but if this does not work and the dog does attack then my mind is drawn to the chapter on dogs in Richard's Bicycle book regarding the use of any defense tactic. Also report to the police, there is no excuse for any dog to attack a person in a public place and if the owner has failed to teach and control the dog then you are doing everyone a favour in stopping this from happening again

[ctdctd]

I would stop pedalling and talk to the dog - "hello puppy" or similar.
Stopping pedalling means it may not be fixated on your legs and also reduces the risk of cracking it on the head.

If it lost interest, carry on.

If it was looking excited and playful, I'd stop and keep it entertained while its owner caught up - then request they keep it controlled.

If it was looking to attack, I'd stop and dismount keeping the bike between me and the dog. The owner would get an earful!

If it did attack and bite, I'd call the police.

I appreciate it's hard to work out what it is trying to do in a couple of seconds - if in doubt, I'd go for the dismounting and keeping the bike as a shield option.

[joshleb]

If a dog was looking like it was going to try to bite me, the last thing I would do would be to slow down or get off my bike!

I'd be straight out of there!

[xjay1337]

Audicab said:

I guess the options I had were stopping and getting off my bike, kicking the dog, shouting at the dog, cycling faster or doing what I did.

What would you recommend.

Thanks

Not kicking the dog!!!

Without seeing the situation how do you know the dog didn't just want to play - Ignore it, carry on if it's safe to do so. If not, stop, get off your bike, if the dog is actually being aggressive, ears pulled back, teeth exposed, then block yourself with your bicycle.

Many times dogs can be well trained but like any child or teenager sometimes they do weird things.

[Boosted LS1]

I'd slow down and stop. Most dogs are just excited by the chase and some may try to 'herd' you hence them trying to nip. It's still undesirable behaviour but fortunately I'm tolerant and a dog lover. I'd only get upset if I recieved a proper bite. The rest of the time I'd see it as a boistrous dog misbehaving.

It was cowardly for the dog owner to walk off.

OP where was this, on the embankment or elsewhere?

[Audicab]

Thanks for the reply's so far.

I was coming out of Homlepierrpont and heading up to Lady Bay, so in West Bridgford near the park.

[Boosted LS1]

Audicab said:

Thanks for the reply's so far.

I was coming out of Homlepierrpont and heading up to Lady Bay, so in West Bridgford near the park.

Ah, I know where you mean. I've walked my mutt on the Hook a few times.

[callmedave]

Ive had dogs bark at me when running, but nothing when cycling.

If im running and a dog off the lead comes up barking I stop, point at the owner, look at the dog and tell the dog to 'go' or 'go-on'
This works well. I would say 80% of the time the dog heads back to the owner.

If im running past a fence and a dog starts barking, I bark back, I dont know why, but it makes me chuckle.

[Myles Peraua]

Boosted LS1 said:

I've walked my mutt on the Hook a few times.

Leads are a more humane alternative.

[ctdctd]

callmedave said:

If im running past a fence and a dog starts barking, I bark back, I dont know why, but it makes me chuckle.

Not just me then :-)

[elanfan]

Get off bike, talk to stroke dog then chuck him in the river!

[garythesign]

Hate to admit this but my cocker chases cyclists and runners.

He was fine until about three years old.

I put him on a lead until the cyclist or runner has passed.

Sorry!

[kiethton]

if its anything like our puppy (well he only chases other dogs) he just wants to play - it's being excitable

our dog does jump up and it may look like he's trying to bite when in reality all he does is jump, nuzzle and lick simultaneously.

[Timbuktu]

ctdctd said:

callmedave said:

If im running past a fence and a dog starts barking, I bark back, I dont know why, but it makes me chuckle.

Not just me then :-)

Haha me too - when we're out on the Enduro bikes and go through farm yards etc.

My friend is terrified of dogs so I usually try to wind them up for his benefit!

Childish I know

Edited by Timbuktu on Thursday 9th March 11:10

[otolith]

It's mortifying when your dog misbehaves in public, god knows mine has done it to me before, but some people don't help themselves. I was fishing with a couple of mates the other weekend, and a dog off the lead and well ahead of the owner tried to help himself to my bait bucket. Owner arrived, apologised and got it away from me, but didn't put it on the lead. 30 yards up the bank, it did the same to the first of my mates. Again, apologies, dragged the dog away, still didn't put it on the lead. Another 30 yards and it tried the same trick on the second of my mates, who was there with his own dog, also off lead but told to stay down and as always doing as he's told. At this point the owner got an earful. On the way back, dog was on the lead, so he did take the hint, but I suspect it was more about not getting told off again than any real concern that his dog was being a nuisance.

[Marcellus]

Having had this from both sides; the owner of a dog who tried to run after a cyclist and play and the cyclist who a tried to chase and kill me!

My answer to the OP is that if when cycling you're clearly going to ride away from the dog then do so, if not stop and get off putting the bike between you and the dog and use it as some protection.

[ambuletz]

ctdctd said:

callmedave said:

If im running past a fence and a dog starts barking, I bark back, I dont know why, but it makes me chuckle.

Not just me then :-)

I do that too. and if I see a little kid staring at me while their parent(s) isn't paying attention I might poke my tongue at them or make a funny face.

[The Mad Monk]

Audicab said:

I guess the options I had were stopping and getting off my bike, kicking the dog, shouting at the dog, cycling faster or doing what I did.

What would you recommend.

Thanks

Putting the dog in the river?

[ambuletz]

The Mad Monk said:

Putting the dog in the river?