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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dog kicked at by cyclist

192 replies

SirChenjins · 23/06/2023 20:32

I was out for our dog walking group’s regular Saturday morning walk (there’s 4 of us) on a local woodland trail that’s used mainly by walkers and dog walkers, but cyclists and horse riders also use it. The vast majority of the time it works fine, people are tolerant of each other. Our dogs are usually off lead (as many are) and we put them on eg during narrow parts of the path, or if we see an on lead dog, or cyclists are coming, etc etc.

I have been working really hard on ChenPup’s recall and he’s been brilliant. As we were walking a cyclist came tearing round a bend and made no effort to slow down so we recalled the dogs and went to get off the path. However, the speed of the cyclist spooked ChenPup and he started running beside the cyclist for some metres - I was unable to clip his lead on in time. I tried to run after him and recall but as I did that, the cyclist stopped pedalling, and as he was freewheeling pulled his leg in, aimed a big kick at my dog, shouted to me to get my dog on a lead, then carried on cycling. I managed to grab him him and fortunately the cyclist missed him, but I’ve been so nervous of having him off lead since in case it happens again. I’ve tried short bursts off lead and he’s come straight back every time, but I don’t know what to do now - keep my fingers crossed I don’t meet the same cyclist and have him off lead? Keep him on lead/long line forever more? ChenPup is 10.5kg and about 1.5 foot tall so not an imposing dog, but I completely understand it was not on for him to run beside the cyclist.

OP posts:
Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 21:47

@Chasingadvice

she was trying too. The cyclist should have shown some consideration and slowed down.

DataNotLore · 23/06/2023 21:47

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 21:47

@Chasingadvice

she was trying too. The cyclist should have shown some consideration and slowed down.

What? And get bitten? I would have sped up in this situation too

lljkk · 23/06/2023 21:48

Oh goody, 2 of MNer pet hates: cyclists and dogs. How to choose a side!?

ps: or better yet, just don't read it at all.

Boomboxinmyattic · 23/06/2023 21:48

Control. Your. Dog. Literally.

Original poster
SirChenjins · 23/06/2023 21:49

Slow down on shared footpaths
Slow down on shared footpaths
Slow down on shared footpaths

How hard can it be to understand the importance of this?

OP posts:
EdithStourton · 23/06/2023 21:50

Bloody amazing, this thread.
The cyclist came tearing round corner on a shared path. He could have encountered horses. A horse can easily kill a human being with a well-placed kick. Horses do not take kindly to being startled.

The cyclist was being an arsehole. The dog owner, on the other hand, was trying to do the right thing: thought her dog had good recall, found it wasn't quite as good as she had thought. Had the cyclist slowed down in a considerate fashion, the whole incident might never have happened.

booksandcats22 · 23/06/2023 21:50

surreygirl1987 · 23/06/2023 21:41

I think some posters get some kind of perverse thrill out of being completely unsympathetic.

Why should posters sympathise with someone who was moaning about somebody else when actually she was in the wrong...? It's the cyclist I feel sorry for!

I think it says more about you that you'd sympathise with a cyclist clearly not following all the rules who's happy to kick an animal

skilpadde · 23/06/2023 21:50

If your dog doesn't have 100% recall, then your dog should be on a lead. That's your responsibility as a dog owner.

Your worry shouldn't be about encountering this particular cyclist again, but about encountering any cyclist while out with your dog.

It's frightening to have an uncontrolled dog bounding toward you, but even more so when you're on a bike and at risk of serious injury if you come off.

It's on you to control your dog, not for cyclists to pre-emptively travel at a snail's pace just in case there are uncontrolled / uncontrollable dogs around.

VWT5 · 23/06/2023 21:50

I sympathise op. That cyclists fast approach was poor.

I used to look after multiple dogs. It’s difficult.

I’ve also been the (slow) cyclist in this situation, chased and attacked by a dog, and only when I got to safety did I find the 3 whole teeth actually embedded in my shoe sole (but thankfully not my foot).

Also had large dogs run at me, at my chest and up at my face, knee replacement surgery means I have to put the good knee up at the dog to protect myself in these circumstances…I’m a dog lover, but owners don’t like it.

booksandcats22 · 23/06/2023 21:51

EdithStourton · 23/06/2023 21:50

Bloody amazing, this thread.
The cyclist came tearing round corner on a shared path. He could have encountered horses. A horse can easily kill a human being with a well-placed kick. Horses do not take kindly to being startled.

The cyclist was being an arsehole. The dog owner, on the other hand, was trying to do the right thing: thought her dog had good recall, found it wasn't quite as good as she had thought. Had the cyclist slowed down in a considerate fashion, the whole incident might never have happened.

Exactly, completely agree

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 21:52

@Mischance

Cyclists should show consideration on shared paths. All the times my dog has had a close call with cyclists, she has been on a lead and they have been cycling like idiots. They could have hit my dog, killed her and devastated me as well as injured themselves. Or they could hit me. At the speed they go at, I'd be looking at serious injuries at best. At worst, my family would be planning a funeral. Cyclists should have to get licences to cycle in certain places, same as drivers do. I get injured, I could face months of work or life changing injuries while they get away scott free. For cycling like a moron.

drpet49 · 23/06/2023 21:52

rwalker · 23/06/2023 20:44

Your fault entirely I would and have done exactly the same
if you don’t have your dog under control then don’t complain about the consequences
not to mention the possibility of your uncontrolled dog bringing the cyclist off there bike and causing injury

This.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 23/06/2023 21:53

You're both at fault I think.

I do agree the cyclist should have slowed down but your dog was out of control - you're incredibly lucky that the cyclist stayed on and didn't end up having an accident or you could have been liable.

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 21:58

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts

The speed the cyclist was going at most likely led to the dog being out of control. OP was showing consideration to the cyclist by putting her dog on the lead. It is a pity that the cyclist didn't show the same consideration to her but it doesn't surprise me. Cyclists seldom do show consideration to others in my experience.

DibbleDooDah · 23/06/2023 21:59

I killed a dog that wasn’t on a lead and it ran out under my car wheels. Yes, a slightly different scenario, but a bike can also be just as lethal (and the cyclist could have been seriously injured if they had collided). It was beyond horrific for everyone involved.

PLEASE just keep your dog on a lead unless they are in a fenced off dedicated area, regardless of recall.

DataNotLore · 23/06/2023 22:00

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 21:58

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts

The speed the cyclist was going at most likely led to the dog being out of control. OP was showing consideration to the cyclist by putting her dog on the lead. It is a pity that the cyclist didn't show the same consideration to her but it doesn't surprise me. Cyclists seldom do show consideration to others in my experience.

The dog should have been on a lead.

An off lead dog comes towards me, you can bet your life I'm speeding up!

Screamingabdabz · 23/06/2023 22:00

The dog owners rule - blame everyone else for doing something ‘wrong’ around your unruly dog.

EdithStourton · 23/06/2023 22:01

I should also add, I ride regularly.

If you are trotting or cantering along, and you see off-lead dogs being called in, you slow right down, politely thank the owners, and ride on. You do not hurtle round bends on shared paths at speed. There is a track we ride which is horses only and is great for a trot or a short canter, but it is crossed by a footpath: you look out for walkers and dogs as you approach and both sides are expected to behave courteously: dogs called in, walkers either slow down or speed up, horses brought back to a walk, everyone exchanges a cheery greeting or thank you.

If someone is trying to call a dog in who is being a bit of a tit, you stop at a distance and give them time. If you encounter other riders, you act respectfully and sensibly.

In all my years riding in those woods, I have once encountered a plonker: a walker who flagged us to slow from a trot as we were going 'too fast' past him and his (no dogs, no small DC) on a track a good 12' wide if you include the verges.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 23/06/2023 22:01

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 21:58

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts

The speed the cyclist was going at most likely led to the dog being out of control. OP was showing consideration to the cyclist by putting her dog on the lead. It is a pity that the cyclist didn't show the same consideration to her but it doesn't surprise me. Cyclists seldom do show consideration to others in my experience.

I don't disagree but ultimately as a dog owner you must have your dog under control by law.

If your dog chases a bike (or a horse or a car) and causes an accident, you (as the owner) can be held liable and taken to court.

Boomboxinmyattic · 23/06/2023 22:02

Dog owners are beyond entitled.

booksandcats22 · 23/06/2023 22:03

It really shows the qualities of some people that they purposefully enjoy saying they'd hit a dog in the circumstances that the cyclist did even though the cyclist was unreasonable

booksandcats22 · 23/06/2023 22:04

Boomboxinmyattic · 23/06/2023 22:02

Dog owners are beyond entitled.

As are cyclists

DataNotLore · 23/06/2023 22:04

booksandcats22 · 23/06/2023 22:03

It really shows the qualities of some people that they purposefully enjoy saying they'd hit a dog in the circumstances that the cyclist did even though the cyclist was unreasonable

The quality being, not want to get bitten?

I have a scar where a dog bit me as I cycled past once- I was 12.

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:05

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts

Dogs can spook, like all animals can. Even dogs that have excellent recall the rest of the time. It is not OK for a cyclist to knowingly do something to spook the dog and then accuse the owner of not having control. She did have control before his inconsiderate actions.

Imagine if he spooked a horse and caused that to bolt? The rider could have been injured of killed. The cyclist could have been kicked and injured/killed. Bystanders could have been hurt/killed. Is that the rider's fault for not having control of her horse? Her horse might be the most placid animal on Earth 99.99% of the time. It is the cyclist who is mostly to blame here.

Boomboxinmyattic · 23/06/2023 22:05

booksandcats22 · 23/06/2023 22:04

As are cyclists

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Dogs before humans.