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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:
DataNotLore · 23/06/2023 22:24

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:22

@DataNotLore

So because you are more important than dogs and horses, that gives you the right to cycle like a nutter and risk hitting a dog, which could kill it, or cycle like a nutter and risk spooking a horse, which could cause it's rider to die after being thrown from the saddle? Or the horse could injure it's leg in the panic and have to be put down. Because you think that being more important than them means that you don't have to show them any consideration whatsoever? What about some consideration for their HUMAN owners who would be absolutely devastated if they got injured or killed?

Well that's taken extrapolation to a new level!

GrinGrinGrin

Original poster
SirChenjins · 23/06/2023 22:25

Not at all.

OP posts:
Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:26

@DataNotLore

The owner was trying to get the dog back on the lead. If the cyclist slowed down, she would have been able too. The cyclist wouldn't have been chased.

Drivers should go slowly past horses because even really placid horses can spook. Likewise, cyclists should slow down until owners have a chance to put dogs on a lead because even laidback, placid dogs with excellent recall can spook. It is called being considerate of others

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 23/06/2023 22:26

I’m a cyclist and a dog owner.

while I would like to think I wouldn’t have been in that position as I’d have used a bell, slowed down, stopped if necessary while you were getting dogs on leads maybe he made a mistake about not thinking what might be round the bend.

however if a dog is chasing me on a bike I will do what he did if I think it’s necessarily to protect myself. I’ve been chased by dogs twice. Once while cycling on a low down recumbent so dog was head height and lunging and snapping at me. I actually didn’t dare stop so kept pedalling while owner was shouting at me to stop!!! Sorry, I wasn’t risking that.

the other time I was chased by a snarling, snapping doberman. Which caught up with me. I managed to get off my bike on the other side from the dog and then had to use my bike as a defensive weapon against the dog. I get that hitting a dog with a bike isn’t very nice but I had to fight it off.

ThreeImaginaryBoys · 23/06/2023 22:26

I'm a very considerate cyclist (and dog lover, for what it's worth). Part of my commute is across a park with a wide shared path. This morning, for the second time in a few weeks a dog off the lead came hurtling towards me. I braked, swerved, but still nearly hit it. Had I fallen, I could have been badly hurt. Had I hit the dog, it could have been fatal. The owner was several yards behind the dog, holding its unattached lead, looking at her phone.

I don't think dog owners are conscious of how dangerous off-lead dogs are.

I have very expensive insurance to cover the third-party costs of any accidents as I think this is the responsible thing to do. Do any of you dog owners have the same in case your dog causes a serious accident?

DataNotLore · 23/06/2023 22:27

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:26

@DataNotLore

The owner was trying to get the dog back on the lead. If the cyclist slowed down, she would have been able too. The cyclist wouldn't have been chased.

Drivers should go slowly past horses because even really placid horses can spook. Likewise, cyclists should slow down until owners have a chance to put dogs on a lead because even laidback, placid dogs with excellent recall can spook. It is called being considerate of others

You're asking the cyclist to risk getting bitten.

It should be on a lead.

Bobbybobbins · 23/06/2023 22:29

The cyclist WBU as it could have been a small child or horse around the corner.

You were also BU as you need to lead dog until recall is perfect.

Sounds like it was all ok in the end though so no harm done!

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:30

@DataNotLore

This is the last thing I am going to say because we are going in circles and it is pointless arguing with people like you. The dog would have been safely on a lead if the cyclist had slowed down to give OP enough time so there would have been no risk of him getting bitten. As it is, with the speed he was going at, she didn't have time.

DataNotLore · 23/06/2023 22:31

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:30

@DataNotLore

This is the last thing I am going to say because we are going in circles and it is pointless arguing with people like you. The dog would have been safely on a lead if the cyclist had slowed down to give OP enough time so there would have been no risk of him getting bitten. As it is, with the speed he was going at, she didn't have time.

I have a scar on my leg where I was bitten by a dog when I cycled past it.

Several others have related similar.

Dog goes on lead.

arguablycool · 23/06/2023 22:31

On a shared use path, the dog should be on a lead at all times. I would also have kicked the dog.

DataNotLore · 23/06/2023 22:34

arguablycool · 23/06/2023 22:31

On a shared use path, the dog should be on a lead at all times. I would also have kicked the dog.

No, apparently we should smile nicely and apologise while the dog takes a chunk out of a calf.

GBoucher · 23/06/2023 22:36

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:19

@GBoucher

He should have slowed down on a bend when he doesn't know what is on the other side. He could have hit a walker or a child. He should have slowed down when he saw dog walkers in front of him trying to get dogs on leads. That way, he probably would never have been in a situation where a dog was chasing him

The operative word here is 'trying'. 'Trying' to get dogs on leads. But failing. Point is, the dog was not on a lead and the OP couldn't get him on one. So once the cyclist saw dogs that were not on leads, he had no choice but to try and get away as fast as possible. Yes, it would have been more considerate if the cyclist hadn't come round the bend fast, but that doesn't absolve the OP from not being able to get her dog under control. I also agree with a point another poster has made - if the cyclist had really been going as fast as the OP suggests, the OP wouldn't even have had the time to recall the dog, the dog coming to her but escaping before the lead could be put on, etc. He would have long been gone before all of these things had taken place. So I'm in some doubt as to how fast he was actually going. Perhaps the OP is exaggerating how fast he was going to justify her dog being out of control?

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 23/06/2023 22:36

I have very expensive insurance to cover the third-party costs of any accidents as I think this is the responsible thing to do. Do any of you dog owners have the same in case your dog causes a serious accident?

Yes - and it's not even expensive - it costs £25 a year with Dogs' Trust.

croft89 · 23/06/2023 22:37

Op you seem to be blaming the cyclist and not taking any responsibility for your own actions

You had a dog with poor recall off the lead in public

Not surprised the cyclist kicked out, they probably thought that they were going get bitten

Do all of the group have dogs with poor recall off the lead? Sounds like very typical entitled dog walker behaviour

Unluckycat1 · 23/06/2023 22:37

The cyclist sounds dangerous. I cycle daily and happily slow down and maneuver for dogs (or kids, or pedestrians etc). I've never been chased by a dog, and i imagine it's because I don't zoom past them. But I do think since the boom in dog ownership dog walkers have taken over some nice spots. (I say this as a newish dog owner). The lovely little woods near me that I used to potter around with my kids is 99% dog walkers now, most dogs off lead (I wouldn't consider it a nice place to take young children any more 💩). Other nice naturey walks with shared paths are the same, so many off lead dogs, many not glued to their owners heels. It must be frustrating for cyclists coming across dog after dog and it sounds like he reached boiling point. I have my pup on a lead in those situations and step off the path so they can pass.

Original poster
SirChenjins · 23/06/2023 22:38

Interesting to hear the range of views. On tomorrow’s walk he will be on lead and this pedestrian will be exercising her right of way on the path - it will be up to any cyclist behaving like an arsehole to work out how they’ll get past me.

OP posts:
Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:47

@GBoucher

She was trying to get her dog on the lead when he came whizzing around the corner. The reason why she failed was because he was going too fast. If he had slowed down, she would have had enough time to get him on the lead. And if the bike went slowly past her, the dog probably wouldn't have wanted to chase the bike anyway. There is fault on both sides here.

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:53

@GBoucher

And if a cyclist sees dogs in front of him, of course he should slow down or stop and give the owners chance to get them on the lead. Going whizzing past is the worst thing you can do, you could hit the dog, especially if it hasn't noticed you. Also dogs are more likely to spook/give chase if you go flying past at speed.

Wheelyfembot · 23/06/2023 22:56

Keep your dog on a lead, you clearly can’t control it!
My beloved 13 year old dog (who was always on a lead) was attacked by an off lead, uncontrolled dog with no recall and was accompanied by inept, irresponsible owners who failed to stop the prolonged attack and just wandered off while I tended to my terrified pug. My dog never recovered and was PTS on Monday morning. My intense hatred for that unleashed dogs owners right now can not be described.

I wish I’d full on booted the attacking dog (and it’s moronic owners) at the time, if I had maybe my dog would still be alive.

GBoucher · 23/06/2023 22:58

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 22:47

@GBoucher

She was trying to get her dog on the lead when he came whizzing around the corner. The reason why she failed was because he was going too fast. If he had slowed down, she would have had enough time to get him on the lead. And if the bike went slowly past her, the dog probably wouldn't have wanted to chase the bike anyway. There is fault on both sides here.

Or alternatively, the cyclist would have slowed down and the dog would have had plenty of time to bite him. There are many replies here with examples of people who got bitten by a dog while cycling at slow or moderate speed.

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 23:02

@GBoucher

So if you see dogs running around off the lead in front of you, your default response is to go whizzing past them on the off chance they might bite, even though that could ultimately lead to you hitting them and potentially killing them? Instead of giving their owner a chance to get them on the lead? Hmm

indigovapour · 23/06/2023 23:03

SirChenjins · 23/06/2023 22:38

Interesting to hear the range of views. On tomorrow’s walk he will be on lead and this pedestrian will be exercising her right of way on the path - it will be up to any cyclist behaving like an arsehole to work out how they’ll get past me.

Well presumably they'll just cycle past you on their bikes, unless you mean you're going to be deliberately obstructive, in which case, good luck - let us know how that works out for you.

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

indigovapour · 23/06/2023 23:03

Well presumably they'll just cycle past you on their bikes, unless you mean you're going to be deliberately obstructive, in which case, good luck - let us know how that works out for you.

Show quote history

Will do.

OP posts:
WeWereInParis · 23/06/2023 23:09

Your dog should be on a lead.

The cyclist shouldn't have been riding like that.

The attempted kick sounds like a bit of a non-event - he was balancing on a moving bike while aiming a kick at a running dog? He wouldn't have been able to put any real force behind it without falling off, and I'd be surprised if he'd even been able to make contact.

caramac04 · 23/06/2023 23:14

Sounds like the cyclist was riding too fast with no consideration for others on a shared pathway.