Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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:
GBoucher · 23/06/2023 23:15

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

I don't cycle, but if I did and an unknown dog chased me, yes, I reckon I would speed up rather than slow down and risk being bitten.

Applecoresweet · 23/06/2023 23:16

Every time I see a cyclist coming I call my dog and pray that he comes immediately and so far he has. The reason I worry so much about him coming back is because he could cause an accident. Dogs running at cyclists are really dangerous. Just be happy all went ok with it did.

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 23/06/2023 23:17

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 that’s petty

whatchagonnado · 23/06/2023 23:20

I was chased by a dog when I was on a bike when I was 21. Bloody terrifying it was. 30 years on and I still really do not like dogs

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

And cyclists speeding at people are really dangerous. I’m partially deaf and if I’d had my back to him I may not have heard him and may not have been able to move into the side in time. It’s incumbent upon all users of shared footpaths to be responsible.

ChenPup will definitely be back on the lead on this trail though for the foreseeable.

OP posts:
Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 23:25

@GBoucher

But the dog wasn't chasing him to begin with though. The cyclist went around the bend and saw dogs off the lead in the path in front of him and owners calling them to come so they could put them on leads. No dog was chasing him at that time. They probably hadn't even seen him. That is when he should have slowed down or stopped and gone past the dog walkers once the dogs were safely on leads and couldn't give chase. Instead, just as OP was about to clip on the lead the cyclist went whizzing past, which is what spooked OP's dog and caused it to chase after him. If he had stopped or slowed down, OP would have got the lead on the dog and the cyclist would have gone past. If he had been going slower, the dog might not have wanted to chase him and wouldn't have been able to anyway because he would have been on a lead.

lakesummer · 23/06/2023 23:30

How many children are killed and injured by dogs vs by cyclists?

I have no idea what this has to do with a shared path?
The dog should have been on a leash.
The cyclist should have been using more care and less speed.

Both the dog and the cyclist had the potential to cause harm in this situation.

The situation being a shared path. The cyclist has to give way to pedestrians on a shared path and a dog has to be under control.
There are no children involved.

Ponderingwindow · 23/06/2023 23:34

Even if the cyclist had slowed down, your dog might still have chased. People are perfectly allowed to defend themselves in that situation. What happens to your poor dog is entirely your fault for not having them under your control. keep your dog on a lead except in the very rare circumstances where you know that you can control the environment or where everyone has chosen to accept possible dog attacks such as designated dog parks.

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 23:39

@Ponderingwindow

She almost had him on the lead before the bike whizzed past, which is what spooked him.

It is not OK for cyclists to be going at mad speeds past people and dogs on the off chance they get chased. They could injure a dog or a human by doing that.

Some dogs aren't bothered about cyclists but should still be put on the lead just so they can't step out in front of them and cause an accident. But if cycles are going at break neck speeds, owners don't always have the time to call them back and get them on the lead.

GBoucher · 23/06/2023 23:40

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 23:25

@GBoucher

But the dog wasn't chasing him to begin with though. The cyclist went around the bend and saw dogs off the lead in the path in front of him and owners calling them to come so they could put them on leads. No dog was chasing him at that time. They probably hadn't even seen him. That is when he should have slowed down or stopped and gone past the dog walkers once the dogs were safely on leads and couldn't give chase. Instead, just as OP was about to clip on the lead the cyclist went whizzing past, which is what spooked OP's dog and caused it to chase after him. If he had stopped or slowed down, OP would have got the lead on the dog and the cyclist would have gone past. If he had been going slower, the dog might not have wanted to chase him and wouldn't have been able to anyway because he would have been on a lead.

From OP: 'a cyclist came tearing round a bend and made no effort to slow down so we recalled the dogs'. OP and her friends only recalled their dogs because the cyclist didn't slow down, i.e., if the cyclist had slowed down, they wouldn't have recalled the dogs but just let them run amok potentially putting the cyclist and the dogs at risk. OP maintains her dog only chased the cyclist because he was going at speed but the cyclist doesn't know that (neither does the OP, to be honest - just because her dog hasn't chased cyclists prior to this point doesn't mean he wasn't going to chase this one). All the cyclist knows is that there multiple dogs off lead and he has no idea what the dogs are like and what they will do. Why would he risk slowing down?

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 23:51

@GBoucher

OP has also said that her dog has had great recall with cyclists going at a slower speed which implies that she does call her dog back when she sees a cyclist and puts him on the lead. She also said that if he had been going slower, she would have had time to put him on the lead which again suggests that she would have put the dog on the lead even if the cyclist wasn't going so fast.

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 23:52

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.

@GBoucher

and here, top oaragraph she clearly says they put the dogs on leads when they see cyclists coming.

GBoucher · 23/06/2023 23:58

Prescottdanni123 · 23/06/2023 23:52

@GBoucher

and here, top oaragraph she clearly says they put the dogs on leads when they see cyclists coming.

Show quote history

Well, that's clearly not what she did in this instance. Even when she saw the cyclist coming round the bend, she waited to see if he would slow down or not instead of putting the lead on her dog immediately.

madeinmanc · 24/06/2023 00:03

It's simple: keep your dogs on a lead and keep to the left of the shared path.

Prescottdanni123 · 24/06/2023 00:03

@GBoucher

Or maybe she just worded herself badly.

Either way, cyclists should have more consideration for other people. He was Cycling dangerously just on the off chance the dogs are in the small minority of aggressive dogs is not an excuse. A small child could have stepped out in front of him and he would not have been able to stop or swerve. From the sounds of things, he was already going too fast before he came around the bend and the speed he went past the dogs at had nothing to do with a fear of being bitten. Let's just hope he doesn't hit a child or a walker.

It's late so I'm stepping away from this thread now. Good night.

honeycookies · 24/06/2023 00:07

This situation is your fault. You can’t have your dog off lead if their recall isn’t perfect. It doesn’t matter if it’s a cyclist or other vulnerable trail path user, something will happen in the future that may spook your dog. You can’t let your dog roam free if you can’t predict its behaviour in these situations. If it bites someone, it runs the risk of being put down, so it’s in your best interests to keep them on lead. Whether the cyclist was moving too fast isn’t really relevant, you still saw them and reacted in time, but failed to control your dog. The cyclist can’t assume your dog is friendly/well meaning/too weak to do damage or whatever as they’re stuck in fight or flight mode thinking it’s a potentially aggressive dog.

AnyaMarx · 24/06/2023 00:08

Nope . I agree with you op - some cyclists are entitled arses.

It was a foot path not a cycle path .

TeeBee · 24/06/2023 00:10

You need to keep your dog under control.

CaptainMyCaptain · 24/06/2023 07:16

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.

Most pet insurance includes third party cover.

EdithStourton · 24/06/2023 07:31

A lot of house insurance policies also include third party cover.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 24/06/2023 07:33

@CaptainMyCaptain I'm also a dog walker and needed a policy to cover my dog for third party while he's at work with me - my regular insurance won't cover that and neither will my business insurance 🙈

Lcb123 · 24/06/2023 07:57

do You know how much worse it would have been if the dog had got under the wheels? For the cyclist as well as the dog. The cyclist was trying to stop that. If your dog won’t come back it should have been on a lead

Yellowsubmarineunderthesea · 24/06/2023 08:15

@Prescottdanni123 - you appear to be very knowledgeable and very vested in the whole saga. Are you @SirChenjins

SunnyEgg · 24/06/2023 08:16

Lcb123 · 24/06/2023 07:57

do You know how much worse it would have been if the dog had got under the wheels? For the cyclist as well as the dog. The cyclist was trying to stop that. If your dog won’t come back it should have been on a lead

Agree with this

IngGenius · 24/06/2023 08:27

Unfortunately it is not really a question of who was right or wrong as we are not able to control other peoples behaviur.

If I were walking my dog on a path that was known to have cyclists on it (especially hilly mountain bikes) I would have my dogs close to and under control. The older dogs would be walking to heel the puppy would be on a lead.

The dog could easily have caused an accident or been really badly injured in a situation with a bike