Dog

Can I ask you guys/ladies a question about dogs? I have had a couple close calls
6mr with people either riding or hiking with a dog not on a leash. Now I wont go into right/wrong, leash laws and blah blah blah. But. If I clip someone's dog coming around a corner is it acceptable to verbally assault said pet owner for putting both our lives in danger or is this a sacred cow situation?
 
Now that's a trail doggie!

I ride with my dog at times but only when I'm pretty sure no one else will be around . I don't know the answer to your question but I see your point.
 
I would really feel like a shithead if that ever happened, hopefully it never will. I see the appeal and I'm sure the pooch loves it, just seems like a risky thing to do.
 
I've had dogs off leash nearly knock me over while trail running at the sourlands. Also had a dog chase me for almost a mile. I always tell people dogs have to be on leash in that park, if they don't like it, too bad.
 
I've had a bunch of run-ins with dogs on the trail, and the only thing I can tell you is that you will probably never change anyone's behavior by yelling at them, so if you're going to do that, just admit it's to blow off your own steam. People are going to let there dogs off a leash in a park. The dog wants to run and if it isn't properly trained, it's going to cause trouble for someone eventually. The best I can think to do anymore is just let it go unless they say something to me first, and then I tell them without any emotion at all that they are irresponsible and stupid people risking their own pet's life because they're too f*cking cheap or ignorant to get him properly trained. It's amazing how well you can catch people off guard with a comment like that if you say it in a calm, monotone voice. I'm not going to fight some d-bag over something like this, but to be honest I don't give a f*ck about how some jackoff like that perceives mountainbikers either. I'm not a representative of a "riding community" or anything like that and I don't want to be -- I just want to be left alone to ride my bike on trails where it's perfectly legal to do so. Nine times out of ten, the owner is cool about it and apologizes, and I always tell them that it's cool because the dog is just having fun. And if they don't say anything, neither do I. It's only when they feel like they have to say something to me. And then I don't care about changing their opinion or even giving them something to think about. I just want to tell them they're an a$$hole and move on.

And another one of my favorites -- I occasionally poach illegal trails (we all do) and I've occasionally had run-ins like these on those trails. A little while ago, this lady started yelling at me when I came around her and spooked her dog. She was yelling about how this trail is off-limits to bikers or something. So I said, "Yeah, that's true. But it's also illegal to have your dog off a leash, so why don't we both just shut the f*ck up and move on?" Then I smiled at her and gave her the thumbs up and took off.
 
@1speed... Well put... Its all about keeping the dog behind you

I trained my dog going on 7 years ago at 6Mile... Back then there was very few people riding there... Even though I could have let her all out at that time I still worked on her staying behind me... Now at almost eight years old she is awesome even in a group setting

54 seconds in...
http://vimeo.com/9418370
 
1speed -loved your post. However, I do disagree that yelling doesn't work 😉

On my way to huber/hartshorne I cut through a local park (bodman) where the rear portion of the park is basically an impromptu dog park with a bunch of unleashed dogs running around. 99% of the dog owners have their dogs under control and I have never been chased by any of them....exempt for 1 dog.

The same damn German Shepard chases me every time it's there. It can be running around with 3 other dogs and I can veer over to the far end of the park and sure enough that fucking dog stops whatever it is doing and chases me jumping up and down, barking, etc. I absolutely love dogs but having a very quick and strong looking 80 lb German Shepard chasing you when locked into your pedals is not fun.

Anyway, last time this happened I totally lost it. Stopped and just let the lady have it essentially....."every fucking time I go through here this dog chases. No other dog has ever chased me yet every time your dog does. Control your fucking dog." Called her inconsiderate and selfish, told her if she can't control her dog she shouldn't be taking it here, etc etc.

Well, I went through there recently and noticed her with her dog. She spotted me and immediately grabbed her dogs leash"

So, obscenity filled tirades can have a positive effect.

* on the general topic of trail dogs... As much as I like the idea in theory, it can be annoying to other trail users. It's not particularly cool when a dog runs in front of you causing you to have to dismount or stopping your momentum. This has happened a handful of time.

Or another time, when another rider had a dog on a long leash.... He was on one side of the doubletrack and his dog on the other... I came around a blind cover and just barely avoided being clothes lined. So, as much as I want to like the idea....
 
Last edited:
While I agree slightly with most of these comments, controlled off leash dogs don't bother me. I have had more close calls with people then dogs at 6MR. You're talking about a park where you're going way too fast with a million blind turns. Actually, every time I've run into a dog there they've gotten out of the way quicker than a person ever has.

Now if we're taking about the tow path and coming up behind a person and their off leash dog that's another story. For some reason they always seem super annoyed they have to grab the dog's leash.
 
mandi said:
While I agree slightly with most of these comments, controlled off leash dogs don't bother me. I have had more close calls with people then dogs at 6MR. You're talking about a park where you're going way too fast with a million blind turns. Actually, every time I've run into a dog there they've gotten out of the way quicker than a person ever has.

Now if we're taking about the tow path and coming up behind a person and their off leash dog that's another story. For some reason they always seem super annoyed they have to grab the dog's leash.
Click to expand...

Well that pretty much sums up the topic perfectly.
 
It really doesn't matter what your opinion is on the subject, the law in NJ, and most of our state parks, is that a dog must be leashed and under control (BTW, I'm a dog lover and miss all of the dogs I've owned). Its all fun and games until you get sued, and your dog gets put down.
 
Spencer's dog Fiona is the best trail dog ever. I'd have to wait for her short legs sometimes but man she was only more than 10ft from me one time on a ride. When Utah was behind me and stopped and I didn't notice, she went back to get him.
https://vine.co/v/hba3T3e5xAE/embed/simple

I wish I bothered to get video of her running the log rides behind me at Ringwood. If I got up on a log and rode it, she would too. Awesome pup.

P2240306-L.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom