Day 1: Dog trouble

**50km/h Demon** · 21st March 2010, 11:55

Hi all, just bought my first bike yesterday and gave it a whizz round the hood.
Aside from the stalling and leaving the indicator on after turning corners, I ran into my first dog incident already.

These little 9 year-old girls didn't have their dog on a leash and it was on its own on the other side of the road. It heard me, perked its head up from the urine stains it was sniffing, then started giving chase to me! I remember the road code saying I should speed up since dogs can't catch me, so I did. But the car behind me nearly bowled the silly thing over.

Was there anything I could've done differently to put neither of us at risk? (Besides walking up to those girls and unloading an earful of obscenities for not putting their dog on a leash?)

**CookMySock** · 21st March 2010, 12:04

Forget about the safety of the stupid dog. Just look after yourself.

Steve

**Toaster** · 21st March 2010, 13:26

Your priority is not to crash. Stuff the dog.

**Nasty** · 21st March 2010, 13:45

The girl and her family didn't have dit on a leash .. they should expect that it will die from their stupidity ... it is not your problem ... you are your problem ...

**Pegasus** · 21st March 2010, 13:51

I would go for the ear lashing for the little girls (hopefully drum some common sense into them for future reference). Why is it that people think that they have some sort of right to impose their dogs on other people?

And I am a dog lover.

More important to get yourself out of there safely though.

**tate35** · 21st March 2010, 14:21

I do'nt think there is much more or anything different you could have done....you safety is first

I had the same thing some months ago....I just sped off and did'nt look back

**tate35** · 21st March 2010, 14:22

Oops and welcome to KB and congrations on your first bike

**CookMySock** · 21st March 2010, 15:08

If you HAVE TO run into the dog, hit it square on with your bike upright and the bars straight. Stay seated, hold the bars firmly, and brace yourself on the bike for the impact.

You stand the best chance staying on the bike this way. You will probably ping it real harrd with the middle of the front wheel and knock it down the road and out of your way, so watch out if it ends up in front of you again as it will be on the ground and under your wheels this time. Usually you don't ping it straight ahead - usually you will knock it to one side.

Dogs aren't normally this stupid - this is a sheep or cat thing. Also dogs will back off if you have a really loud exhaust.

Steve

**EJK** · 21st March 2010, 15:11

Your life is far more important than a stray dog's.

Kill the dog if it means survival.

**50km/h Demon** · 21st March 2010, 18:03

It was such an adorable little one too, the type that'd either hop into your lap when you're on the couch or squeeze under your feet to make a good footrest.
But I see your point guys, the dog should've been on a leash in the first place and the situation was beyond my control (and should've been under the control of those little unsupervised girls).

Cheers guys.

**Smifffy** · 21st March 2010, 18:08

A decent blast on the horn can sometimes give them (and the girls) a b it of a fright and a wake up - causing them to turn away from you. Let it get hit by the car, then it's someone else's problem.

**CookMySock** · 21st March 2010, 18:12

Originally Posted by 50km/h Demon

It was such an adorable little one too, the type that'd either hop into your lap when you're on the couch or squeeze under your feet to make a good footrest..

hey hey! you're making us feel bad now.. I suppose it was white with really curly fur? Need beer fast!

Steve

**BuzzardNZ** · 21st March 2010, 20:20

I had a large rottie come at me, I just put my leg out and booted it in the face as I speed past it. was lucky that it never got in front of the bike and came at me from the side.

**50km/h Demon** · 22nd March 2010, 04:33

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

hey hey! you're making us feel bad now.. I suppose it was white with really curly fur? Need beer fast!

Steve

Haha, don't worry mate the little dog's fine the last time I saw it!

Originally Posted by BuzzardNZ

I had a large rottie come at me, I just put my leg out and booted it in the face as I speed past it. was lucky that it never got in front of the bike and came at me from the side.

Yikes, good on ya for still being here!