In the past month, I’ve had two incidents with dogs while on my unicycle.
It seems that certain dogs hate unicycles with a vengeance.
Luckily I haven’t been bitten yet. I put my unicycle between the dog and
myself, and waited for the owners to intervene. In the first case, the dog
was about 50ft. away when it charged. In the second case, I got much
closer (which was stupid on my part).
Both incidents occurred in a park where dogs are allowed to roam free. I
like riding in this park because it’s nearby and it has challenging
trails. I can avoid this park but I would really miss it.
Can anyone offer some advice? I don’t want to get bitten, and I would not
feel right about using mace on a dog.
I used to be Dalmatian dog in my previous life (no joke). I remember
chasing an Irish man on a Penny Farthing in New York during cold weather
times. Boy, I could scare the hell out of him by chasing and barking after
him often. barkbark hehe. Anyway, one day he stop on his Penny
Farthing and strategically placed his PF between him and me. He pulled out
a dog treat out his knapsack and tossed it in front of me. Boy-oh-boy, I
ate it fast!. Chomp! Chomp! Gulp! The next day, he and I had the same
routine: I chase him, he stops, he feeds me, and I eat! I began to
like him! I no longer chased after him. He was a nice guy after all.
Now that my Karma dues have been paid off, I am no longer a Dalmatian.
Whew. I learned the hardway not to eat dogs for lunch again.
I ride in a state park where I see many dogs running with their owners
(usually off leash) all the time. Occasionally I also see dogs out roaming
on their own. So far I have never had a problem. I believe that dogs can
sense fear and react to you in a way that is dictated by your reactions to
the approach of the dog. When a dog approaches me I usually say “Hello,
doggie” in my best, high pitched, Barbara Woodhouse voice. They usually
just pass by. Their owners (who technically should have their dog [or
dogs] on leashes) often scramble to grab their dogs when they realize
someone is coming, but there are many times when the dog could easily have
jumped up on me or, or bit me, or just caused me to fall; and probably
would have if I had acted in a threatening or even just a fearful way. I
have two nieces who are terrified of dogs, and they are like magnets for
troublesome dogs off leash. It is amazing. Every dog who wanders into
their general vicinity, no matter how gentle are drawn into a back and
forth screaming/barking frenzy. It’s got to be them.
Of course, tomorrow I will probably be devoured by a pack of wild dogs,
thereby shooting my theory and strategy all to hell.
All the best,
John Hooten
Import Car Fan wrote:
> In the past month, I’ve had two incidents with dogs while on my > unicycle. It seems that certain dogs hate unicycles with a vengeance. > > Luckily I haven’t been bitten yet. I put my unicycle between the dog and > myself, and waited for the owners to intervene. In the first case, the > dog was about 50ft. away when it charged. In the second case, I got much > closer (which was stupid on my part). > > Both incidents occurred in a park where dogs are allowed to roam free. I > like riding in this park because it’s nearby and it has challenging > trails. I can avoid this park but I would really miss it. > > Can anyone offer some advice? I don’t want to get bitten, and I would > not feel right about using mace on a dog.
I know several cyclists have discovered a new use for a steel bike pump.
The only problem is dealing with the aggressive owners of the aggressive
dogs. They are the real problem.
Wayne.
----- Original Message ----- From: “Import Car Fan” <dsholt@hotmail.com>
To: <unicycling@winternet.com> Sent: Wednesday, 19 September 2001 11:26
Subject: Dog and unicycle incidents
> > In the past month, I’ve had two incidents with dogs while on my > unicycle. It seems that certain dogs hate unicycles with a vengeance. > > Luckily I haven’t been bitten yet. I put my unicycle between the dog and > myself, and waited for the owners to intervene. In the first case, the > dog was about 50ft. away when it charged. In the second case, I got much > closer (which was stupid on my part). > > Both incidents occurred in a park where dogs are allowed to roam free. I > like riding in this park because it’s nearby and it has challenging > trails. I can avoid this park but I would really miss it. > > Can anyone offer some advice? I don’t want to get bitten, and I would > not feel right about using mace on a dog.
This message is another reason why helmets should be worn whilst
unicycling…
(joke)
Wayne.
(O.K. flame me if you have to - but only if you didn’t think something
similar yourself).
----- Original Message ----- From: “pancake head” <pancakes@email.net> To:
<unicycling@winternet.com> Sent: Wednesday, 19 September 2001 1:28
Subject: Re: Dog and unicycle incidents
> I used to be Dalmatian dog in my previous life (no joke). I remember > chasing an Irish man on a Penny Farthing in New York during cold weather > times. Boy, I could scare the hell out of him by chasing and barking
after > him often. barkbark hehe. Anyway, one day he stop on his Penny > Farthing and strategically placed his PF between him and me. He pulled
out > a dog treat out his knapsack and tossed it in front of me. Boy-oh-boy, I > ate it fast!. Chomp! Chomp! Gulp! The next day, he and I had the same > routine: I chase him, he stops, he feeds me, and I eat! I began to > like him! I no longer chased after him. He was a nice guy after all. > > Now that my Karma dues have been paid off, I am no longer a Dalmatian. > Whew. I learned the hardway not to eat dogs for lunch again. > > barkbarkbarkbark > > Got syrup? >
I read up quite a bit about dogs and I think that some dogs tend to run after bikes and unis because it is either something unfamiliar moving by their turf or the cyclist loosely resmbles a large animal.
Some dogs are bred to herd cattle. And in the suburbs the closest thing to an animal of that size might be a person on a bike. All they know is they’d better catch it before it gets away!
I’m not sure tossing treats is always a good idea. But if the dog seems more curious or playfull than menacing, try dismounting and kneeling down. The dog will see you as being friendly. And that puts you and him at ease, and the owner as well.
I was walking to work once when two rottweilers on my street were running wild. I stood montionless (too scared to move!) and the dogs barked and lunged at me but never came closer than 6 inches and they finally calmed a bit. It is a scary thing to have happen, but if you do the right thing, the dog won’t attack and won’t be afraid of them either.
This week end I made some interesting experiences : it seems that hopping
/ twisting triggers a reaction among dogs. Generally they don’t pay
attention to me, but if I begin to do a hop-180-twist they bark like crazy
and try to approach.
In the past month, I’ve had two incidents with dogs while on my unicycle.
It seems that certain dogs hate unicycles with a vengeance.
Luckily I haven’t been bitten yet. I put my unicycle between the dog and
myself, and waited for the owners to intervene. In the first case, the dog
was about 50ft. away when it charged. In the second case, I got much
closer (which was stupid on my part).
Both incidents occurred in a park where dogs are allowed to roam free. I
like riding in this park because it’s nearby and it has challenging
trails. I can avoid this park but I would really miss it.
Can anyone offer some advice? I don’t want to get bitten, and I would not
feel right about using mace on a dog.
I also ride with my dog; often, she’s the incentive to go out and ride
when I don’t feel like I have the time. She’s a lab, and gets antsy, so
I know it’s time to let her run. We ride on singletrack in a large
(3600+ acres) city park where the dogs are allowed off leash, and I’ve
only had to dismount once because of another dog–and that was a puppy
that unexpectedly leapt into my wheel path. But the dogs in the park are
generally used to seeing other dogs and lots of mountain bikes and
equestrians, so they probably aren’t representative of the ones who come
careening out of driveways. These latter types have taken me by surprise
a few times on my (two-wheeled) commute, and I carry a can of doggy mace
as a precaution. I’ve not had to use it yet, and hope I won’t need to in
the future–but if a really big, ferocious dog came at me, I wouldn’t
hesitate. Don’t get me wrong–I wouldn’t blame the dog, but the owner
who let it run free in the streets–but I also wouldn’t let the thing
attack me.
Just my $.02.
Peter
Peter Kittle English Education Adviser Department of English CSU, Chico
Chico CA 95929-0830 ph: 530/898-5305 fax: 530/898-4450 email:
pkittle@csuchico.edu www: http://www.csuchico.edu/~pkittle
> ---------- > From: innes.dunbar@btinternet.com Reply To: innes.dunbar@btinternet.com > Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 2:25 PM To: unicycling@winternet.com > Subject: Re: Dog and unicycle incidents > > I take my dog with me when I go out on my unicycle, and normally find > dogs don’t bother with either of us. I think being scared of dogs is the > main problem, like others have said, dogs sense this, but not showing > fear is easier said than done. I think the best thing to do, is to try > and ignore the dog if possible, and to try and not draw attention to > your self if you are worried about any dogs near by. I can’t do any > tricks, so by just riding down the road as I would on a bicycle keeps me > out of trouble. > > Taking you dog along when you go out on a unicycle is a great way of > walking your dog. The only problem I have is that my dog (a border > collie) tries to bite the tyre some times, this seems to be good fun for > her, but is quite distracting for me. > > Innes
I take my dog with me when I go out on my unicycle, and normally find dogs
don’t bother with either of us. I think being scared of dogs is the main
problem, like others have said, dogs sense this, but not showing fear is
easier said than done. I think the best thing to do, is to try and ignore
the dog if possible, and to try and not draw attention to your self if you
are worried about any dogs near by. I can’t do any tricks, so by just
riding down the road as I would on a bicycle keeps me out of trouble.
Taking you dog along when you go out on a unicycle is a great way of
walking your dog. The only problem I have is that my dog (a border collie)
tries to bite the tyre some times, this seems to be good fun for her, but
is quite distracting for me.
I don’t think the dogs sensed any fear in me before they charged, because
I only noticed the first dog in a very peripheral way. I was riding along
on a difficult part of the trail, concentrating hard on staying up, and I
wasn’t even thinking about the dog at the time.
In the second case, there might have been some fear involved, as I was
gingerly riding around the dog, but I tend to doubt it.
I agree with the poster who said that these dogs see unicyclists as being
like a large animal. If they saw a moose or a bear, I’m sure they’d act
the same way. And I don’t think tossing treats at them would work. These
dogs were extremely agitated and they’d probably think I was attacking
them. One owner said he’d never seen his dog like that.
I am thinking about dismounting whenever I see a loose dog in this park,
and I might carry a can of mace as backup. I’m not sure I trust my
decision-making well enough to carry mace.
For what its worth, I did a lot of bike touring in the early 1980’s. I almost never had any problems with dogs, however, one time up in the Sierras on some desolate two lane paved road I came across a German Shepard that started to chase me on a hill, no less.
I had previously read somewhere that you could blow on a police/sports whistle and that would stop the dogs. Why? Supposedly, the loudness mixed with the pitch brought the dogs enough discomfort and stopped them in their tracks.
Did it work for me that day? Well, I couldn’t tell, because the whistle jammed on me after some puffs, however, the dog owner came out of no where and called the dog back.
It might be an alternative to mace. I don’t know if one of those personal alarms that you wear around your neck would create the same effect.
Another thing that could be agitating dogs is seeing arms flailing around.
When I first started riding I remember horse riders commenting that they
thought horses are probably more startled by seeing me wave my arms around
than anything else. I would imagine dogs might be upset seeing unusual arm
movements. I’ve wondered if beginner roller-bladers have similar problems.
John Hooten
Import Car Fan wrote:
> I don’t think the dogs sensed any fear in me before they charged, > because I only noticed the first dog in a very peripheral way. I was > riding along on a difficult part of the trail, concentrating hard on > staying up, and I wasn’t even thinking about the dog at the time. > > In the second case, there might have been some fear involved, as I was > gingerly riding around the dog, but I tend to doubt it. > > I agree with the poster who said that these dogs see unicyclists as > being like a large animal. If they saw a moose or a bear, I’m sure > they’d act the same way. And I don’t think tossing treats at them would > work. These dogs were extremely agitated and they’d probably think I > was attacking them. One owner said he’d never seen his dog like that. > > I am thinking about dismounting whenever I see a loose dog in this park, > and I might carry a can of mace as backup. I’m not sure I trust my > decision-making well enough to carry mace.
Good point, John. If your making wild jestures near a dog, it might think you’re trying to strike or throw something at it. But I’d think from a distance, the dog can’t see you as a threat, especially if you’re not moving towards the dog.
I’ve never had any problems with dogs and my unicyle and me… my dogs
(and I have 2 doberman pinchers) are both petrified of me when I’m on
my unicycle. but that might have a bit to do with almost running over
them when I was learning how to ride backwards. Nothing like a moving
obstacle cousre… and now the cats are absolutely petfided too because
my dad did run over one of them riding on his unicycle too…
I began to