General Cycling Discussion - The Dog's name is Pepper

Well I ride the same circular route about everyday. It is 11 miles in length and has a good mix of hills and climbs and a smalll town. This town is so small that there are only 3 stop signs at a 4 way intersection and about 12 houses. It is slightly down hill to the stop sign where I turn right and go down a steeper grade. Well on 1-2 at about 5:15 PM I was riding thru this town and a large coon hound came out in the road to escort me thru the town. He escorted me about a quarter of a mile and thought that was about all he needed to do. Then on 1-3 at about 5:25 PM I was in the same place however the road was covered with snow but not slick. Well Mr. Coon Hound decided it was time I needed escorted thru town again only this time he added a little (actually it was a pretty good one) lick to the lower right calf of my gore tex pants. Seemed like this situation was escalating a little but did not really think to much about it.

Now on 1-4 I decided to go for a morning ride. As I came upon the town, I saw Mr. Coon Hound playing with another dog that was tied to a box. As I came around the bend that leads to the stop sign, I see a lady scraping snow and ice off of her car. Just about this time, Mr. Coon Hound found me far more interesting to chase than the dog with whom he was playing. So lady sees Coon Hound chasing me and starts yelling, "Pepper stop. Pepper come." Needless to say, this had little obvious affect on Pepper except this time he decides that chasing and licking were not enough so he opens his mouth and bites me on the thigh. This was more a mouthing than a biting, I still counted it as a bite. Started to spray Pepper with Pepper Spray and he seemed to enjoy the taste. Stopped my bike, rode back and explained that Pepper biting me was not the most appropriate actions for her dog, this was a legal violation and the expense of my attire. Mrs. called to Mr. and he came out and tied up the dog. They apologized. Advised him of the same issues and that if Pepper chased me again, I would called the dog warden.

Well, Icontined to ride and saw a hunter with his dog just getting out of a truck and the dog started barking and came toward me but this dog immediately stopped in his tracks when commanded by the owner.

Next was a 4 wheeler cager who had came clear into my lane around a blind corner where I probably would have been had I not stopped to talk to Pepper's owners. So did the dog bite save my life? I hate to admit it but it probably did.

This makes the second time I have been mouthed by a dog while riding. Any one else experienced a similiar non bite/bite from a dog?

I guess no harm no foul. I plan to get stickers of dog's heads and 2 of them on my bike to indicate the number of bites while riding.

Around 1974, while I was climbing a 12 percent grade, a Golden Retriever bit my calf. The owners were very decent about it, and the bite was not serious. I think this was more a case of careless playfulness than aggression, particularly in view of the dog's age and breed.

Several years ago, while I was jogging home on level pavement, a Staffordshire Terrier (VERY similar to a pit bull, in every way) ran up and bit me deeply on the thigh. This was clearly a case of aggression rather than playfulness, and I did report it to animal control. Several months later, I was not upset to learn that this beast had died while biting the tyre of a MOVING car -- sounds like a great candidate for a canine Darwin award.

Originally posted by detrieux
I plan to get stickers of dog's heads and 2 of them on my bike to indicate the number of bites while riding.

:D :D :D

Great post, Detrieux. I felt my leg twitch when you talked about the gumming!

Indians used to call it "counting coup" (sorry about the spelling).

The translation is: "I could have ripped your heart out and grilled it with onions and sweet bellpeppers, tag, your it!"

Originally posted by detrieux


Next was a 4 wheeler cager who had came clear into my lane around a blind corner where I probably would have been had I not stopped to talk to Pepper's owners. So did the dog bite save myadmit it but it probab life?
thats fate working for you, how often does it happen & we dont know, when were stuck cursing, behind some dick whos stopped in traffic right up against the curb, he might be delaying your arrival @ the next roundabout with a suv driver talking on his cellphone who would have taken you out , but now hes gone & neither of you any the wiser, so when you are delayed dont moan too much.:D :D

Originally posted by 1oldRoadie
Indians used to call it "counting coup" (sorry about the spelling).


I thnik yew speled it rite.

And, I agree. Great post, Detrieux!

So, by reading the above post I see that a golden retriever was forgiven but the the "AM STAFF AKA PITBULL" was a beast and you were glad the beast died? Wow! I own a golden and oh my God pitbulls as well. I am involved in animal rescue as well as pit bull rescue would you like to hear some of my stories about what these animals endure?????????????? SAD VERY SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pits fall into the wrong hands daily!!! and 95 percent of the time it is the owners of the dogs ALL DOGS!!!!! At falt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! not the dogs!!! SIGNED FAITHFUL COMPANION AND LOVER OF PITBULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by detrieux
So lady sees Coon Hound chasing me and starts yelling, "Pepper stop. Pepper come." Needless to say, this had little obvious affect on Pepper except this time he decides that chasing and licking were not enough so he opens his mouth and bites me on the thigh.
My dog does a similar thing. Most of the time, if a jogger or cyclist goes by, she could care less. But if I'm outside, she's runs out, barks and harasses them. If I call her and try to get her to come back, she doubles her efforts! I think she's trying to impress me with what a good guardian she is. A yellow lab... she's not fooling anybody (except the joggers and cyclists). Consequently, the best course of action, if I can't grab her before she sees them, is to not try to call her back.

1oldroadie's assesment jives with my perception of dog psychology.

So, by reading the above post I see that a golden retriever was forgiven but the the "AM STAFF AKA PITBULL" was a beast and you were glad the beast died?

You'll notice that the golden retriever mouthed him rather than bite him "... deeply on the thigh.". If a dog bit me deeply on the thigh it wouldn't live to see another day. Yes, there are nice pitbulls and the bad ones are largely the fault of their owners. We had an incident here several years ago where two pitbulls attacked and killed a female college student walking to school. I've never heard of golden retrievers doing this.

Ginger,

I've been heavily involved with rescue groups since
early 90's, mostly Golden Retrievers, some GSDs
(which I presently own).
Our group, a large well known golden rescue group
had 1 caveat. If the dog was aggressive, (and not
just alleged) and I don't mean it growled at someone,
if it had a history of biting, it was put down. end of story.
There are too many good dogs out there to risk
lawsuits or injury to anyone on an aggressive animal.
Mouthing is one thing (very common with all retrievers)
biting is another.
No one is blaming the dog, if you reread the thread its
more about owners not training/controlling their dogs.
Sad? yeah no doubt about it. However an aggressive
animal, no matter what the reason, should not be tolerated.

end of rant.

Marty