Originally Posted by
contango
All well and good in theory but "take a deep breath and relax" doesn't help people who are afraid (with or without good reason) of dogs, nor does it help against the idea that when I go out on my bike I want to ride, not spend untold amounts of time playing the canine psychologist.
Actually one can learn to be less afraid. Even scared people can learn to relax the body more. Most don't understand.
If one does not want to spend time on a problem, that's a choice as well. Of course the problem will still exist in that case. Just learning more about how to deal with aggresive dogs can reduce fear. A little success will lead to less fear,. less fear leads to more success. It's all tied together. The end result can be a safer place to ride, not spending time with the dog. It's up to you. You have a choice.