In the helpfull, kind , supportive, non-flaming tone of this board as a dog owner (pitbull mix) and a cyclist, I second AG's leash/training advice.

I think the operative quote is this:

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he actually grabs the back tire (while its moving) and chomps it. Then his job is done and he says hi to the rider.


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"his job"....every dog has a job, your dog thinks "his job" is herding tires. He does his job then is rewarded, gets to say "hi" to the "herd". You wouldn't work for free, right? You work, get a reward (pay), your dog is being rewarded for doing the thing you DON'T want him to do.

He needs another job ;-)

He needs to be payed for that job. Dogs are "learning machines"

His job could be a promotion to "sitting as the bike goes by or doing a "watch me"". Professional herding dogs have that behavior, sitting or lying low so as not to spook the herd. Your dog can learn it too. The closer he gets to that behavior he gets a reward from you (treat, attention, toy). What your dog will work for? You could enlist the help of another rider to ride by and if he sits THEN the rider stops for a pet, no sit? Just rides by.

When I adopted my dog from the pound she barely had two tricks (sit, shake) but was not leash trained or socialized. Walking? forget about it, she'd pull your arm out of its sockets, she could not see another dog or she'd go nuts-uncontrolable, likewise bikes.

I knew that if she became a menace in the neighborhood, bit another dog or cyclist I'd have to put her down or keep her totaly fenced/locked. If she could not be walked by others then I can't get away, no one would be willing to watch her.

So I took her to an obedience class and worked with her myself every day. She now walks well on her loose leash, heels, on the "wrong side" but hey, at least she heels.

She may never be able to go into a dog park, she is part pitt and though she looks like a lab she has that "genetic whisper". But now when she sees other dogs she barks "I want to play" not "I'm scared of you and want to eat you alive".

We go to the dog park but we walk outside. But she loves this and we could never have done it before.

She's fine with bikes too. On the bike part I trained her while riding my cycleops in the off season! I'd ride and tuck yummy treats in my pocket, as she did her tricks I'd reward her verbaly ("yes, good dog" etc) then do a "find it" (toss the treat, she goes to find).

Deliberately I did not want to reward her for approaching a bike or getting near the wheels but she now associates bikes with training/treat times and is calm when they ride by like if a kid is riding on the sidewalk where we walk.

She's not perfect but she's come such a long way, like a different dog.

You have a wonderful and smart dog, your dog can learn! and it's such a bonding experience to train your dog....

well gotta go walk Mae....hope this helps

oh, just another quick note before I go, I was previewing this note and saw my footnote, the LA quote.

Don't you give up on this dog. When I started taking Mae to the dog park I had so much support from "dog people" they saw how much trouble Mae had being around other dogs and constantly complimented us for trying. They all said "thank you for not giving up on your dog" when she had good days (not reacting to other dogs) they noticed, when she had bad days (went nuts) they kept encouraging us. Your dog can learn, your dog depends on you, don't give up on him.