Hi, and dogs???

[liberty]

So I deliberated this morning for several hours on whether I was gonna ride or not. And I made myself go. After all, most times you are afraid of something it turns out to be a non-issue. So I went. Got up to the house, and the owner was outside. Told me to wait a minute because the dog was out. So he went to put the dog away. I asked him if I could call him before I left the house on future rides and then he would know to lock up the dogs. He was great with that. I just hope after this whole thing is over that we are still on speaking terms, as it would be wonderful to think those dogs are over and done with... (We didn't speak at all of finances) Rest of the ride was dogless. Yippee! And you know what, I feel like me again. Not fearful anymore. I'm sure on future rides I'll have to keep confronting this to some degree, but for now I feel invincible and in love with biking again. Did 15 miles of hills and my legs are tired but happy. My lungs did better than I thought. So maybe the body is adjusting quickly! Only quirk today was the stop sign at the top of a hill. Gonna have to practice clipping in and starting uphill from a standstill...

[BeeLady]

Most herding-type dogs can't resist a moving target unless they are very well trained. If that was the only route I could go and I had to go that way, I would get off my bike and start walking it prior to entering the "dog's territory" which is probably the start of the yard, not the gate or area it runs out of. It might bark and come out to greet you but walking shouldn't incite its herding/prey instincts.

Meanwhile, I would definitly be pursuing having the dog owners contacted by the police or sheriff or animal control so you wouldnt have to be walking your bike. Who is the elected official in your county or precinct? A letter with carbon copy to dog's owner might get some attention.

If your are a really patient, tranquil type you might be able to acclimate the dogs to your movement past them but this could take weeks and is really not your job.

I have had success with yelling "No. Bad dog" but then again I'm training a rottweiller/shephard cross pup and am at the top of my authoritarian dog-voice at the moment.

Good luck and get those letters flying! My the dimwits with the dogs don't know your officials are lame in this area and will do something on their own.