Geez, Catrin, I'm away for a few hours and I read this!
Good job on the mtb handling skills. I would have fallen on my azz.
Scary stuff with the dog. Get the rabies thing straightened out with your own doctor.
I detest owners who do not leash their dogs. I have had enough trouble with people in my neighborhood who don't leash their dogs while walking, when I have been riding 20+mph down my hill. I can't imagine being on a gravel trail.
Keep us posted.