Dog!

[abecedarian]

I just talked to Pooch's owner. He called to apologize, after calling up and down the street to track me down. Animal Control wouldn't give him my name, which I can understand and appreciate. Anyway, Pooch's shots ARE up to date, and he's now in quarantine with his own vet, and will be neutered before returning home. Owner also assured me that he will be installing a shock fence to keep him on his property. This is good, as Pooch tends to view the yard to his north as his land too. This as much as I can ask for at this point. I hope the shock fence is effective; some dogs learn to tolerate the moment's pain to gain their freedom. Since this pooch usually doesn't range far anyway, this might work for him. If not, they'd need a real fence. However, next time I ride after my leg is better....I'll have my water bottle ready to squirt him if he gets too close

[bmccasland]

A couple of treats couldn't hurt either. Throw them behind him.

A thought: walk by his yard while pushing your bike. Make sure you are wearing your helmet and sunglasses. Call out to him, give treats. After the dog is calm, get up on the bike. Talk to him. Get down. Push. Evaluate situation. Get on bike and ride slowly for a few feet. Get off. Push... So introduce the idea of 'bike' to doggie. Let him see it is you on the bike. Then when you go by quickly in the future, you should be safe calling out to the dog and slowing to a stop so his doggie-brain figures it out. (If it seems like it won't work, don't actually get on the bike the first time. But be prepared to take it slow and wait).

And if the owner walks his dog, could you go along with and walk beside or in front? (Never behind, that will make the dog more dominant). Only if the owner has good control on walks though, and knows how to handle the pooch. (Owner shouldn't walk behind, you may lose before you start if the dog is in charge of the owner, stay away then).

Seems like this "intro to wheel thing" was something I saw Ceasar Milan do on an episode of Dog Whisperer. Subject doggie was freaking out from kid on skate board or something - and after a certain amount of trials, walk-bys, and working with the fearful dog it worked. Dog does not see "human on bike," it's little brain sees a strange thing that needs to be controlled.

[Ritamarie]

A question about loose dogs who run out into the road... do you call animal control even if you have no major incident?

[abecedarian]

Well, it's been 8 months since neighbor pup went nuts. I haven't seen him much since then, so I thought they'd put in a shock fence. Found out last night he's a free bird when he's outside. This time my husband was riding with me, and while every other neighbor dog on the street was out in force(looked just like a block party for dogs!), Big Dog is the only one who acted aggressive. I yelled at him as he lunged and he backed off. On the way back, dh had his pepper spray ready, but the owner had pulled in and the dog was back inside. After telling this to one of my daughters, she told me that two days before, when she was out in our yard with my granddaughters(22 mos and 3 mos) this dog came up to them to investigate the little girls. Ava usually calls all four legged critters 'doggy' but she called this one 'horse'!