Scream!!

[Nanci]

A funny (in retrospect) thing happened to me while I was riding a paved trail Saturday. I was about 6 miles out from my truck, having a great ride, except for being slightly un-nerved by seeing Creepy Guy (heading the opposite direction) only a mile earlier. So I'm biking along in my own little world, and glanced to my left just in time to see a slobbering Cujo-like Golden Retriever closing in silently for the kill. I unconsciously let out this scream- not a shriek, but a full-fledged Horror Movie About To Be Killed SCREAM, and the dog got this funny expressin and stopped dead in his tracks, and I quickly looked around to see if anyone was behind me- thank God no one was!! I have never screamed like that before in my life- I don't know where it came from. So I spent the rest of the ride imagining other situations in which I could conjure up that scream for a useful purpose.

This is the third time I've been accosted by that particular dog- he must live at one of the houses adjoining the trail. It makes me mad when people can't confine their animals.

Nanci

[Irulan]

haha, it would have to be a psycho-golden to be agressive. Most likely he's just desperate for pets.
(seriously, if it's a problem report it to animal control)

[Selkie]

Most goldens, by nature, are submissive, loving creatures (I have 3 of them so I'm biased). I agree w/Irulan that your Cujo Golden probably wanted some attention!
My big girl, Agnes, is very very intimidating when she barks, as she sounds & looks mean, so most people are afraid of her. The plus is that she is a great "guard dog," so long as a person isn't within petting distance. She does has a 6th sense--a "jerk meter"---so when she gets a bad vibe from someone, she will do the Mean Bark at people in order to "protect" me (but eventually, will hide behind me if she doesn't scare them away).
I'd be more worried about the pooch running into you, injuring you and/or the dog. Whoever owns him/her needs a good talking to, letting the dog roam off-leash. I love dogs but I cannot abide by irresponsible dog owners.
On the plus side, you know that your scream will stop the dog in its tracks, so that can be your secret weapon, should it or Creepy Dude come near you again.

[Trekhawk]

A funny (in retrospect) thing happened to me while I was riding a paved trail Saturday. I was about 6 miles out from my truck, having a great ride, except for being slightly un-nerved by seeing Creepy Guy (heading the opposite direction) only a mile earlier. So I'm biking along in my own little world, and glanced to my left just in time to see a slobbering Cujo-like Golden Retriever closing in silently for the kill. I unconsciously let out this scream- not a shriek, but a full-fledged Horror Movie About To Be Killed SCREAM, and the dog got this funny expressin and stopped dead in his tracks, and I quickly looked around to see if anyone was behind me- thank God no one was!!
Nanci

Oh Nanci I had to laugh when I read this because I did the scream thing myself the other day. Im afraid my excuse was nowhere near as good.
Same as you I was cycling along in my own little world going up a favourite hill with lovely forest all around. Next thing from the corner of my eye I see a flash and a Kamikaze squirrel is making a beeline for me. The scream escapes my lips and the squirrel miraculously slips between the two wheels. I felt so silly that I quickly looked around for witnesses. Lucky not a soul around.

[Lise]

Oh Nanci I had to laugh when I read this because I did the scream thing myself the other day. Im afraid my excuse was nowhere near as good.
Same as you I was cycling along in my own little world going up a favourite hill with lovely forest all around. Next thing from the corner of my eye I see a flash and a Kamikaze squirrel is making a beeline for me. The scream escapes my lips and the squirrel miraculously slips between the two wheels. I felt so silly that I quickly looked around for witnesses. Lucky not a soul around.

I laughed, out loud, at the squirrel scream. The dog...I agree it's wierd that a golden would be aggressive. Then again, I wouldn't discount your instinct, or your read of the situation. I have let out some really loud screams on the bike, too, usually to warn a car not to hit me. People look at me funny, but hey, it gets their attention!

I'm jealous of your lovely forests and hills. And your screaming at the wildlife. Is Creepy Guy one particular guy? Or is that a category of "guy", as in "I spotted another Creepy Guy on the trail today"?

L.

[Nanci]

Lise, Creepy Guy is one person in particular, who I first encountered right around Halloween. There's a thread in here called "Bizarro Ride (Long, kind of scary)" which I would link to if I knew how...

So I didn't see Creepy Guy again until a few weeks ago, when I spotted him way out of his presumed territory (civilization) and much too close for my comfort to The Middle Of Nowhere where I park my truck at the trail head. Going south, while I was going north, on my way back. Now I saw him again Saturday in the same place. I guess I'm becoming immune to how creepy he is, now that I have had three encounters and not been slaughtered.

I've had lots of exposure to Goldens, but am prejudiced against them since my ex-husband had one who snapped and snarled and ate toys and towels and was just generally unpleasant. I suspect that sometimes temperment qualities are overlooked when breeding successful obedience dogs- she was the daughter of another snappy, growly, unpleasant but very successful in the obedience ring dog. (If you've shown in obedience, you know the one, who wins, always, any class they are entered in, and everyone is lining up for a puppy sired by that dog.)

Still, I am sure there are more good than bad, but being knocked off your bike and breaking your pelvis or grinding your face into hamburger is the same end result whether caused by a playful pup or an incorrigible car/bike chaser.

It was a Golden who lives next door to my friend Tiffany, who ravaged her doubly-penned rabbits-(yes, in locked hutches, in a fenced rabbit yard, in a fenced whole yard of the house, so I guess that would be triple-y fenced), not once but twice. Imagine Tiffany, crying, searching the woods around her house for hours and hours, looking for her bunnies she'd had for over ten years, and finding only scraps of fur. Yeah, I love them, all right. And did the neighbors bother to apologize, or animal control do anything? Of course not.

Nanci

[Irulan]

I've had lots of exposure to Goldens, but am prejudiced against them since my ex-husband had one who snapped and snarled and ate toys and towels and was just generally unpleasant. I suspect that sometimes temperment qualities are overlooked when breeding successful obedience dogs- she was the daughter of another snappy, growly, unpleasant but very successful in the obedience ring dog. (If you've shown in obedience, you know the one, who wins, always, any class they are entered in, and everyone is lining up for a puppy sired by that dog.)
<big snip> Yeah, I love them, all right. And did the neighbors bother to apologize, or animal control do anything? Of course not.

Nanci

goldens are notoriously improperly and over bred, by back yard breeders, puppy mills, and dog show people overlooking temperment for other characteristics (looks) This is a terrible thing. Because a Golden with a good temperament is a wonderful creature, that and working ability IMNSHO should be the first things considered. But there are a lot of folks over looking it, and there are a whole lot of breeds that have bad representatives due to improper breeding. I'm a huge fan of blame the owners and breeders, not the dog.

[Veronica]

Yep - the dog can't help it's breeding or lack of training. Blame the clueless owners.

We came home yesterday from our ride to find a stray pit bull roaming the neighborhood. He was as friendly as can be and not afraid of the bikes. He knew "sit" and was apparently crate trained since we put him in Greta's old crate while waiting for his owner. I don't know how people can be missing their dog for hours and not notice. But Greta, in spite of being a large Rott, was a house dog. She was never away from the pack for very long. I suspect this guy was left outside and got freaked by the New Year's Eve festivities.

V.

[Lise]

Still, I am sure there are more good than bad, but being knocked off your bike and breaking your pelvis or grinding your face into hamburger is the same end result whether caused by a playful pup or an incorrigible car/bike chaser.
Nanci

So true. And sorry to hear about your neighbor's bunnies. I wasn't aware of the overbreeding problem with goldens. I am cautious with all unknown dogs. My mom's been bitten, I've been bitten...dogs are animals, and have the capacity to be crazy/ill-bred/mistreated into vicious behavior.

Glad to hear that Creepy Guy is (appearantly) just creepy, not actually dangerous. Still. Keep and eye out and let's be careful out there! Lise

[Yasmin]

[QUOTE) find a stray pit bull roaming the neighborhood.
V.[/QUOTE]

Pit bull terriers are banned in Australia because there have been too many attacks & killings with this breed. Are they freely available in the States?

[massbikebabe]

Yasmin;

Yes, pitbulls are still available in the U.S., but I am afraid that we also may see a ban one day, mostly because of the irresponsible owners of these dogs. Unfortunately, they have become a trophy dog for the knuckleheads in our society. It is very sad because my friend has two of the cutest pit bulls in the world. She is single and often travels, so she brings her "girls" along to remind weirdo's that she is not alone. It would knock me right down if her "babies" ever attacked anyone...but I am sure they would respond if someone was messing with "Mommy".

I have a bichon frise who loves to hang with the 2 big girls...but then again my bichon is very pretty...but not very bright

karen

[CorsairMac]

I'm with you Karen! I carry 2 scars on my face, one from a bassett hound and one from a dachshund, both owned by me and both the nicest dogs you'd ever meet. I never had problems with Rotts, Dobies or Pit Bulls but they use all 3 and more here in NM for dog fighting ( illegal as all get out but they still do it - which btw cock fighting IS legal in NM, just as an FYI). So the breed as a group gets the bum rap.

I agree that Goldens as a rule are very gentle, sweet creatures but I never take chances with dogs, you just never know how THEY see YOU! especially if you're on a bike moving Away from them. There was a loose Bull Terrier on the bike path yesterday, seemed friendly enough but very skittish so I just got off the bike and put it between me and the guard rail and kept hold of my water bottle. The Terrier kept trying to circle in behind me and I just wasn't sure what he wanted. He eventually gave it up, guess I was just walking too slow for him!

[bikerz]

I have a rescue pit bull - Simon - he found me at a Bart station - came running up with the biggest pit bull smile on his face. He was 20 pounds underweight, un-neutered, and pretty scarred up. Our vet thinks he may have been used as a bait dog.

Anyway, he's now neutered, knows lots of tricks, and is about the sweetest dog I've ever met (I grew up with big dogs - alsatians, dobermans, mastiffs, danes, etc. and he's the sweetest of the bunch). He's wonderful with kids, cats and humans - a goofball who loves everyone he's ever met. We NEVER take him to dog parks or let him loose anywhere but in our own very well-fenced back yard because even though he has several doggie pals, he doesn't like all other dogs unconditionally, and it is totally and completely our responsibility to never let a situation develop between him and another dog.

Having known Simon and many other pit bulls, it makes me so angry and sad to think what has been done to individual dogst o make them turn on people - aggression towards people is completely outside of the "breed norm". Unfortuntely, dog aggression is part of the breed, and owners have to be aware and responsible about it. Here in Oakland there is a terrible epidemic of back yard breeding and irresponsible ownership of pitbulls, and the dogs are being used as some sort of male-member-extender. It's such a sad situation.

For anyone who is interested in pitbulls, there is a great pit bull rescue and informational organization called BAD RAP (http://www.badrap.org/rescue/index.cfm). Beware - VERY cute pictures!

I think for most people, once they meet a well behaved, well socialized pit bull, they never look at the breed the same way again. But I agree with karen - I'm afraid we will start to see breed specific legislation and possibly even an outright ban, and as long as there are criminally negligent people with dogs that maul children, it's hard to argue against such drastic measures.

Whew! Sorry - I had no idea when I started that I was going to write such a long post!

[TrekChick]

It happend to me, too!! I literally laughed out loud when I read your story, Nanci!! An uncontrollable, horror-flic/slasher-movie scream escaped my mouth last summer while riding the tandem with Hubby. We were being chased by TWO chow-mixes. We were coming up to a freeway overpass, and some of the other riders in our group were already on the other side of the overpass waiting for us at the stop sign. We could not see each other because of the hump in the road, but they HEARD me very LOUD & CLEAR! Of course being on the back of the tandem, the dogs were closing in my ankles, not Hubby's. I was just getting ready to click out & punt, because they didn't stop at MY scream, but they finally got too far away away from home, I guess, and turned back. I was shaking so badly afterwards. They almost scared the pee out of me! And I'm a dog-person!! The first dog I ever had (Nanook) was a 150-lb Rottie/Shephard mix - he LOVED to go MTB'ing with me! Then I had a 90-lb Wolf/Husky (Kodiak). Right now I have two "little" dogs - a 70-lb mutt (Brodie) that looks like a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, and a 55-lb Shephard/Queensland mix (Chester), and also two tortie cats (Maggie and Itty-Bitty-Kitty).

There are several known-to-be-loose dogs on two or three road rides that I can think of. We even named one of the hills out in our MTB area "barkin'-dog hill" because I got chased by two dogs. The big black lab was wagging his tail while he was barking, so he didn't scare me too much, but the little, teeth-bearing, ankle-biter mutt had me pedaling for my life! Unfortunately for me, I'm the slowest! If only there was one person slower than me, then I wouldn't be the weak gazelle..... Oh well...

Stay safe! Good Luck!
~~~TrekChick