By Pico Triano
Photos: Pico Triano and Pixabay
When we
first started riding as a family, experience warned me that we would
eventually have to deal with someone else's not so friendly canine
companion. This isn't meant as a how to article, but just a
recounting of a few of our experiences and how we handled them.
We
created something we called the dog drill. While touring or training
together, mom always took the lead and dad always brought up the
rear. The kids were strung along between us. Not only were the kids
told what they should be doing in the event of a dog “attack” but
we practiced. When the cry would go up the kids would move away from
the edge of the pavement allowing mom to drop back and dad to come
forward getting between the imagined dog and the kids. Mom and dad
would aggressively confront the dog.
In
truth we didn't run into a lot of trouble. Most dog owners are
responsible enough to know that they can get into a lot of trouble
for their dog causing a stranger trouble on a public thoroughfare. On
tour we've never had an encounter but we have had to use our training
during several of our practice runs close to home.
The
first time was frightening for the kids. The dog was a big mixed
breed and in truth I think it was only looking for an exciting chase.
It didn't get that. The kids were very small but did exactly as they
had been taught. Dad saw it all coming and mom just followed her
instincts. The dog didn't expect the show of force, screeched to a
halt confused, looked for away around and then beat a retreat.
Our
second round didn't happen until the gang were mostly in their teen.
I'm glad this didn't happen when the kids were younger because this
dog was a great deal more aggressive. I was tempted to make a
complaint to the township for all the good it would have done. In
this case we confronted the dog as a group. Six big humans yelling
their heads off angrily was too much for this dog. We inched out of
his territory before he back all the way off. I pity any lone
unprepared cyclist who rode there because this might have required
mace. We made a point of not passing there anymore on our practice
runs.
We love
animals but sometimes it pays to be prepared and careful.
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