[Closed] Dogs at Trail Centres

Never been to a trail centre, but I wouldn't have thought it a good idea to exercise your hound on dedicated bike trails and more than you would take your dog for a walk on the hard shoulder of the motorway.

Its putting both unsuspecting riders and the dogs in positions of unnecessary risk.

And before dog owners start harping about riders being able to stop in appropriate distances, these are dedicated bike trails. Sure you don't go steaming round blind bends, but you shouldn't have to ride at a snails pace to avoid hitting a piano (or other random object) that somehow ended up in the middle of the trail.

Some people are just selfish though aren't they.

you aren't going to persuade them to stop, you can persuade Tilhill to remove permission when you sue them when the inevitable accident happens and the dog owner does the responsible thing and scarpers before you can get their details

Dogs [b]shouldn't be[/b] at Trail Centres

Is that what you meant?

and here we go again. Good luck everyone.

patriotpro - Member
Dogs shouldn't be at Trail Centres
Is that what you meant?

Tried amending to Riding with dogs at Trail Centres - Irresponsible? but missed the cut!

Couldn't you have just done a search for some of the goodness knows how many other threads on this subject, and tagged your opinion onto one of those?

and here we go again. Good luck everyone.

Has it been done recently, or frequently? I don't recall seeing a thread and searched. Apologies if I am going over old ground.

There's no such thing as a dedicated bike trail, it's a track through a forest that you've kindly been given permission to ride on.
Who police's it anyway?
They have the same rights as you to be on it.

OP: http://bit.ly/13GQXUy

I'm a dog owner & it really p1sses me off when I see someone dragging a dog around the trails because they're too lazy to give the dog a proper walk......

Thanks everyone pointing out this has been done before, a year ago. Let me go and start a thread on something original like wheel size.

Personally, wouldn't do it at a trail centre. My dog is a bit errant, he gets a sniff of squirrel and he's off, so it would be a nuisance for me to have to be worrying where he is all the time and not enjoying my ride - if it's a nuisance for me, chances are it would be for others too.

I do ride with him on my local canal and in the park, but those are shared pathways, they are not places people generally go to do "proper" MTB-ing.

Yep regular topic. Bloody dangerous. Last thread I provoked on it was the swinley one where I nearly squished a dog. Selfish dog owners who endanger their pet and you will be along shortly saying it is your problem as you arent riding at a speed you can safely stop at when a random furry object moving quickly darts out in front of you. Usually there are also so stupid posts about likening dogs to small children as well which is complele bollox as they behave differently. Think that sums up the next 100 posts

Edit. Btw I love dogs just not at a trail centre!

just to check that my assumption is correct - next time, could it be a dog's face ?

Well I reckon its judgement thing, stainburn middle of the week, fine. Dalby @ weekend, hell no. All of that also depends on the dog, breed, training and other stuff. I have a dog, but he doesn't go riding, I didn't think to train him in time, though his temptrament would prob be good, and my nearest trail has main road running through the middle of it - not ideal. He does go trail building though, and has a keen eye for a black option when on a trail walk.

There's definitely one more recent than a year ago.

#won't someone please think of the puppies?

A dog is for life,not just for trail centres...........

What about at Follow The Dog in Cannock Chase, shirley thats OK?

I'm a dog owner & it really p1sses me off when I see someone dragging a dog around the trails because they're too lazy to give the dog a proper walk......

not entirely sure I get your logic...

if there is any.

Has it been a month already?
Waaah waaaah waaaah. Something/body has inconvenienced me in some way, must bleat about it on STW to reaffirm my belief that I am more important than other people. How dare they do things that may annoy me? Don't they know who I am?!

My dog has decided he doesn't like coming to trailcentres with me anymore as my 26" wheels are embarrasing him. He runs just ahead of me so he doesn't have to look at them.

Manual over the beast and 'big ring' it?

not entirely sure I get your logic...

if there is any.

Dogs like to sniff around & meet other dogs.Not much chance of that tearing along behind it's owner on their bike is there....

#won't someone please think of the puppies?

I often find myself thinking about puppies.

Oh, sorry. Wrong use of the word there.

Dogs like to sniff around & meet other dogs.Not much chance of that tearing along behind it's owner on their bike is there....

So I shouldn't walk my dog where there aren't other dogs then either?

Usually there are also so stupid posts about likening dogs to small children as well which is complele bollox as they behave differently.

They do indeed behave differently. My dog comes back when I call him.

I've no problem, just so long as the dog isn't riding a better bike than me.

I've no problem, just so long as the dog isn't riding a bike better than me.

ftfy 😉

😀

Unfortunately there have been a couple of viral vids of amazing trail dogs charging down bike trails an unwavering 4 feet from the rear wheel of their owner.

Most dogs will not do this.

Some dogs were bred specifically to Hunt !
Some of the hounds lead in the pack and the horses followed the hounds, Border Terriers, Patterdale Terriers were bred to follow the horse at the back of the pack if the fox went to ground,

If you think dogs arent up to it i personally think your very much mistaken, and to use an old cliche, its not the dogs fault if it doesent do as its told, sure they are bike specific areas but really who gives a **** ?

Unfortunately there have been a couple of viral vids of amazing trail dogs charging down bike trails an unwavering 4 feet from the rear wheel of their owner.

like this?

This sort of thing is a likely by-product of people starting to consider a dog as a riding accessory. There's been threads on here about 'What Trail Dog?' for example.

It's a dog, not the latest dropper seatpost or other spurious must-have of this week/month!

We just need a wheel size thread for today's full house.

To get a line on my card I need a "what tyre for the alps" and a thread about a fooball player...

Personaly they'd don't bother me.

But I'm the kind of person who thinks live and let live, so I can also accept that some people are ill equiped to deal with other people and and the wider world. Sometimes this manifests as not being able to deal wth there being animals on their bike trail.

[url= http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/countrysidecode/keepdogs.aspx ]http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/countrysidecode/keepdogs.aspx[/url]

dog=lead, everyone else is happy.

So I shouldn't walk my dog where there aren't other dogs then either?

& tape his nose up so he can't sniff anything as well.........

I ride with my dog around Degla once a week, I'm not lazy.

To clarify mind, I only take him in the day and mid week. Go up the fire road and ride the old blue and avoid the trails as much as possible. He's always under control and we stay clear of other riders.

Wouldn't take him when it's busy no matter how well behaved he is.

He's also a Trail Pixie and gives his personnel time for free to help maintain your trail Center, so he's earned his trip round once a week, how many can say that.

So we're not allowed on Footpaths, BW's we have to give way to everyone and on bike dedicated trails we're now expected to watch out for dogs, just in case.
Seems to me that there's little point in having dedicated trail centres based on that logic.
I suppose [u]some[/u] dog owners would take spot for a wander along the WRC tracks during a race, because they can?

I suppose some dog owners would take spot for a wander along the WRC tracks during a race, because they can?

Trail center =/= closed course, what if it was a kid on a ballance bike following dad rather than a dog?

Having said that WRC stages aren't generaly closed course either.

Kids on balance bike are a bit slower,more predictable than a dog & easier to see.....Some people 🙄

what if it was a kid on a ballance bike following dad rather than a dog?

On a green (grade) route, fine. On a Blue route, hmmm, don't think so, on a red and above no way.

So what's wrong with a dog following their owners wheel?

Kids on balance bikes are generally moving along the trail, not emerging from the undergrowth chasing pheasant / squirrels / fairies.

Only the dog owner can answer whether their dog is suitably behaved for trail centres or not. But I still dont think its appropriate, any more than a child riding a balance bike on a trail centre.

I've seen kids on balance bikes who are a dam site better riders than some adults I've seen..... 😉

I don't mind dogs at trail centres as long as I'm not having to pull it out of my spokes, or the owner doesn't expect me to take stupid measures to avoid it ( i.e. if its a choice between me or the dog, it's me every time) . Crap on the trail is well out of order.

Trail centres are full of people riding their bikes and probably aren't thinking, "what will I do if I meet a dog" I wouldn't take an animal to that environment .

On a green (grade) route, fine. On a Blue route, hmmm, don't think so, on a red and above no way.

What about wobbly middle aged men on Ibis Mojo's going not much faster?

There needs to be more rules covering this sort of thing, and licencing, preferably with a test you have to pass before you can ride down each grade, and number plates and 3rd party insurance. Won't somebody think of the [s]children[/s] [i]rad core dudes shredding the gnarrrrrrrr who might have to interupt their flow and drop out of the zone if there's anyone slower in the way on the trail[/i]!

johnikgriff - Member

I've seen kids on balance bikes who are a dam site better riders than some adults I've seen.....

Kids and dogs on trails don't make a good comparison imo.

So what's wrong with a dog following their owners wheel?

it's not a good as sniffing another dogs arse?

What about wobbly middle aged men on Ibis Mojo's going not much faster?

It's fine to just barge them out the way. 😉

i cant see the problem, its like riding in the Peaks and moaning about Horses, my personal feeling on this is Give Way ! or dont ride in the peaks unless you have your own piece of land and then you can moan all you like when a Dog gets on your trails, you could even shoot it and pretend it was worrying your sheep ?

I was told years ago that it was doled out in order of heirachy, walkers, horses, Cycles, and **** the Motorists.

dogs arent in that line up but are often accompanied by Walkers, horse rider types, and cyclists, Ive even seen some dogs in cars, or at least i think they were dogs ?

I suggest that if you feel so strongly about it that the next time you see a rabid pooch on your trails that you enquire as to its owner and tell him face to face.

I'm a bit scared of dogs arriving unannounced on a trail in front of me (I was bitten by one a while back). Also, I've ridden through enough dog turds in my life so far and don't want to ride through any more, especially at trail centres. Dogs, to me, are 4 legged biting sh*tting things and all the dogs I've met so far whilst out biking have had the stupidity to wander in front of me while I was moving.
True story: A German Shepherd dog decided to wander in front of me while I was cycling along the canal (Tinsley area) about 4 years ago. For various reasons (mainly safety) I was travelling at speed (20mph+, on 575). I hit the dog amidships and kept going.

I suggest that if you feel so strongly about it that the next time you see a rabid pooch on your trails that you enquire as to its owner and tell him face to face.

I have done several times 😉

I don't get dogs/pets at all. Why do people have/need them unless they are used in a working role, sheep/guide dog etc.

Surely people have friends/kids/family so they don't need the faff of a pet?

Surely people have friends/kids/family so they don't need the faff of a pet?

Why bother with friends and family? They just get in the way of riding bikes round trail centers?

I have a pet so i don't need the faff of kids. 😀

I'm going to buy a cow & have it as a pet,then take it around the trails with me.Obviously I'm going to need a bigger car to fit it in......

And you will be able to blame the cow for holding you up on the trails !!!
Win win situation, and you get a bigger car !

and free milk....

Your not supposed to Cow Juice, it said so on here the other day ?

kid on a ballance bike following dad rather than a dog

As I predicted, took longer than I thought.....I can't believe people think that stands up to any sort of common sense.

At the end of the day it doesn't matter what anyone decides on here, it's at the discretion of the landowner as to who's allowed where on their land and whether to enforce it (and no!, that doesn't mean you on FC land).

3 at Swinley on the blue run last Sat morning, probably the busiest UK trail centre, at the busiest time of the week.
What are these people thinking?

It doesn't bother me really, dogs at trail centres are generally a lot better behaved than the ones I encounter on bridleways.

Its the outdoors. If I have to stop for two mins so they are out of the way or the opposite then no big deal.

Deveron53 - Member

True story: A German Shepherd dog decided to wander in front of me while I was cycling along the canal (Tinsley area) about 4 years ago. For various reasons (mainly safety) I was travelling at speed (20mph+, on 575). I hit the dog amidships and kept going.

Ummm...please tell me I'm missing something! How is safety a justification for this? You hit a dog, on a canal path, at 20mph; you didn't stop; [u]you don't see anything wrong with this?[/u]

Don't get me wrong; I often ride too fast on shared access paths. I just don't try to kid anyone (including myself) that it's okay. I would be mortified if I hit a dog under those circumstances. Just think - it could have been a child's face! On a balance bike!! following a wobbly middle-aged man!!! etc.

EDIT - were you being chased by ruffians intent on doing harm to your person or that of your child's face?

So what's wrong with a dog following their owners wheel?

The fact that its not what generally happens (apart from in the mind of the dog owner).

mine does. i posted a video somewhere up there ^^^^^ that proves it.

EDIT - were you being chased by ruffians intent on doing harm to your person or that of your child's face?

YES!

A bunch of Pikeys were burning the insulation off a pile of cable right by the canal. I had already accelerated to get past them. As I saw their German Shepherd bounding towards me, my thought was: Increase Speed! I didn't want to find out if the Pikeys and their dog were friendly. Call me prejudiced but I assumed not! Plus I was on my own on a 3k bike!
The dog ran in front of me, I t-boned it, it bounced off my front tyre and I decided to put a bit more speed on! There were some shouts behind me. I never looked back!
I brought this incident up to demonstrate that if you've got enough momentum (200lbs me, plus 30lb bike at 20+mph) dogs just bounce off your front tyre.

Swinley Tuesday late afternoon, one bloke and 2 dogs ! one was keeping up , one was 100m behind and roaming everywhere .

Any advance on 2 !

This thread is basically a two page whinge.

Keep it up fellas, internet's an awesome place for getting stuff off the chest.

I'm not on about the shared access trails, I acknowledge that these are shared between cyclists, walkers, people with dogs etc.. and your speed should reflect that. I'm talking about the bike specific red and black trails where people are riding with their dogs off the lead with absolutely no consideration for other trail users.

The red and black trails are just paths that the managers of the land had bikes in mind for when the built them. No matter how they are signed and graded cyclists of any age or ability can ride them and folk can walk them. And dogs are dogs.

Your speed on marked trails or shared trails should reflect the fact theres no stripy tape and no marshals with flags and whistles making sure the path is clear around the next corner. In the absence of those measures anything or anyone you encounter - pedestrians, children, dogs, another fallen rider, a fallen tree - that you can't readily and easily stop for is entirely your problem.

I like reponsible dog owners.
I like well behaved dogs.
I like trail centres.

However, I intend to ride my bike round the show ring at Crufts next year;
I shall crap on the floor, hump Clare Balding's leg, bark at the judge and circle Peter Purves in a threatening manner, whilst Ms Spanner shouts 'He's harmless really, your microphone scared him' in a patronising, smug voice.

I like naughty dogs. They make me 😆

Have a dog, he's still young (18 months) but we've done Glentress blue with him. But we waited till after 5 when the trails were near empty.

I was in front, followed by dog followed by the girlfriend. Don't see a problem as long as he's between us on the trail.

As for him wandering off chasing stuff, yes when your walking no when he's chasing one of us on a bike. The key is to give him one job i.e chasing you and he won't go off wandering in front of other riders.

Before we got the hound we'd often see dogs on trails didn't bother me as its for everyone to enjoy the trails and if people enjoy it with their dogs so what!

Stopping to let a dog past or to get out of its way is no worse than having to stop or move for another rider.

Some people need to realise trails are for everyone and that some people like taking their dogs with them. As long as they don't cause accidents where's the problem?

The red and black trails are just paths that the managers of the land had bikes in mind for when the built them. No matter how they are signed and graded cyclists of any age or ability can ride them and folk can walk them. And dogs are dogs.

Your speed on marked trails or shared trails should reflect the fact theres no stripy tape and no marshals with flags and whistles making sure the path is clear around the next corner. In the absence of those measures anything or anyone you encounter - pedestrians, children, dogs, another fallen rider, a fallen tree - that you can't readily and easily stop for is entirely your problem.

[b]Footpaths are for walkers only. Bike trails are for cyclists only.[/b] From Llandegla's own website 😉

There are a huge number of assumptions being made on this thread, they ain't 'my' trails, and I have no problem sharing them with responsible users, neither do I have a feeling of self importance. As for the post above, I always ride within my limits and with the assumption I'm going to encounter someone or something along the trail. I've been riding long enough to expect the unexpected, especially somewhere with such a wide scope of ability as Llandegla. Dog number one from last Wednesday cut through the forest as I came round a hairpin and under my wheel as I was on the edge of a small drop, if it had been a couple of seconds later I would have been airborne and please do explain to me how I could have taken evasive action to not hit a dog whilst in the air. Dog two last night came from behind and across the path of my front wheel, I guess it had been sniffing around something off trail then panicked as it heard me come past and realised it had lost its owner. I don't blame the dog for either incident to clarify, just the irresponsible owners who clearly had no control of their dog in either situation. My speed clearly wasn't an issue Maccruiskeen, otherwise I would had hit them 🙄

As for it could be a small child, I have yet to see a three year old hitting up the table top jumps on the black trail on her/his balance bike, and if they were, I would expect them to stick to the marked trail like any other user.

this again? really ?? I thought we had already established that people using trail centres to exercise their dogs were dicks

[b]WHAT ABOUT DEER AND BADGERS? THEY HAVE FEELINGS TOO.[/b]

Your speed on marked trails or shared trails should reflect the fact theres no stripy tape and no marshals with flags and whistles making sure the path is clear around the next corner. In the absence of those measures anything or anyone you encounter - pedestrians, children, dogs, another fallen rider, a fallen tree - that you can't readily and easily stop for is entirely your problem.

I'm yet to see a pedestrian, child, fallen rider or fallen tree run out of the bushes without warning and start jumping and barking at me.

3 at Swinley on the blue run last Sat morning, probably the busiest UK trail centre, at the busiest time of the week.
What are these people thinking?

I fancy a ride with my dog?

It's a free country after all.

WHAT ABOUT DEER AND BADGERS? THEY HAVE FEELINGS TOO.

And the middle aged bimblers on Ibis Mojo's, don't forget them.