BIKEJOR.COM
Bikejoring – Other Animal Tips
This page provides tips about encounters with other animals while bikejoring.
Most of our adventures involve other animals. My favorites are:
Dogs with owners who assume you want to stop & socialize in a
potentially dangerous situation. (Tell them you are sorry but your
dog is working.)
Loose dogs that run after you barking, and
then decide they want to join the team.
Small loose dogs that
want to try to attack a whole team of big furry dogs with big
teeth.
Cats that are convinced they own the road and, hey they
can sit in the middle.
The most exciting is cats and squirrels that run franticly down the road or back & forth across the road instead of getting OFF the road.
In general, your dogs may try to defend themselves against other dogs that are aggressive. It is best if you defend them and make it clear their job is to stay out of such situations. I try to warn loose dogs away from mine in a deep nasty growly voice, so they see me as the main threat and ignore my team.
Other dogs are always a wild card, prepare for trouble, hope for the best. The situation could be good (only possible if your dogs are well socialized) or could be bad (if things aren't perfect).
Your dogs will want to chase cats and squirrels. The closer to the varmit and less tired they are, the more they will insist. It is not the chase that is bad, it is the sudden stop that ends the chase or the 90 degree turn at 15 mph. The dogs can make that turn, you can't.
I brake enough to make it clear we will not catch the varmint. I also emphasize they can chase straight down the road only. Turning off road is forbidden. Once those rules are established, enjoy the rocket ride. Until then, fear for your life.
Cats rarely make the same mistake twice and run off the road the second time they see my dogs coming. Squirrels are dumb and very entertaining. The only way they learn seems to be by genetic selection.
Your dogs will remember where they see cats and squirrels and may speed up in anticipation. Hence, especially with squirrels, you may get the same rocket ride twice, and it may be faster the second time.