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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
   
Location: North Dakota | It was a beautiful Sunday for a ride today. Rode in just a hooded sweatshirt which is pretty unheard of for January in ND. However the nice weather means the ground is still frozen but the top layer is muddy/slippery and still icy in some places.
When the ground is like this, I'll often go about a mile down the highway because there is a gravel road that is dry in these types of conditions. Added perk is that it's a hill which makes for a great workout for my horses. The only downfall of this area is there is one house (out of several houses) that has a couple miniature horses and a few dogs. One dog in particular barks up a storm when I go by. I feel bad to make the dog bark so I try not to ride that way very often.
The dog's pen is probably a good 40 yards from the gravel road, and I always stay on the road and do not go into the ditches.
today, as I'm riding my horse by, the owner comes out and asks me not to ride by anymore because it upsets his dog so much. And that if the dog would break through his fence, he WOULD come after me.
So here's where I get to my question:
i figure he did ask my nicely so it sucks, but I guess I just won't ride there anymore. But at the same time, I feel "cheated" off of a public road.
What would you do?
What if instead of being on a horse, I was on a bicycle? Or running/jogging by?
obviously if the dog would get out and attacked me (or someone else) it would be the owners fault.
So Just kind of curious what you guys all think about the situation. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I would keep riding down that road. It's a public road. I would explain to the guy why you sometimes ride down the road. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | GLP - 2015-01-18 3:48 PM
I would keep riding down that road. It's a public road. I would explain to the guy why you sometimes ride down the road.
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4627
Location: Texas | GLP - 2015-01-18 1:48 PM
I would keep riding down that road. It's a public road. I would explain to the guy why you sometimes ride down the road.
Agreed. It's a public road... |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | I would keep riding till the dogs gets horse and can't bark any more. He will get used to her. Also I think its a shame to keep a dog locked up. |
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 Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | Would it be possible to call/text the owner of the dog on the days you do ride by so you can let him know in advance so he can put the dog in the house/garage so he doesn't see you & get upset? I would think that would work for everybody, you can ride by peacefully & his dog doesn't bark. |
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
Location: Texas | We have people ride by our house occasionally. My Doberman goes crazy barking. I don't get mad at the people riding by minding their own business, I get mad that my dog is an idiot. She has been around horses so I don't understand what the uproar is lol. Seriously it is like a 5 minute time frame that they are visible to her if they are walking by. If she feels the need to bark, I guess she will bark.
The only times I get mad are when people let their dogs roam and they end up fighting my dogs through the fence, or my dogs fight each other because a dog has them so riled up they can't stand it. As far as you riding by minding your business, I don't think it is fair for him to ask you not to use a public road.
The thing I loved about my old gelding was if a dog came after us, he would turn around trying to chase them and stomp the tar out of them. He never got one, but they sure found out that he wasn't something to mess with. I carried rocks in my saddle bags when I was on other horses. |
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Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | I'd carry a can of dog mace just to be safe.. |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I ride up and down my road all the time...a lot of peoples dogs bark at me but I don't really care. My dogs do the same thing to people jogging/riding bikes/riding horses past our house. The yard is fully fenced and they can't get to them, and after the people are out of sight the dogs stop barking. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | komet. - 2015-01-18 4:50 PM
I'd carry a can of dog mace just to be safe..
fyi... A water bottle with a squirt top works just as well. I used it often when I was riding my bike and the dogs run off like they got shot with mace. Also, with the water bottle, you can shoot it farther and don't have to worry about the wind blowing pepper spray back at you and your horse. |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I get mad at my dogs when they bark, too. I'd never dream of asking someone not to ride down my street. I like the suggestion about offering to tell the guy when you're going to ride that way.
I sure wish my idiot neighbors would do that with fireworks so I could put my horses and dogs up. |
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Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Nita - 2015-01-18 6:06 PM
komet. - 2015-01-18 4:50 PM
I'd carry a can of dog mace just to be safe..
fyi... A water bottle with a squirt top works just as well. I used it often when I was riding my bike and the dogs run off like they got shot with mace. Also, with the water bottle, you can shoot it farther and don't have to worry about the wind blowing pepper spray back at you and your horse.
I don't know what you have, but I have a can of mace gel that says it will shoot 18 feet... and water will not teach a dog much of a lesson... not on the scale mace will... |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | What if you gave him treats every time you rode by? That's what some of the meter readers do to keep dogs from getting aggressive with them. Could ask the owner of you could do that.
If I couldn't do that, I wouldn't ride there. The thing about it is yes it's a public road but if that dog got out and hurt your horse or spooked him and he got away and caused a wreck then it really wouldn't matter who was at fault if someone lost their life over it. Yes, the dog might be up but dogs get out all the timec and accidents happen. |
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 Night Chat Leader
Posts: 13150
Location: Home....Smiling M Farms | My neighbors have a mean boxer. He's bit a couple people, why he's still alive is beyond me. Dog mace did not work on him.
He bit a lady walking down the street one day, latched on to her calf and wouldn't let go. The lady was screaming and trying to get away, dad and another man heard her and went to her aid. They literally had to beat the dog off of her. Lady had to have stitches and the dog was put in quarantine for 10 days.
Same dog attacked a small child the following year. Nearly took her arm off at the shoulder. Awful awful dog.
I guess I told you that to say this, it wouldn't stop me from riding down the road and if anything did happen the owner would/should be liable, BUT be aware of what 'could' happen. |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | komet. - 2015-01-18 6:20 PM
Nita - 2015-01-18 6:06 PM
komet. - 2015-01-18 4:50 PM
I'd carry a can of dog mace just to be safe..
fyi... A water bottle with a squirt top works just as well. I used it often when I was riding my bike and the dogs run off like they got shot with mace. Also, with the water bottle, you can shoot it farther and don't have to worry about the wind blowing pepper spray back at you and your horse.
I don't know what you have, but I have a can of mace gel that says it will shoot 18 feet... and water will not teach a dog much of a lesson... not on the scale mace will...
I just used a regular old water bottle. Someone else who rode bikes told me to try it and I was surprised it worked so well. Thought I'd pass that along. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | It has never bothered me unless I had a dog with me, but I don't usually because my dog doesn't like to come along and I don't invite my friends' dog(s) along because I don't want to be responsible. Every once in a while they will sneak after me and follow me. But as long as the dog isn't aggressive towards me or my horse and/or is penned up, I don't care. |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Not sure exactly where in ND you live but I live in a very rural area of SD and I ride roads, ditches, fields...where ever I want. Most of my neighbors I've known since I married my husband over 20 years ago. If one of them asked me nicely not to ride by any more I'd do what they asked because its not worth upsetting a person I have to live close to. With that being said I luckily don't have those kinds of neighbors that would ask that of me. |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | Everyone's responses are interesting.
Let me see if this changes anything.
I board my horses. Around the area, there are lots of housing developments. Where I keep my horses is actually alongside a busy highway. Lots of times, I end up exercising my horses along the paved bike path that runs along with the highway.
I have no clue who this guy is, or the other neighbors around him. And I do like to go up and down the hill 3 or 4 times (trot or lope up, walk down "recovery"). I think that is probably the part that bothers this guy. I do at least have to go up and come back, because this road is a dead end.
While one part of me says yes, this is a public road and he has no right to tell me I can't ride by. But maybe the other part of me feels guilty, although I don't know why.
I agree with whoever said they'd be embarrassed if that was their dog. Hubby and I have a dog of our own, and I'd be mad at my dog for barking ... Not mad at the person going by.
On the same token, I'm not in the market to make people angry.
I initially had said "okay" when he spoke with me (I hate confrontation) so I think I'd feel really stupid to go knock on his door and ask if he'd change his mind.
I believe the dogs are outside 24/7 so I don't think it would be an option for them to go inside. There two of them, each with their own doghouse, probably in a fenced area about 30 feet x 20 feet (roughly).
And no way in heck would I go onto his property and give his dog treats!!
**edited to fix my spelling errors.
Edited by r_beau 2015-01-19 8:20 AM
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| Learn how to say "I don't speak English," in another language and carry a gun. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
Location: sunny california | maybe try throwing him a dog cookie? |
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