"It's OK, He won't bite"

[geronimo]

I should also say that whenever a dog owner takes the trouble to rein in their dog as I pass then I thank them very much. If I'm on my bike I slow down and stop if necessary because dogs do have this tendancy to run in front of you. ( I think its a predator thing - dogs just don't seem to consider the fact that something could come up on them by surprise)

the Downton Abbey thing is funny - but you realise you'll be on a watch list now since you used those letters, I'm avoiding them

in case you get collared?

[sbrt]

Scary dog chases adventure racers for 430 miles
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/th...-all-the-way-t

[superflyguy]

Scary dog chases adventure racers for 430 miles
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/th...-all-the-way-t

lol.
interesting take on that story

[Ilkley Swimmer]

"Aaaaaah how sweet. He must like you" (which the dog shows by affectionately jumping all over me)

[porcupine]

ilkley this could be so funny bet it was,nt at time hope your ok

[shaunaneto]

30% of dog owners have been attacked according to the news today. I missed exactly how they reached that figure or what the definition was.

What I found interesting was the suggestion that lack of exercise played a part. I find dogs are much more nervous in spring than autumn. Maybe after a winter of short walks close to home rather than longer walks further afield leave them cranky and unsociable.

Hmmm, can't say I'd blame them...

[Lemmy]

Grabbed from the Express;

"The PDSA said 2.4 million dogs in the UK are not given the opportunity to exercise safely off the lead outside the home or garden on a daily basis, with over 800,000 of these dogs never even going for walks."

I find that stat shocking! No wonder attacks are on the up, for the odd time such dogs might eventually get walked...

[XRunner]

30% of dog owners have been attacked according to the news today. I missed exactly how they reached that figure or what the definition was...

The figure appears in the 2014 PDS PAW Open Survey which states:

With 62% of pet owners having been concerned or frightened by another dog’s behaviour and over 30% having been bitten or attacked by a dog, it is evident that this issue which costs the NHS over £3 million a year, needs more focus.

This was part of an online survey with no controls and no access to the original data.

The sample could have been taken from ten people who answered the question and three of these people who claim to have been bitten or attacked by dogs. This figure cannot be extrapolated to represent the general population of dog owners.

It has no statistical validity at all and demonstrates why so many newspaper headlines are meaningless rubbish.

[shaunaneto]

Pffft spoilsport

[Mathew]

Xrunner has a point.. Even so I've been chased down by dogs a tone of times this autumn and winter. Most of the times it would have been cool if the owner had just put a lead on.. Instead of laughing or scorning me for not backing away! Does my head in..