Need Help With My Dog Please

[scruffbag]

We have recently moved to the countryside, where there are lots of cyclists on the roads.
One of my dogs has taken a real dislike to them and this has come a real problem.
Can you help me please? I am struggling with this one.
Many thanks for listening. I would really appreciate your help. X

[Old_Geezer]

I can't say I blame your dog.

Can you not keep it on your property where it can't run free on the roads ?

[scruffbag]

It is when I am walking her on a lead and we come face to face with a cyclist.

[woofgang]

can you walk her elsewhere?

[scruffbag]

Not really. There are cyclists everywhere. It is in the middle of 'The Trough of Bowland' National Park!!

[woofgang]

but surely they don’t go cross country? or maybe they do? I live near the New Forest and off road cycling is forbidden so once you get off the roads and onto the open forest, there are no cyclists....although at this time of year, the roads are full of them.

[kvalidir]

Quite a hard dislike to cure them of tbh. We had a mongrel ***, a rescue dog who had been horribly treated, who hated everything, absolutely everything, bikes, skateboards, people in macs, people in hats, cats, dogs, cars, you name it. After years we managed to talk her around to being normal with everything but bikes and skateboards. As Woof says is there nowhere else you can walk her?

[Chipchopper]

I think its an instinctive territorial thing with dogs, I've experienced this kind of behavior in the past with new dog or new place.
What I did was try to keep the dog under close control and don't pay too much attention to it and hopefully the fascination will gradually wear off.

[tamborine]

Checkout youtube, Cesar Milan rear kick.

[woofgang]

do not do this. Cesar Milan’s ideas were never kind and are now very outdated. Tambo, I wish you would not recommend cruelty as a training strategy

[Old_Geezer]

You are pack leader, you need to disapprove firmly. I've never owned a dog but fascinated by the Dog Whisperer series on TV. Never saw cruelty but saw results. Admittedly they aren't going to broadcast failures though.

[pixie374]

I never considered any of these replies. Do you have or could you borrow a bike? Leave it in the garden while the dog gets used to it, then wheel it around etc. I'd go with familiarisation.

[hereIam]

I think pixie's idea is very good. I think Ceasar Milan is cruel and would not recommend him.

[scruffbag]

Thank you everyone. I will try the bike idea, left in the garden etc.
You are all so kind!
Xxx

[woofgang]

OG the cruelty was there if you know how to read the dogs behaviour. More obvious cruelty was left on the cutting room floor....also many of the before behaviour video clips were filmed after the dogs had been “treated” by him. The position of the slip collar or chain he recommends is right where it will cause maximum pain to the dog and can even damage the neck and throat. he even sells a collar designed to keep the collar there and stop the dog from moving its neck freely.
Also take a look at this

[woofgang]

Oh PS “pack leader" and dominance theory has been disproved for years now

[Tilly2]

Brilliant answer from Pixie.

[ladybirder]

Agree re Cesar Milan. I would not let him anywhere near a dog of mine.

I think the idea of acclimatising your dog is a good one. Distract your dog with a special treat everytime he/she looks at the bike and it will gradually see the bike as a good thing. Don't expect it to work in 5 minutes though, it will take time. You must persevere. Good luck.

[scruffbag]

You really are so wonderful! I was feeling down about this as we moved to this beautiful part of the world to give us and our dogs a better life.
We have had a few teething problems with our girls, but I now feel you have given me the confidence to deal with this problem.
Thank you ever so much xxx

[lankeela]

Make the dog sit as cyclists approach (difficult if they come up from behind and don't ring a bell to let you know). Praise and treat the dog every time they stay sitting. Keep the lead short to help the dog keep its bum on the ground. You could also try using a halti type head collar to keep the head close to you to stop it lunging out as a bike goes past. Some dogs can never be prevented from doing it (usually Border Collies!), so do the best you can to keep it under control even if it still wants to rid the world of all cyclists.