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I'm an author and freelance journalist, venturing into the world of 'blogs' for the first time. Although I usually write from dreams, these are purely formed from my own opinions, observations and general silliness. If you're feeling brave, why not read a couple? Or if you want to go back to the safety of nice, familiar books, venture back to the main site.
It Had Teef - Posted on 1/27/2009
I can understand that when you exercise, you need the right motivation to go on and push yourself just that little bit more to go the extra distance. But last week motivation came in a slightly different form... a small white hairy one with 'teef' and four legs.
And what was that motivation? Well, I was simply going about my usual exercise regime when, unexpectedly, I was chased down the bike track by an angry dog.
I'd just passed a mother and daughter on the way back from a long ride and their dog started chasing me and snarling, causing me to panic and peddle faster, and faster, and faster while in the corner of my eye this dog was keeping up with me as if it wanted to lunge at the bike (or me) and would not leave my side for two whole minutes.
I mean, okay, they may have been annoyed at me for speeding past on my bike from behind with very little notice but I did say ‘excuse me', there was plenty of room and that was no reason for them to set their dog on me. On the brighter side, my heart rate increased and I was peddling at a speed I probably wouldn't have reached otherwise – not that I cycle particularly slowly in the first place but the dog was almost flying and had a determination of steel – but no matter how fast I went, Muttley just didn't seem to care.
And when it finally did give up, I wasn't slowing just in case it happened to catch up with me, somehow, like a demon dog with supernatural powers and razor sharp teeth well honed by chewing mounds of pedigree chum. Why can't people keep their dog on a lead if they're going to chase innocent cyclists and bite their Ecko Reds?
I'm not a dog hater, in fact, I rather like dogs and the company they give but when they are baring their teeth and chasing me while dangerously close to my bike, I do get scared.
It wasn't even a particularly big dog, and if I'd had more time to think about it I could have stopped the whole thing with one calculated swerve in the right direction.
But being the sensitive soul that I am, I now find myself scarred for life instead.
And it's not the first time this has happened; I've been cycling at a nice, balanced pace and rather enjoying the wind sweeping through my hair when I've come to some rather large – but calm – looking dogs with their owner. I saw that he was keeping them to the side of the path as he should, when just at the very last moment one of his dogs decided to run right in front of me and cause me to break so hard that I almost went over the handlebars.
I'm not saying that all dogs should be kept on leads but most owners know their own dog and its temperament and if it is likely to behave in a dangerous way around others then they should take a precaution and keep it in control. Please.