I love dogs the way I love beer. Which is to say I’m into most of them but if they have too much bark or bite or they’re f***ing sour then I’m good thanks. 

I’ll qualify that too much bark is entirely situational. I was barked at a lot on my ride today, in the snow, by a pile of dogs of every size and shape but they were all just jazzed about the change of scenery. All good dogs. Like drunkenly excited friends yelling “hey asshole, over here!” to each other on repeat. 

I regularly come upon multiple packs of dogs out with their human-dog walkers and I’ve very rarely had any issues. The dogs that listen roam free until they are recalled, and the dogs that don’t listen are on a leash. And occasionally a dog that generally listens tries to switch groups and come along and then they end up on a leash. All’s good with folks earning their buck exercising other peoples’ pooches. 

Now, I have had some negative interactions with folks walking their own dogs who clearly don’t understand the distinction – or don’t give a sh*t – between a dog that is under their control and a dog that isn’t. If your dog can’t be recalled verbally then don’t let it off the leash on public trails. Admittedly I’m not a dog owner, but I don’t see how this isn’t monochrome.

I vividly remember Mischa being violently attacked by two dogs in Squamish. As Mr. Lungtastic grew three sizes in his passionate effort to protect her. I’ve felt the same way both times dogs have knocked Claire down in the forest – once hiking and once riding. I’m certain, in my own experiences, I was seen as “some asshole dog hater” but to be fair to me I don’t hate cars I hate their distracted drivers and this falls under the same umbrella. If in doubt, leash. 

And while I don’t have control over the dogs I come upon on my travels, I do have control over the dogs I travel with. It came up recently in a discussion of group ride dynamics. If it’s not your ride, and it’s not explicitly stated, and you want to bring someone else along with you then ask. The same goes for your hound. If the individual organizing the ride isn’t comfortable with your additional person or pet then either be okay with that or don’t come. 

And, if the organizer or group seems cool with other dogs but not yours then take a deep breath, step outside yourself, and find yourself knowing exactly why. There’s a big difference between a dog that’s under your control and a dog that isn’t and riding mountain bikes the distinction can, and has, been the difference between everyone having fun and a rider or dog getting seriously hurt.