Re-Cycling – Travis vs Bicycles
I knew that it was only a matter of time. Herding dogs are notorious for chasing joggers and bicycles and Travis has just joined the club.
The behaviours that we have selected for in herding dogs are highly desirable when they are actually herding livestock but become maladaptive when directed towards joggers and bicycles to name but two hazards.
Travis has already been challenging with his high excitement levels and desire to jump up, coupled by a prodigious spring. Unfortunately, pedestrians are frequently forced into close proximity with anti-social cyclists. There are of course many law breakers who jump red lights, ride on pavements and ride the wrong way up one way streets and without lights at night. As if that were not bad enough, large amounts of narrow roads have been carved up so that cyclists are riding in both directions on one lane and one has to go cross the cycle lane into the middle of the road to use buses. Cyclists are not prevented from riding in parks and gardens, on riverside walkways and are even allowed to cycle at speed in pedestrian underpasses.
It was this that set off Travis’ interest in cyclists. We were nearly struck by a speeding cyclist who came from behind us as we were entering an underpass. I only just managed to prevent us from being hit but still nearly fell over as I shielded Travis and stepped on slippery leaves. The cyclist, needless to say, sped off without a second glance. Even if he’d caused serious harm, he could have done so with impunity as cyclists are unique as road users in not requiring to be identifiable, insured or tested in any way. Cycling on pavements has been prohibited since the Highways Act 1835 and bicycles have been regarded as road vehicles since the Local Government Act 1888. Fat chance that any of it will be policed though. Not just that, but they are everywhere: in parks on the grass, shooting out from behind hedges, on riverside walkways, on towpaths…
Travis now knows that the space where we had enjoyed playing is now fringed by cyclists speeding along the pavement and has lost interest in his favourite ball as is on permanent alert for the next cyclist. As soon as he spots one, he speeds off along the fence and is yards away in seconds. All it needs is for someone to open the gate and he would be on a major road. So, we can no longer use the convenient space until Travis is desensitised to cyclists.
It is too much to hope that cyclists will stop behaving in such an anti-social and dangerous manner, so we must adapt accordingly until Travis vs bicycles is no longer an issue.
Next week: The Ghost Of Christmas Future
If you need help with your dog chasing cycles or any other adolescent dog behaviour or would like to join us on a Social Dog Walk to practice your skills in the “real world”, contact R+ Dog Training to book your course.