The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

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Another Nice Doggy

We’re riding southbound on the recently opened section of the Empire State Trail, just south of Hopewell Junction, and are approaching a dog walker totally face-sucked by her phone in the middle of the path:

Empire State Trail - Dog Lunge - 2021-05-12 - 0
Empire State Trail – Dog Lunge – 2021-05-12 – 0

Mary has been dinging her bike bell for the last few seconds and finally manages to break through:

Empire State Trail - Dog Lunge - 2021-05-12 - 1
Empire State Trail – Dog Lunge – 2021-05-12 – 1

The dog walker leans against the fence while pulling on the leash as hard as she can, as if she knows the dog poses a threat:

Empire State Trail - Dog Lunge - 2021-05-12 - 2
Empire State Trail – Dog Lunge – 2021-05-12 – 2

Which it does:

Empire State Trail - Dog Lunge - 2021-05-12 - 3
Empire State Trail – Dog Lunge – 2021-05-12 – 3

The leash is too long for close-quarters work:

Empire State Trail - Dog Lunge - 2021-05-12 - 4
Empire State Trail – Dog Lunge – 2021-05-12 – 4

Nice teeth, doggie:

Empire State Trail - Dog Lunge - 2021-05-12 - 5
Empire State Trail – Dog Lunge – 2021-05-12 – 5

Surely, the dog just wants to lick me to death:

Empire State Trail - Dog Lunge - 2021-05-12 - 6
Empire State Trail – Dog Lunge – 2021-05-12 – 6

Tell me again how well-trained this dog is:

Empire State Trail - Dog Lunge - 2021-05-12 - 7
Empire State Trail – Dog Lunge – 2021-05-12 – 7

Seven seconds after the first picture:

Empire State Trail - Dog Lunge - 2021-05-12 - 8
Empire State Trail – Dog Lunge – 2021-05-12 – 8

The dog also lunged at the pair of bicyclists following us, so perhaps this is how she makes sure it get its exercise during the walk.

I hate dogs.

Comments

10 responses to “Another Nice Doggy”

  1. RCPete Avatar
    RCPete

    I like dogs, but shitty dog owners deserve their own circle in hell. Protip: If you can’t keep your dog under control on a shared trail, keep it the [redacted] off the freaking trail!

    1. Keith Ward Avatar
      Keith Ward

      My thoughts exactly. I like animals in general and understand that their behavior is typically only from instinct unless they have been conditioned by their owners. These people who have to bring their dog or pet of any kind everywhere including into stores for no good reason (emotional support animal my eye) needs to come to an end. They’re asking for trouble and sometimes looking for it. As in, “go ahead just say something about my dog”. Pets need to be left at home where they are safe unless they are out for a walk.

  2. scruss2 Avatar

    Ugh: hope you aren’t left too jangled by this. Don’t think anything short of a rail-grinding car track sprayer would slow that dog down.

    I’ve given up on dog owners, or pretty much anyone on the trail, being able to hear my bell/yelling — airpods seem to block everything and it seems everyone uses them. This might not work for your TourEasy’s brisk pace, but I now have a tiny bell (from a Lindt chocolate bunny, would you believe) on my handlebars. Normal riding makes it tinkle and it’s almost inaudible to humans. But most dogs hear it from ~50 yards away, and most dog owners will stop and look if their dog stops and turns. One particularly timid/aggressive dog now knows I’m coming and gets out the way on her own.

    1. Ed Avatar

      I wonder if feeding an ultrasonic warble through a low power amp into a little speaker would shake the hair off repel a dog at close range, without bothering humans at all.

      I did talk myself down from going full frontal crop duster with a kilo of AliExpress parvovirus …

      1. david Avatar
        david

        And oh how I wish you hadn’t. The only nice dog is a dead dog.

      2. Olli Avatar
        Olli

        Upload a video to YouTube and the dog will wear a muzzle next time. I know what I’m talking about…

        “Ensitreffit vai vanhoja kamuja?” (A first date or old friends?)

        Alas I was in a hurry… ;-)

  3. Ed Foster Avatar

    On one of my paper routes in the 1950s I carried a squirt gun full of vinegar. The dogs barked louder than ever, but from a greater distance.

    1. Ed Avatar

      Long long ago, I Velcro-ed a small squeeze bottle of ammonia to the handlebars: it required targeting accurate to the nearest time zone. Only one dog ever came back for a second sample …

        1. Ed Avatar

          I pretty much read the covers off that book …

          Be it so moved, seconded, and passed as read: the squeeze bottle shall be labeled Liquid Knuckles.

          Thanks for the reminder!