Dear dogs, please leave me alone!
Protecc, no attacc. 🥺
I’d like to preface this by saying that dogs are one of the most adorable creatures on this planet. They are (mostly) loyal, grateful, kind, and are capable of both protecc and attacc. Although I prefer cats to dogs, I don’t really hate dogs. In fact, I find them cute. So, why am I writing this, and why are you reading this? How did we get here?
Dear reader, welcome to my sob story on how dogs treat me like a foe when I’m out and about on a cycle.
Without beating around the bush, let’s face it: I’m scared of some dogs. Not because I see them as a threat, but because they’re mostly unpredictable. One minute you’ll find them wagging tails & playing fetch and the other, they’re furiously chasing a poor cat or two. And that’s where the problem lies.
No, I’m not here to advocate that dogs shouldn’t chase cats. It’s none of my business, albeit I deeply empathize with poor cats getting their afternoon nap disturbed because of a restless ferocious dog. I’m here to self-advocate.
See, I like going on cycle rides and I wholeheartedly enjoy them. After almost two years, I’ve come to realize that there are two distinct things that disrupt my rides — traffic and dogs. While I can’t do anything about the traffic (thanks, Bangalore), I can think of ways to avoid dogs that brutally chase me during rides. And I did.
For a neutral discussion, I’ve invited Mr. Doggie Kruger, who will represent the dog’s point of view today.
Subin: Hi Doggie Kruger, thanks for joining.
Doggie Kruger: Woof, thanks for having me.
Subin: So Mr. Kruger, why are your folks chasing me when I’m minding my own business and having a peaceful ride? I don’t even try to provoke.
Doggie Kruger: Mr. Subin, I’m sorry you had to experience this. The thing is, it is a bit complicated. As dogs, we haven’t quite evolved from the good old days where we are expected to chase a prey on command.
Subin: So you think I’m a prey?!?!
Doggie Kruger: Not really, I’m pretty sure you don’t pose a serious threat to us. It’s just that when you come cycling at 20km/hr, we often think the cycle is our prey.
Subin: Well, for the record, I could pose a serious threat, you know. Just saying. Do you think you can bite me and get away with it? I will ensure at least some of those tooth are broken if you dare to.
Doggie Kruger: Ugh fine, I acknowledge you could pose a serious threat. But that’s not the point. The thing is, we often misinterpret your cycle as an animal and our primal instinct to hunt the animal (cycle) down gets triggered.
Subin: Hold up, what? That’s fascinating, dumb, and interesting at the same time. So, what if I slow down, stop for a second, will you still chase me?
Doggie Kruger: Probably not. Most dogs tend to stop chasing once the realization kicks in that it is indeed a human and not another animal. However, your mileage may vary. If the dogs still chase you, you could try using your cycle as a fence of sorts and wait till the dog calms down.
Subin: Hmm, that seems viable. Not to blow my own trumpet, but I usually outpace dogs when a chasing situation occurs. I will try this approach when I’m in busy roads. Thanks, Kruger, for the insights. It was a pleasure chatting with you.
Doggie Kruger: The pleasure is mine, Subin. Stay safe out there. If nothing works out, you could try that old trick you used to scare dogs away when you were a kid.
Subin: Ssssh, how did you know that? I didn’t even tell it to many people.
Doggie Kruger: Haha, it’s a small world, Subin. Stories like this spread like wildfire.
Subin: Alrighty, I will be more careful next time xD. See you, Kruger. 👋🏽
Doggie Kruger: Woof woof! 🐕
Takeaways 🌟
Well, that was, ummm, interesting…. So dear reader, what do we learn here?
Here are my key takeaways:
If it is an empty road, don’t bother about the dog. Pick up the pace and the dog will stop chasing after you cross its perceived territory.
If it is a busy road, get down and use your cycle as a fence. To be clear, the cycle should be between you and the dogs. Needless to say, there’s a little risk involved here. It’s still better than increasing the pace and getting your head crushed by a huge lorry though.
Try to distract the dog by throwing something you have (not something valuable, duh) in the opposite direction. You may manage to de-escalate the situation.
Maybe give them biscuits when you are getting chased (I’m not responsible if they chase you for more biscuits :3)
Treat Corner 🍨
As a self-proclaimed cyclist, I love Strava for its detailed insights (most of them are locked behind a paywall though). However, I won’t forgive them for the lack of dark mode. It’s been years since Strava has been around, and no one cared to improve the aesthetics of the app?! Boooo…
Enter Any Distance, a new workout app that also doubles as a social network for athletes and anyone interested in fitness. I absolutely love the design and UX of the app. It’s just chef’s kiss!! 🥹 And did I tell you about the cool 3D graphs it can generate? If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably seen many of those by now.
Moreover, the app is one of the nominees of Apple’s Design Awards 2023, whose winners are about to be announced next week at WWDC. Rooting for them and curious to see how it goes! 🤞🏽
Any Distance is currently available on iPhones and Apple Watches. If you have one, I’d genuinely recommend checking it out!
Until next time,
Hearts if you liked it, subs if you loved it!
Stay safe,
Subin