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Comment by prmoustache | Hacker News Reader

Lots of stray dogs around here in south of Spain. Also when I used to be a 12y old cycling in rural france that was pretty much the same, I was always prepared for a sprint whenever I would reach a farm.

In a sense it probably made me stronger but I can't say I build a friendship and a mutual sense of confidence with dogs.

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Perhaps this is in order https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velo-dog

Well I don't want them any harm either. I understand all this is a big misunderstanding as they probably feel I am a danger to them.

> For the more humane, there were cartridges loaded with cayenne pepper or dust,

Could probably go for pepper spray nowadays.

I wonder what makes them hunt cyclists and some cars that pass by.

Some breeds have a higher prey drive than others.

But many bad behaviours are pretty easy to train out of most dogs (eg barking at passer-bys). Dogs are easy to train. Too many lazy owners blame their "nature" or "that's just how they are" as if they can't do anything.

My dogs bark at people on bike/motorcycles/scooters. I think they code as a big animal to them. Once we get up close and it's clear that it's a person on a machine they stop barking.

As a counter point to hunting, my dog seems to be afraid of almost anything on wheels. Even a skateboard without rider is a hard nope, and will send her tail tucked behind me.

She's a 90 lbs Mastiff/St Bernard/Lab cross. It's not like she's worried about being crushed or eaten. She could probably eat me.

Or maybe she doesn't realize she's big. I don't know.

Instincts? Wolves hunt animals much larger than themselves for a living, they run after, nibble their ankles and wait for them to make a mistake and then they go in.

ah okay thats not a thing here in Sweden.

So its not cycling then its a stray dog thing :)

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