Video: Balu's All-time Trail Dog Shred in 'Paws & Wheels'

 Would you care to elaborate so that the rest of us can better understand your position?

not saying you're wrong, I just don't get it

 @kjjohnson: Because it encourages every moron on the internet to bring their poorly trained dog along on the trails with them to crap all over, stop in people's way, chase other bikers, nip at riders tires and ankles since its the "cool new thing to do" and "my dog isn't like that". The owner, since they are dumb, also doesn't bring enough water for the dog, doesn't know how far the dog can be pushed since it normally gets no exercise at all, isn't paying attention to the dog, is more concerned with filming and photos for their almighty instagram feed and will blame somebody else for running over their dog that ran across the trail.

 Yeah I sound like an ornery old man but I remember back when people left their dogs at home. Now they get offended if they can't bring them into the grocery story, or run loose on the trail when everyone else is trying not to hit them. Leave them at home, bring your girl instead.

 @preach: Why not both?

 @bignoah: :-) to each his own.

 @Dethphist: Nailed it. Thank you.

 @Dethphist: As a conscientious rider with dogs who has put significant effort into training and behavior, I find it hard to not agree with your post. After all, it's not the dog, ITS THE OWNER.

 @Dethphist: you sound like a wonderful soul to spend time with... Yeesh. I hope my wonderfully trained trail dogs with likely more experience and knowledge of trail etiquette in their tails than you in the whole of your person. Cross paths one day just to pee on your bike and leave you in our trail dust. Better yet just stay home. Nobody wants an attitude like yours on the trails.

 @OlSkoolJake: If your dog is actually trained, then great. I'm talking primarily about the people who are in too much of a rush to jump onto the latest internet bandwagon to think about their own animals' safety or abilities.

 @Dethphist: Trail dogs have been around since the birth of trail riding Haha. It's not a trend that is new haha. I've had dogs with me on the trails for almost 40 years as have many of my peers. Also.. in reality how many dogs have you seen or heard of that are so worked and exhausted from a trail ride that it falls into the categories of animal abuse. I bet dollars to doughnuts it's less than you can on your hands or possibly zero.

 It is okay. You have a choice to ride with friends who have dogs or not. I guarantee you have spend next to zero time being inconvenienced by "wild" animals on the trails. Never ceases to amaze me the people that have to come out and negatively comment on something positive.

 eat a big pile of shit tim

 Almost as bad as self-righteous/entitled mountain bikers...

 @Hyakian: While I think his comment was not very eloquent, I see his point. The number one moving obastacle on trails causing me to crash has been dogs by far over the years. That said, I still go out with my friends to ride when they bring their dogs. Because good times are good times, and crashes happen for all manor of reasons.

 If you were ever to come to the US and tried kicking my dog in the face, let me just say you would never be able to ride again.

 It's true unfortunately, we do have a problem with irresponsible dog owners in the UK... barely stopped my car in time on a busy 40mph road the other day when two Irish Setters came running straight out of a woodland parking lot to my side. Owner smiled and waved... I'm thinking she would have a different reaction if I had hit the brakes just a split second later. Likewise I have friends who have been bitten by dogs off leash while out on the trails and had dogs go for their kids. I love dogs don't get me wrong, but my kids come first if you catch my drift.... Beautiful film, instant fave btw, just showing support for my fellow brit who makes a good point. This don't work everywhere even if we wish it did.

 I'm starting off by just saying, I AM a UK trail rider.

I'm also sorry to say, I think that your comments are a bit rash - I agree with some of your points but your actual comments about booting the dog or running it over without giving a crap are a bit over the top.

Yes, some trail dogs can be an absolute pain in the backside to other riders, however there are others that are trained by the owners. I don't currently own a dog, however I would train it to the best of my ability and if it wasn't working, i.e getting in the way too often then it would be a case of leaving him/her behind.

Just need to chill a bit dude - you'll likely get a lot of flack for this!

 @pooper64: How do you know that would be the outcome?
He might be way better at fighting than you so it may well be you that ends up never being able to ride again.

 I knew I would get some flack for this, but such is life. I feel it needed to be said. Sorry to all you soppy dog lovers if you think this is rash, but just to clarify to all you hot headed PETA activists out there I don’t dislike dogs and certainly don’t advocate animal violence of ANY form.

@pooper64:
Well I hope you feel better puffing out your chest, well done. If you think I would come up to you and your dog and try and kick it in the head then your reaction seems appropriate. However if your dog comes charging towards my son on his bike, then a foot to its head seems to me to be ‘reasonable force’. Do you seriously think I am just going to stand there and do nothing whilst an unknown animal which has the potential to do him a lot of harm is approaching him rapidly? If you genuinely think that, perhaps you’d better stick to just owning dogs before you go having children. There’s obviously (so obvious to my mind it shouldn’t need saying but I will say just so it’s spelled out in nice simple terms) a quick assessment to do first. If it’s a miniature schnauzer then it probably doesn’t pose much of a risk, however lots of people, certainly here in the UK, bring massive great powerful dogs to trail centres which are totally inappropriate and obviously have them completely off lead. I don’t give 2 shits if the dog is so well trained it brings you tea in bed in the morning and fluffs your pillow for you, I don’t know that and I’m not going to assume that just because you think your dear little hound is so well behaved he wouldn’t hurt a fly then that somehow mystically guarantees it will never do anyone any harm. Can you categorically guarantee that? No you can’t. If your dog charges at my son, I’m going to do my utmost to get between the two of them, if my foot is in the way then so be it, how can that be seen as unreasonable? If you don’t like how stranger might react to an unknown potentially dangerous animal that then don’t bring your dog to publically accessible trails.

@landscapeben:
Exactly, far too many badly trained dogs around, and the real shame is it’s not the dogs’ fault. It’s nothing but the owners’ fault however when potentially facing a large dog charging at my own flesh and blood, (I may well come off badly) then the dog is going to get the brunt of it and I’ll do the same thing each and every time without fail.

Like I said, I actually liked the film, breathtaking scenery, great trails and THAT particular dog could be well behaved, but who knows. Confused why you get positive props for saying your kids come first when that's what I said but in more detail.

@paulsproat:
Again taken slightly out of context, I’m not advocating actively aiming to run over someone’s dog but why should I have to take emergency evasive action which might result in me coming a cropper if Pluto decides to change direction and dart across my path? I’ve had exactly that before and managed to somehow not go over the bars and stopped about a hair’s breadth from someone else’s dumb dog which when their owner went round a switchback, stopped dead and then took the direct line. If I’d been going any quicker I’d have gone into it with the front wheel and under heavy braking would have definitely gone over the bars due to the size of this thing. I’ve seen a few times dogs up at the Forest of Dean go charging off-piste through other groups of people riding along a crossing or parallel trail, so why should someone out for a ride minding their own business get knocked off their bike running into a large dog due to an owners’ complacency? Why should I get stick for refusing to apologise for potentially running into someone else’s uncontrolled dog? Not apologising if a dog darts in front of me is very different from not giving a crap.

@murfio:
I don’t do karate or anything but if Pluto goes for my ankle it’s going to get a shoe or if it goes for my son while we’re out riding, I’ll go tooth and nail to the bitter end as I’m sure any parent would, and if that involves taking on the owner too then fine I’ll roll that dice.

 @pooper64: would probably be easier to just make sure your dog's not a idiot although that could be hard because most dogs take personality traits from their owners.

 @landscapeben: Why do you think that for some reason that's just a problem in the UK lol

 @VNIMAL: true dat!

 Well if this isn't a #firstworldproblem I don't know what is?

 Does this mean if you cut me up on the trail I can kick you in the face?

 @veero: true that homie. Spoken like a true dad to someone who is a sissyfied “dog dad”
Yeah if your pup bites my kid. ...Sorry that’s it for both you and your pup. And I wouldn’t bat an eye as I laid the last of the dirt over your graves.

 @preach: This is a ridiculous and unrealistic comment.
Angry words might be exchanged and maybe even some punches but you definitely wouldn't kill him, dig a grave for him and then bury him. Get a grip.

 @fatduke: Depends how fat and tall you are I suppose.