Today Bean & I encountered 3 cyclists, 2 small dogs walking an elderly couple, one jogger, and a man spraying "poisen" or whatever you call weed killer !!!!

So 1st the jogger, I felt a little hint of hesitation in myself, took a couple normal breaths, pulled my shoulders back and we heeled past with out any reaction...followed by a few high fives and snugs... ( with Bean, NOT the jogger )

I saw the dogs across a pond, and actually HOPED we'de meet them..we did..Bean barked..I corrected her, and she was fine with them in her area....we followed them at a heel with no further reaction

then 1 bike....no reaction at all.next 2 kids from our neighborhood on bikes ( Bean lunged at them a couple days back ) Today nuttin....

The poisen man....LOL just re assured me that Bean was reacting to my stress...cuz I was stressing him spraying poisen across the street from my house....not to mention Bean seeing him swinging the wand....YEP she barked & GRRRR'D..I reassured her, and she settled down.

During our walk I thought about past incidents...Lightbulb moment>>>> I had begun to see more people out, and was thinking OH crap what's it gonna be like during summer....as well as seeing an approaching situation as a struggle, rather that a positive challenge.

I think we're on our way ...

Renee'

Congratulations.  GSP's react to training so fast.  Or maybe it's us owners who are trainable!

I would try to team up with some dog-friendly cyclists and see if they'd be willing to love your dog up, feed it some treats, then feed treats from the bike.

Of course this could backfire by working so well that she tries to panhandle every bike that goes by.

First of all COngrats BEANS!~

Caly, We actually bought Jackson knowing he would make a great trail dog.  He runs behind a bike fine so far and is learning what "rider up" means....it basically lets him know to pull over wait and then start up with the bike again once the rider passes.   My husband started getting him used to the bike as a young pup by walking him while he was on the bike next to him down the street and back.   We actually found out about GSPs this way because we saw a few solid livers at the MNT bike races here and fell in love!   Many people ride with their dogs on certain trails down here...especially private ones! Maybe you can teach her how to safely move off teh trail on yoru command ...until a biker passes and reward her for it.  

Jackson still gets freaked out by cars....and we are stil working on staying in our heel position when a car comes....I have no idea when this little fear struck up.... oh yeah maybe it was the close call when he snuck out the closed front door that one time!!  sneaky GSPs

I just remembered....THE FEAR I've had when I see a dog, while I'm on a bike..BEEN AWHILE

but

I've never really been an active fitness rider...but have done my fair share of "novice" trips...LIKE NAPA VALLEY......trust me....wine/ sun / and bicycles...can really take a toll !!!

My worst experiences have been passing people's homes, and the dogs come out and chase you.....MOST dog walking people have more manners....

YOU see that dog come running at the speed of sound, and it just scares the crappola out of you..................

So that's my opinion from both sides of the coin...................

The Napa valley is a great  ride..........JUST pass up the RED HEN CANTINA & their MARGARITAS  ( real ones...made w/ Tequila/ triple sec & lime juice ) Stick with the wineries

AND DRINK LOTTSA WATER..........as well as have a back up plan for the 30 mile return trip to Vallejo

My husband tried to find a shortcut....LED us on a train track to a non functioning Tressle....

TRANSLATION >>>>>  back track 5 miles and get over it

Renee'

Hahahaha..... margaritas and a long road tour may get rough!

Husband and I are talking about getting into shape for a road century this summer and I'm eyeballing Icicle Ridge- it's a 6-8 hour/6,000 ft elevation gain off road adventure out of Leavenworth. We'll see. But I miss bringing dogs along to ding around in the woods and I'm really hoping I can rotate some hounds through my lunch hour singletrack rides this summer. GSPs are supurbly able trail dogs.