impure

I was wondering what you guys tend to do about a dog running after you while your riding?
Here's my wonderful story about today.
So i was riding my bike to work today and i cut through a wooded trail that runs behind an elementary school. It eventually leads to the road and on i go. well there is a white dog that always barks at me and he's not tied or fenced in. He used to chase me but has given up and resorts to barking once he found that he couldn't catch me. well the next house over is a brown dog thats chased me about a block up the street a time or two before. Well today the white dog alerted him and i see the brown dog running after me, i was going about fifteen mile an hour and he ran right into my front tire. It tweaked my bars to the right and down i went. Luckily i hit him hard enough that he took off scared. I ended up with two large scrapes on my knee, a F@*#ED up big toe which i thought was broken, i hit my chin pretty hard too.

so after the life story My question to you guys is what do you do when a dog runs after you? The dog today was too far away for me to kick him out of the way. I don't even want to go the same route tomorrow but it cuts about ten min. from my commute time and I'm not about to pull my knife out and stab him, or take a baseball bat to him. The owners wouldn't care about the dog much if i called the cops and it would be a pain in ass and waste my time waiting for the bacon mobile and talking to the cop.

limeylew

Point at the dog with your finger and shout NO as loudly as you can.

This will work most of the time, as the dog is neither out there to kill you, or to eat you, just to play.

impure

he looks pretty pissed when he's running after me. and dogs in the past have had a tendancy of biting at my ankles

Sledbikes

havent had a dog problem since i started carrying this once you crack em hard on the nose they know whos boss.

gr23932

I normally stop ASAP before the dog gets to close and then open a can of whoop *****. Carry a small blunt object attached to your top tube using Velcro.

impure

Tomorrow i'm going to take a small baseball bat and put it in my pack like a sword and if i need it i need it. I'd hate to but its either me or him. How much did you pay for yours?

Sledbikes

18 bucks at a flea market

CommuterRun

Depends on the dog. Either nothing or OC spray.

Galls

noteon 

Where do you keep it?

Sledbikes

fits conveniently under the bannana seat. depending where im at i keep it under the right grip with some velcro

noteon 

If they weren't illegal in New York, I'd likely get one.

But this does remind me to test some hand pumps for heft and balance.

Sledbikes

they're illegal here too but its a slap on the wrist compared to carrying a knife

Chris516

I immediately stop, not out of fear but, to let the dog begin to understand, who I am.

There is a dog in the community where I live. At first, the dogs owner would try to calm the dog down. That never worked so, I befriended the dog, to show the dog, I don't mean any harm to them, or the owner.

Now, The dog will bark at me as I am about to pass by but, I can tell, that it is a friendly excited bark and, not one of anger.

ATAC49er

OK, here's 2....

A couple years ago, on my way home one PM, I was chased by a young thug-in-training's pit, about 6-8 mos. old. He was fast! When he got about a foot behind my rt crankarm, I did a quick swerve at him to get his attention. Ran over his front feet, he yelped and disappeared, and I've never seen either since.

On one of my commute routes, there is a large German Shepherd in a large fenced yard; every day I go that way, he runs the fence as I roll by, barking and growling to high heaven. When the stern voice didn't work, I decided to entertain myself by 'making friends'. I'd happily invite him to run the fence with me as I rode by. After about six months, he doesn't growl anymore, and rarely barks when i'm talking to him. 'Course, things may be different if he ever slips the fence....

Big_e

I use carry Halt dog repellent. Once stopped a pitbull in his tracks but I was on foot issueing a notice at the time. I strap the can to my frame with a velcro strap.
Ernest

legato

I got bit by my neighbors dog, right in my butt! It was horrible, I was bleeding and it was raining out. I marched over there and gave them a peice of my mind and I haven't seen their dog out since.

I'm still pissed about it!

Treespeed

Those are all great ideas, though sometimes a good squirt from the water bottle can work pretty well for the less threatening dogs.
If this dog hit your front tire I doubt he'll be chasing you again anytime soon. It's amazing how fast a dog will stop chasing horses after the horse gets in a solid kick.

VegasTriker

Since you were injured in this encounter you should have called the police or local animal control. It is illegal to let a dog run at large in most urban and surburban jurisdictions. I've only been bitten once by a dog that had gotten off the owner's property. The owner was cited and was required to tie up the dog for a 10-day period in spite of her vehement protests that the dog was her protection. I could have made her pay for a doctor's visit but the bite was minor. If you know who owns the dog and the location of the owner it is not too late to file a complaint. It certainly helps other people who may come across this agressive dog to have a complaint on record. You are entitled to be paid for any damage to you or your bike.

10 Wheels

Practice a Good Nose Kick.

gcottay

What to do about dogs?

How about enjoy them?

rumrunn6

Personally I would love to beat the dog with a stick. Wanna play with me? You picked the wring person mutt! I wish we were allowed to carry pepper spray in Mass. 'cause I would have a can just for the canine who wants to inflict personal injury on me. I am prepared to defend myself DOG!

maddyfish

WHat in the world kind of communist slave state can you not carry pepper spray?
What on earth is your government afraid of? Are they afraid you'll actually say 'no' to one of their nutcase liberal policies?
You need to forcibily remove any state government that is scared to allow you to have pepper spray

rumrunn6

Yeah, Mass is weird. Let me clarify, we can carry it but we need a firearm permit! At least they let the gays marry ...

5kdad

I live in a rural area, so dogs can be a problem. The halt sprays works well. At first, i hated to use it, but one house had a dog that would run out and chase, never acted like he wanted to bit, so I just pedaled on. Then one day i was riding on the other side of the road from the house, and he ran out to chase me. A car was coming from the other direction, didn't see him in time, and hit the dog, killing him.
Now i don't feel so bad about using the pepper spray. It may have his life. You could break him of a bad habit.
One more note. . .One neighbor had a very vicious german shepard. After squirting him a few times, I only had to put out a stiff arm, pretending to have the spray, and he'd back away.