Road Cycling - Should I have pulled the trigger?

On a ride today, I encountered a dog. This dog was a large, and scary guy that popped out on the road from the yard of a nearby house. He barked with obvious bad intent, and was very aggressive toward me. I saw him in enough time to get out my dog repellant, and point it @ him. I then looked hard @ him and yelled loudly several times “no” and “stop”. He didn’t stop and continued to pace me (about 2 feet from my feet!) and bark. I just kept the repellant pointed @ him, and he did not snap @ me - so I rode on. However, after thinking about the attack, I wonder if I did the right thing?

If the dog did try and bite me, I don’t know if I could have got him with the spray before he bit me. Also, now this dog has no real negative reinforcement in terms of chasing people. I really don’t want to hurt the dog (even temporarily) unless it’s the last and only option. However, perhaps I gave him too much of the benefit of the doubt. So, in your opinion, should I have pulled the trigger or not? :confused:

If it happened here, I would have (if I had dog repellant with me... otherwise I would go on the offensive, stopped and chased the dog as soon as it began approaching). It's illegal to let dogs run unrestrained, and it is definitely a hazard to people using the road, whether by car, by foot or by bicycle. You should report it to the sherriff's office, since you know where its home is.

MechBgon is right take the offensive usually I just continue to ride but keep a strong eye on the dog and screw the dog repelant just kick the darn thing(in the stomach or groin area) if it get close to you. If you do chase after it stay off their "territory" they will turn around and defend it. report it to the sheriff at least here they take it seriously we have had several dog maulings in our area.

I recomend protecting yourself any way you can. I was bitten by a pit on rural ride. From now on I will do anything to hurt the dog to protect myself.

Four easy steps.

1. Find the dog owners.

2. Point the repellant at them.

3. Pull the trigger.

4. Remark on how much easier life would be if they kept their dog under control.

How many people have sprayed themselves when trying to spray the dog? That's what keeps me from pulling the trigger. I don't want any on me!:eek:

You should have sprayed the dog. Otherwise, what is the point of the dog repellent. You obviously bought the repellent to use in such a situation.

CHEERS.

Mark

Originally posted by MediaCreations
Four easy steps.

1. Find the dog owners.

2. Point the repellant at them.

3. Pull the trigger.

4. Remark on how much easier life would be if they kept their dog under control.

Now thats creative :beer:

Two questions:
1. - Which way was the wind blowing?

2. - Could the dog have caught you if he wanted too?

Originally posted by 1oldRoadie
Two questions:
1. - Which way was the wind blowing?

2. - Could the dog have caught you if he wanted too?

There was very little wind, and the dog could have easily caught me as I was ascending a relatively steep hill.

In retrospect, I wonder if the repellant would have just angered the dog? That could be bad for me as he was a big dog with a big mouth/teeth! Anywho, I did the same route the other day, and the dog did not appear. However, I was ready to spray him this time.

I guess timing is everything! :)

get a can of spray for yoursel f and try it out to see what it's like before you spray an animal. he's not trying to necesarily malicious, he's just going on his confused instincts. If he was sprayed he'd suffer for a couple of hours with no ways to relieve the pain...
i like doggies and have pepper sprayed myself to see what it'd be like for them! and it's BADDDDD
A dog and a bike lover,
brent

I think you behaved exactly right. The dog was following instinct, which with domestic animals is generally not to bite but to play. Be prepared, but don't be to quick to hurt.

I don't agree with the notion of testing sprays on yourself.

Perhaps a call to animal control or the police was in order. They will usually maintain your anonymity.

To have sprayed the dog might have created an ugly current or future confrontation with the owner.

Carl

So you just got a can of pepper spray? this reminds me of an old saying:

"If you give a 4-year old a hammer, he's going to find a whole lot of nails that need hammering"

Learn to outrun nasty dogs-it's simpler than annoying them, and safer, too.

This spring I wrote a letter to the state police describing my contact with a neighbor's rottweiler. Then I forwarded a copy of the letter to the neighbor.

I got a real nasty telephone call a couple of days later, but the rottweiler is under control and I ride by the house with confidence.

Apparently the thought that I was setting them up for a lawsuit scared them silly.

A good old friend once had a dog come out of nowhere, rip him off his bike and leave him bleeding to death on the road. He still has tooth-marks on his legs. I myself am a dog-lover, but dogs need to be in control and behaved. Otherwise, they get punished. I'd have sprayed him if he got within 20 feet of me and appeared aggressive.

I have posted dog issues in the past and have had some experiences with many different kinds of dogs.

I carry spray, but only keep it handy when I'm alone...mostly for rednecks:D

I ignore and don't look at dogs...if they approach me I yell like hell, even if they are nice. I don't increase my speed...that just encourages their pray drive. Once while riding, a friendly dog was following us and noone yelled at it to go home. It got hit by an on coming car. It was not killed, but it made me realize sometimes it is best to teach a dog a lesson for it's own good. So, spray it if you feel like it...it might actually save the dogs life in the future...and prevent you from having an accident.

I used to carry spray but I found that I never used it. Partly because I did want to spray myself. On a few (maybe 3 or 4 occasions) where I could not out run the dog due to fatigue or a steep hill, I have gotten off the bike to chase the dog(s) away. then the spray would be handy but I never had it on those occasions.
On the subject I think the spray is probably better suited to the road rage motorists rather than the dogs.
Frame pumps and squirts from the water bottle work well on dogs in my experience. I actually squirt a dog with my water bottle once and he dropped like he had been shot, it was hilarious. Lately I just try to ignore or out run them. By the way if you spray one make sure he is not in a position to fall into your wheel, and look out for the owners they may become a bigger hazard than the dog.
You know from the dogs point of view we do not look like a human when we have helmets and glasses on and are riding on a machine.
Once again,.... responsible dog owners are the key.
Be careful and remember dogs are part of riding, sprint training the way I see it.

Just call the cops.