Recumbent - Dog Chases on a bent... crap!

Joined a DF friend for a ride out to the Mollala River today (round trip 51 miles). He had done the ride before a couple of times, it was my first time, and oh by the way, he mentioned there were a couple of dogs that chased along the way, no biggie.

Dog-1 - I did not know where these dogs were along the route, guess I should have become suspect when my friend edged ahead of me a bit. Then from the left a tall, black & white dog bounds in. Having 3 dogs myself, I could read by the body language that it was a friendly dog just coming out to check us out. My neighbor doesn't have dogs and slows down forcing me to veer left, leaving the dog between us. It was actually comical as I think we confused the dog as he nearly did a 180 degree turn in mid-air trying to keep track of us.

Dog-2 - We pressed on. Then from the right, a black dog, probably a lab-mix of some sort, goes for my friend who is out in the lead, gets tired, slows down enough to catch his breath and here I come. The hair on this dog's back was standing straight up, not a good sign. He starts to chase me, I reach for my water bottle and start spraying him on the right, then he is behind me and I just hold the bottle up and spray behind me without even looking where he was. I think I have him beat, but check my mirror, he is still coming, but finally tires and drops back.

I learned today that recumbents really don't have the "stand up and stomp your peddles to get going fast" capability, or at least I have not developed it yet.

We get to our half-way point, and guess what? It's an out & back, and we have to come back the same way we came in. This time, I am stoked, I was pedaling hard thinking perhaps I could just speed by the critters. I apologized later to my DF friend who was a couple hundred feet behind me this time. As hard as I tried, the landmarks I remembered on our way out did not look the same from the other direction.

Dog-3 - So, here we were again, the second dog (Dog-2) we encountered was now tied up (thank you), but his neighbor dog that missed us the first time was now out and comes in from the right. He was a mangy mutt, but fast, and seemed meaner. The dog was on the right, then straight ahead (nearly hit him), then to the left. I hollered at him to scare him, and just kept pedaling, I could no longer see my DF friend in my mirror. He got the same treatment.

At last we get back onto roads I am more familiar with which have few surprises like the ones I had experienced up to this point. But I was wrong.

Dog-4 - A shepherd/husky like dog crosses the road ahead of us and appears to be observing some goats on the opposite side of the fence from him. After the previous 3, I started to pedal harder to build that freight train momentum I've learned riding my bent. The image of my DF friend fades in my mirror. As I approach the dog, he seemed harmless to me as he only gives a slight turn of the head in my direction, then back to the goats. Maybe his doggie brain was figuring out the odds of getting through the fence to the goats vs chasing the goats on his side of the fence (me and my DF friend). Yup, the chase was on. This one was the fastest of them all, or maybe we were just getting tired. I fumble for my water bottle, but the nipple was closed and my gestures to spray the dog were fruitless. But I get past him. My DF friend sees this, watched the dog return to the front porch of the house only to start to chase him too!

We survived, an exciting ride today. We go nearly all summer without any chase like this, and in one day get four! What is the deal with that? In closing I gotta tell you, a dog chase at the bent level is a whole new perspective for me.

In 14k miles, over the past 6 yrs, I have not had a problem with a dog even though I ride a fairly low bent with the seat at 15" high. Chased now and then but the dogs don't seem to be as aggressive toward me on the bent as on the DF. Mainly I worry about the idiot dog that allows itself to be run over knocking me down, so far it hasn't happened. Weirdest dog was one that seemed happy to see us and ran down the road at 16-20mph for 4 miles before veering off, must have been a coon hound used to long miles. Dog wanted desperately to be petted and twice ran along beside me and puts its muzzle on my arm resulting in a broad band of dog slobber on my fortunately long sleeve jersey.
Steve

:lol: Both great stories. Ive never experienced probs with dogs, yet when its Magpie hatching season, those pesky birds wanna protect their young at any cost. This usually involves them swooping down and smashing you in the back of the head......I been run off the road only once, franticly waving my hands in the air and looking behind me :o . Its a miracle it hasnt happened more often :D

So far I've found that all it takes is to stop and get off the bike. Once they recognize you as human they stop completely. It's worked 100% of the time and keeps accidents from happening due to fear.

..of course, there's always the chance it's a killer pitbull, but....:)

One time on a night ride, something (racoon?) bolted out at me from the blackness of the side of the road and whacked my chainring hard. It scared the living ***** out of me. I'm also 15" above the ground, on my seat. I sware, I was looking for fur in my chain after I got home.

Mace works wonders. I have been bitten before and it wasn't fun, nor were the rabies shots. Fortunately it was my ankle, but on a bent the danger is much higher since they can reach your face. Don't take chances, bring mace.

Sprays such as pepper and mace can be as hazardous to their users and other riders as to the dogs they are intended for. Grabbing for and gyrating around with a can of spray trying to hit an agile dog who is suspicious to start with is a recipe for spraying oneself, fellow riders or crashing through loss of control.
I have ridden through pepper spray clouds left by users ahead and fortunately eye protection meant I only had a bit of burn on the lips and nose but it was annoying. I have witnessed several crashes by riders trying to hit dogs with pumps. I ride in fairly doggy areas and as I noted the dogs have not been that much of a problem.

Sprays such as pepper and mace can be as hazardous to their users and other riders as to the dogs they are intended for. Grabbing for and gyrating around with a can of spray trying to hit an agile dog who is suspicious to start with is a recipe for spraying oneself, fellow riders or crashing through loss of control.

Mace has its caveats, but what is the other option if you are being attacked by a dog? And no, a water bottle squirt ain't cutting it. Just being attacked and chased by a dog is going to increase the likelihood for a crash, mace or no mace. My mace is right up on the top tube and easy to grab and spray.

A .32 magnum will do the trick most times.....

They don't like air horns and most of them recognize the authoritative NO!

Chip

They don't like air horns and most of them recognize the authoritative NO!

Agreed. Most of the time I can buy enough time to get past a dog if not stop him in his tracks with a deep loud "NO" or "STAY". Dogs can sense fear, so have none in your voice. For those times it doesn't work I have my trusty can of HALT dog spray. Call me twisted, but there is something about seeing a dog doing an upside down head scoot on the grass that brings a smile to my face :D I have actually slowed down at times........:rolleyes:

This is a great forum.

Unfortunately, nothing would've helped me with that animal attack the other night. It was literally a split second event. I don't even know what kind of animal it was. It looked like a black mass about the size of a racoon. It literally bolted out of nowhere. I'm just riding along and all of a sudden whack, this black mass hits my chainring. It was inches away from my hind quarters too. I was just riding along the side of the road too.

Forgot to mention the fierce growl sound also. It was demonic.

Last week I got chased by three dogs on one 12 mile ride. The first dog was a golden retriver. Looked friendly, but I'm not gonna stop for him. He's chased me before and is cautious of cars. I just out run this one, about 20 mph. does it. BTW, I'm on a trike. The second dog was the problem. I'm slowing down getting ready to take a sharp turn up a steep short hill. When suddenly this dog dashes out toward me. I was startled. Now this dog I've run across before and he wasn't much of a problem, but today his teeth were bared and appeared to be lying in wait for me! So I'm peddling as hard as I can to the turn, when a vehicle comes from the other direction. The dog retreats to his yard. As soon as the vehicle goes by, the dog starts to chase me again. I have two ways to go, but either way is uphill and I'm slow uphills. This dog is now getting close as I pedal up the hill and I'm staring into his bared teeth. I'm pedaling as hard as I can and I can tell he is confused where to bite me, thank goodness. Then I hear the owner yelling for the dog. The dog ignors the owner and is now less than three feet away. I'm going to just keep pedaling as hard as I can, with the owner still calling. I then yell to the owner that if that dog bites me, she's in trouble. As this point I'm starting to get mad. Then just as suddenly as the chase started the dog stops and turns around. The third dog I hadn't seen before. He was a german shepard. He was sitting on the steps of his owner's home with the owner. When he saw me gave chase. He also ignored his owner. I just out ran him. I've got halt but I never carried it with me. But I do now. I'm tried of being chased.
The one common factor in all of these accounts is that the dogs ignored their owners when they saw me. I've been chased more times than I can remember. Heck there's a leash law in this county and as soon as I'm out of the city limits the dogs are not usually tied up.
I've ridden by the place with the mean dog several times, each time with the Halt in hand, but I haven't seen the dog since.

Dogs seem to have an affinity for trike. They give it a curious once over and decide to challenge it and the rider. I would recommend one of those air powered boat horns that you can put in your pocket or velcro'd to the frame. I've often stopped these dogs by yelling "NO!" at them. Often they will stall just long enough to get away. We are simply not that threatening enough when out head is the same hieght as theirs.

I did a 30 mile ride yesterday, pretty much the same loop I do, when I have a 2 hour window. About 1 mile from the house I ride through a park where folks bring their dogs. Now I have never had a problem in this park before, but today, there is a couple with a great Dane. They are walking side by side down the MUP and the dog is bounding off to their side off the leash. The Dog sees me before the owners, and charges!:eek: The owners are yelling for the dog, he ignores them. I dismount and keep the bike between me and the dog. This dog is snarling, growling, baring his teeth. The owner, female type is running to get control of her dog, the male owner is waliking along like its no big thing. I told the woman, "if you don't get that *&^%$ing dog under control, I'm going to kill it". She has to tackle the damn dog. I am surprised that She didn't get bit. The male owner casually walks up, puts the leash on the dog and yanks him away from me. Never says a word, just glares at me the whole time. The female owner apologises several times, male owner just glares. I get away, but I am so wobly legged I can hardly peddle. I can't imagine what I would have done to carry through with my threat,. beat the dog to death with my lock and chain:rolleyes: . I would have had to get it out of my camel back...Dog would have won that engagement. I think I will get a can of pepper spray, for the dogs and their stupid owners. I wonder if they have them in a handy device like a gun type dispenser

Dogs seem to have an affinity for trike. They give it a curious once over and decide to challenge it and the rider. I would recommend one of those air powered boat horns that you can put in your pocket or velcro'd to the frame. I've often stopped these dogs by yelling "NO!" at them. Often they will stall just long enough to get away. We are simply not that threatening enough when out head is the same hieght as theirs.

Shaman, do you have any url links of said "air-powered boat horns" that fit nicely (i.e. compact)? Please advise.

Many option HERE (http://www.falconsafety.com/marine/products/index.html)


...and this unit HERE (http://www.falconsafety.com/marine/products/prod_detail.asp?id=130)

My wife and I had two dogs run with us for almost 10 miles last week. We went for a 20 mile ride out in the country, and these two little dogs, some kind of basset hound mixture, ran with us. We were just taking it easy about 12 mph and they kept up pretty good. But my wife kept slowing down and herding them out of the road when cars were coming. It was pretty funny watching drivers get frustrated at the dogs taking up the whole road. Very friendly little guys, we just didn't have the heart to try to outrun them, they were having too much fun.

I have a marine air horn that I charge with my pump. Works on mutts almost as well as on errant motorists (the dog is spared the single-finger salute element). I have also used the stern "NO" to good effect (on dogs), and usually just outrun them. Once, I stopped a huge brute in his tracks by saying, "Here, boy, come here boy" playfully. But I went down a couple of years ago when I was going slow in my own neighbourhood and trying to deek around a big playful Lab pup -- the idiot veered right in front of me, and I ran into him with my chainring. Road rash supreme, but otherwise OK. When I am riding with other people, I use a variation of the old saw about what to do when you and a pal are confronted by a bear in the woods -- you don't have to run faster than the bear, just faster than your pal.

This advice from a police dog handler: If you can't outrun a dog, it's best to stop and put the bike between you and the bike. A dog in attack mode will run through a cloud of mace and have his teeth on you before the mace can have any effect. Edit: an addition here: After you are stopped, get yourself out of the dog's territory, but in doing so keep the bike between you and always keep facing the dog. If you turn your back to it, it will attack.

Like mace, air horns are best used when the dog is still sizing you up, at point-blank range. Speaking as a gun owner, I don't think guns are a very good choice for cyclists. If you're willing to go the deadly force route, a hunting knife would have several advantages. Lighter, just as deadly at arm's length range, no licensing issues, safer for your buddies, dogs know what it is so just seeing it will back down many of them, and if you have to use it, there will be no question about whether or not the dog was really attacking you. Also there's no bang, so the owner won't immediately know that Fluffy is dead and come looking for you with his 3/4 ton P/U truck.

Last time I was chased was between Lafayette and Frankfort, here in Indiana. The dog was snarling something fierce and hung on for a long way. We both ran out of gas at the same time. We're both panting there on the side of the road and he kinda looks at me, gives a little woof, wags his tail and heads for home. I swear the woof would have translated to "Thanks for the workout!".

Now he looks for me and doesn't snarl or growl, just chases. He acts disappointed if I don't sprint. I gotta figure out a way to hire this dog as a coach!:D

In my mountain bike days, I used to do what I called my urban assault ride. I would take off in training mode and head for the bad end of town. I had an 18 mile loop that was nothing but high intensity intervals the entire time. I would get chased by at least 10 to 15 dogs on every ride as well as a few groups of punk kids on bmx bikes yelling "gimme dat bike" or "I wanna wide dat bike!" I knew their intention of course was to try and take my bike from me. A few times I had to resort to cutting through peoples yards to the next street, jumping curbs, ditches, wrong way in the street, cutting in front of cars just to loose them little turds. I think the kids were a worse threat than the dogs. Later in the summer after being in much better shape it was fun to see just how long they could go before giving up the chase.

...Later in the summer after being in much better shape it was fun to see just how long they could go before giving up the chase.
The dogs or the kids?

The kids of course!..........especially after I retraced my course leading them right towards the dogs!

Well, I've now been bitten. No fun at all.

I've been off my trike for about two months now with the cold weather and snow. I'm not in real good shape so I've been pedaling a shorter loop. Well, I decided to take my regular loop after a couple of shorter rides. I thought about taking the Halt, but it wasn't easily to access. The Air Zound I just bought hasn't been put on the trike yet. I saw the dog in the yard of his regular place. Normally, I just outrun him. But I was getting slower due to the strong head wind and he jumped over a snow band and over a muddy ditch and before I knew it he was right next to me and he sounded mean. Then he bite my arm, twice.
The good thing is the dog was current on his rabies shot and I recently had a tetnus shot. I called the cops. The guy said he used to run and was always being bothered by dogs. He also said the dog always barked at cyclists. My question is, if he used to be bothered by dogs and his dog always barks at cyclists, why isn't the dog tied up the first place? I guess that's why I'd rather use the Halt on the dog owner.

I hope you are pursuing charges. Under Wisconsin law, the owner is responsible for damages. Moreover, if the dog has previously injured someone 'without cause' then you are due double damages and can start proceedings to have the dog destroyed. That may not sound very compassionate, but I have no tolerance for animals that attack humans.

After a couple of days, the wounds are healing pretty well. I'm really not after anything, but keeping the dog tied up. I also told him his neighbor should keep his dog tied up as well(I'm hoping he'll tell him). The only thing the bite really did to me is to be more ready for the next encounter. There are at least 5 other dogs on that loop that are uncontrolled.

Stopping and getting off the bike works even better if you attack the dog. Once the dog learns to associate getting the crap kicked out of him with bikes, he'll quit. Pavlov rules. bk

The last dog that bite me got bite back, the last I heard he never bite anybody since then and that was about 5 years ago.

Stopping and getting off the bike works even better if you attack the dog.

Well, I got chased again today(boy, this is getting old). This time it was a large German Shepard. I outran this one, so I'm not sure how serious a chase it was, but I was doing over 20 mph to do it. The problem is by the time I realize I'm being chased the dog is in what seems to be serious pursuit and how do you stop quickly, dismount and confront a big dog from a very low position?

So my next problem will be the next time I ride by this place again. My experience tells me once I'm chased the dog continues to chase me until something intervenes.

Dogs seem to have an affinity for trike. They give it a curious once over and decide to challenge it and the rider. I would recommend one of those air powered boat horns that you can put in your pocket or velcro'd to the frame. I've often stopped these dogs by yelling "NO!" at them. Often they will stall just long enough to get away. We are simply not that threatening enough when out head is the same hieght as theirs.
Part of it is that they're low and look small. Part of it is that the movement is more twitchy than a DF. And part may be the fearful reaction of the triker since the teeth come in at eye level.

Although I don't think outsprinting dogs is a good idea even if you are capable (it trains the dog to chase you the next time it sees you), it sure is fun on a trike. Border collies are my favorite since they are fast but not big enough to do any real damage However, a shep or dobie is most likely to inspire the best performance.

I also have a velokit (shown in my avatar), so I once let a lab mix catch me to see what it would do. It took the dog about 1 second to figure out that the bottom was open so I had a dog in the cockpit in no time flat. Fortunately, he was just excited so no one got bitten.

Speaking of horns, Walmart carries a version of the old party horn or Marine handheld horn in with their party supplies!

I wonder what happens if you throw a small object softly at an incoming dog, say, a scotch bonnet or habanero pepper... would the dog try to catch it like a treat?

So far I've never had any dog troubles. Knock on pavement............Hopefully not!!
The "chain guns" that are used defensively on ships like aircraft carriers originally got their name from small defensive guns that were made in Europe back in the 1800's for use from bicycles, horseback and buggy's. The French word for dog is "Chein" (?spelling?) so to this day defensive guns are still called chain guns.

My wife runs marathons and once we were up fishing in Northern Canada near an Indian reservation filled with packs of half wild dogs. She would train in the mornings with a big can of bear spray, and sure enough one morning a couple of dogs came running out with hackles up and teeth bared so she spun around and shot from the hip (they are made to be able to be instantly shot from the hip without even removing them from the holster) Those dogs instantly spun around and went the other way, yipping and whining with one even rolling in the dirt! I still kid her that her Indian name up there will forever be "Skunk Lady!"

I was riding with a group in Richardson and had a lab mix take off after me, this was at the end of a very hilly ride (at least for a trike). I simply stopped and yelled sit. The dog stopped and looked at me, did his sit and then went home.

I ride past the dog park here in Plano and have all kinds of dogs come up to me. Since I am at there level most just come up and look at the strange beast. I had a large Shepard come up to me last week that got away from his owner, she was screaming thinking the dog would attach. The dog came up to me quickly and licked me across the face, as I rubbed it's ears. Now that doesn't always work, but being a dog person, I rarely have an issue.

The worst issue I had was on my old wedgie with a rather aggressive Shepard. I stopped got off the bike with my hand on my pump just in case. The dog turned out to be pretty friendly once I was off the bike, once I got on the bike it turned into cujo again.

Yup, in every situation I've ever been in, getting off the bike stops the dog immediately. It probably wouldn't work on a dog taught to attack and made intentionally agressive, like some pit bulls are, but it's worked on every local and rural dog I've ever encountered. Most of the time I still give them a little chase - the dogs round here need the exercise.

Mark Matcalf, RAAM competitor, got serious injuries trying to avoid a dog last year and had to drop out of RAAM 2 weeks before the start. He sustained those injuries at about 6 mph. I just don't want to risk going through what he went through. I'll stop the bike.

The worst issue I had was on my old wedgie with a rather aggressive Shepard. I stopped got off the bike with my hand on my pump just in case. The dog turned out to be pretty friendly once I was off the bike, once I got on the bike it turned into cujo again.

That's what's been happening with me(only on my trike). The dog doesn't leave. Then gets really nasty when I try to get back on the trike. I road ride in a smaller area cause there are interstates on three sides of town. So I pretty much have to deal with this animal.

Please give brief description of dog, how you aprehended it, how you immobilized it, where you bit it, and how hard (draw any blood?).
The last dog that bite me got bite back, the last I heard he never bite anybody since then and that was about 5 years ago.

Have to admit I am curious too, how do you bite a dog....with all that hair/fur... peace

This is pretty funny. I just got my bike and let my son ride it. His very first trip up the block...a neighbor dog ran out to him. It was a friendly dog but still. Hope that doesn't mean my bike is jinxed. The tadpole is so low to the ground that I imagine it could be bad. That dogs teeth are right on level with your face.

I have worked really hard to train my own dog so she doesn't react negatively in such situations. What it comes down to is three things. One, if you run, the dog's instincts are to follow/chase. Two, if it runs out from it's own house, it is "protecting" its own property, by reminding you that you are not wanted here. It's the mailman syndrome. Dogs bark and act vicious to the mailman because in their mind IT WORKS. They bark and bark and bark and then he goes away. So Mr. Doggy thinks he made the big bad mailman go away. Could be the same bluff between dog and bike rider. So if you just keep going, he should stop following you after a few houses. And three, the dog may not have been properly socialized and what you are seeing is fear, and a fearful dog is a dangerous dog. In the first few years, dogs need to be in all kinds of situations, including having experience with bikes, wheelchairs, scooters, and so forth. Standing up and away from *that thing* helps him to see that, "Oh this is just a human. I know humans. Humans are good (we hope)." So there's my dog psychology for the day.

I don't really know what the answer is unless there is a course in doggy-mind-reading. I just hope all the dogs stay on their leashes and in their doggy houses when I go out for a ride!

writerrider

I happened to ride with a guy yesterday that's been seriously bitten twice. He carries Halt too. He's been chased by the same dog I have been, but like me doesn't always see the dog each time by. Then I talked to another cyclist that heard about me being bit over the scanner. Says he has problems with dogs too.
I guess it just boils down to is that there are getting so many people riding around dogs can't be left running loose anymore. Yeah, right, like that's gonna happen.

Hey don't you guys know who this dog belongs to, this dog shouldn't be allowerd to run lose if he/she gonna bite people. Around here if a dog bites just once the person that got bit can have it put down.

I guess I lead a charmed life with regards to dog. i've been chased by well known dogs that put fear into other cyclists and they don't bother me. Eye contact, taking charge of the situation... I am human, you are dog, you go home NOW.

It is my theory from years of dog observation that the chase is the thing, not the attack. STOP PEDALING, the motion of your feet excites in inner, subconcious beast. If you continue the pedalling motion, it looks like natural prey running, you might as well be a squirrel. It is all the same to them. Stop pedalling, coast, shout at them while making eye contact. Be the agressor, if tey come along sinde, steer into their path, or equally as well, stop, get off and make friends, some report even taking dog treats for such occasions.

Oddly, I am much happier with dog interaction on my trike than I am from the higher vantage of the DF. I've had a situation where the teeth baring dog was with his children playing in the street, I kept and held his attention and herded him into his driveway while my riding companions passed. The body language change from agressor to the hunted was striking. He started after me, i was just moving at a crawl, when I passed the driveway I had herded him into. Eye contact and a stern warning changed his mind and I passed uneventfuly.

Sorry you got bit.

That is true about taking control. Dogs really do know who is the alpha in the situation. Also many dogs have been trained but their instincts take over. I was walking my dog at the park when a very large dog came barreling toward us...off leash, no owner around... I remembered something I'd seen on TV and yelled, "Go on! Go home!" at the top of my lungs. To my surprise the dog turned around and ran the other way.

writerrider

velomobiles,

http://youtube.com/watch?v=igVH1repnhw

wave at them through the window