Advocacy & Safety - innovative dog solutions?

Here are a few, and there are probably quite a few more where these came from:

The Autobola:
Bolas have been used effectively against a wide variety of animals. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolas)

It might be a little awkward to use a traditional bola while riding a bike (though it could be done). An 'autobola' could be designed along the lines of a spearfishing gun. The balls could be propelled with surgical tubing.

The Superflash:
A very bright flash could temporarily blind a dog:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_grenade#Stun_grenades

The Inflatable Bear:
A large, snarling, suddenly inflating bear looming over the dog may be effective.


Special Sounds:
Recorded sounds that have the desired effects on dogs. Rattlesnake. Shotgun action. Angry, scolding owner. Animal sounds that trigger instinctive responses.

Variation: practice with voice to make the most effective sounds.

Deployable and Irresistible Stuffed Animals:
Dangling from stiff wire alongside the bike -- perhaps two or three feet out.

They could be laced with superhot cayenne pepper.

Tanglefoot:
There may be ways of designing systems that would entangle the feet of a pursuing dog(s).

Sticky Netting:
Lightweight netting (like the bird netting sold to gardeners and farmers), combined with some kind of very sticky substance (like that used in glue traps).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netgun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netgun)

Volume-adjustable Piezo Emitters:
Used in alarm systems, and for other applications, these can be very loud, and they can produce some extremely unusual sounds that give dogs pause.

Rubber Bullets and Beanbag Stunguns:
Used by law enforcement and riot control. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_gun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_gun)

Sticky Attack Dolls:
I've experienced a few of these myself. The sky's the limit on these designs.


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There were some others too. I'll try to remember them.

Any additional ideas would be welcome here.

The animal world contains some interesting leads and possibilities:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolas_spiders

There is also the electric wire barrier. It's being used for protection against bears. If a dog touches the wire, it gets a strong shock.

Systems can be light weight.

cattleprod. its light, powerfull, easy to carry and very effective.

I carry a cat.

Now, this could work both ways.

1) The dog breaks his chase with me and goes after the jettisoned cat.

2) The cat lands on the dog with all claws extended, disabling the dog.

3) Ooops, I said, "2."

4) The cat acts as a dull weight, stopping the dog with it's body mass.

5) Ooops, I said, "2."

6) I would never harm a cat or dog. I never said anything about that.

7) I carry a hamster.

I carry a cat.

Adapting this for a bicycle wouldn't be hard...

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m164/idcdork/MayorWestLoadingCatLauncher.jpg

My dad used a bow and blunt tipped arrows to discourage dogs. When he got older he used a sling shot and OO gage buckshot. I still use the sling on dogs in my yard. Out on the road I have carried the sling when I expected dog trouble.

As far as I am concerned once the dog is off its' owners land, is barking, showing its teeth and approaching me it is self-defense to nail it with a pellet. And when it comes to P.E.T.A. it meants People Eating Tasty Animals.

The bright light thing is a myth. Extremely bright lights do absolutely nothing to phase a dog.

I'm just going to train my Beta dog how to ride a bike. Either that or a bottle of dog piss to spary, but the dangers of getting the wrong bottle are just too disgusting.

My dad used a bow and blunt tipped arrows to discourage dogs. When he got older he used a sling shot and OO gage buckshot. I still use the sling on dogs in my yard. Out on the road I have carried the sling when I expected dog trouble.

As far as I am concerned once the dog is off its' owners land, is barking, showing its teeth and approaching me it is self-defense to nail it with a pellet. And when it comes to P.E.T.A. it meants People Eating Tasty Animals.

Overcompensating maybe? I usually just give the dogs a mean glance and they run away yelping, tail-tucked between their legs.

water bottle full ammonia mixed with tobasco sauce. One squirt in the dogs face and they are gone. works equally well on humans.

Well i just had my first encounter today. Two rottweillers came running from a yard behind a bush within 20m of me (from the rear). Managed to get my bike between us but not before it mangled my leg. I just got back to riding after getting over the flu, but now I'm out of action again.

In the future I will take head of these tips, thanks guys :P

if you use the ammonia/tobasco mix, mount a waterbottle carrier on you handle bars for quick access. Just dont take a swig ;)

Well, I don't know about other parts of the world, but here in the States, if you've got rottweillers chomping on your legs, you need to call the cops. No excuse for that behavior going unpunished.

Personally, I haven't been chased by a dog here at home in Wisconsin for several years. All dogs encountered are either fenced or chained. There were quite a few loose ones when I was riding in Tennessee and Kentucky this spring though. As a matter of fact, when I visited my sister in Kentucky, the neighbor dogs came over, peed on our car tires, then plunked down in their front yard waiting for the next interesting prey to come down the quiet country road. When riding, my friend was chased by 6 (six) dogs at once! :eek: Luckily it was springtime and they tired quickly.

Get a riding partner who's a slower sprinter than you are:p

Had a chocolate lab come out at me yesterday...came at me with a full head of steam...then he just got alongside of me and followed me for the next 1.2 miles. I was riding an aerobic pace and had a target heart rate to maintain. So, he had no trouble keeping up. He just wanted to run! I was worried he might not find his way back home when he finally did stop following me. So, when I got home, I drove back out to where I last saw him and back by his owner's home...no sign of him. But, he did have a brass tag across his collar...so, I'm sure it had his owner's name/address.

Earlier in the 72 mile route, I did have what looked like a Siberian Husky give chase...naturally, I got above my target heart rate. I think I will go out that way again soon....with something just for him.