Fifty Plus (50+) - Dogs--what to do?

I get really terrified when I see a dog running towards my bike as I'm always afraid of being bitten or hitting the thing and perhaps hurting both of us. Yep, I've gone down with my bike, but it's not as scary if there's not a dog involved. Can anyone give me some pointers on handling these situations?

About a year ago there was a neighbor dog that used to chase me. I didn't do anything, just out-ran it. One day it jumped in front of me from some weeds and I hit it. The crash broke my collarbone and now I have a plate and nine screws in my shoulder.
Since then, if a dog chases me I spray it in the face with Halt. After one or sometimes two applications a dog won't get within 50 feet of me.
If a dog comes out and doesn't seem aggressive, I will stop and let the dog come up to me and smell my hand. My other hand will be holding the Halt. This has kept some dogs from being interested in chasing me. Other dogs are more aggressive and they need "the treatment" before they quit chasing me.
I no longer just let them chase me. I either make friends with them or squirt them. The Halt seems to dumbfound them more than anything.
I live in a rural area and people routinely leave their dogs to run at large, even though there is a leash law which is not enforced.
I have no problem hitting a running dog square in the puss with the spray while pedaling my bike. I have tips for accomplishing that if you need them.

I get really terrified when I see a dog running towards my bike as I'm always afraid of being bitten or hitting the thing and perhaps hurting both of us. Yep, I've gone down with my bike, but it's not as scary if there's not a dog involved. Can anyone give me some pointers on handling these situations?

A friend of mine rides in the country a lot. He found some website that sells law enforcement supplies and bought a SERIOUS riot control pepper spray canister. This is not some little thing a lady would carry on her key chain, but, in fact, it fits his second water bottle holder perfectly. He can ride by the same place months later and the dogs might bark but they keep their distance.

For example: http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=SD089&cat=3031 or http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum4659.php

Don in Austin

A friend of mine rides in the country a lot. He found some website that sells law enforcement supplies and bought a SERIOUS riot control pepper spray canister. This is not some little thing a lady would carry on her key chain, but, in fact, it fits his second water bottle holder perfectly. He can ride by the same place months later and the dogs might bark but they keep their distance.

For example: http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=SD089&cat=3031 or http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum4659.php

Don in Austin

Might there be legal issues in some localities with carrying law enforcement-strength spray?
(I carry Halt! on rural rides)

Let's see - 3 replies + this one, I bet we don't get past another 5 before the pack'n crowd comes in with the "real man" weapons.

I am interested in this conversation. There is a Labrador Retriever who zeros in on me on my exercise ride. He is in a cage most of the time but he was not today.
I screamed at him and that stopped him but my HR was way up.

Let's see - 3 replies + this one, I bet we don't get past another 5 before the pack'n crowd comes in with the "real man" weapons. Wow! From the obvious "tone" of your post, you must be one of those liberal gun grabbers who know what is best for the rest of us. That sounds like I made a generalizational observation about you doesn't it? Much in the same way as you did when mentioning the "carry crowd". I am an firm supporter of my second amendment rights and a licensed permit holder. I carry most of the time. It has saved my life and that of my wife. Like most responsible gun owners, pulling a firearm is a last resort. I carry pepper spray for dogs, a handgun for idiots who refuse to back off.

Two of the guys I ride with regularly carry very loud whistles. They work great. Another simply yells "NO" at the top of his lungs. Most of the time this works too. Pepper spray takes too long to use and is hard to get aimed, etc. when you're at speed. The risk that you might spray yourself or someone else you are riding with also seems to be great. A Glock 9mm also works, but carries similar risks.

I'm considering the Halt stuff myself. I'm fairly familiar with most the of the dogs on my various routes and made friends with the chows atop my favorite mountain; however there's some sort of retriever on my the-wind-is-out-of-the-north-today, after-work route whose behavior is going to get one or both of us in trouble. I don't think he's wanting to sample my flesh, but he enjoys running out in the road and on occasion crossing in front of me. Generally, he abandons the chase at the boundary of his territory.

I carry too much junk, but I believe I'm going to add some Halt to the collection. A fellow cyclist told me it works pretty well.

Again, as one who rides in the country where dogs are allowed to roam free.... I've found two things to work.

1. Yelling "NO" or "STAY" in a loud, commanding voice (even a woman can muster this - just don't go high pitched)

2. Getting my water bottle and spraying them.

In either case I slow down some. Dogs are chase animals. If something runs from them, then it's prey. By slowing down it gives you some time to get ready and react. Also, I'm not above unclipping and giving it a kick in the jowls.... but usually the first two things work.

I do a Saturday morning ride with a bike group. We had a problem with two dogs at one house chasing us on one of our routes and I reported it to the Sheriff's Department, thinking that no resolution would be forthcoming. I could not believe it when I got a call back the same day from the Deputy I had spoken with earlier that morning. He told me he made a call to the owners and "suggested" they might want to do something about the situation, and they were agreeable to that. We did a bike ride past their house three days later, and they had installed an electric fence around a large part of their property to keep their dogs in. We ride in rural, low-traffic country, and I realize this was an unexpected, good outcome to this problem.

My point is: Report it and you may have a good outcome.

Several things have worked, like yelling:
'Get off the couch' or 'Go home!'
Point at the and yell 'No!'
On our tandem my wife blows a very shrill whistle which seems to interrupt their thinking and chasing.
Also had one dog that insisted so I rode straight at him and yelled; he backed off.

So far all I have done is sprint away hoping I could drop them, I did too. It is a scary thing as I have been bitten before and I would not want to again.(bitten not on a bike though)
The Halts sounds like something I might look into though but I never even thought about using my water bottle, that might work pretty good.

I get really terrified when I see a dog running towards my bike as I'm always afraid of being bitten or hitting the thing and perhaps hurting both of us. Yep, I've gone down with my bike, but it's not as scary if there's not a dog involved. Can anyone give me some pointers on handling these situations?

Try a Mini Horn.
Quite effective with packs or just one dog.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/horn.jpg

Try a Mini Horn.
Quite effective with packs or just one dog.


that's a good idea!

i wonder if it works for snowbirds?

http://www.nadenudi.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/deaf.jpg

Since I've never been bitten, I'd have to say that most dogs are just out to chase a bit. My biggest concern is having one stick a paw or nose in the front wheel and the resulting crash, not getting bitten.

I don't encounter chasers often enough to even think about getting good at hitting them with a spray while riding, let alone keeping said spray close to hand. A shouted command like "No" or "go home" does two things: commands the dog and, hopefully, let's the owner that you are not amused with Pup's antics.

IMO, something to watch out for is when there are two or more dogs out. Pack mentality takes over and these are the most dangerous situations.

I have had enough time to learn dog psychology. Indeed, many of they not only wish they could ride a neat bike, if you have a chat with the many dogs along the way here and never talk down to them after a while they tend to know who you are and calm a bit. A couple actually pace and wish I could play...can't though and I don't tend to interact unless their owner knows I'm there. You must respect the owner if you respect his dog. Some dogs stop barking or bark less when they hear my voice acknowledge them.

Now, I am fully aware that you might not be able to do that in a large city or area. I have seen dogs that were just cranky and I have stood those up and made them back away and yelled at them some. I basically gave that dog the you ought to be ashamed speech and walked at him until he retreated back in his yard and his owner was aware and let the dog in.

The police did come over later to ask me what happened...it seems that some of the children were being bugged by it and they ended up having a hearing over the dog as the owner would let it out to go without a leash.

Most dogs I encounter are little guys and I mother them back to the yard and tell them not to get run over. I guess that sounds silly but I like dogs and really don't like to see them get hurt. I notice when they're gone. Don't have my own so I adopt the neighhood dogs unofficially.

Dogs here tend to be timid and if you take control they tend to back off. You have to be a bigger dog.

Maybe slightly crazy too. I just won't let most dogs do that.

Try a Mini Horn.
Quite effective with packs or just one dog.


+1 My nephew just returned from a cross country trip and said they got a mini-horn and it worked great.

If you have time, dismount so the bike is between you and the dog and stop. Most often, that stops the chase. When the dogs settles down, let it sniff the back of your closed hand and start walking away. No quick movements. Talk to it in a stern voice. Once it loses interest carry on with your ride.

If the dog insists on attacking then you have the bike as a defensive weapon. Yell and growl at it loudly so as to assert yourself as the alpha. Even try to pin the dog to the ground with the bike.

As a last resort, try to put a boot to it's nose. That will normally stop the aggression. If it doesn't, mace or pepper spray would not have helped anyways. It is very rare for a dog to continue the attack.

Yes, I was a dog handler at one time so it isn't just internet jibber jabber.

that's a good idea!

i wonder if it works for snowbirds?


No. Tell them "We have no poutine here" and they will go away.

Fear kills. (http://alcoman.railfan.net/fear.html)

All of these work sometimes. You have to learn to figure out how the dog chasing you will react.

Ignore the dog.
Slow down and talk calmly to the dog.
Firmly command the dog with "No!", "Stop!", Get back in your yard!", "Bad Dog!".
Spray water in the Dog's face",
stop and talk to the dog's owner about the law suit his dog is setting him up for.

Even though my trail is clearly marked "bike trail" with a number of signs, Sunday mornings are apparently "pit bull training day" and the path is littered of people with their pit bulls. I know, I know, everyone knows a pit bull that is sweet and lovable, but they scare the snot out of me, especially when they are on a leash with an 83 lb. woman on the other end. I avoid the path entirely on Sunday mornings. It's all fun and games until one of them decides I might make a tasty breakfast. I do like the water bottle method, though.

(I wrote this several years ago, and since then I've found it in a number of local cycling newsletters with someone else's name in the by line. I was flattered.)

Dogs. Man's best friend. Yeah, right. Now, don't get me wrong, I like dogs. Or at least the ones that don't chase cyclists. Dogs are interactive with humans, which is why they are such good companions and pets. This is also why they can be so annoying, threatening, and even dangerous to cyclists. Dogs are not likely to change for the better or worse, either, so if you want to coexist, you will have to modify your knowledge base and actions to adapt to any situation that presents itself. Because of
this, I encourage all cyclists to work out ahead of time what to do when the inevitable happens.

Like all cyclists, I've experienced those ineviatblities. Out of hundreds of dogs I've seen as I rode along over the years, I've only been chased by a few dozen, only felt threatened by probably a half dozen, and only been hurt by one. I had a Doberman lunge at me; the spikes on his collar cut my knee. The owner ran out, called the dog's name and grabbed him. While I'm standing there, bike between me and the dog (#8!) and with blood running down my leg, the owner looks at me and says, "I'm sorry my
dog scared you." I think it was Barbara Woodhouse who said, "there are no bad dogs, only bad owners." As cyclists we unfortunately only interact with the small percentage of dogs whose owners allow them out on the public thoroughfares.


Over the years I have collected a number of strategies for dealing with dogs who chase cyclists, and tried out most of them. The best method for a given situation depends on the dog (big, small, fast, slow), the dog's attitude (playful, protective, aggressive), present company (alone, you and the owner, riding in a group), and familiarity (you know this dog's modus operandi, strange dog). Size up the scene, and then execute your preplanned action. Please realize that you are statistically in far greater danger not from being bitten and/or mauled, but from crashing due to the dog hitting your front wheel, crashing into another cyclists while avoiding the dog, or hitting a car/ ditch/ tree/ etc. maneuvering away from the dog. Therefore, the dog doesn't have to threaten you to endanger you, nor does a dog have to be large to cause serious injury. Of course, you might be bitten; that is why dogs evolved all those teeth. Plan accordingly, and be aware that some of these actions have consequences beyond the immediate. Here, then, are some techniques among which to choose:

1. Sprint. Obvious, but size up your dog carefully. Miniature dachshunds top out at 3 miles per hour, but a retired racing greyhound can best 40, and is trained to chase things besides. Most dogs seem not to be hunting you or angry, but just want you to leave their territory. The quicker you get to their territory's border, the sooner they return to the porch. For a good example of this technique, see the movie "American Fliers."
2. Squirt the dog with your water bottle. Another old standby. Stops some dogs dead in their tracks, doesn't throw you off balance, won't cause any one else to crash. Wastes water, which can be precious in summer. And some dogs, like Labs, absolutely love water in their faces and will quickly learn to chase you to get some.
2a. Squirt the dog with a water/ ammonia mix. Much more reliable than justwater, but you have to carry a special delivery tool in a handy place. Mix about 50-50 and aim for the eyes. A water pistol requires good aim, a spray bottle can cause the ammonia to blow back into your's or another's face. Doing this is not supposed to permanently hurt the dog.
2b. Spray the dog with "mace". Actually, pepper gas is supposed to work betterthan real mace, CS or tear gas. Best case scenario: this stuff can stop a small pack ofrabid pit bulls. Worst case scenario: you spray this stuff, miss the dog, it blows up in your face, you're instantly blinded and can't get your breath, you crash and burn there in the road, dog runs up and marks you as his territory as a kid films the
whole thing for America's funniest home videos. This method isn't one of my recommendations.
3. Yell "Go home." Works well on non-"alpha wolf" dogs. Won't cause you tocrash. Nice first step, easily followed up with another technique.
4. Call out, "Dinner time." I had this method recommended to me as being justthe ticket on farm dogs, but I've never had any success at getting a dog to break pursuitand go back home to eat by doing this.
5. Say softly, "Saint Lazarus, go home." Lazarus is the patron saint of dogs. This
is not the Lazarus raised from the dead by Christ in the ninth chapter of John, but the one from the parable, see Luke 16:19. Works well on Catholic dogs like Irish wolfhounds, Italian greyhounds, and St. Bernards; and fairly well on Episcopal dogs like Jack Russell Terriers. Does not work on salukis (Muslim), atikas (Shinto), mixed breeds (Unitarian) or blue tick coon hounds (Southern Baptist.)
6. Inform the owner. Works best on the official letter head of a charity bike ride. This is a civilized, adult, respectable way of handling the problem before or after ithappens, and as such will probably be completely misunderstood in modern America. Aword of caution: some dog owners have dogs because of the power projection of the dog.To inform that kind of owner that their dog is chasing cyclists might prompt them to acquire more dogs. To pursue this topic further, see Dog Law, available in most public libraries.
7. Drop a dog biscuit. The late, wonderful Dr. Clifford Graves passed along thislittle gem as his method of handling the same dog that chases you every time you rideyour training circuit. Safe, effective, fun. Be sure to toss the biscuit to the side of the road so the dog doesn't get hit by following traffic.
8. Dismount, place the bike between you and the dog, maintain eye contact, walkaway. If you can't out sprint the dog this is actually a very good technique: I never heard of any one who wound up getting bitten, and it keeps you from crashing. Can becombined with pump waving, see below. Still, in the highly unlikely event that the dog is rabid or a trained fighter, this is not the way to go. Other disadvantages: takes nerves of steel, no good for tandems (dismount "routine" is too slow) and puts you out in the road where you can get hit by another cyclist or motor traffic. Not recommended if there are multiple dogs.
9. Hit the dog with your pump. Another classic. Dogs intuitively understandwhat you're attempting to do. In hundreds of attempts I've only seen one dog get hit, though. Second highest on the instant gratification scale after number 15 below. Throws you off balance and gives you almost no chance to recover if the dog makes contact with your front wheel. If you want to go this route, the new 6 inch long high tech pumps areworthless: I'd recommend a metal bodied frame fit Zefal pump with a locking lever on the business end. This works better (in drive to the right countries) if you're right handed, by the way.
10. Try to run over the dog. Most dogs also understand this one. Very likely to cause you to crash, and not recommended I did, however, see this work to perfection once as a group of guys on off-road bikes taught a collie never to chase bikes again. I can think of very few things that would engender more hostility to cyclists as a group thatsomeone observing cyclists running over a dog on purpose. Consider: the dog can't help behaving in an agressive way, hopefully you can.
11. Try to kick the dog. Easy to attempt, requires no additional equipment, highon instant gratification scale. Prevents you from sprinting, throws you off balance, offersdog your foot, chance of connecting with dog is low. Not highly recommended
12. Put another rider between you and the dog. Very useful on group rides, this is an application of an old standby: making it someone else's problem instead of your own. Increasingly popular. Something to laugh about at the rest stop. A good way to getthe air let out of your tires as you use the facilities.
13. Ride a recumbent, hit the dog in the nose with your fist. No kidding! The godfather of the recumbent, Dr. David Gordon Wilson, said one of the things he liked about recumbents was that when he was chased by a dog he could just reach out and "crack" the dog in the nose. Just wondering: who would you rather ride with, David Gordon Wilson or Clifford Graves?
14. Ride a tandem. Not only does the tandem's greater speed limit exposure, but the captain can concentrate 100% on not crashing while the stoker can deal with the dog. In The Tandem Scoop by John Schubert, there are cartoons about this on page 6 and on the back cover.
15. Shoot the dog. The ne plus ultra method, and highest on the instantgratification scale by a wide margin. One hundred years ago when it was more generally believed that people had a greater intrinsic worth than animals this was socially acceptable. There were even small, light handguns marketed for just this purpose, including one in its own proprietary caliber of "5.5mm Velo Dog Revolver". Dervla Murphy, in Full Tilt (1963), has an exciting account of shooting wild dogs that attacked her in a snow storm during a cycle tour through Yugoslavia, and many of the touring accounts from 100 years ago list small pistols as items bought along. Modern day negatives include ricochets into populated areas and other cyclists, lawsuits, anti-discharge ordinances and the proverbial shooting yourself in the foot. Local laws vary wildly. I wouldn't recommend this if all you're worried about is dogs.

HTH,
tcs

If you have time, dismount so the bike is between you and the dog and stop. Most often, that stops the chase. When the dogs settles down, let it sniff the back of your closed hand and start walking away. No quick movements. Talk to it in a stern voice. Once it loses interest carry on with your ride.

If the dog insists on attacking then you have the bike as a defensive weapon. Yell and growl at it loudly so as to assert yourself as the alpha. Even try to pin the dog to the ground with the bike.

As a last resort, try to put a boot to it's nose. That will normally stop the aggression. If it doesn't, mace or pepper spray would not have helped anyways. It is very rare for a dog to continue the attack.

Yes, I was a dog handler at one time so it isn't just internet jibber jabber.

Yes, dismounting stops most dogs from chasing. You can't get knocked off your bike by the dog running in front of your wheel, either. They'll still come up and bark. Squirting is effective, but I have trouble hitting the dog with the water while riding.

There are a couple of dogs who will give chase on my regular ride. I live and I ride mostly in the country. I have sort of gotten to know what to expect from the dogs who do chase and will act accordingly.

One of the dogs will just run along side of me, with an ear to ear dog smile. I pretty much ignore him. Another dog, while he doesn't seem aggressive, goes pretty much nuts and will cross in front of my wheel. That puts me in danger. I maced that dog once and have had no problem with him since.

"Pepper spray takes too long to use and is hard to get aimed, etc. when you're at speed."

I tape a clip from a soft eyeglass holder onto the Halt can. It goes opposite the one on the can. Holds the can upside down, with the nozzle pointing in.
When you grab the can it fits right into your hand just like a pistol. Don't even have to think about it- the can is there when you need it. I can post a pic if you want.

There are a couple of dogs who will give chase on my regular ride. I live and I ride mostly in the country. I have sort of gotten to know what to expect from the dogs who do chase and will act accordingly.

One of the dogs will just run along side of me, with an ear to ear dog smile. I pretty much ignore him. Another dog, while he doesn't seem aggressive, goes pretty much nuts and will cross in front of my wheel. That puts me in danger. I maced that dog once and have had no problem with him since.

That is what happened to me with the dog I hit. I wish I had maced him before we had our wreck.

Simple solution that always works: when the dog starts coming for you, just point back to his yard and shout in as commanding a tone of voice as possible, "Go Home!" Most dogs are used to hearing this and know exactly what this means. It will at least make them pause a second trying to figure out how the prey became the alpha male.

L.

Well, I have a whole bunch of miles under the wheels so I have had my experiences with dogs.

The notion that knowledge dog psychology protects you is not a good one. I have been bitten twice and each time was by dogs that were known to be prone to attacking people by their owners. Yet they let these dogs free access at passersby. Neither bite was serious. Both bites were mere scratches. One dog was a member of a pack and once I knew that it was the biter, I was able to fend it off (with my trusty old HP frame pump). The other rushed in and bit and then ran.

Besides that, a black lab tried to get me at the top of a hill. I took out my water bottle to spray it. A spray from a water bottle works great. But it was empty. Since the dog was apparently trying to figure out when to bite my rapidly moving calf, I threw the empty water bottle into its face. The effect was nearly magical. The dog swapped ends and took off with impressive speed. I was able to go back and get my water bottle whilst the dog cowered under its house.

Most dogs can not run over 20 mph. So high speed will get you by them. I was jumped by 2 dobies once and I sped up to 25 mph. I heard a strange clicking sound. I looked down and there was a dobie running flat out right by my right crank with its little eyes bugging out. On the other side, its partner was doing the same. I sped up and dropped them before the poor brutes had coronaries.

On a more serious note, I have seen 2 riders seriously injured by dogs. In both cases, a dog came out into the road from behind cover and both riders t boned the dogs at high speed. One guy was knocked cold. The other one was shaken up but later started to lose consciousness and had to be med evacked. Both made full recoveries. But the difference between a concussionn and dead is not that great. This is by far the biggest risk dogs pose.

Also on the "informing owners" approach, I thought of that. There is a junk yard nearby. There is a pack of dogs there that is aggressive and will attack cyclists on sight. I thought of admonishing the owners. A while ago, those owners were arrested. They had been shooting deer using search lights. The bureau of firearms and tobacco took away something approaching a dozen illegal weapons and some of them were fully automatic. I guess they needed automatic weapons for the black helocopters or for when the deer decide to attack them. At any rate, I rather doubt that these people would take to being admonished in a real positive fashion.

Here are a couple of good dog counters: a spray of water from your water bottle. Or you can take a frame pump or similar object and wave it at them. Dogs generally avoid pumps. I have hit dogs with frame pumps but it has always been cocker spaniels. Cocker spaniels are not horribly aware.

In my experience, most dogs will not come into the road. They will run along the road barking. Some dogs will come out into the road. A very few will come out into the road and be aggressive.

If you are not fast, stopping and getting off of the bike works pretty well. If the dog keeps acting aggressive, throw a few rocks (fake or real both work) to make the dog keep its distance. This tactic might not work well against a pack. One dog will try to attract your attention whilst another approaches from the rear. Packs are far more dangerous than solitary dogs.

It's not the dogs that cause a problem- it's the owners. Shoot the owners?:innocent:

I find that most dogs just want to join in with a run- so I encourage them. That really annoys the owners. Especially when they have to break into a jog trot for a couple of miles to catch their dog- and I have done that before.

Getting the bike between me and the dog works. Whether it is the fact that I am no longer available to chase- or the worry of a bike going across their head- I am not sure. But as soon as I find the owner- I let them know the problem they are causing.

Try a Mini Horn.
Quite effective with packs or just one dog.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/horn.jpg

10 Wheels--do you have a link for the minihorn?

i've tried the Dog Dazer--marginal success; carried a pepper spray/tear gas combo--never needed to use it; HAVE used 'NO!!!!' and 'STAY!!!!!!' successfully many times.

I just go directly to the pepper spray. I use one with a narrower, longer range spray. The wife and I have several for the cars , house, and bikes. Sometimes you'll get it on your arms which will sting a little. But if you successfully hit the dog, he'll no longer be a problem.

If you use one with a wide misty pattern designed for closer in, you'll risk getting more on yourself.

There's a good variety available on-line.

Al

It's not the dogs that cause a problem- it's the owners. Shoot the owners?:innocent:

I find that most dogs just want to join in with a run- so I encourage them. That really annoys the owners. Especially when they have to break into a jog trot for a couple of miles to catch their dog- and I have done that before.

Getting the bike between me and the dog works. Whether it is the fact that I am no longer available to chase- or the worry of a bike going across their head- I am not sure. But as soon as I find the owner- I let them know the problem they are causing.

Yep. Ya gotta train the owners.

My neighbor's black Lab would chase me every day while she stood on the porch screaming at the dog with a drink in one hand and her cigarette in the other. One day I had had enough. One well aimed kick in the dog's nose and she stopped letting him run out in the front yard. (I'ld have rather kicked her.)

I used to ride to school about 3 miles each way through some rural area. There were these two dobermans at one place in my route that would always chase me, but I could always outrun them. I was 11, so two big ass dogs chasing me down was pretty scary. I got used to outrunning them and got quite good at it. One day though, they were out right next to the street...waiting for me? Tired of my shenannigans? It was clear I wasn't going to outrun them, but I gave it a try anyways. There was one dog that was clearly older, and just hung back once he got close, but the younger one was out for blood. I yelled as he got closer, but he just kept running at me. I kicked wildly at him but missed and he almost bit my foot. I kicked again and connected good with his nose, being rewarded with a high pitched "yarrp!" from that dog's stupid mouth. He stopped chasing at that point, and I rode on to school at what must have been twice my normal speed, flying high on my andrenalie rush!

The next few days going to school were surprisingly uneventful...the dogs could be seen back from the road quite a bit but made no effort to chase me. Seems like I connected hard enough to scare them. They barked at me, I yelled back, we were like old enemies...eyeing each other carefully across the battlefield, waiting for the other to move. And then one day, the young one came out to meet me yet again. I tried to outrun him, but my foot slipped off the pedal in my haste and I almost crashed. The only thing I had to defend myself with was my Redline Freestyle Bike (with rotors and footpegs of course). I held the bike in between the dog and I, and started yelling at the dog "No! Go home #$%# dog!". All the while picking up my bike and making like I was going to throw it at him. I had seen a movie called "The Gods Must be Crazy", and I remembered a little nugget about making yourself look as big as possible to scare off a predator. It worked surprisingly well, and I kept advancing on the dog until he slinked away with a low growl of conceded defeat.

From that day on, he'd come out from time to time and greet me with a couple half-hearted barks. On a couple occasions he came out as if to attack me, and I just stepped off my bike, weilding it like a weapon. He did not want any part of that bike metal thing...not a bit. I was pretty happy with myself for the next few weeks, but over time he stopped coming out entirely and the ride to school was fairly uneventful. I almost felt like I'd lost a friend, or at the very least a sparring partner.

...
Also had one dog that insisted so I rode straight at him and yelled; he backed off.

+1

Reduces his angle of attack and freezes him in a spot you can (semi) control. As you near him, just veer away and simply outrun him (greater distance to close from near standstill). If you were really prepared and he's persistent, water or liquid in the dog's face will pretty much end the chase.

Some dogs are unfazed by a squirt in the face from a water bottle. Not so the Halt. Squirt them with Halt and the problem is solved.

Lots of interesting responses. I tend to shout "no" or "go home" as loudly as possible. This usually works for me. If I run across a new dog unresponsive to this, the next time I ride that route I take the small air horn. It has never not worked.

Talked to a guy several years back that took dog treats with him, stopped, and made friends with the dogs. He says that they are much more responsive to his commands of "no" or "go home" because of this. Don't know it I'd want to try this, but I admired his creativity.

BTW, if you find yourself determined to use a chemical spray. I suggest getting four of five of them. Practice using them before you have to use them. Additionally, find out how many "shots" your particular brand will actually deliver. You don't want to be packing an empty one.

that's a good idea!

i wonder if it works for snowbirds?

http://www.nadenudi.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/deaf.jpg

NOTHING works on snowbirds....they return every year like clockwork.

You get them in winter and we get them in summer.:D

I give the dogs a biskit or tire pump whichever they prefer.

I stop the bike get off and confront the dog and if I can find the owner go and talk to them. Pomeranians and their owners are the worst. They seem to think the dogs can be loose because they are little. I've had problems with two in my neighborhood. I explain to the Pomeranian owners that if I hit their dog I could kill it and I could get hurt and then I would sue them because there are leash laws etc. It's a huge drag but I haven't seen those dogs outside since.

Most dogs have been taught to sit on command. Whenever I'm being chased by a dog one of three things happens:

1. If I'm feeling good I encourage the dog to a little race.

2. If I'm feeling really good I'll launch into a sprint just before the house in question and then yell to get the dog's attention so it can chase my buddy who I just punked with an impromptu sprint.

3. Back to my original comment, I just usually look the dog in the eye and yell "Sit". Works every time.

I consider myself an expert on dogs, having being bitten 8 times in the last 10 years, or so, twice this year. No serious bites, luckily.

Nothing works on all dogs. Other than perhaps a gun.

1. Outrunning the dog is almost always best, but some of them are fast and if you fail, the dog gets the leg bone. This is good for high motivation intervals, as well.

2. Getting off the bike and placing it between you and the dog is 2nd best, IMO. I've never been bitten when using this strategy, but I came close when a pack of 5 surrounded me recently.

3. I recently started carrying pepper spray, but haven't used it yet.

4. One that I would love to try is a paintball gun. Painful enough to deter, but non-lethal, with the added benefit that it will PO the owner when he sees his polka dotted dog.

5. If a dog turns away when yelled at, he wasn't intending to bite you anyways.

Again, as one who rides in the country where dogs are allowed to roam free.... I've found two things to work.

1. Yelling "NO" or "STAY" in a loud, commanding voice (even a woman can muster this - just don't go high pitched)

2. Getting my water bottle and spraying them.

In either case I slow down some. Dogs are chase animals. If something runs from them, then it's prey. By slowing down it gives you some time to get ready and react. Also, I'm not above unclipping and giving it a kick in the jowls.... but usually the first two things work.

My technique is to gradually speed up to a sub-maximal pace and let them chase me. When they get pretty close, I let out a loud yell to startle them and then I sprint away. They usually are stopped long enough to give up the chase.

I've used pepper spray three times. For it to be 100% effective you have to hit the dog in the face with the spray, not easy at 20MPH while you're crapping in your pants. But I found that even when I missed, it seems the sent of the residual spray has been enough for large dogs to decide, they really didn't want that cyclist anyway.
I know of one instance where a guy from our group got the dog right in the face. The dog stopped like it had air brakes.
If I can help it, I don't like to hit a dog with pepper spray. If they're just running and playing, I leave tham alone.

tcs, I like most of your suggestions.

First and foremost - never show fear. Keep calm. Dogs know the difference. If you're excitable then they will be too.

A C02 portable boat horn works pretty well. It hurts their ears and will startle them into a stop. Just long enough for you to ride by.

I've used the squirt-gun method with the 50/50 ammonia/water mix. Aim for the nose, not the eyes. More recently I've been using a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. A dogs nose is 250,000 times more acute than ours are, so a strong smelling mix acts as a good deterrent. You don't need to hit them just close enough.

First take a moment and evaluate the dog. Ears up and tail up or tail wagging, the dog is friendly. I'll make friends before anything. Most of the time they just want some attention and good exercise.

Ears flat or down, tail straight back or down, the dog is not friendly.

If your going by a house known for a dog that likes the chase, then slow down as you approach the property then when the dog locks on downshift and speed by it. They calculate an intercept point, it is easy to make them miss by accelerating and they will give up early when they realize it.

If a dog is real close, punch or smack it in the nose. It will teach them you can bite harder than they can. I'm not beyond kicking them in the ribs if it comes to it.

A pack or feral dogs, hit the speed if you can. If not get a weapon that you can use, the bike will work. A good solid branch is a good weapon and so is a bike pump. Good sized rocks will work too if you have the time. This is the worst of situations.

Thanks to all of you for the suggestions! I will try some of these techniques the next time I have an encounter.

Let's see - 3 replies + this one, I bet we don't get past another 5 before the pack'n crowd comes in with the "real man" weapons.

poster ^ Should be tested for BDS.

The last dog that gave chase after me ended very, very badly for the dog. The dog never saw the car that was coming from the oncoming direction and wound up under the car and in doggie heaven.

poster ^ Should be tested for BDS.

Not sure what BDS is - possibly "Bush Derangement Sydrome" - not even sure I know what that is.
But all I can say is this came back within 2 posts -


Wow! From the obvious "tone" of your post, you must be one of those liberal gun grabbers who know what is best for the rest of us. That sounds like I made a generalizational observation about you doesn't it? Much in the same way as you did when mentioning the "carry crowd". I am an firm supporter of my second amendment rights and a licensed permit holder. I carry most of the time. It has saved my life and that of my wife. Like most responsible gun owners, pulling a firearm is a last resort. I carry pepper spray for dogs, a handgun for idiots who refuse to back off.

Enough said.

A friend of mine rides in the country a lot. He found some website that sells law enforcement supplies and bought a SERIOUS riot control pepper spray canister. This is not some little thing a lady would carry on her key chain, but, in fact, it fits his second water bottle holder perfectly. He can ride by the same place months later and the dogs might bark but they keep their distance.

For example: http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=SD089&cat=3031 or http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum4659.php

Don in Austin

Giant size pepper spray. :D

As other posters have stated, dogs can cause serious injury whether from a bite or a crash. The owner is the problem not untrained dog. I like dogs that are good canine citizens. :thumb:

I carry an 18% pepper spray and am considering adding a legal, very compact handgun, for rural areas. I have used the spray in the past and it works well. The mini horn is a good idea too. I am not about to practice psychology on strange dogs or their owners and I am not going to get bit.

There is a 100 lb idiot with a 75lb Pit Bull near me and when she is walking the beast it is all she can do to control it. When it sees a cyclist, any cyclist, it goes berserk...the look in its eyes is all telling. :notamused:

Check with the local sheriff to see what is legal. Lawsuits? Most homeowners policies have an animal liability exclusion and most of the idiot dog owners have no assets. You will have medical bill to contend with. :mad:

The reason the dogs are chasing you is that you have triggered their prey instinct. The dog may otherwise well behaved and will stop if you get off your bike. I recognize this may not always be desireable but you just have to recognize that most dogs WILL NOT BITE you if they can avoid it. Certain herding breeds may nip you but not an aggressive police dog style bite.

Do things that startle the dog. Squirt from a water bottle, a shrill whistle or horn will interfer with the "autopilot" prey drive, leaving you enough time to escape.

If you hurt the dog, you may get a defensive bite followed by angry dog owner who doesn't like his dogs abused.

Be smart. You are the superior beast. Act like it. Fear breeds fear.