Advocacy & Safety - I got a Dog Really PO'ed-water bottle

Went out to VERY rural area this a.m. First time in 2 months. - Way back in the woods. Always a problem with dogs but can usually outrun them - I don't hurt them, dogs are dogs. Soooo- cruising down road, here comes a big hound dog (Red Bone) followed by a mutt. I've found that RedBone's are usually a docile breed when not hunting, few bad ones (usually those mistreated). This one turned out to be pure mean. Started to go after my foot, Mutt was barking like crazy (he was the one I was watching) so I sprayed both with my water bottle (first time I ever tried this). Mutt yelped and took off, but Red Bone = BIG MISTAKE!
Red Bone went ballistic!!! Dang- that really got him excited. Grabbed my Shoe and wouldn't let go (I had unclipped), almost pulled me off bike. I finally got stopped, kicked dog loose & got off with bike between us, Hollered @ dog "NO". He immediately quit, & sat down. I slowly walked away till I got about 70 yards down road, hopped on bike and took off. NOOO- don't tell me to report dog, as said this is very rural area. Won't do any good, I'm actually more fearful of owner(s) than dog(s). You don't mess with a man's dog in this area.

RB, it sounds like you handled things pretty well.

In the future, you might try yelling "NO" and "Go Home!" first, before using your water bottle, since it might affect them without wasting your water. :)

Thanks for posting, Red Baron. Where I live (California suburbs), loose dogs should be, and are, reported to Animal Control. I appreciate that things work differently in your neck fo the woods (so to speak).

Yelling "No!" will work on a reasonably well-trained dog, but I do not know its effectiveness on feral or untrained dogs. I stand by the water bottle trick, but you have to hold the bottle high enough to give the dog the illusion that some really tall animal is marking him. As your experience illustrates, there may be no universal advice for dog-handling.

get a can or bottle of peperspray
that will stop them and not hurt them

get a can or bottle of peperspray
that will stop them and not hurt them

But it would be a bummer to forget and take a sip...

get a can or bottle of peperspray
that will stop them and not hurt them

Seriously - In this rural area, a dog goes yelping home and the owner comes out, chases you down from a pick-up truck - at a minimum, a guarenteed fist fight! Sure - he may stay overnight in jail, but air conditioning, good meal (comparitively speaking), most ain't working so no time lost. Some of ya all don't understand folks of this type. I'd sooner take my chances with the dog(s).

Yea I know - why do I ride here????? I don't often, but it sure is purdy.

Seriously - In this rural area, a dog goes yelping home and the owner comes out, chases you down from a pick-up truck - at a minimum, a guarenteed fist fight! Sure - he may stay overnight in jail, but air conditioning, good meal (comparitively speaking), most ain't working so no time lost. Some of ya all don't understand folks of this type. I'd sooner take my chances with the dog(s).

Yea I know - why do I ride here????? I don't often, but it sure is purdy.

Well I'm in Ky also and I do understand how people can be, "As Hick as Hick can be"
so let the dog chase ya for a quarter mile or so first then spray him :)

Seriously - In this rural area, a dog goes yelping home and the owner comes out, chases you down from a pick-up truck - at a minimum, a guarenteed fist fight! Sure - he may stay overnight in jail, but air conditioning, good meal (comparitively speaking), most ain't working so no time lost. Some of ya all don't understand folks of this type. I'd sooner take my chances with the dog(s).


Pepper spray is also quite effective on owners...

Seriously - In this rural area, a dog goes yelping home and the owner comes out, chases you down from a pick-up truck - at a minimum, a guarenteed fist fight! Sure - he may stay overnight in jail, but air conditioning, good meal (comparitively speaking), most ain't working so no time lost. Some of ya all don't understand folks of this type. I'd sooner take my chances with the dog(s).

Yea I know - why do I ride here????? I don't often, but it sure is purdy.

Wife's relatives and mom are from Science Hill and Somerset. Spent a little time there a few years back. I think I understand. This is where folks get in the car to go 3 doors down to visit a neighbor, and where my wife's relatives have their deceased dog buried in the front yard with a BIG gravestone marking the grave. The only bike store in town at that time had just gone bankrupt.

Say, where can I get me a "Dog Really PO'ed" water bottle anyway? LBS? Mailorder? eBay? Does Camelbak have anything like this yet? What's the graphic look like. Can you post a pic?

Case in point about crazy dog owners, There is a person on trial here who shot 2 dogs that attacked him (out in the forest). Of course then the owner attacked him and he ended up shooting him too. I guess some people get a little crazy about their dogs. If the dog owner would have had a gun as well who knows what the end of that encounter would have been like?

Case in point about crazy dog owners, There is a person on trial here who shot 2 dogs that attacked him (out in the forest). Of course then the owner attacked him and he ended up shooting him too. I guess some people get a little crazy about their dogs. If the dog owner would have had a gun as well who knows what the end of that encounter would have been like?

I thought he did have a gun?
That was the whole reason he got shot.
(Could be a different story)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=58399

you need a paint ball gun. it's just fun! with a paint ball gun!
no harm done! with a paint ball gun!
just a little mess! and you'll feel blessed! with paint ball gun!

I thought he did have a gun?
That was the whole reason he got shot.
(Could be a different story)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=58399


Different incident. This one happened near Flagstaff, AZ. The media report I heard did not mention a second gun.

What do you think about pepper spray or even those ultra sonic dog go away things? I lean towards the sonic devices as I am more of an animal lover.. However, that dog may have learned from some mace in the eye.

i don't think the sonic thing works. although an air horn.. a really loud airhorn might.

We, a riding partner and I, recently had to pepper spray 3 dogs that were harrassing us on a climb. The dogs have learned their lesson as they did not chase me Sunday when I passed. At least I hope they got it. My concern is that this is one of my normal routes and I pass the house at least once every week. I hope the owner doesn't decide to confront me about what happened. I had put up with them for months. Once the dogs got close enough to nip at my shoes. In the past I have yelled and swerved to stay away from them. I finally had enough. The owners' have to have figured out what happened because the little black mut had redish/orange spray all over it by the time we drove it off. Be aware that Halt brand spray WILL NOT stop a determined dog in it's tracks.

Folks around here can be pretty testy about their dogs. But then again, I can get pretty testy about my bikes and my legs.

"Don't make me angry! You won't like me if I'm angry" :D

We, a riding partner and I, recently had to pepper spray 3 dogs that were harrassing us on a climb. The dogs have learned their lesson as they did not chase me Sunday when I passed. At least I hope they got it. My concern is that this is one of my normal routes and I pass the house at least once every week. I hope the owner doesn't decide to confront me about what happened. I had put up with them for months. Once the dogs got close enough to nip at my shoes. In the past I have yelled and swerved to stay away from them. I finally had enough. The owners' have to have figured out what happened because the little black mut had redish/orange spray all over it by the time we drove it off. Be aware that Halt brand spray WILL NOT stop a determined dog in it's tracks.

Folks around here can be pretty testy about their dogs. But then again, I can get pretty testy about my bikes and my legs.

"Don't make me angry! You won't like me if I'm angry" :D

I used HALT once, several years ago. It was out in the boonies, and the dog was quite determined (I had already dismounted, because it cut me off) to bite me... snarling and snapping at me through the bike. I emptied my can of HALT in its face, not a single yelp, no rolling around. It just stood there, still growling, looking at me. Never gave an inch, but it did stop trying to bite so I was able to get back on the bike and scram. I too was worred about the owners (and this had to be REAL obvious, the dog was white to begin with, and now his head was all orange).

Now I carry pepper spray with me, because I no longer quite trust HALT, it seemed to be just barely enough, nothing to instill a lot of confidence. Luckily, I haven't had to use anything since, so I don't know how effective normal people pepper spray is on dogs (but I'm faster now than I used to be :)

Say, where can I get me a "Dog Really PO'ed" water bottle anyway? LBS? Mailorder? eBay? Does Camelbak have anything like this yet? What's the graphic look like. Can you post a pic?

Hot Dang! Thanks spinbackle - you gave me a heck of an idea and a way to help the environment. On these rural trips I see all these empty plastic bottles on the side of the road. Some brands have the little 'pull out thing' on the cap. Now - all I gotta do is collect those (and they are VERY numerous) add a label with a catchy title (Dog PO'ed - no - how about "PO the Dog!") . and sell it for $19.95 delivered! (hey- may even pay local kids to collect and sort these things).

How bout it? Thanks again spin! :D

Well I'm in Ky also and I do understand how people can be, "As Hick as Hick can be"
so let the dog chase ya for a quarter mile or so first then spray him :)

You are definitely right about that! I grew up in Kentucky, before moving to Nashville 5 years ago. Of course, I see the same thing down here when I leave the city.

If you are in central Kentucky, then you must be close to casey county?

If you are in central Kentucky, then you must be close to casey county?
not too far a few counties away near Richmond, Madson County

Oh gawd I've been all over the state of Kentucky over a few years when I was inspecting bridges. They range from multi millionaire horse farms to the dredges especially in the East. I was even shot at once in Bullet (no pun intended) County. I don't mean to bash your state, oh wait a minute maybe I do ;) but I am so freaking glad I have nothing to do with KY anymore. Actually it really is an absolutely beautiful state, I’ve seen some of the most beautiful sights ever there from mountains to the Ohio and Mammoth cave, but it is filled with the worst red necks ever. Back on topic: The dogs run wild all over that state especially in the east. Not only that but the coal trucks run wild too. Not a very bike friendly state :(

dredges especially in the East.

And far Western KY. It's hilarious to drive up and make fun of them. There is one high school in far western ky that has a barn connected to the school and, literally, some of the students come to school on a tractor! :roflmao:

I've actually seen cow patty bingo being played. I can't say too much, because about 45 miles south of Nashville, they have Mule day, which you have all the hicks there; they actually think it's serious too! :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

I'll tell you one thing, you can gets some big laughs if you go out and in those areas! These country people are hilarious, especially when they are feeling soooo big coming into the city.

But on a serious point, I am more accepted riding my bike here in Tennessee, than I am when I go back to Kentucky. The bad thing is, one of the best roads that I have ever been on, goes from Bowling Green to Russellville.

Ky is a beautiful state and the women arent bad either :)
but some of the people are lacking
but they do over all seem to be better than when I was a kid
and SouthEastern is the prettiest part of the state I think but you dont get far in those mts :) some of those roads are Real Steep

Dave's Escalation of Force Scale (dogs only):

In best Command Voice shout "NO! Get Back!"

Raise arm threateningly as if about to hurl a stone at dog (you'd be surprised how often this works, I guess annoying dogs get things thrown at them often.)

Squirt dog in eyes with water bottle-- LONG blast helps disorient the dog. Good with first offenders, they REALLY don't know what's happening and leave off usually.

Throw water bottle at dog.

Dismount, place bike between dog and myself and march towards the dog, not backing down an inch.

At this point, if he's still game I'm not sure what I would do :p It's never gone that far for me.

Dave

If you go on the route often, take two waterbottle with you. Fill one with the water you usually use. Fill the other one with vinegar. When you spray the dog with the vinegar he may or may not back off. However, when he goes to clean it off his coat, it's going to taste pretty bad. From what I've seen this works for a few days. My friend's dad did it. He had trouble one day with high winds. He couldn't outrun the dogs like normal. There are also pepper sprays you can get. If a dog attacked me like that I don't think I'd be as nice as you were. I know some people that are easily angered and that dog might not have made it home. You did the right thing though.

[QUOTE=khackney]Be aware that Halt brand spray WILL NOT stop a determined dog in it's tracks.

Whether it's HALT or pepper spray, be sure to shake the container before the ride. The chemicals (pepper) tend to settle on the bottom of the oily liquid (kinda like salad dressing) which makes the spray ineffective.