General Cycling Discussion - Have you been bitten by a dog while riding?

Most of us have been chased at one time or another, but has anyone actually been bitten?

Yeah, as a kid I had a paper route of about 10 miles every morning. I got a few dog bites. When I got older I got a dog of my own and he turned out to be the best in town in a scrap. No more problemo.

They don't make it past the Halt...

A couple of dogs gave chase on a commute about 4 months ago. One of them got close enough to take a chunk out of my sock- not sure if it was their paw or teeth that did it. I altered my route by about a block after that.

I once saw a very large old white muzzled black lab chase a poor kid down, knock him off his bike, and standing on his chest cover him with kisses...

It was scary at first...

It's certainly happens, but in 60 years I've never been bitten, riding or otherwise. I've been nipped at by some heelbiters, but never bitten. I did get my thumb ripped open by a very sharp canine tooth of a puppy I was playing with, but that wasn't getting bitten. I have owned dogs for about 30 of those 60 years.

I've been bit once by one of my neighbour's dog,he got me by the ankle but he didn't get a good hold so it only left a few red marks on my skin. It took me by surprise as the dog was usualy always tied up.

I went to tell the neigbour who didn't seem to care a lot. A few weeks afterward it happened again but this time I saw the dog coming so I stopped I got of the bike to face the dog and it turned around immediately.

Few days later I learned by another neighbour that the dog was taken away by animal control because it got a few complaints.

In my 36 years of bicycling, I've never been bitten by a dog.

Yup, years ago ,on a solo ride.
Big (seemingly) "friendly" collie mix came slowly padding out of a yard as I passed, no barking, no growling.
Wagging his tail.... CHOMPO ! on my left calve.

His owner saw it happen, called the dog back in, came out and gave me insurance info to have it taken care of at an ER.

I'll never trust a wagging tail again. :(

It's certainly happens, but in 60 years I've never been bitten, riding or otherwise.

I think that most dogs are bullies and select only the people who are afraid of dogs to prey on.

Unfortunately, even if that's true, it's not much help. If you are afraid of dogs you can't just turn off your feelings so you are going to exude whatever it is that dogs sense.

His owner saw it happen, called the dog back in, came out and gave me insurance info to have it taken care of at an ER.

Just that beat most of the news on CNN today. What an unusual attitude. Accepting responsibility is something I could do a little more of myself.

When I was a kid there were a lot more dogs running around loose. I had my jeans leg end caught in a dogs mouth briefly. I quit pedaling and grabbed my frame pump and gave the S.O.B. a whack. He let go and so did my pumps business end.

I had to turn around and ride back toward the dog to get my pump head. This totally freaked the dog. I guess he thought I was coming back for him. He walked away all non-nonchalant.

Generally dogs respond to your command voice.

Have had two VERY close calls with dogs both large aggressive dobermans. If were not for the ammonia spray bottle I carry on new ride routes I'd have been lunch for both dogs!!

Got bit once, nipped really, on the calf, but he did break skin. The dog backed off when I stopped. Walked the bike up to the house and the owner was very apologetic. By the time the owner came out the dog had become friendly. They were down here on the coast for their vacation. No problems since.

Been forced off the bike several times, even had to walk the bike about a quarter mile down the road on a solo ride when two dogs came out at once. Same two had backed off on a previous ride but there were three of us together. Recently got some Halt and it seems to work. Figure I may be saving them from getting hit by a car or permanently injured by someone more aggressive than myself. Either way I have decided not to take a chance on getting bit again if I can prevent it.

Once when I was about 9 or 10. My Mom called the police, and my Dad was one of the deputies that responded. The dogs owner got belligerent and pulled a gun. I don't know how he wasn't shot, but the dog was turned over to animal control and tested for rabies. Yeah, I had to take a few shots for the next six weeks and I was fine.

Once, many years ago, when I was about 14. Black mutt.

I'm of the opinion that most of the time, a dog who tries to bite a cyclist while he or she is pedaling is annoyed by the motion of the legs and wheels, and is just trying to get you to stop pedaling. They grab and hold, rather than chomp. I've seen it happen several times and heard of other instances. Usually it's just tooth marks, or at worst a small puncture wound.

...a dog who tries to bite a cyclist while he or she is pedaling is annoyed by the motion of the legs and wheels, and is just trying to get you to stop pedaling.

Annoyed? Har! That's a good one. No. As carnivores they are excited and attracted by motion that reminds them of running prey.

I haven't, but nkfrench has. We call her "Steaksauce." ;)

Most of us have been chased at one time or another, but has anyone actually been bitten?

I've found that dismounting when a dog comes after me works best. They stop once I'm on the ground. I've even been known to chase them back home on foot from time to time. Most are cowards at heart; the key word being most.

over several years--yes--twice on bikes and once while I was inline skating--and have pepper sprayed more than a few---in fact if there is a dog and there are several bikers I can almost guarantee
they will come after me---most of these incidents have happened while riding rural farm roads were dogs in small packs are too common

I haven't, but nkfrench has. We call her "Steaksauce." ;)

LOL!

I have never been bitten while riding. Once I was riding on the MUP and people coming towrd me had their dog off leash and he decided to give chase. I just kept riding, since he wasn't catching up with me. The owners were not pleased, having to chase after both of us since the dog wasn't listening to the sreamed orders of "come back, come back!" That dog hung on for awhile before giving up the chase. I'd guess that the owners got a good extra mile of walking in over that episode.

I was giving serious thought to taking a whack at him with my pump if he caught me (that's the owner, I'm talking about). :roflmao2:

Not on a bicycle, but close, yes on a motorcycle.

Yes

A 2 months ago I rode at near town area and new about 1 big dog living in one place which I must pass through. So I thought - heh, no problem, I'll speed up and leave barking behind. At curtant point I met that dog and started to pedal, but a few seconds after I heard and saw 4 MORE BIG freaking dogs chasing me. And one of them run into my front, so I just cant go fast. From left and right - for a 2 dogs. So I started to pulling to their nose by legs - what can I do. One dog touched my heel on speed ~25km/h on jump, but thanks to my bike pants - they were strapped tight. Seconds after I cought a moment for a speed up and I'm ok.

Yes, when I was young. Pissed me off.

My neighbor has a miniature pooch with an inflated ego, i get to reverse intimidate him ..

can dogs keep up with 20mph

Yup, years ago ,on a solo ride.
Big (seemingly) "friendly" collie mix came slowly padding out of a yard as I passed, no barking, no growling.
Wagging his tail.... CHOMPO ! on my left calve.

His owner saw it happen, called the dog back in, came out and gave me insurance info to have it taken care of at an ER.

I'll never trust a wagging tail again. :(

Sometimes I think that some dogs bite because of their herding instinct. There was a border collie that, when I was running, would lie down really flat on the ground, and then, just as I passed, run around behind me and try to bite my heels. There were no signs of aggression.

http://fcarn.webs.com/flossplash3.jpg

cellphone > 911> county sheriff animal control comes out , takes dog and legal proceedings
make the pet owner regret not having, better, control of their dog..


can dogs keep up with 20mph
You have never seen greyhound dog races, I suppose.. depends on the breed.

I ride mainly country roads so dogs are always a struggle. I have never been officially bitten but I have sprayed many a dog with Halts, as a preemptive measure. Dogs are very much a product of their owners. There are dogs on my route that you can tell have been very well trained. Many don't chase me at all.

Others chase but don't seem to have much real interest in causing harm. One day I rode past a dog that had always chased me in the past. I had always been able to get him to stop by yelling or spraying with water bottle. Except this day, his dumbazz owner was outside moving the trash dumpster. The dog turned into a different animal, and took a swipe at my ankle. I got off the bike, and said, " your stupid f-ing dog just tried to bite me." The guy looked at me like, so what? It was easy to tell the problem is the owner and not the dog.

Myself, 50 years of riding ... No.

Myself, 50 years of riding ... No.

That's me too. I think that, once you've take a serious bite out of one dog, the other dogs can sense that and leave you alone.

I have been bitten twice in the last 3 years. Have scars on leg from the bites.