Touring - Ultrasonic Dog Repellent

Can someone tell me if Ultrasonic dog repellents really work .I am planning to cycle the Trans Am this year and have read a lot of reports of cyclists being attacked by dogs . I have also read that pepper spray may be the weapon of choice but this may require that the wind is blowing in the direction of the dog and would also indicate that the dog may be a little to close for comfort . Advise please !!!!

This page has 3 links to what to do if being chased by dogs (http://www.biketouringtips.com/searchTips.html?country=&state=&place=&id=Hazards&subtopic=12.2) (a 4th link deals with rabies shots in India).

There are several methods: pepper spray, yelling "Bad Dog, Go Home", wasp spray, squirting a water bottle, dismounting and keeping the bike between you and the dog(s), etc.

In my experience, these scenarios happen so suddenly, it is hard to remember exactly what method I have at hand besides pedaling like mad to get away.

Leash laws and the liability risk to the property owner if their dog gets on the public right of way,
should take care of 99+% of dog chasers..
( ultrasonic dog repellant, 'sounds' nice , but do any actually exist?)
The militarized police have a large devise built at taxpayer expense to cause pain

when focused on Dissenters , at public gatherings of the populace trying to get redress
from their government, over policy grievances ..

It is microwave, it burns skin at a distance . but is truck mounted..

but no pocket version to use at Police Riots.

Leash laws and the liability risk to the property owner if their dog gets on the public right of way,
should take care of 99+% of dog chasers..

The militarized police have a large devise built at taxpayer expense to cause pain when focused on Dissenters
at public gatherings of the populace trying to get redress from their government, over policy grievances ..

but no pocket version to use at Police Riots.

My experience is that the vast majority of issues with dogs are in rural areas where there aren't any leash laws, and dogs chasing cyclists is considered to be a spectator sport by the owners.

There is still a County animal control, Sheriff deputy . if you have a problem. call them.

and then the Pet owner will be put in a position of civil liability and statutory fines
and having Poochie Put Down as a public nuisance . they are then a participant,
defendant in court, and not a spectator .


It is a 911 call to the dispatcher.. similar to a 999 in the UK..

I was just thinking about this today. Steve Gibson at grc.com built one as a 16 year old student: http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-281.txt

and is working on a modernized version: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/portable-sound-blaster

"Just shoot 'em."
That was the matter-of-fact advice I got from a deputy in a small southern Alabama town.
(Well-fed pet dogs in the rural South tend to form packs during the day when maw and paw are at work.)

I have used an ultrasound device for years and it has worked without fail.
It is called a "Don't EVEN think of fuggin' wid me!" yell.
I've yelled down dobermans and rotweilers and entire packs.
But you have to be willing to kick them into the middle of next week -
And they have to know you will certainly do it.

BTW - Pedaling like hell is a risky option unless you have a long downhill.
If confronted, it is far better to dismount TOWARDS them than away.

Can someone tell me if Ultrasonic dog repellents really work .I am planning to cycle the Trans Am this year and have read a lot of reports of cyclists being attacked by dogs . I have also read that pepper spray may be the weapon of choice but this may require that the wind is blowing in the direction of the dog and would also indicate that the dog may be a little to close for comfort . Advise please !!!!

On the Trans America the dogs we met were all pretty aware of what a can of halt was and most would back off with just pretending to grab something and pointing it at them. Spraying them with a water bottle worked well too, but as long as it wasn't uphill we mostly just sprinted to top speed and they would be dropped pretty soon. Dogs can go pretty fast, but they won't go very far at 18 mph and even less at 20 or 22. They seem to be able to hit something like 30 and even more, but only for a very short burst before they lose interest.

On the TA we were only chased in Missouri and Kentucky, but had quite a few dogs chase us there. Most seemed to just be in it for the sport and not really intent on biting. My daughter observed that when yelling at them "Bad Dog" worked much better than "Go Home". I observed that you need to be confident and sound like you mean it. One of my companions could yell all she liked and they never backed off a bit. She was afraid and they could tell. I found it to be great sport to hang back and bait the dogs giving her a chance to get away, before I started my sprint.

I will say that dogs were not that much of a problem for us despite the fact that we were probably chased by 20-30 dogs in Missouri and Kentucky. I may make less of it than some though, having grown up in a time and place where dogs were all off leash and you got chased pretty much every ride.

There were less of them but the dogs were especially mean in California's central valley, and maybe worse yet in some of the reservation towns on the southern tier.

I can echo staehpj1's experiences. We only had dogs following for parts of the Transam. Bought some Halt dog spray in Damascus as we headed West. We would outsprint them if we could. There were three of us riding at different paces during that early part of the trip, and it would always happen in a sequence. The dog would be alerted by the guy out front but it wouldn't really have time to reach the road. The dog would be ready to go then and it would put the effort in to chase me, riding a bit back from the front guy. Then once it was super tired, the guy at the back who was a dog person would sometimes end up just 'chatting' to the dog for a bit. Some dogs were just pure evil though.

We did this:
Try to outsprint them.
If we couldn't, or we weren't in the mood, we'd brandish the Halt dog spray. 9 times out of 10 they would recognise it and slink away.
I only had to spray a couple of dogs and they all backed off straight away. The spray comes out as a jet so wind shouldn't make too much of a difference. Just keep it somewhere accessible. I had a loop of wire from my Ortlieb handlebar bag holder that I never cut off, so I just clipped it onto there.

Another cyclist we met really loved dogs and he usually stopped and was nice to them and they were nice back. I think that takes a good intuition for whether a dog is going to attack or just wants to play because those two 'modes' look fairly similar to most people.

On the flip side we met another cyclist who got chased a hell of a lot and was getting really sick of it. After a tough day and a lot of dogs chasing him, one came running across the road toward him but was hit by a big truck. So don't feel bad about spraying them because if they keep running out into the road they'll get killed.

There is still a County animal control, Sheriff deputy . if you have a problem. call them.

and then the Pet owner will be put in a position of civil liability and statutory fines
and having Poochie Put Down as a public nuisance . they are then a participant,
defendant in court, and not a spectator .


It is a 911 call to the dispatcher.. similar to a 999 in the UK..

:rolleyes:

Your "solution" requires being bitten first. You should rethink it.

For a transam ride, being bitten is inconvenient. Having to wait around to bring a civil suit is even more inconvenient.

:rolleyes:

Your "solution" requires being bitten first. You should rethink it.
For a transam ride, being bitten is inconvenient. Having to wait around to bring a civil suit is even more inconvenient.

I think that's why the Alabama deputy said, "Just shoot 'em."
It's a culture that I have difficulty understanding.
And my family has 300+ year Southern roots.

One can solve this issue in large part by cycling thru the Upper Midwest.
(Most definitely NOT Southern Indiana which is festooned with Rebel flags)

Concealed carry permits are state by state.. need to get another one in each state.


Public menace/nuisance, threatening counts, call the Animal Control and file a report
not using the 911 switchboard then..

Concealed carry permits are state by state.. need to get another one in each state.
I think he was kidding.


Public menace/nuisance, threatening counts, call the Animal Control and file a report
not using the 911 switchboard then..
You're being chased by a dog... You are about to be bitten by a dog...

How is "filing a report" going to stop any of that from happening?

The dog should be restricted to private property .. period . not the public right-of-way
back to the 1st reply
There are several methods: pepper spray, yelling "Bad Dog, Go Home", wasp spray, squirting a water bottle, dismounting and keeping the bike between you and the dog(s), etc.

Dilute, Ammonia in a squirt gun is effective, but you cannot say to the dog
"go rinse your eyes out promptly, or permanent damage may result"
which may put you in legal jeopardy .. and have to come back for court appearances of your own.

Simple Solution - -

1. Ascertain whether the road you are riding on is public or private; county, state or federal right of way.
2. Demarcate carefully the property lines and the location of any canine or canines.
3. Make certain to have photographic evidence of the incident.
4. Telephone any numbers on the dog tags prior to taking actions.

Concealed carry permits are state by state.. need to get another one in each state.


Depends on the state, some are good in several others.

I wound up beating a dog to death before once though, damn thing popped out of the bushes and grabbed my leg and I ended up wailing on it till it let go.

Another cyclist we met really loved dogs and he usually stopped and was nice to them and they were nice back.

The most useful 'advice' in the whole thread.

My experience is that the vast majority of issues with dogs are in rural areas where there aren't any leash laws, and dogs chasing cyclists is considered to be a spectator sport by the owners.

This is sometimes the case in the eastern mountains of Kentucky.

My dog dazer worked about half the time...seemed if a dog was already in chase my dazer didn't work too well, but, if I caught them just as they were about to embark on a full on chase it worked very well. For those times when my dazer did not work, when needed my back-up defense did...pepper spray (Halt!) stopped them in their tracks.

There is still a County animal control, Sheriff deputy . if you have a problem. call them.

and then the Pet owner will be put in a position of civil liability and statutory fines
and having Poochie Put Down as a public nuisance . they are then a participant,
defendant in court, and not a spectator .


It is a 911 call to the dispatcher.. similar to a 999 in the UK..

This probably won't work in the mountains of Kentucky along the TransAm...we saw a few owners just tell us..."It ain't my dog!" Even though clearly the dog came from their yards. If needed our Halt! worked much better than trying to reason with owners, and probably even with the"Good ole boy" Lawmen.

I may make less of it than some though, having grown up in a time and place where dogs were all off leash and you got chased pretty much every ride.

When I was a kid riding in western New York, dogs were pretty much a constant issue. Especially in rural areas. When I started riding again 30+ years later and now in rural northern Florida, I expect the worst and have been very pleasantly surprised by how much leash laws seem to have reduced the problem. I get a few, but have thus far been able to keep them at bay with a strong, sharp yell. I usually go with a simple NO!

But the Gators, are off leash..

Have been thinking about this subject a lot lately, but mainly 'cuz I have nothing better to do (what can I say, this is N. WI). However, given my limited experience, I just generally out run them. I chalk it up to an opportunity to sprint: i.e. change routine.

Now having said that, and for us animal lovers, there are some dogs that just do it for sport. I have one 2 blocks from me. He probably knows my voice better than his master's/ owner. He/she is chained but I always talk: "hey Buddy!"

Then again, there are those rural dogs (owners?) there are very aggressive. I like to wait until they get within their striking distance - we're talking inches here - and then strike. Works every time, but only with a single dog. Packs, on the other hand, are an entirely different situation. Short of out running them, good luck.

For the person that objected to the conceal-carry idea: many states, if not most, respect permits from other states. Even if they don't, and you happen to be in the situation, there are ways to deal with it. Always, ALWAYS, if a situation occurs that involves a firearm (yours or in your possession), the first thing you need to do, even before presenting ID or even telling your name, is tell them that there is a firearm, "in my bags (or wherever)." Don't make excuses, just wait for them to tell you what to do next. Be respectful.

I doubt a Ultrasonic dog repellant is made, Ive heard rumors of one for Mosquitos..

Hold out for the Jedi Light Saber production..

Until then , I hear Bruce Gordon's titanium Replica of Silca Impero Frame Pumps ,
fitted with a steel Campagnolo pumphead can make some good sized wounds with the
legs on the pump head .. and being Titanium, instead of Styrene and Aluminum ,
you can still pump up your tires with them..

I've seen ultrasonic devices to repel moles.

I've usually had good luck yelling (with a Very loud and scolding tone) "no! Bad dog". But once in a while in the mountains of NC you run into stray dogs, no owner. They don't care. If it's one dog block him with the bike. If it's more than one then hope for a long downhill or make the uphill down by quickly turning around.

I have na airzound on my touring bike. It Works on freightliners, random wild animals, and dogs. Never had one bother me yet. I just let them get pretty close (trying to "shoo" them verbiall) then when they are almost on top of me I give the airzound a blast. Has worked every time so far.

I've seen two cyclists badly injured in front of me, one who was maimed for life, while descending hills. Loose dogs ran out from blind driveways and collided with the bikes at high speed. There was nothing the cyclist could do to avoid this happening, no dog treats, no nice talking to the dog, as it happened in a second without warning. Maybe the dog wanted to come out and get a treat from the nice passing cyclist?

Anyway, it would be better for both dogs and cyclists if the dogs would learn to stay away from the road and cyclists, and I think Steve Gibson's "Treble Shooter" could be a big step in this direction.

Have used ultrasonic dog repellent for several years. It works very well, it will stop a dog in full attack. I live and ride in rural America so encounter dogs frequently. Does have a couple of limitations. It will not work if the dog is deaf and it is directional. You must point it in the direction of the dog. If there are dogs attacking you from several directions then it will only work on the dogs you point it at. My backup, is a collapseable baton. In olden days I would have used my frame pump but the baton is easier to get out and use and yes I have used it very successfully. I have to admit that most of the dogs I come across are just farm dogs that want to run along with me but there are more and more wild dogs around.

Thank you mknauss ,what is the brand name of the repellant you use

When will the Laser Light saber go on the Market?


squirt gun with a % of ammonia will be a lesson a dog will perhaps remember
if only the damage to their eyes will make it hard to see the next quarry, to persue.

I've seen two cyclists badly injured in front of me, one who was maimed for life, while descending hills. Loose dogs ran out from blind driveways and collided with the bikes at high speed. There was nothing the cyclist could do to avoid this happening, no dog treats, no nice talking to the dog, as it happened in a second without warning. Maybe the dog wanted to come out and get a treat from the nice passing cyclist?

Anyway, it would be better for both dogs and cyclists if the dogs would learn to stay away from the road and cyclists, and I think Steve Gibson's "Treble Shooter" could be a big step in this direction.

This is exactly what happened to me. I ended up with a broken collarbone and a plate in my shoulder. The dog had chased me several times previous to the crash.
Now, if a dog chases me, it gets a faceful of Halt. That way they learn to keep their distance. I am doing them and the owner a favor.

My experience is that the vast majority of issues with dogs are in rural areas where there aren't any leash laws, and dogs chasing cyclists is considered to be a spectator sport by the owners.
^^^Where my crash occured, there are leash laws but they are not enforced. The dog was owned by the mayor's son. The sherriff refused to file a report because "no vehicle was involved."
Water bottles don't always work.
Yelling doesn't always work.
Dismounting and facing an agressive dog only gets you in a fight with an agressive dog.
Spraying them with Halt removes their ability to breathe freely.
It gives them more pressing issues to deal with.
It has worked for me everytime.
You just have to wait until "you can see the whites of their eyes" before you spray.

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Dog Dazer II Ultrasonic Dog Deterrent
by Dog Dazer II
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Ultrasonic technology, the Dazer II produces a discomforting but not harmful sound, audible to dogs but not to humans.
Help stop the approach of unwanted dogs at up to 20 feet.
The DAZER II works to deter animals in the 15 to 20 foot range. For best results, activate the DAZER II when you first see the dog, even at 30 feet or more. This added alert helps deter the dog.
the DAZER can be used in dog training for barking, jumping on people, getting a dog's attention, etc. Activate the device followed by a verbal command such as "Be Quiet." Remember that dogs are like children: if positive attention is not enough, they will work to to praise the dog for good behavior as well. Repeated use of the Dazer II may result in training a dog not to bark. The Dazer is great to get a dog's attention when you don't want to yell.
Made of lightweight high impact plastic, the Dazer II features a belt clip and low battery indicator.