jboyd

Yesterday, I plotted and rode a new route from home. 21 mile loop of country roads. I was about half way through the ride and had just finished a 600 ft climb and had flattened out when a couple of Labs and a Pit came charging at me from a house on my left. I have had dogs chase before, but this time if felt a little more serious. Maybe it was the size, the pit, or the fact that I had no energy to do anything about it?

Anyway, one of the labs actually nipped at my clipped in heal. I unclipped and kicked at it, and then the pit started to charge. I screamed my best turrets at them and they backed off.

All good now right? NO! Then the homeowner from the porch that the dogs came from yelled.. Hey! Don't yell at my %$#&@* DOGS you #$'8&@#*& @#$!%&#. How is that possible??

I read back through some forum post on dogs and chases. So does anyone have a standard approach to this problem? I love dogs, but just like unruly kids, I have no tolerance.

Jay

CliftonGK1

Talk to the local police about what can be done. Cite the guy if there's leash laws, maybe some additional fines. Get it on record that he's got dogs that attacked you, so that if it happens again in the future, they'll (hopefully) be removed.

If the homeowner is threatening you, definitely get the police involved. Sounds like a Grade-A whacko who needs a good reality check.

jboyd

Yeah, this was way out in the county. White Trash Hillbillies are not uncommon around here, and I understand that they need something to protect their meth labs .

You know, it's funny (not really), but when I am walking and a dog charges, I feel pretty confident. But on the bike I always get the chills and unnerve? I think it must be a issue of control. Along with fending off the canine, I have to keep control of the bike too.

piper_chuck

Go back there, but with video rolling. Get the attacks on record so the owner can't dispute what his out of control animals are doing. Armed with this, take action to force the owner to keep his animals in his yard and under control. Also, investigate the rules the county has about leashes and/or owner control of their animals.

CliftonGK1

Around here they use bear traps. (Cookers hide labs back in the woods like old time moonshiners)

Indie

If you have a video camera, tape what the dogs do. Tell the owner you have the tape and will call the cops if he doesn't have the dogs under control. If the dogs were seized, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd send the labs to a shelter to be evaluated for training and adoption, and put the pit bull to sleep even if he isn't the ringleader or the most vicious one.

Breed-specific legislation that results in healthy trainable animals being killed sucks. I'd recommend writing to the owner and letting him know that you have evidence, and giving him the chance to be responsible and save his animals.

evblazer

Call Animal Control and/or the police. Make sure your complaint gets on file you may need to go in and sign the complaint/ticket since you witnessed it and law enforcement did not. If they do issue a ticket this mean you may have to show up in court if they choose to fight it.
Of course this depends on if there is a law of some kind that prevents loose animals out of the owners control and since you mentioned you were out in county they may not break the law until they damage you or your property. I'd expect harrassing you on a roadway would be something though.

Hopefully they will make the owners keep their dogs under control or the owners may surrender them to avoid any fines or having to fix the situation which might not turn out best for the animals. Depending on the shelter they may not have the resources to full train poorly trained/kept dogs of any breed and hope they become adoptable. Many rescues are completely overrun also.

Pinyon

That dog owner really does need a reality check. I would call your local animal control, and let them know that these people are not controlling their animals. I don't consider the dogs to be in the wrong here, but the owners. They can yell all they want, but I have to tell you, that if they let their dogs do that to the wrong person, they would have one hurt dog. I know a couple of local riders that like to bash the hell out of offending dogs with either a frame pump, security chain/lock, or the entire bicycle.

Which I find kind of strange, because I've only been chased by dogs around her once in over 10 years, and that was when I tried out a new bike route out on the prairie the same day that a local sheep rancher had a pair of his Anatolian Shepherd dogs working in a coral right next to the road as I rode by (beautiful dogs). I thought that I was a dead man when they jumped over that coral fence and came after me, but they backed down really quickly after I yelled at them.

Call the cops or animal control. If for no other reason, than to document the owner's pattern of negligence in the event that these dogs actually hurt someone in the future. Or better yet, to help make sure that does not happen.

JKing

Try one of these!

Mounted to the top tube they serve as good dog protection or secure urban night riding.

billydonn

Friend of mine keeps a little pepper spray gizmo hooked to his bars with a pipe cleaner.

Wogster

I'll add my vote for calling animal control, the dogs are not at fault, the owner is, most likely those dogs are not licenced, and do not have their shots either, so the owner will find themselves looking at some pretty hefty fines. Plus, and this is a big one, if it happens again and someone is injured by those dogs, the fact that the owner has been fined, becomes court evidence, when they are sued.

CigarDad

That was our solution to to a dog that always attacked us on a rural ride. After three straight attacks in as many weeks I carried pepper spray. The next time the dog came at me it got the whole can in the face. Never saw the dog again.

Dr_Robert

Immediate solution: squirt the dog in the face with your water bottle. It may or may not work, but it's more effective than trying to kick a moving target.

Long term: call animal control, carry pepper spray, and/or find a different route.

Word of advice: if you do start carrying pepper spray, and you have to mace the dog(s), don't stick around long enough to find out of the owner's got a gun. People like that are universally stupid.

-DR

Fastflyingasian

how about a air horn. the same hand held one that "cool kids" blow at me when they pass by. at least that cant blow back into your face. also in some states like mass, you need a permit for pepper spray.

Tom Stormcrowe

Squirt your water bottle in their face. It shocks them to a stop and doesn't hurt the dog. Loudly shout NO in a stern voice when you do it.

It works for me.

socalrider

water bottle in face works most of the time.. If you get bitten, get off the bike as fast as possible and get your bike between you and the dog if you cannot outrun it, preferably with cassette side towards dog.. If it lerches at you, whip the back side of the bike around and give the dog a face full of your drivetrain.. I've only had to do this once but it keeps you safe.. Kicking at a dog at speed is just not safe..

Mazama

Mace?

bakerjw

In all of the counties where I ride, there are leash laws. If a dog comes out onto the road, it is an unrestrained dog. Even in the countryside. I've had loose dogs come out at me and bark to let me know that they're defending their turf. We've all seen the kind. There is no harm or foul with that, they're being a dog. I've even seen dogs get loose which while negligent can sometimes not be prevented. It is good ole Bubba Joe with his pit bulls/rottweilers/whatever that leaves em be that gets under my skin.

Now if a dog tries to bite or is extremely aggressive, animal control gets an immediate call. I've found that the Washington county animal control office is more than willing to help with dog issues. If it is multiple dogs as you encountered, then the danger factor is multiplied. And if contact is made between the dogs teeth and any part of me or my bike, the police get a call.

Mace or pepper spray is fine, but using it on the dog that belongs to a member of the redneck nation can cause some major issues. I can easily see some of them hopping in the truck and heading off down the road to get even with the cyclist that just hurt their dog.

I ride a lot of backroads and I often debate to what extent that I should go to protect myself. So far I have shied away from packing although I do have a valid carry permit. For now I rely on the officials. We have enough to worry about between poor roads and motorists without having to throw dogs into the mix.

jboyd

Thanks Guys and Gals for all the responses. I really appreciate it.

I rode last night and again (different route) another dog chase. This time no contact, just a race.

Jay