troutbreath

Anyone ever get bitten by them? Today, I was.

I was about 25 miles into my ride, and a big, brown, FAST dog chased me from his yard. I have had dogs pursue me through their yards, and even into the neighbors yards, but rarely do they enter the street. This one ran right out onto the highway, barked, and then took a bite out of my leg.

I was SHOCKED! I noticed the blood, and decided I needed to stop. I was going to tell the owner, but decided I did not want to get close to that dog again. If he could catch me on my bike, he could definitely catch me while running. In bike shoes, no less. I called 911, and they dispatched an ambulance. The local sheriff came out, and got animal control involved. I headed off to the hospital (not in an ambulance) for some cleaning and antibiotics.

Pretty scary end to my ride. And, a pain in the butt. No riding for a week, and I have two more doctor appointments lined up. Fortunately, the dog in question has had its shots.

Anyone else felt the bite?

troutbreath

Gross picture from the scene today below. Fair warning:

TrojanHorse

Holy buckets! That's a whale of a bite.

I haven't been bitten while riding but I visited a friend of mine once and his sister's mangy cur came out of nowhere and did something similar through my jeans - fortunately, the results weren't so dramatic.

Mount a little mace can on your handlebars for next time. I hope you recover soon with no after effects!

CliftonGK1

First trail ride on the new CX bike this year. 2nd off-leash dog problem this season (first one wrecked a frame, and that's why I have a new CX bike.)

Off leash dog that decided to have a chomp at me, and the guy who ran over to pull the dog off me. Cops got involved, animal was taken away, owner was issued citations, guy who helped me pressed charges against the owner (he needed a few stitches.)
It's a month later now, and the lower puncture still isn't fully healed. That pooch got his fangs in there pretty good.

troutbreath

Wow! I feel your pain. Hopefully it doesn't take as long for my puncture to heal. It was about 3/4" deep, or so it appeared as they were cleaning it.

I'm not sure what will happen to the dog that bit me, or the owner, for that matter. I need to follow up with the Sheriff on Monday to see what kind of report they filed. They followed up quickly with me on the status of the dog's shots.

10 Wheels

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...bit?p=13110910

troutbreath

Woah. That first story is frightening. I got off easy, by comparison.

nkfrench 

I had a bite that looked pretty much like that.
It was almost 3 years ago and my calf still has a dent in it from the crushing and fang marks from the deep bite.
I was off the bike for a few weeks.
My doctor bills were almost $1,000 (thank heavens for health insurance reducing my out-of-pocket portion -- and that the dog had its shots).
The dog was owned by an elderly woman. Her family was in the process of moving her to a nursing home and somehow the dog got out.
A relative was a nurse and did a nice curb-side cleanup, passing-by motorists offered me and my bike a ride home or to ER or to make a phonecall.
In my confused state I did not get their contact information and I was unable to find out who they were and who to send the medical bills to.

There was no way I could have avoided the bite. I was redlined climbing a mile-long hill in 100F heat at 5mph. The dog bolted out an open front door and sprinted into the street across level ground so I had less than a second's notice when the dog caught my eye. No barks or growls, just a charge and a deep chomp. I had never seen the dog before even though it was my commute route. The owners were dumbfounded, their family pet had never done that before. It was just upset about the household disruption in routine and moving out.

I could have taken legal action to recover expenses but chose to just move forward with things that were more important (after involving animal control).

kjmillig

CYA...file charges! I personally have little to no tolerance for people who allow their aggressive dogs uncontrolled access to public places or for dogs who demonstrate aggression in a public spaces. I'll just say that my actions against the dog are not what most people would do.

goldfinch

I assume that you are not talking about the old woman being moved to the nursing home. . .

kjmillig

No. Meant for the OP.

knurly

I was going 20 mph down the highway today when I heard some mutt come bounding out, his owner with a feeble scold. At my speed, I figured no worries. Wrong, but its amazing how much those cars will slow down and yield to a dog when earlier in the day they roll down a window to yell profanities at me.

Unrelated, I got called up for jury duty this month. Every time I go out the door I get abused, assaulted or offended one way or another. I'll be voting to acquit the accused, since we all deserve each other so very much.

socalrider

file a police report asap -if you know where it came from.. Make sure tp use your water bottle and if they get close - blast them in the face.. Most times this will stop them in there tracks. If this does not work and the dog is coming after you - get off the bike and get the bike between you and the dog.

If you have time make sure to have drivetrain side facing the dog and if and when he lunges give him a face full of cassette.

Rouen

I tend to bike with my dogs, so unfortunately for them if a loose dog were to come after us they'd be the first victims. Although I also carry some sort of weapon for self (and my dogs) defense.
And to the question, I have had one very close call before I started taking my pups. A German shepherd came out into the highway after me, he was aiming for my arm and his chest brushed against my leg, thankfully he missed.

Mr. Beanz

Holy crap I'd be pished! I'd want new shoes and socks too!

Never been bitten but a dog running with a rider on the bike path (no leash) chased Gina who was ahead of me by a few seconds then turned to charge me head on. I disengaged and kicked the dog square in the forehead as he approached me an inch or two from my front wheel. He had the nerve to get mad at me for hurting his dog.

Judi

I've had a dog bite into the bottom of my shoe before. It came out of the creekbed as I was riding over the bridge, started chasing me, and went chomp! I kicked him and yelled at him and he left.

I don't mess around, when I ride I take an asp baton with me. It's not legal to carry but I'd rather be in trouble than in pieces. I made a pocket in my basket liner just for it. Most of the dogs that are an issue around here are strays or are wandering far from home, so it's difficult to locate the owner if you're attacked. I ride with my kids and I've always told them, if we get attacked by a dog, you ride away and I will deal with it. There's more of me, and besides, I've already got enough scars, a couple more wouldn't kill me.

aenlaasu

Fortunately here in Sweden, dogs pretty much ignore cyclists. Even wierd looking recumbents. I have been rushed a few times, maybe because the dogs didn't recognize me as a cyclist. So standing up and telling them no works the worst I've had happen here is getting muddy when a small dog jump into my lap for a nap while chatting with its owner about my 'bent. Back in the States though. I got chased lots, managed to avoid getting bit, even when once I had to throw my bike at the dog, which pinned it. Dragged it out from under the frame, carried by the scruff of the neck completely off the ground to throw it back over the fence since I knew where it lived. Pretty good for a 5'2", 180 lb Athena with a 40 lb dog. Amazing what fury and a healthy dose of controlled fear can do.As I closed the gate, the owner screamed at me. I screamed back and in the end, they backed down with threats of animal control, the police and a law suit. Funny how that last phrase stops people cold. Never saw the dog again. My guess is it bit someone and had to be put down.I'm sure someone's going to be peeved at me about throwing the dog, but it was going to quickly escape from under the bike, I had no cell phone 10 years ago so holding it down while I called for help was no option. I had to make myself safe because it was not going to leave off the attack after getting hit with 13 lbs of metal, plastic and rubber.

Big Pete 1982

Wow! Crazy stories in this thread! I guess I've been fortunate. I've been chased several times and even felt dog breath on my calves a few times. Heck, I even had a woman sick her dog on me for having the audacity to casually ride by her house on a Saturday afternoon! But I've been lucky that all the dogs that have chased me have been on flat roads or downhill. I tend to not think about using my waterbottle since usually by the time I see the dog, it's already chasing and I don't want to slow down. I really need to find a small spray can of mace!

Daspydyr 

From the look of your legs you are not a little guy. those are some ferocious holes. Imagine what that dog could have done to a smaller rider. That dog needs some serious alone time. The owners need to see a judge-soon. This could have been lots worse.

Heal fast and thanks for raising our awareness. I need to take something along. I had a 30 pound oxygen waster nip at me on Easter weekend. The sole of my shoe tapped his nose pretty well and we both went our way. But what happened to you-CRIMINAL!

Sayre Kulp 

I've been chased plenty and had a few take a shot at me, but none were able to sink their fangs in like that. I've yelled at irresponsible owners, but they always think that I'M the a-hole.

Big Pete 1982

That's what tics me off the most about getting chased by dogs is that the owners think it's our fault. Like we cyclists just go around antagonizing dogs so they can chase and bite us!

Myosmith

That's a pretty nasty chomp there, OP. Glad to hear the animal was vaccinated and that things are healing up OK. I've only been bitten once, and not while on a bike. No deep punctures, just a bruise and some tooth marks as he got me through a pair of jeans.

I agree with Pete, there should be an IQ test before you're allowed to own a dog. I still come across stupid owners who think it's funny to watch you try to outrun their dog. I'm a dog lover but I believe you should be able to put a shock collar on stupid owners who don't properly train and control their animals. I have a German shepard who isn't viscious but who I have never been able to break of that herding instinct. She likes to chase and nip at the heels of anything that will run. Because of this she has never been allowed to run free and is always on leash, on chain, in the house or within the six-foot fence that surrounds a portion of our yard. I'd love to let her run, but I won't take the risk of her knocking a kid off a bike, or scaring the crap out of some little old lady out for a stroll.

IBOHUNT

I hope that there was a Police case number assigned. You, or your insurance company, should not have to pay any of the bills. Force the owner to.
Get well soon

gunner65

Dog bites should always be reported even if the injury was not that bad it could be an unaware owner. Making the owner aware could save another person from suffering or even the death of a child.

Doohickie

We still call nk SteakSauce sometimes.