gman214

So I'm finishing up my last leg of my ride and this LARGE CHARGES ME! Don't know where I got the strength from but I'm I got over 100 RPMs! There's a least law in our city and I'm going to remind it's owner! Is there a spray I should carry?

UPDATE! The dog was picked up by the Pound! I've read a lot of posts here as well in other forums and will get the Fox Pepper Spray or ammonia/cayenne pepper mix in a water *** or bottle.

spdracr39

Don't try to outrun the dogs it just makes them chase harder. I carry pepper spray on a velcro strap on my top tube for easy access. The other recomended method is to walk the bike past the dog while standing on the other side using the bike as a shield. I have gotten close to using the spray before but havent had to yet. I would not hesitate even if the owner was watching.

WVU_Engineer

If the owner is standing right there and lets his dog chase you it might do more good to pepper spray the owner than the dog. Some people need/deserve stuff like this to happen to them to get a clue.

Carl_S

Don't pepper spray a dog please.

Stop, put the bike between you and the dog, and yell at it loudly if necessary. (even if it seems scary)

LordMarv

I'm genuinely curious about this. Does this usually work to intimidate them and cause them to stop? I haven't been chased by a big dog yet, I'd be willing to try that technique if I knew it usually worked. My concern is that by the time you are stopped and dismounted, the dog is upon you. Is he going to back off or go for your leg? Sure, not all dogs are aggressive to that point but there are always a few.

moochems 

I carry "Halt!" Pepper spray advertised as effective against dogs. I bet it would work against people too. I have read pepper spray specific to people is not as effective against dogs.


Carry it if you want, but mentally prepare yourself to use it, physically practice using it, research the proper technique, and research legal ramifications of using it. I have a hunch it is fine to carry, and use (especially against dogs) in most if not all states. Also, whether or not brandishing it is illegal, I doubt anyone would feel as threatened in an instance where you pulled it out as say a firearm. The result may be that "brandishing" pepper spray is hard to do for a reasonably minded adult. Don't act like a kid with it, and I don't think anyone would be concerned if they saw you holding it prepared to use it if a dog was charging.

I read a story once that a cyclist carried a tool in his jersey pocket. One day he fell from his bike and simultaneously was charged by a Great Dane in it's youth (still a very large dog). The dog appeared threatening and the downed cyclist used his wrench as a means of defense. The dog left lifeless, it's owner's child was "watching" the dog left scarred upon seeing the events unfold. in retrospect the cyclist was also left scarred in seeing the child's horror, and the corpse of the young dog.


I would not want that emotional distress for anyone, but I recognize that a dog could bite, or otherwise get tangled in the front wheel, and seriously injure me, or worse. I carry dog repellent, and wouldn't hesitate to use it.

Though dogs have an increased sense of smell, my understanding is that, for whatever reason, pepper spray does not pose serious threat to life and well being to them. I'm thinking it would be no fun to be a pup with a nose full of capsicum. I'm thinking it would be worse to be run over by 700x23 though.

moochems 

"...better give your path to a dog, than be bitten by him in contesting for the right, not even killing the dog, will cure the bite”

--Abraham Lincoln

Have you considered a different route?

FBinNY 

IMO there's nothing like a big fast dog to show you what you're capable of.

Years of experience with farm dogs taught me that you don't need to carry anything. Just reach doen to your belly and in you're best most authoritive voice call out "GO HOME!!" Most dogs will respond to the "master's" commands, and do so. For those that don't, that's what adrenaline is for.

mrodgers

We raise beef in the family, thus I always carry a nice 8 lb. roast with me. Got chased by a very large dog so I tossed the roast at it.

Next ride, I had 13 dogs chasing me....

thecactuswill

No animal is greater than a human. Bear mace cans are about $20 and go far. If you're out in the country and a pack comes out of nowhere, you'll be glad you had it as long as it doesn't blow back into your own face.

gman214

This was a Big Rottweiler! NO I'm NOT gonna TRY and put the bike between me and the dog! I'll yell and then use pepper spray, HOPEFULLY I WON'T RUN INTO TOO MANY MORE!!!

Northwestrider

+1 Pepper spray, Bear Spray can be bought at R.E.I.

Northwestrider

You must have been going down hill to be able to out run a large Rottweiler. I rarely run into dogs anymore in our area, but if it happens I consider bear spray the solution.

GravelMN

If an attack is unavoidable, I have no problem with a vicious dog (or human for that matter) being pepper sprayed to protect life and limb. I do have a problem with people who "punish" nuisance animals with excessive blasts straight to the face. A law enforcement officer I know carries pepper spray and has had occasion to use it. He gave me the tip that 90% of the time you can shoot the ground between you and the dog and the irritation will be enough to cause the dog to back off or break off the chase. He recommended a product from Fox Labs that creates a coarse spray of droplets that carries well for a good distance but doesn't drift excessively and settles quickly. He says that a short toot in most dogs' general direction will send them running without blasting them directly in the face. If a warning shot isn't an option and it looks like you are at high risk of getting bitten, I suppose you do what you gotta do.

All dog attacks or nuisance animals that create a hazard should be reported to law enforcement ASAP.

One last thing, if you carry pepper spray, you can also get packets of wipes that reduce the burning in short order in case you have to use the spray in close quarters or the wind blows it back on you.

FBinNY 

The problem with using pepper spray as a weapon against dogs while riding, is that it's harder to hit the target than many imagine.

Th issue of shooting from a moving platform, combined with apparent wind makes people miss or get so focused on spraying the dog, that they lose control of the bikes .

Over the years of watching people trying to spray dogs from a moving bikes, I can say with some assurance that the dogs are winning this battle, and many riders end up with more serious injuries than the dog was likely to inflict.

Pepper spray is appropriate if you use it when dismounted and keeping your frame between you and the dog.

It also pays to understand dog psychology (especially in rural areas). Many dogs give chase simply to give chase and will stop and rapidly get bored and go home if you stop (keep the frame between you and the dog just in case).

Also many rural dogs are simply protecting their home, and are less interested in biting than chasing off a perceived attacker. I call these property-line dogs because they'll chase very fiercely up to the property line and no further. So if you see the dividing fence within sprint range, go for it. Unfortunately, there may be another dog there to pick up the chase until the next line. (personal record 17 dogs over 17 properties near Lake Canandagua, NY, maybe a personal best for a mile).

gman214

Wasn't going down hill. Flat road and moving pretty good when he came off the porch. I peddled "FAST AS HELL" as I had a slight angle in the curve. When I saw the dog turned back, I stopped pedaling and glanced at my bike computer as it changed from 19 to 18 mph!

Slowhead

I was chased on two different occasions yesterday on a dirt road while riding. It is on a part of a marathon route I will run this Fall. The road was washboard bad so either dog could have had me. One owner called his dog back, no apology though. Down the road, the other dog was a Rot mix was close enough to bite. I'm still shook up about it.
I wanted to be able to train (run) on the route of the marathon, but now I'm scared. The house the aggressive dog lives at does not look safe to approach. It is far enough off out in the country, a visit from a cop isn't going to do much other than piss them off.

bbeasley

I've yet to meet a dog that didn't come to at least a complete stop when sprayed with my water bottle. It's like they forget what they were doing. I use a nice over hand arc, no real aiming required. My biggest fear, other than an honest to goodness attack dog, is little dogs that tend to attempt a run through the spokes.

FBinNY 

Years ago a friend came up with the ultimate anti dog weapon. He'd fine an old newspaper, roll it up and keep it in his jersey pocket. It was amazing, dogs would run up and he'd pull it out and wave it, and they'd stop like they had air brakes. It seems the rolled newspaper on the nose is SOP farm dog discipline, and the dogs know they're doing something wrong when it comes out..

indyfabz

Often times several loud yells of "NO!" or something similar is all you need. A squirt of water to the face can also work.

indyfabz

1. Humans are animals.
2. Go pet a wild polar bear or mess with a wild hippo mom protecting her baby with your bear mace in hand and let us know how that works out for you.

asque2000

According to Outside Magazine, one should squirt the dog in the face with your water bottle, and try to hit its eyes.

ragtoplvr

If you are on a public road and someone has their animal come out to attack then I say pepper spray it. Dogs get skunked once, and learn. Human can just be another species of skunk to them. Safer for dog to learn. I had a dog run out and case me, it got killed by a car running home. Dear owner, not so cute now, is it.

Rod

indyfabz

Having been chased by dogs while riding a fully-loaded bike through more than a dozen states, I agree. I also think people incorrectly assume dogs who are chasing them are bent on biting. As noted by another poster, often times they are defending their territories. You move on the they leave you alone.

thecactuswill

Thanks for the flame. Appreciate that. We were actually talking about self protection. Not intentionally provoking or attacking wild animals minding their own business. You may or may not realize that does happen to be a very big difference.