ginger green

I have a great cycling route - some hills, some flats, I love it. Today I was chased by a big dog for about 100 yards. My heart almost exploded trying to get away.

What does the morally upright person do?
What does everyone else do?

thx

Ginger

twahl

A lot of people say that a squirt from the water bottle will usually get them to quit chasing. I carry pepper spray for multiple purposes, but have yet to use it.

hoodlum

I give them a shot to the face with my water bottle. It almost always scares them away, and it doesn't harm them. I'm too much of a dog lover to give them the pepper spray or anything like that.

robotkittenarmy

Flat, uphill, or downhill? That largely influences my response to a chasing dog.

ginger green

it is slightly down hill.
I read a bunch of archived posts - what if I carried a seperate water bottle full of vinegar or tabasco?

I really don't think I want to stop my bike and suggest the dog should go home - this is Arkansas!

robotkittenarmy

I used to just squirt water at 'em and it always worked....until...the midget dog from hell almost ripped my right calf off as I was climbing and had already squirted him once. Now I carry pepper spray. However, If it's a flat or downhill I just accelerate like mad and outrun 'em. Unless I'm exhausted and don't have it in me then I will wield the pepper spray and yell GO HOME--haven't needed to actually pepper 'em yet. Last week a new one on my regular route made me so mad I stopped, got off the bike, and ran at him, bellowing at the top of my lungs "C'MON YOU LITTLE SOB LET'S GO!! RIGHT NOW!!" Freaked him out so much he ran back to his driveway. I took a deep breath, looked around sheepishly and resumed my ride, waiting for the adrenalin shakes to stop.

AquariaGuy

Pull down ur pants and acidify him with urea!!

spanky4x4

they dont know or care where they are.it could be arkansaw,alabama,or tahiti. its natural for a dog to #1 chase,#2 protect their packs area(owners property) honestly,they really cant tell the differance between you and a ford.
its a phycological thing. they fear what isnt normal to them. you arent "normally"on the road in front of their house. (i learned this after tring to find out why our dog attacked and killed a cooler it had never seen before!)

I dont want to defend the dogs or the owners,'cause the dog should be restrained,and despit the owner knowing"hes so gentile ,he wouldnt hurt a fly" is all just B.S. be responsable and restrain the animal. If its a route you want to ride all the time,call the local sherrif about it. generaly,there is a law,and a complaint from you should trigger a visit. if it happens again,call again. if the dog seems visious(sp?),tell them about it. many docil dogs have become violent at the least little thing,and you never know what might do it.

If it continues to be a problem,insist the dog be removed and destroyed.(even if you would never do it,act like you would) press civil charges against the owner. more then likely they will comply at the though of legal action against them. some areas wont want to do anything unless you are bitten,but if you call and complane a couple times,or file a report,the second or third time,the police start to take it more seriously as a public safty threat.

be careful as this wont always work. in the dogs eyes,you are attacking them on their territory. most dogs will cringe and hide at such action but some will not. I personally have 5 dogs. big and small. I am the alpha male,and if they get out of line they get corrected. its natural to the dogs and they respond better for being in their place. however,if a dog thinks he is the alpha,and he decides you are not,despite all the yelling,he might decide to put you in your place. a completly natural thing for him to do. but its still bad owners, not bad dog.

also consider what may have happened to the dog as a puppy,or before he was a loved pet. perhaps he was ran over with a bike by a mean little kid,so he reacts to bikes. sometimes there is more to it then just a dog giving chase. and dont be scared to use pepper spray(halt is a good one) it really doesnt hurt the animal.in fact it could help. it will remember the pain and will assosiate bikers with that pain and wont want to do it again. it might take a couple times,but they can learn through a situation like this. if you spray them, it might stop them from chasing the next guy(who will really use a lawyer and the legal system to have the animal destroyed)

sorry it was so long,just hoping to show why it happens

Gazoo

hmmm me thinks this is a troll!!!

But if it isn't......its a dog...not a bear.....kick its ass.

Piasabird

My boyfriend and I carry pepper spray that we attach to our bike frames using velcro. He has had to use it twice when we were pretty much surprised by a dog or dogs and couldn't outrun them. It sure makes them stop chasing you and once they've been sprayed they don't forget. You can make some dogs quit chasing you just by holding the can and aiming it at them.

kerk

You know, a lot of people pay a lot of money for quality sprint training. You know where he lives, don't go by unless you are ready to go. If that's not going to work for you, get some pepper spray.