ivegotabike

just kick the **** out of it??

unless its a masochist dog, then it will think your playing footsies.

LastPlace

Let me begin by saying that I flunked out of college one year and was a 'Meter Reader' for the university, which was a resale electric company, so I had mannnnny dog encounters.

First, I don't believe we have a dog problem, we have an owner problem. I believe any dog can be 'socialized', and be a friendly, non-aggressive animal, or be an aggressive hazard to society. The difference is the owner.

In college, the worst I was hurt was when a Great Dane did a number on my face and neck. The dog was just trying to lick my face, and put its left paw on my right shoulder and was try just trying to put its right paw on my left shoulder when it raked my face and neck. The infection left scars on me for weeks. I tell this to point out that a dog can be a problem just because of it's size. The bigger the dog, the bigger the potential problem.

Personally I would do whatever is necessary to protect myself and deal with the owner later. That said, I think it is easier to deal with one dog than it is to deal with more than one dog.

As for penalty's, I think the owner should get a stiff fine unless the victim dies, in which case, the owner should go to jail.

As for protection, I think a yapper, or ankle biter is the best option. A large dog that will more likely get you sued.

Another thing is that I think that dogs are very territorial, and act very differently when the master is not present. In the presence of the owner the dog may be friendly but more aggressive when the owner is not present.

Lastly, the worst I was ever hurt while reading meters.....by something other than a dog......was by a goose. As I was reading the electric meter a goose came up behind me and pinched me about an inch away from the family jewels. It hurt so bad that I dropped to my knees and took a swing at it with my dog stick until I could get back to my feet. The geese were owned by my boss so there wasn't much I could do, but I have a healthy respect for the buggers. Nasty, noisy animals. As I recall, the romans used them as watch animals, and then the Germans used them during WWII.

well biked

+1, my experience as well. Yell forcefully, if it's not a situation where you can get away on the bike, get off the bike and put the bike between you and the dog, and keep it that way as you back away (most dogs don't like the fact that you've got a barrier in front of you and they'll back off). Continue to yell forcefully if necessary. If you're encountering dogs that are unusually agressive, I guess more extreme measures are in order. I've been around pit bulls that seem pretty docile, and then again I've seen a couple of pit bulls that would have to qualify as the most vicious dogs I've ever seen. In those cases, it's been clear that the dogs' owners wanted them that way and took pride in their dog's agressiveness. Pathetic in my opinion, but a danger just the same-

Bekologist

dog-n-driver spray, pump strapped to the seattube, just above the front derailluer on my bikes. Red bull sized can of Sabre brand spray. It's as easy to get to as pulling out a water bottle. practice by spraying a couple of pedestrians first just kidding! practice pulling it out and arming it until you have to use it.

hitting a dog in the shnaus with pepper spray stops them in their tracks, no drill seargant is telling the dog to "Take it like a man, grunt!"

deputyjones

Nice setup Bek

dbduke

after you do this once each encounter becomes easier and eventualy a dog will no longer chase. The barking, growling type will usualy give up after one encounter with someone who stands up to them.

FlatFender

I also carry some Sabre spray. Its good stuff. Usually when I am commuting I have a .45 in my backpack (because of my job) but I would NEVER, EVER level a gun at a dog in a residential neighborhood. Its just not safe. Ive used the pepper spray once, and I didnt even get a good spray on the dog, but once he smelled it, he decided that he didnt want any more of it.

I think the best bet is to shoot off some spray, and hit the big ring.

deputyjones

Agreed. What is your job Fender, and is your nickname Jeep inspired?

Nightshade

What a load of *****....... Animals have personalities just like humans and there are lots
of "bad" humans,mate.

AGGRO

I'd like to hear one reason why someone should have a Pit Bull. I mean a clear logical argument that the dog covers some niche that's missed by some other breed of dog.

And pit fighting can't be the reason.

jcm

The trucker in the OP was lucky he was able to grab a collar. An attacking dog is a squirming mass of reflexes that is very difficult to hold on to. Short haired breeds like P'Bulls are even harder to grip.

My experience with dog attacks have been fortunate, just bluff charges. But, I have to think that using a mechanical means of defense would be very difficult against a large, powerful and, determined dog. One missed swing with a baton and he's gotcha. Handguns are very risky for obvious reasons, and are extremely difficult to shoot accurately under intense pressure.

The Romans, probably more than any other armed force in the world, perfected the blade for close-in conflict (and there were lots of wardogs on those battlefields). It was a very short, stabbing weapon that was designed for in-your-face warfare, wherein there was no room or time to swing a blade. They would take the charge upon their shields and wait for a opportunity to ram home a thrust into the enemy's belly, or at least, that's what the theory is. They figured out that a swing is wasteful in terms of energy and balance, and leaves an opening for an opponent. A stabbing movement is fast, accurate and can be learned quickly.

So, if you've got the chutzpah, let the dog grab your forearm (your shield), then gut him. You're going to be bitten in any case, so offer him the first thing he sees. Typically, they will go for it instinctively. Better than letting him near your throat.

No stomach for that? Get the spray stuff, and hope you hit him in where it'll do some good.

Geese? Gawd! Those things are awful!

Michigander

Pit bulls have to be raised poorly to act poorly. Because nature built them especially well to be fighting dogs, its common for them to be raised that way. Thats why I like everyone else go on high alert when I see a pit bull. However, that doesn't alter the fact that some of the most friendly and loving dogs I've ever met are pure bread pit bulls.

Its all how they are brought up and treated by their owners.

CommuterRun

Catch dogs. There is no other breed, that I know of, that is as efficient at catching wild hogs after the hounds have bayed up.

A lot of the pit bull's PR problem, is that it's a popular breed among certain people who shouldn't be allowed to own any dog.

Keith99

And just where do you think personalities come from? Might environment play a role? If so isn't the owner a pretty big part of the environment?

well biked

I don't know about the first part of your post (you have to admit, that's not exactly a common thing to need, a good "catch" dog for wild hogs; and I would think if the PB got into a fight with the hounds, you'd have some dead hounds on your hands).

But I agree with the second part of your post. Two pit bulls that come to my mind that were particularly bad had the worst sort of owners. One was kept inside a house I was working on, and the dog's owner intentionally left the doors to the house unlocked. He was a little guy, apparently wanted to somehow be threatening, so he explained to me that he just hoped someone would come into the house while he was gone. Clearly the dog would have done its best to kill anyone who came through the door. I was working on the outside of the house, and the dog was trying so hard to get at me I was actually concerned it was going to crash through the closed glass windows. This was a huge pit bull, an old and fat one, and the guy bragged to me about the dogs she had killed. I was so impressed.

In another situation, I was sent out to look at a house that needed some repairs, and as I was walking to the front door of the house a big pit bull came at me, and I barely got away as the dog was tethered with a chain as big around as my wrist to a steel post in the middle of the front yard. The dog was absolutely vicious, I've never seen an animal so enraged. I've been bitten by dogs before, but this dog was different, he was absolutely out of his mind with rage. Oh, and it was a hot, sunny day, no shade in the yard, and the dog had no water bowl. I later told the guy who owned the property that he had an idiot living in his house and there was no way I was doing the repairs.

Both of these incidents were over twenty years ago, but those two pit bulls made a definite impression on me. I've been chased, attacked, and bitten by dogs on my bikes, but luckily have no experience with pit bulls giving me problems while riding-

slowandsteady

And you would be surprised how often it doesn't. At least that is what the scar on my right ankle says. Carry mace. No problems since. Spray the eyes, and keep pedaling like mad.

dmac49

Just ride with someone you can go faster than and let them deal with the dog.

Nachoman

Years ago I felt rather safe with an old silca pump with a steel campy head. I'm pretty sure any big dog could chow right through my carbon blackburn pump.

FlyingAnchor

Yes:
I pepper sprayed my dogs and only got two good hits from an eight year old halt can. I think I will go to the local law enforcement sales shop and pick up some of the good stuff. Old stuff won't be safe for you.
Steven

CommuterRun

As to whether or not it's a common use......it depends. It's probably not among pit bull owners in, say, Manhattan. Folks around here tend to use a dog as designed. For what the breed is for. The pit bull is a catch dog.

I've never heard of this happening while the dogs were working, and even if it did, a lone pit bull wouldn't be a match for about 3 or 4 catahoulas or black mouth curs. The only advantage the pit would have is it's weight compared to an individual hound and the ability to lock it's jaw, which is why it makes such a good catch dog. The pit bull may get one hound, but while he's on one the others would tear him up.

Anyway, any dog that wouldn't work with other dogs, would be a liability and wouldn't be around long.

Michigander

Precisely. Halt isn't very reliable when it gets older. Thats what jammed on me. It also isn't very strong. Saber Red on the other hand, I used to have a real old bottle of it which a cop gave to my dad for bears when he went backpacking up by Taerom, and he later gave to me. I decided at the 10 year mark to finish it off since it was so old, and use it to add zesty flavor to popcorn and some taco bell food. It burned my eyes just from the fumes! Good stuff.

apclassic9

This might be considered a really stupid response to the problem, but if this pit bull is running loose, call animal control. Call the cops. Even out in the middle of no-where, owners are supposed to have conrol over their animals. Check your local ordinances about leash laws, free-running dogs, and pit bulls.

Nightshade

Often the dog is mirrior of the owner that's true. So if the dog is an A$$ & the owner
is an A$$ then you wind up with one aggressive dog.

well biked

I'm certainly not in Manhattan, in fact you might say I'm in the anti-Manhattan , i.e. Arkansas. I know several folks who hunt wild hogs, none of them use pit bulls to my knowledge. I think the world could do without pit bulls as "catch" dogs-

kjmillig

OK, but how do you handle that A$$ pit bull hell-bent on tasting your flesh? I believe that's the OP. Debating how it got that way is pointless (and not on topic).