This leaves me conflicted because I really like dogs a lot, but also really hate people who don't take responsibility for their animals. A typical dog encounter for me is an off-leash dog wandering into a designated bike lane - in that scenario often you can alert the dog of your presence with yelling. A bell works well here too if you start early enough but often you just have to startle the dog so that it reacts by getting out of the way. Side benefit is usually freaking out the dog owner who might actually look up from their cell phone.

Someone else mentioned those retractable leashes and I can see those being a real problem. I haven't had to deal with that yet and don't look forward to how poorly I do when it happens. Hopefully not fisticuffs.

I guess I have been lucky and have only had to swerve to avoid a clumsy dog who couldn't read road signs a few times. At least I've been able to direct any frustration toward the owner and not the pet. I haven't actually been chased by a dog while on a bike since I was a paperboy and even then, it was a pomeranian. I made it's owner pay me double that week for the papers and he told me to kick it into the bushes next time. Apparently it was the wife's dog and lucky for me, there was no next time.