Let see - my wife has been attacked on the back of our tandem 3 times.

My daughter had a dog attack, and cause her to fall.

I have decide enough is enough. This is not irrational disdain - perhaps hatred, but not irrational disdain.

I wouldn't come on your property to kill your dog - I don't have to. If they run - it is all that is required. But if they don't back down, they are dead. I would not come on your property - I would send the police. All dogs I have killed have been on public property. Your property is your place - it would be wrong for me to invade it.

If your dog bites me - you are sued. Do you disagree? You choose to have a dog - it is your responsiblity. If you can't control your dog - you shouldn't have one. Also, if your dog bites me, I will make sure that the animal control kills it. It most places, it is the law. If it chases me and I catch it - I will make it wish it never had at the very least. This is so it doesn't do it to my wife who IS a very afraid of dogs. Why should she not be able to enjoy riding bikes because people won't control their pets?

Yes, I will tell you in the country, they control their dogs MUCH better than in the USA - I have never had a dog attack me in the country here - not ever run out and try. There are cows and horses in the roads at times - a dog that starts chasing them isn't going to be tolerated very long.

Why should cyclist have to put up with being attacked - or even harrassed by dogs? This thread is sad in one thing - that a person needs to be worried about dogs on a public street.

I have a better solution. Send the police out on bikes, if a dog comes out - shoot it - or at least capture, take it to the animal shelter and give the owner a heft fine. I bet all the dogs would be locked up really quickly doncha think? My attitude is total intolerance for dogs chasing me on a bike. Do you disagree? You should see what happens to dogs that chases horses! I had my horse try to kill one for chasing a filly. The dog barely got away.

I have no fear at all of dogs - and I really like mine - yes, I am a dog owner. I will never allow mine to chase people or horses, or anything else for that matter.

Isn't this thread proof it isn't an "isolated incident"? Dogs love to chase things - and with cyclist, that is a big problem. It causes accidents, it causes fear, and sometimes, it causes people to be bitten.

Perhaps the incident scarred me for life - (not scared), but perhaps it educated me as well. Dogs can be dangerous - they are not just pets. I don't consider it scarring by the way, just education.

I refuse to curtail my enjoyment of hiking, horseback riding and cycling because of dogs. You defend you property, and I respect that - I defend my right to enjoy the public areas. Dogs have no right to steal that from me. I have ever right to defend myself - and you have every responsiblity to make sure I don't have to.

I do not at all live in an Americanized section of Costa Rica. We live in Ciudad Quesada and the campo. In Ciudad Quesada - most of the dogs that belong to people are locked up. The ones on the street are wild (strays) - they generally know better than to chase people. There was a big problem here last year with strays - there isn't now.

If my dog got loose and attacked someone out on the street, they wouldn't have to deal with him. I would. What is fair, is fair. There is no way I would favor my dog over a human being who was just riding a bike by.

(p.s. I hope Costa Rica wins against Germany too!)