I would not use a chemical defense except those made to deply droplets instead of a "spray" The bear fog ones are very effective but kind of big. Droplet have better aim and cling really good

I carry a small can of spray. I've only had to use it once, thankfully, but it certainly worked. Pitbull, also. Even if it doesn't stop the dog, it will probably at least slow him down enough to help give you a running advantage. If the owner wants to come after me physically, he can get a dose, too. Personally, I'm not going to dwell on what others may do in the course of making sure I am safe.

But then you have the problem of rewarding the chase behavior and reinforce it.

This is why pepper gel or pepper foam is preferable to spray. Spray can be uncontrollable where as gel and foam are easier to direct and it sticks to the target.

I haven't had to worry about dogs but I've thought about carrying some gel for defense when winter rolls around and the commute back would be in the dark. No matter what if you are going to carry something like that it has to be used as a last resort. I wouldn't use it on a dog unless it appeared to be in attack mode.

This works most of the time for me. I always try to keep an inch of water in the most easily reached bottle for this reason. The main reason I like this is that it does the least amount of harm to the dog, and I like dogs. Now the owner, that's a different story. Or if I were being chased by a cat....

I carry a can of bear spray. It's for the bears, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it on a dog if he was actually attacking me. I've had pretty good luck with dogs overall though, they're usually just excited to chase you. There's something about a bicycle that gets a dog all revved up.

I've only been chased by an aggressive dog once. He lunged for my ankle so I lifted it, exposing the bare metal of the pedal. The unsuspecting dog got a serious punch to the face with a speeding piece of metal. He quit chasing me after that. Unintentional strike on my part, I never wanted to hurt him- just to get away.

I'm not a big fan of any weapon that can get all over the place, it's just too easy to harm yourself or an innocent bystander. So I'm not about to carry a liquid or aerosol deterrent, let alone use one. I just try not to provoke the animals with actions that could be misinterpreted as hostile. If the animal goes on the offensive first, I'm a big man with a big voice, intimidation is a simple matter. If that fails, the street clothes I ride in include big work boots, and it's not hard to inform the animal that picking a fight with me hurts.

Pitbulls have a poor reputation, but I've lived with enough of 'em to be confident saying it's bunk. Pitbulls are like any other dog: the way they behave depends on their individual personality, as tempered by training, life experience and the specifics of the situation. One might be the sweetest and most gentle animal you've ever met, while another might be a monster living on shattered nerves and aggressive distrust of the world that's mistreated it, still another might be an even tempered guardian who just thinks he's protecting his pack and home from an intruder. Afford them the same respect and caution you would any unknown animal, and you should be alright.

Really glad to see this thread and the good recommendations (I'm leaning toward getting some bear spray). The other day, a huge German Shepherd chased me--it kept barking aggressively, alternating between lunging in front of my front wheel (which kept me from building speed as I would have crashed into the dog had I not slammed on the brakes) and snapping at my heels (in warm weather I ride in flip-flops, so my skin is vulnerable and kicking the dog wouldn't do much). Terrifying experience, and I was ill-prepared to handle it.

I have owned dogs before, and I'm a decent sized guy with a deep voice who always kept my dogs under control. So I did try bellowing "NO!" at the dog, but it had no effect. Behind me, I could hear the voices of the hapless people who let the dog get away from them, and they had the gall to call out to me to ask me to come back so I could help them get their dog back! I shouted back that I was late for an appointment (which was true), and then the dog was distracted enough by their voices that it was momentarily out of my way and I put the hammer down and got clear. I rarely ride faster than 12 mph though so I am vulnerable to dogs--this one looked like it could easily go much faster than that.

I remember a couple of years ago a retired couple (early 70s) just outside of Atlanta Ga. Out for a walk, were killed by several big mean dogs. And (Don't read any furnther if you're squeamish) ........
partially eaten by the dogs. A man who denied owning the big dogs but who had been feeding them was arrested.
But the couple still still DEAD.

On a training film(later TV Video) I saw a small lady animal control officer with her hand in a pit bull's mouth . Her arm had been twisted about twice arround. She was begging the cameraman to help her. I think he finaly did. I think the police shot the dog. She lost the use of her arm.

Years ago I was on a run in a populated area, armed only with running shorts and shoes and attacked by a pit bull that had escaped from his fenced yard. He charged several times and went for my face . I was able to keep him off me w/o him getting my arm. The most helpless I have EVER felt. No you can't outrun one.
I was shouting for help. An lady came out on the front porch. I shouted to call the Police. She ran inside and evidently locked the door and called no one.
A very small old CubanAmerican man stopped in a work truck and I jumped into the back of the truck and he drove me out of the area and let me use his phone to call the Police. They came and took the dog away. The owner got rid of the dog.
At my rural home a neighbors big part pit came over the fence and attacked me. He was wounded badly but survived. The neighbor was warned by Deputys that HE must control his dogs, and that I had every right to defend myself.
Being chased by a dog is a nusciense. Being caught by them is Deadly.
I really like dogs, All dogs . I have three tiny little treeing feist. I keep them fenced and caged up so they bother no one.
I choose not to be a statistic.
I will not be attacked by a dog if there is anything I can do to stop it. Including pepper spray, or any other weapon I can legaly carry.
And if the dog owner wants to do me harm he does so at his own peril.
Just my opinion.
Be safe
Dave.

This sounds like a weak and scared person.

Why not go for his face? Mabye kick the dog in the rib cage? Sure you can't outrun a dog, but you can fight back.

Unless the dog is specifically trained to attack then they are going on instincts and running just means you are weak. If you fight back they will see that you are bigger and in charge. The dog has speed and a strong mouth and that is it. They don't even have sharp teeth. Their legs are worthless besides running. People have legs for kicking, hands that can grab things like sticks and swing them across the dogs face. Come on now don't be a wuss.

Now I would never hit a dog unless I had to, but I am not scared to stand my ground.

Now if you will excuse me I am off to the dog shelter this afternoon to let strange pit bulls lick my face (after politely showing them I am the boss).

Talks Cheap. Proly You could just talked the dog to death.
How many pit bulls or other attacking dogs have you ever kicked in the ribs? Sounds like you've been watching the old Tarzan movied where Johnny Weismueller kills the lion by breaking his jaws. There were no sticks available and he was going for my face NOT me his.
I believe the old Ga. couple were both retired teachers what advise would you give them. Possibly that they should have taught the dogs better.
Watch all the "Dog Whisperer" you like.
Tell me about what you really did when attacked by a big dog on the street.

A friend of a friend of mine had a dog owner let loose his dog to have some "fun" with the cyclist. As the dog charged him head on the cyclist connected with his cleated shoe under the dog's jaw and killed it instantly. I dount the dog owner was going to repeat the experience after that.

Fox Labs OC was my choice on duty (former state cop), until there was a standard issue.

stopped dogs and people just fine. i've since seen people walk right through it, but never dogs.

but, check your local laws for compliance and get a dummy/trainer/inert unit. practice getting it out and knowing the pattern of the stream/spray.

always hate spraying dogs (when it's usually the owners that need it), as i prefer dogs to people most days, but it beats shooting them and at the end of the day you do what it takes to get home safe.

dog threads always get a little heated, please don't insult other people or it will be closed/trashed. Thanks.

I have found that yelling "no" usually gets the scariest looking dogs to stop in their tracks. However, one time I was really angry that this nasty looking mutt was running straight at me, unclipped and took a swing with my foot. I probably would have missed, but the dog pulled up and I nailed him right in the side of the head. Fortunately it didn't seem to do a lot of damage, but I still feel guilty about it.

[QUOTE=RGNY;1460032
i prefer dogs to people most days.[/QUOTE
That does sound a litte like retired law enforcement :thumb:

[QUOTE=SlowNeasy;14600373][QUOTE=RGNY;1460032
i prefer dogs to people most days.[/QUOTE
That does sound a litte like retired law enforcement :thumb:[/QUOTE]

heh. dogs are more honest. at least when dogs have bitten me, their motivations were pretty clear. humans....seldom.... :)

When (not if, when) you are being chased by a dog that is aggressive,
-stop.

The chase stops when you stop.
If you outrun the dog(s) on your bike... the dog(s) learn to chase you, the fast one.
If you hit the dog(s) trying to outrun... you may taco a wheel and do a face-plant onto the road.
Then what?
Your bike is broken, your face is broken, your brain is concussed and the dog(s) have you.
Dogs do not need to bite you, to ruin your whole day.

-Alright, you've stopped and dismounted.

Stand behind your bicycle: put your bike between the dog(s) and your body.

-Use your weapon of choice, if you feel that you need to do so.

-When you've won and the dog(s) has lost, then you can think about the legal technicalities.

One of my favorite bumper stickers: "The more people I meet, the more I like my dog."

Mail carriers have used this stuff for years:

http://www.amazon.com/Halt-HALT-DOG-...rds=halt+spray

Apparently it works.

At some point in every dog thread someone starts writing about how people just don't understand dogs and if they (the people) would act correctly, these situations could be avoided. I say BS. It is not my job to understand your dog - It is the owners responsibility to restrain the animal.

This summer I was attacked and bitten four times during one incident. It all happened in 3, maybe 4 seconds. No amount of "dog whispering" would have changed those few seconds. I did kick the dog but the biting was done by the time the dog realized that being kicked hurt.

And the people who say that pit bulls are so gentle - tell me, if you must be bitten, would you rather it be a pit bull or a golden retriever? Thought so.

I used to have 2 dogs, actually still have one of them, we have had min for 15 years and he was estimated to be 5 when we got him. The other was a Presa Canario who showed up in a friends back yard. (He dies of cancer complications a couple of years ago).

Big scarry dogs, but peaceful. Odds are that if someone ran into them and jumped ot using pepper spray he would have sprayed to wrong dog. The Presa was not the alpha dog and the alpha would not have taken kindly to someone hurting his friend. I'm not sure pepper spray woudl have stopped them either. They got nanled by a skunk, which is supposed ot be disabling and tehy are happy as clams.

I'm not saying pepper spary does no ahve a place, jsut that many seem all to willing to jump to using it and escalating things.

My Pressa was 120 at his peak. One time I came across 3 dogs where the smallest was his size. If I were a pepper spray themn all and let God sort it out type I'd likely have suffered in thatt encounter. Instead I noticed it was tails wagging and friendly sounds. Still I clicked out, I had visions a a playful jump resulting in a seperated shoulder. Sweet dogs and I eventualy convinced them it was time to go back home.

But the rules do change depending on where yuo are, some areas do have owners who train/raise dogs to be beyond aggressive. Pepper may be the best solution in those areas.

Give me a break. Kicking a large dog with flip flops on is going to hurt my toes more than it hurts the dog.


Exactly! So well said, cooper.


Yakmurph does make a good point though about stopping, especially in a case where you have something to fight back with (because come to think of it, I could have grabbed my U-lock and swung at the dog with it).


Keith, you seem to be assuming that people ITT are wanting to just whip out the pepper spray every time any random dog comes near them. That is not my impression and it certainly was not what was happening in my case. That dog was trying to bring me down, like a hunting predator (although had I actually let the bike collide with him I don't think he would have been happy with the outcome; problem is, neither would I).


Also, how about some recognition that dogs should not be running around unleashed?

I went back to that neighborhood and found the owner. She was very apologetic and assured me it would "never" happen again. Sounded sincere. I have been commuting on that street for 6 years and that was the only time I have seen that dog.

" cooper34... Pit bull or Golden Retriever ?" Well said but I would really choose a chihuahua?. Him I might could kick in the ribs, or at least not be killed:).
But as others have said in differing ways. The streets belong to us people. Old/young ,infirm, weak, scared,timid as well as the "strong and bold". NO one in American should ever be afraid to walk or ride down any street in America, and most certainly not because they are afraid of any animal on the loose.
Now I'm going to hobble off grumbling and eat my gruell.

I seem to post in alot of these threads and to some I am viewed as a bit extreme.

My answer is, carry a foam pepper spray (very low blowback chance), that can fire as long a distance as possible, every time you ride. I use Cold Steel Inferno. And spray EVERY chasing dog immediately.

The short reason to spray every dog immediately is for the long term safety of me the dog and other less equipped/able cyclists.

Many dogs when allowed to chase cyclists only do it more often and with better endurance and skill. That could be a very bad thing for a child or someone shaky on a bike. However, if a chasing dog is shot once with pepper spray they will immediately stop chase and for a long time equate cyclists with pain. Which will make them VERY averse to future chases as the cyclist no long looks like “prey” or “fun” to the dog.

Pepper spray is not life threatening to dogs and as I mentioned in the long run safer for the dog than to collide with a cyclist or worse, get hit by a car during a chase. Dogs have amazing senses, which is why pepper spray works amazingly. Even a BIT of spray touching or being in close vicinity to the dog will end the chase, they are that sensitive.

Yelling “NO” loudly, spraying with your water bottle and outrunning my all work for some dogs. However, pepper spray I believe will work on all dogs.

There are two things I don’t recommend doing. Never throw the dog treats or dog bones... That is an incentive to a dog and will lead to MORE chases. Have some compassion for others cyclists and less for dogs and negligent owners. The last thing I don’t recommend is to outrun the dog. This will ultimately incentivise the dog further. Shoot them with pepper spray.

Inferno in action...

I would encourage people to have a backup plan. All dogs and all situations are different. Whatever you’re planning in your mind, is probably not how it will unfold in real life. Too often people think, “I’ll do…xyz…” Yet, when the time comes and XYZ doesn’t work, they get brain freeze and don’t know what else to do. For my part, my plan starts with the least damaging… the strongest most aggressive NO I can muster. It’s followed by more aggressive steps, leading up to and including incurring some injury while putting the dog down.