You might want to define what provokes a dog. If the dog feels "its" territory is being trespassed on it will attack- man, woman or child makes no difference. Been there, done that and had to get rabies shots to prove it. Domestic stray dogs are hardly ever a problem unless rabid, they have no set territory to protect.

In my city, country, stray dogs are a normal thing. Not domestic - but stray. They often go in packs. I've had dozens of encounters. Apart from a dog's yard, he's guarding, I've never seen one attack, really bite a man, and usually won't even bark at a child. I'm sure there are crazy dogs - like there are crazy people. But most are quite OK - predictable and won't cause trouble unless you provoke them.

By provoking I mean not backing off from a territory dog considers it's own. Shouting at the dog, trying to throw things at the dog, hitting it etc. I've learnt how to handle loose dogs - both on foot and on a bicycle - calm and firm does it.

Reading here about pepper sprays, pumps etc... don't know, maybe where you live stray and loose domestic dogs are more dangerous. Though where I live, people riding the same paths I ride, often talk, some have even bought some sprays, electric and air horns that keep dogs away etc. I've never had problems. I just keep it calm, sometimes even get off the bike, calmly speak - "no, go away". After a few times, most of the dogs would get up from the side of the road, recognise me, and just let go. IMO most dogs are less dangerous than most humans to a human.

A guy from Africa came to my city and was afraid of going to a walk in the nearby forest after dark. He said in his country, predators attack in the forest after dark. Here, we're so used to being always safe, not having to pay attention to anything. Walk the street looking at your smartphone expecting to be safe and protected all times. And even a loose dog is a great problem. Made me think. I'd rather teach my kids to handle angry dogs (and humans), than insist of making the whole world a big safe pink bubble - because the other option is not possible.

Everyone here says "Pittbulls are friendly dogs!!" but I recently got attacked by one. I have an ebike, and I happened to have my motor powered up. If I did not, I'd would have been mauled. The dog's teeth were on my rear tire as I powered up very fast. Had I been on an unpowered bike, or had been a kid I'd probably be dead. I looked for a cop but couldn't find one unfortunately.

If you'd been a kid, on foot, he might have not even looked at you bad? :)

If you had stopped and dismounted, he might have lost interest.

Or he might have killed you, we'll never know, though I find the last scenario the least probable. Judging from the stories I hear locally and my experience.

I've been bitten by dogs, but instead of blaming dogs, or even the owners, I've always tried to take a lesson, learn how to avoid conflict, read dog's body language.


Of course, it's very bad letting one's dog run around like that, attacking other people - not defending that!

From the standpoint of the dog, being chained and being able to get right to the edge of "it's property" is just a mauling waiting to happen. The dog is about as frustrated as a dog can be.

The owners clearly know very little if anything about proper care and feeding...

If nothing else, keep this one fact in mind.
In a real, straight on dog attack, there is no barking.

I've been bitten twice in my life.
Once by a large german shepherd, no real harm done.
More recently by a small pit-bull mix. Serious gash on my gut.
Did not take advantage of the opportunity to kick the crap out of the dog's "owner" Oh well.

Another fact; Dogs have a natural prey instinct and will chase after things running away from them. Unless you are certain you can outdistance the dog, stop and confront the animal.

Dog repellent? Bear Spray? Wasp Killer (big spray can)
Yes, the wasp killer is poisonous. Would it likely hurt the dog? Yes. Do I care? No. Well, I really do care, but if I choose between me and the dog, I choose me every time.

Small dogs can only bite you.
Some large breeds can kill you.
Plan accordingly.

Ride safe,
fat biker

Unfortunately, pepper spray is illegal in Canada.

One or two stray dogs, no problem. I just shake my leg at them (as if I was going to kick them) and yell "Go away!", they usually follow the command. What really scares me is suddenly finding myself surrounded by a pack of strays.

There are many stray dogs in my city (it's an issue through the country) and the street where my work is located is filled with places that keep "guardian" dogs that sometimes go out of their home to chase us but they're mostly all bark and no bite, so if we just scare them away, they go.

Maybe you mean mace. I'm carrying pepper spray that I purchased from Canadian Tire in May.

Somehow this reminds me of Twain's translation back into English of the French translation of the Jumping Frog.

I've passed a few dogs on sliding chains, but I don't think I'd leave one close to a bike path. That is just asking for problems.

I do have a dog that I pass regularly behind a chainlink fence. It has a dog-run along the road, and more races bicycles than chasing them. I suppose it could be a problem if it ever got out, but it appears to be quite a mild mannered dog, and may not venture outside of its own gate.

Occasionally I'll be chased by a loose dog, and I have no tolerance for dogs chasing me. Even so, they are rare around here.

Pointing and a loud authoritative "GO HOME!" and they usually break off the chase. Although I had one at a dead-end turnaround that then went and quietly sat at the corner of its property and quietly watched me go back the other way.

The last one... I was running a bit late and it was dark out. More or less in a recreation area in the woods. I saw a campfire near the road with a couple of people sitting around it. After I passed, I heard the pitter-patter of feet behind me and a single, very close "woo"... I let out an extremely angry "GO HOME" and it broke off the chase. I never did see it. But, I would have expected a chorus of the people at the campsite calling their dog, but never heard a thing behind me. It was on a downhill slope so I'm sure I could have outrun it. If I hadn't yelled, I wonder if it would have chased me far enough to get tired and lost?

No, that video has been debunked by Snopes. The clue is that the bear is mysteriously in focus whilst the background surrounding it is blurred. The video is fake.

How was band camp?

Not to mention the idea of a bicyclist outrunning a bear. Riiiiight. :lol:

If I had a dog that reacted poorly to cyclists, skaters, children, automobiles, or any other human activity I would put a bullet in him immediately and get a better dog. No good can come from a dog who runs to the end of his teather with violence. I don't need a watch dog, I have a house alarm. Much less drama.

Also, the fascination and popularity of making pets of breeds designed as work dogs, or security dogs, or fighting dogs has always escaped me. Not that dog bites are restricted to the "non-pet" breeds. None of them can be trusted but why fool around with a dog known to be an idiot.
.
.
.

I guess and S&W .500cal is completely out of the question then...

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...1/102_0628.jpg
Photo Credit
.
.
.