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
.
.
.