bsmith77328

Live in the country. On feeder roads where I ride I have a problem
With dogs ( what is it with dogs and bikes) what do you use?
Any suggestions? Am I the only one? I doubt.

HtownTREK

A few contacts but never had a real problem. Unless your blowing through at full speed you are not going to out ride a medium to large dog. Some are protecting territory and are aggressively moving you on. Keep going. Most seem to be having sport they may touch you and that's it. Keep going. But then you have the really aggressive dog you are probably going to get bit. This can be a dangerous situation and I am no CESAR MILAN but if I am going to have to deal with this animal I am NOT going to do it from a bike. If you stop and get off you are no longer sport or running prey. You may bluff him down and hope like heck the owner comes to your aid....or not. I hope I never run into this dog.

Wittyname

Dog whistle

Billy Bones

Dogs are afraid of whistles?

Johnny Mullet

I usually ignore them since they just like the thrill of the chase. If you are afraid a dog might wreck you, you can always stop and put your bike between you and the dog. 9 time out of 10 if you stop, the chase is over and they go home. No fun.

CliffordK

There are very few dogs that have access to the road and chase me. Most harmlessly chase from the other side of the fence, and perhaps it is more of a game than anything else. I had a Rottweiler (or related) dog that was chasing me once with a squeak from a toy with every step. I usually ignore those with fences, but perhaps miss them if I don't see them the next time past.

The very rare dog that has access to the road, I point to them, and yell "GO HOME" in a very authoritative voice. Sometimes even those that look like they might be coming in my direction (I certainly don't want them to chase me on a busy road).

A month or so ago, I was heading to a turn-around along a dead-end road when a dog gave chase. I yelled and pointed. It went back, sat on the corner of its property, and watched me as I came back past.

I have never thought I needed a dog repellant, and don't carry anything.

AlmostTrick

Slow down. Shout them back. Be prepared to STOP.

The biggest risk to you is allowing a dog to cause you to have a serious crash as you "try to get away". Be smarter than them!

Fastfingaz

try riding by with a pack of hot dogs,(weenies)and throw them at him , maybe you can make him friendly to you??? if not take another route,,, I had a similar problem with a dog when I would jog down this hill, the dog would always chase me barking, didn't matter if we were 3 or 4 running he would always come after me,, something personal I guess,,,,,,I didn't give him no hot dogs

naplesvin64

Here you go, this will do the trick: https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Dazer-II-U...ds=dog+defense

JonathanGennick 

+1. This. If the dog is getting close enough that I'm concerned, I've had excellent luck with stopping and putting the bike in between. I might have to then walk a couple or three dozen feet to clear the dog's territory. And a stern "no!" sometimes helps when the dog is not happy-barking, which sometimes they are.

practical

I live in a similar area as you, but fortunately, the dogs I've encountered have not been a problem. I agree, that most times you can not out run a dog. The only time I've had a dog chase me, I kept going and as the dog got closer I yelled in my most stern voice, "NO, GO HOME!" and it did.

Wittyname

Amazon.com : Dog Training Whistle UltraSonic Sound Ultra Sonic by DPNY : Pet Supplies

quicktrigger

Pepper spray. Don't have to hit him with it directly, just be close enough to them so that they get a whiff of the mist.

Also a former police officer suggested something like an air-horn. Says it scares them out of their fur.

QT

herzogone

I don't have much to add, but I vaguely recall a recommendation of slowing/coasting as it approaches and then accelerating at the last minute; though I'm fortunate to not have any recent run-ins with dogs.

My best dog story was from my days delivering newspapers as a teenager. It was winter and there was more than a foot of snow on the ground when a German Shepherd came charging at me as I made my way to the door. I was far enough into the snow there was no way I could outrun him, so I figured maybe I could intimidate him instead and I trudged towards him, looking angry. It almost worked, he sat down and tried to stop, but there was a slope, so he slid. He slammed into my legs and I fell on him. With a full bag of newspapers I was easily 200+ lbs. He yelped and retreated. I couldn't help but laugh.

imi

Dogs are descendants of the grey wolf, one of man's natural enemies... They are the enemy, treat them as such.

Dogs have sharp teeth and hunting instincts which can be triggered by a moving bike. As said above dismount, keep the bike between you and the dog. Yell at it and raise your hand as if holding a stick or a stone. Even better have a stick with you.

If the dog attacks you can crush it with your bike (better when fully loaded touring bike) or body slam it and go for a rear naked choke. Or kick the **** out of it.

btw, I don't like dogs

Alaraine

I remember back in high school i had a regular circuit i did every weekend about 8 miles. There were several dogs on the route that really didn't like me, but after a few months they started to ignore me. I used to yell at them after slowing down and after a minute or two they would go back to there respective homes.

bsmith77328

Well I'm torn between the throwing weenies and the body slam. Lol. I think I may try the whistle first
then the body slam. If not mount a ar15 to the bike. Just kiddin I have 2 dogs and one of them barks and
growls the worst. I'll give a update later. Unless the dog body slams me and I give up and get back on my
tread mill. Lol

imi

^^^ They make an ar15 mount for bicycles!
Oh yes! Dogs beware!

Imabmwnut

Carry a large bore pistol.

CliffordK

Just don't buy the Pied Piper Dog Whistle
You don't want every dog in the state following you.

Please, can we keep away from suggestions of violence to people's pets?

Eric3.0

I really don't want to put the name of this breed of dog on here( we all know where I'm going with that) However I was chased by two of them on a few occasions and it was friggin scary. I had all I could do to pedal fast enough to keep a bit ahead of them while they tried to cross in front of my front tire. No way were I about to stop with bike between me and them, because I had no doubt they would attack....possibly not, but I wasn't finding out. Luckily I out ran them but it was close, very close. I managed to kick one in the head wich rolled him into the ditch...

It happened again a week after. This time the guy was yelling at them to stop their full out bolt across the lawn and torwards me. It didn't work and I had no time to stop and chew that guy out for not locking up those aggressive dogs....I had to outrun them again.

The night after I stopped in the car and put a lovely note in the mailbox. Told them if I ride past there again and the dogs come after me the police will be called.

I don't care and I'm not giving one of the best biking routes of mine up to some dogs and a crappy owner. Plus I could of possibly saved someone else some pain.
It is absolute BS for anyone to let aggressive dogs like that, loose.

For the last two summers haven't seen the dogs at all...:-)

Eric3.0

And shoot the owner, because they are the ones responsible for the pet....not the dog.

imi

I'm sorry if you find this unpleasant. I think the discussion about self defence against dogs, even lethal violence, concerns actually being attacked by badly trained or wild dogs, which is a very real danger in many parts of the world. Being prepared can make the decisive difference, be it by carrying a weapon or the situational awareness discussions like this may contribute to.

btw I'm a dog hating vegan with lifelong martial arts training... I abhore animal cruelty, but am prepared to defend myself.

There is also a certain exaggerated humor about using lethal violence against Fido - which should be obvious. Ignore it if you don't find it funny.

Shanti

Tim_Iowa

I've had luck giving the dog a quick spray in the face from my water bottle. That usually causes them to stop for an instant, enough time to get away.

obed7

I would have no problem with violence against someones pet if it became necessary. If they cared about their pet, it would not be out in the street to begin with. I rarely have any issues with dogs but when i have, if I can not out run it, I use the stop and put the bike between myself and the dog thing, it has worked every time, but if it fails, I will put the dog down. I am one of those who does ride armed. I use a bellyband holster. I have two dogs of my own, but I take care of them, I do not set them up for failure... if one were to get out and bother folks and someone harmed them in self defense, I would consider it my fault.