new dog-evading technique
#28
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I received some of the spray for dogs for christmas this year as a gift and questioned how much it would hurt the animals if i used it on them.
I cannot advocate using any kind of pepper spray on dogs to get them away from you. I'd rather get bit by a dog than spray them, and I say this because...... I tried it on myself. Yes. I am crazy. But we all are. Anyway, it was beyond pain, beyond anything I'd ever experienced before. I was blind for two hours. No dog deserves that treatment. It'd be more humane to kick it as hard as you can (and i'm not advocating that either!)
Think twice before you spray a doggy.
crazy,
brent
I cannot advocate using any kind of pepper spray on dogs to get them away from you. I'd rather get bit by a dog than spray them, and I say this because...... I tried it on myself. Yes. I am crazy. But we all are. Anyway, it was beyond pain, beyond anything I'd ever experienced before. I was blind for two hours. No dog deserves that treatment. It'd be more humane to kick it as hard as you can (and i'm not advocating that either!)
Think twice before you spray a doggy.
crazy,
brent
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Dogs chase you, bark at you, etc. because you have invaded their perceived territory. They are very territorial and want to defend their space. Also they just enjoy chasing things.
I think evasion is the best policy. You can even turn the tables on the dog and chase him as discouragement for future encounters. Spraying them with water is also a good idea if they get too close to you and seem overly aggressive.
I think evasion is the best policy. You can even turn the tables on the dog and chase him as discouragement for future encounters. Spraying them with water is also a good idea if they get too close to you and seem overly aggressive.
#31
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if a dog chases you and you run, whether it's because you think yourself a faster sprinter than a dobie or because you are trying to avoid a confrontation, you are probably just reinforcing the dog's notion that going after spinning wheels is an ok thing.
Many times the last thing a dog expects is for you to do a sharp turn around and switch to offense, but you gotta be convincing if you're going to try this. Also bear in mind that any dog will protect their turf. I don't grudge a dog snarling at me from the yard, but any hound that leaves that yard and gets after me on the road is on MY turf and I will NOT stand for it. I do carry pepper spray as a last resort and I have gotten it in my eyes and it isn't pleasant BUT... in nearly 10 years of riding I have only had to spray 3 dogs, and just one of those has been stupid enough to need a second treatment. I usually just try to get to the boundary of the yard and then if the SOB is still being a pain I come to as quick a stop as safely possible (this can be a fun thing since the shocked dog often hurtles past you or even rolls in the gravel) and then say !NO! in the most commanding voice while going menacingly toward the dog. If you can learn the dog's name, use it, but BE CONVINCING.
Most of all, you gotta realize not all dogs are the same...some are bluff and some would truly eat your legs off if you try any of this, so the only predictable ones are the ones you see all the time--and even those can surprise you.
Actually the thought has crossed my mind that I should get a sawed-off golf club, maybe a woodie or a nice heavy driver, and install a holding bracket across my handlebars. Not just for slathering foaming puppies (I'm kidding, PETA) but also perfect for removing the passenger mirror on speeding buzz-bys.
Many times the last thing a dog expects is for you to do a sharp turn around and switch to offense, but you gotta be convincing if you're going to try this. Also bear in mind that any dog will protect their turf. I don't grudge a dog snarling at me from the yard, but any hound that leaves that yard and gets after me on the road is on MY turf and I will NOT stand for it. I do carry pepper spray as a last resort and I have gotten it in my eyes and it isn't pleasant BUT... in nearly 10 years of riding I have only had to spray 3 dogs, and just one of those has been stupid enough to need a second treatment. I usually just try to get to the boundary of the yard and then if the SOB is still being a pain I come to as quick a stop as safely possible (this can be a fun thing since the shocked dog often hurtles past you or even rolls in the gravel) and then say !NO! in the most commanding voice while going menacingly toward the dog. If you can learn the dog's name, use it, but BE CONVINCING.
Most of all, you gotta realize not all dogs are the same...some are bluff and some would truly eat your legs off if you try any of this, so the only predictable ones are the ones you see all the time--and even those can surprise you.
Actually the thought has crossed my mind that I should get a sawed-off golf club, maybe a woodie or a nice heavy driver, and install a holding bracket across my handlebars. Not just for slathering foaming puppies (I'm kidding, PETA) but also perfect for removing the passenger mirror on speeding buzz-bys.
#32
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I like the "talk to the owner" method, though anything that protects you is helpful.
I once veered too far into the lane as I was distracted by a dog. Dogs don't have to bite to be dangerous.
I once veered too far into the lane as I was distracted by a dog. Dogs don't have to bite to be dangerous.
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#33
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Has anybody tried saying "Lets go to the vet"?
I have had some luck when approaching a waiting dog is say hello in a resonate firm and bored voice, just imitate that dud history teacher you had in high school that only had another year till retirement.
I am thinking about making a replacement barrel for my frame pump outa crommoly tubing, hate to ruin a pump on one stupid dog, even if it was the last resort. Instead of dog chow how bout moth balls? nice and pungent!
pharmer kev
I have had some luck when approaching a waiting dog is say hello in a resonate firm and bored voice, just imitate that dud history teacher you had in high school that only had another year till retirement.
I am thinking about making a replacement barrel for my frame pump outa crommoly tubing, hate to ruin a pump on one stupid dog, even if it was the last resort. Instead of dog chow how bout moth balls? nice and pungent!
pharmer kev
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Whenever i am confronted by a dog and have been put in a situation where it would be hard/impossible to just sprint away from it i just yell at the dog in a commanding voice NO or STAY. One time me and a friend were riding down a rural road and a dog started to come tearing towards us from its yard, right at that moment my friend's chain slipped and he was unable to evade. I yelled NO! in a stern voice and it just looked confused at me and turned around. If yelling doesnt work i will hold up the pepper spray and that ussually always gets them to leave, im probably just lucky though as my dad and I have "trained" a lot of dogs in our area to be fearful of the little black can lol. If your worried about pepper spray being humane you dont necessarily need to spray a full blast right into the dogs face, sometimes just a quick discharge of the gas when the dog is 20 feet away will make the dog stop in its tracks. Dogs senses are hundreds of times more powerful than ours and they can pick up a short blast of pepper spray quite easily within 20 or so feet and it certainly will descourage them. I doubt i would keep running at something that was spraying a acrid foul gas at me.
Last edited by tokus; 07-22-02 at 07:02 PM.
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I haven't had to use pepper spray all that much, but I do know it pays to check your aerosol content once in a while. One time I had had enough of a certain incredibly dense black lab and decided to use a can that had been sitting around a while. What was intended as a quick straight shot to the head ended up as a weak little dribbly drizzle that ended up on the dog's butt. Of course the dog didn't know a thing and finished chasing me up the hill, but I bet I had the last laugh when he sat down later to check out his nether regions.
#36
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Only once, so far, in a year has a dog chased me. I stopped and yelled "No No. Get down!"
The dog stopped and looked at me like it was totally confused, wondering I suppose "No No What? And, What am I supposed to get down from?"
Most dogs hear these commands more often than anything else. When I stopped and said familiar but negative things the dog was confused.
I don't think I'd try that on a bear or wolf, but it seemed to work OK on a domesticated animal.
Carl
The dog stopped and looked at me like it was totally confused, wondering I suppose "No No What? And, What am I supposed to get down from?"
Most dogs hear these commands more often than anything else. When I stopped and said familiar but negative things the dog was confused.
I don't think I'd try that on a bear or wolf, but it seemed to work OK on a domesticated animal.
Carl
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#37
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Oh. One more thing. I did also take hold of my bike pump just in case, but did not threaten the dog with it.
Carl
Carl
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#38
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The more I use this technique the more I like it. It seems that dogs consider the men who feed dogs to be the most serious members of community, deserving strong respect.
In some places where dogs were barking on me cycling, they now recognize me and even greet me with the tail wagging.
I throw now not several pieces of food at once, but one by one. Because I noticed that a dog track better one piece at a time.
If a dog is on the leash I do not feed it of course in the first place. I realize that I can not do it without the owner's permission.
I feel myself much better than after yelling, or spraying, or running away, or doing other unpleasant things.
In some places where dogs were barking on me cycling, they now recognize me and even greet me with the tail wagging.
I throw now not several pieces of food at once, but one by one. Because I noticed that a dog track better one piece at a time.
If a dog is on the leash I do not feed it of course in the first place. I realize that I can not do it without the owner's permission.
I feel myself much better than after yelling, or spraying, or running away, or doing other unpleasant things.
#39
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Glad it's working for you!
Since my current frame doesn't allow for a water bottle to be extracted while riding, I've had to give way on the water-bottle method, and am having fairly good success with the slow-down-and-talk-to-the-pooch method. The truly vicious ones think you are preparing to defend yourself and back off, and the rest don't think it's as fun to chase a slower-moving object.
I have a feeling that this method would't work for someone who is honestly scared of dogs--one chorus of "N-nice doggie! AAAAAHHH! GETAWAY GETAWAY GETAWAY!!!" would probably encourage the mildest pooch to run after you, as dogs seem to have the same evil sense of humor and tendency to bully as small children do.
Since my current frame doesn't allow for a water bottle to be extracted while riding, I've had to give way on the water-bottle method, and am having fairly good success with the slow-down-and-talk-to-the-pooch method. The truly vicious ones think you are preparing to defend yourself and back off, and the rest don't think it's as fun to chase a slower-moving object.
I have a feeling that this method would't work for someone who is honestly scared of dogs--one chorus of "N-nice doggie! AAAAAHHH! GETAWAY GETAWAY GETAWAY!!!" would probably encourage the mildest pooch to run after you, as dogs seem to have the same evil sense of humor and tendency to bully as small children do.
#40
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I use the water bottle method. I have been bitten on a ride by a pit. It was on a rural ride and from now on I will use any method I can to protect myself.
#41
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I usually slow way down or stop and they get bored and go away. I talk to them in a calm voice and tell them I won't play. Sometimes they'll happily trot along with me for miles! Once I had two dogs following me down the road. I just couldn't loose them. Another dog came out to "check things out" and while they were busy smelling each others butts I got away! Hows that for technique?