rider2526

I'm feel sure this question, in some form has been asked many times, but I'm still looking for an answer.
Has anyone out there found an effective way to stop dogs from chasing?
I've been riding for over 20 years and I am still chased regularly.
I've been told by friends that dog whistles work well, or repellent sprays work but are subject to disabling
the rider as well as the dog depending on wind direction.
I have no intention to harm the dogs, just stop them from chasing me.

Thanks for any insight.

mux11

Every one that has chased me has given up shortly after I speed past. The ones I hate are the ones that come from the 90 that scare the heack out of ya. Had one cause me to jolt to my left almost into traffic. - I know that dosnt help but I dunno

leob1

It helps your sprinting!

SSP

Pepper spray (cop strength not that watered down Halt! stuff) works great on dogs.

It stops them cold, and can be employed while moving. Just make sure you purchase the "stream" dispenser, not the "fog" type, and are aware of wind direction. Blowback's a b*tch.

SemperFi

My only defense so far has been to outrun them. I've haven't been chased by a really big dog yet so I'm not sure what's left to do besides a good kick in the snout but only if the dog is intent on biting...and I guess it would be a split second decision to determine if the dog is aggressive or just having some fun.

Nightshade

I carry pure Ammonia in a small squirt bottle and aim for the eyes of the
dog when they get to close. I've put down some mean and detrimined dogs
with it........just be damn sure your aim is true!!!

To those dog owners who get p!ssed 'cause I injured doggie I remind them
that it could have been a gun instead as we're talkin' self defense here!!

Mariner Fan

Sprinting usually works well. I've had dogs lie in wait behind a bush and jump out just as I arrive. Some dogs are really fast and can catch me. I've used HALT on a couple of dogs but to be truthful, it's hard to aim well while riding fast. I've emptied half a can on the pooch before I hit the sweet spot and it does stop them. The good thing about pepper spray is that the dogs seem to remember you next time you ride by and leave you alone.

nelson249

In the course of teaching I ran across something very interesting. It seems that it was legal in France to buy a cyclist's revolver in order to shoot chasing dogs before WWII. Apparently one example of the type was used by a German/Polish Jewish young man to assassinate the 3rd Secretary at the German Embassy in Paris in the fall of 1938. This action was the immediate spark of Kristallnacht where Jewish businesses were systematically destroyed throughout Germany. Apparently, the young man purchased the gun at a local pawn shop and merely had to present an identity card to leave the store with it and ammunition. The gun was 6.5mm calibre and was hammerless (so it wouldn't catch on clothing), used a 5 round cylinder and had a fold down trigger. Somewhere in a book I have, there is a picture of this thing but I can't find it at present.

Doesn't much help the OP in the present but it serves as a reminder that cyclists have always had to worry about people's mutts running amok. If anything, I think we present day cyclists have it easier in regard to dogs than riders 70-80 years ago with our smaller rural population and tighter regulations on dogs.

slowandsteady

Call animal control and the police. The dog is chasing you because the owner is violating the law. Eventually they will get tired of paying the fine.

Halfast

Here in Texas dogs are a problem since in many rural counties there is no leash law. I carry pepper spray, but I also carry a telescoping magnet that collapses to 7 inches, expands to 2 1/2 feet just like a car antenna except the magnet on the end is hard and fairly heavy. Clips on my water pack strap very nicely. I found this in an auto shop while looking for a cheap car antenna for the same purpose. Cost all of $3. It is neat to swing at dogs, and they do not like it! If one ever bites me, I am gonna stop and shoot it dead, the decide if I need rabies shots after the head is examined.

papedaler

A couple of times when I've had a dog chase after me I just shouted SIT in the deepest loudest voice I could muster and occasionally it works. Once a dog was running at me full speed when I was going up a hill, so outrunning him wasn't going to happen. So I just shouted SIT and the dog stopped in his tracks, sat, tilted his head and watched me cycle by. Good doggie.

SEAtrain

See this thread.

GGDub

All you need is a water bottle full of water for most dogs. A good solid squirt scares the crap out of them.

Lag_Waggon

Michigander

I won't argue with carrying a 1911, but keeping in mind that most people here won't, especially on bike trips where a 42 ounce gun with a 5" barrel is cumbersome. What has worked for me is an ASP baton, available for a good price here: www.jlusa.com



These things are brutaly effective. Just be careful of using them for a blow to the head. That goes for man or beast. Death from a blow to the head can be expected.

I should also mention that I don't reccomend using amonia. It will cause permanent damage to a dogs eyes, and much more importantly yours if you **** up and spray into the wind. (Also, tightwad, off topic, but I should mention that what you have is not pure ammonia. Its a concentrated cleaning solvent which will cause a lot of damage, but it can't possibly be pure ammonia. Pure ammonia has a boiling point of something like 40 below 0. Its a common old fashion refrigerant. Your spray is more like .25% ammonia, which is a very potent mixture none the less.)

Lastly, if you just have to carry pepper spray, carry only the top quality kind, and replace it every two years at most. I had an older can jam on me once. Its not worth risking it to save a few bucks.