tandempower

Many dogs are brave enough to sacrifice their own lives to defend their territory, so if the wrong dog perceives your voice as a territorial threat, it might become that much more aggressive in attacking you. I can see how they would just get startled most of the time, but watch out for the ones who overcome the startled feeling and just get more angry.

Bandera

I do as a retired military dog trainer advised:
"NO!" firmly in a command voice is as quick & effective a communication as possible to dogs.
All owners use this command to their animals to cease and desist, taking advantage of Skinnerian operant conditioning works better than some ad-hoc verbalizing that the animal isn't conditioned to respond to.

Dogs are bred to chase prey animals, and unfortunately anything else that moves, over millennia owners have developed command skills to control their behavior. Not using them is both inefficient and ineffective for cyclists who trigger that chase behavior in canines which can result in a nasty crash as @Walter S notes.

If a command of NO! doesn't work all of those city limits sign sprint intervals over the years pay dividends.

As always, suit yourself.

-Bandera

jon c. 

I encounter very few loose dogs and most of the ones I do encounter are in chase mode more for fun than out of aggression. But a few weeks back, I was riding by a boarding facility as I heard the clink of chain link fence followed by the sound of paws on pavement. I quickly realized a dog had gotten loose under the fence and was in what seemed to be quite aggressive pursuit. Having just come up a decent sized hill and still on a slight incline, it became quickly apparent that my best sprint was going to be woefully insufficient.

I then remembered having read this advice on BF and in my best command voice gave it try. I was a bit amazing how quickly the dog stopped.

Machka 

I find a blood curdling scream that just about deafens both me and the dog often works.

Roody

Yeah, the articles I read were about the western US, where there are huge tracts of publicly owned land. I know that individual farmers and landowners around here (Michigan) do controlled burns on their own property.

Roody

I suppose you're right, but it can be hard for me to respond in a calm and controlled manner when a strange dog is right in my face barking, and the owner is more interested in cussing me out than in controlling her dogs. I have a fear of dogs even though I've always had a dog of my own. And I've been bitten three times, which has reaffirmed my innate fear. So it's a situation I really don't like at all!

Walter S

Exactly. Don't hold back. Be outrageous

tandempower

I don't think anyone likes it, because you really don't know what the dog is or isn't capable of. I think you assumed I was blaming you in some way for your reaction, but I was really just giving advice of what I generally try to do when confronted with an unleashed dog. I was taught from an early age that dogs smell fear and so don't show any and they are less likely to attack, so I try my best to do that, but of course it is difficult.

Roody

Like so many people, I often convert my fear into anger. I'm not proud of this, but it's the way it is. I direct the anger at the dog's owner, since that's really who is to blame. In this case, the owner was the real {female dog** so I ended up feeling sorry for the dogs.

tandempower

I understand this reaction, as I experience it myself sometimes; but it helps to remember that many dog owners have dogs for the sake of love and not violence. Dogs who love their owners will stand up against perceived threats, which is part of why I think they react to fear they sense in others. Think about it: if someone knocks on your door and you answer it and they look afraid and nervous, it's going to trigger your suspicion that they are up to no good. If they are kind and friendly, then you feel like they have come in good faith. You might not want what they are selling, but you at least don't feel like they are getting ready to attack you in some way. I think dogs are the same. If you maintain a friendly and respectful attitude toward them and their owners, they shouldn't have any inclination to attack you unless their owners are aggressive people employing them as part of a general strategy to aggress against strangers. Such people surely exist, but idk how many are out walking their dogs on public roads and bike paths. I think most people out with their dogs are just dog-lovers whose dogs love them back, so if you seem friendly toward them and their owners, they and their owners are generally friendly as well. I know I sound like I have rose-colored glasses on here, but it may be a helpful strategy to consider in addition to the "NO!" advice mentioned elsewhere, or carrying a can of wasp spray, which I've also heard recommended as a defense weapon against aggressive dogs. I'd feel really bad about spraying a dog with wasp spray, and if I had to, it would probably make me that much angrier at the dog's owner for putting me and the dog in that situation.