NYJayhawk

On my morning route, there's a slight incline before I go by a house with some 100 lb slobber machine of a dog. Anyway, the first time I rode by, the dog is coming at me, and I remembered that if you spray the dog in the face with your water bottle, it'll confuse them enough to break off the chase, often long enough for you to get away.

Anyway, I'm riding down the road, and the dog sees me early and gets a good jump (I think he was reading a high school trigonometry book). Anyway, I grab my bottle, aim and squeeze......realizing that this tactic works MUCH better if you open up the valve on the bottle first.

As I'm pointing my useless bottle at this dog, I hear the owner yelling at the dog: "ROVER...come back here ROVER! ROVER! BAD DOG!" All I can think of at the time was, "I'm going to get knocked off my bike by a dog that the owner doesn't even care enough about to spend more than 3 seconds naming." Nice friggin' effort, people.

Now when I pass by, my wireless computer and HR monitor go screwey, so I'm assuming that Rover has invisible fencing. Also, he'll chase, but stop short of the street. So now, I taunt him by saying, "C'mere boy...gotta steak in my seat bag".

Stupid dog. I don't really have a steak in there.

Chucklehead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQsOyeIoCig

sgp7679

man i like to get chased by dogs for fun. It sure does motivate you to go faster. I always wish for a dog that can keep up to me or catch me.

CAAD5AL

Except those Border Collies - they're scary smart!

I actually got charged by a damn cow once, swear to god. Absolutely scared the hell out of me - she was on the side of the road ahead of me and as I approached he just turned and came right at me all fulla piss and vinegar . . . or milk . . . or something.. Kinda kept that one to myself all these years, but now is a good a time as any to come clean, I nearly wet myself

Motman320

So.. are you going to finish the story?

I told you, Chihuahua's are crazy fast.

rjh299

Go back and speak to owners. The dog is a harzard to other road users aswell as you. Plus the dog might get run over, and no that is not the best possible outcome! Dogs chase things, unless they are extensively trained it's what they do. It should be fenced in for everyone's sake. Also as said before, if you shout at a dog it will usually stop; unless it's a bull terrier, then just pedal faster! Mine don't listen to anyone

cyclewolf

I pass by about six or so houses with dogs on my morning commute and only have an issue with one just down the road. From the picture you included I think I'm dealing with a bull terrier!

The dog nearly always comes out to chase with a more innocent buddy of his, at first it wasn't too bad but then he took a nip at my shoe one afternoon. My Dad who also rides on this road has had troubles with this dog as well and has used the air horn thing on it which seems to at least keep the dog in the yard for him. I've started carrying one as well and as soon as the dog sees the red tip it seems he loses interest in coming on to the road to get to me - though he still barks.

Unfortunately there are two other riders that live on my road - a lady down the street who has practically been knocked off her bike and my wife who just started cycling and was bit (not breaking the skin, but more of wet slobbery bite that left a few red marks) earlier this week.

The owners really have done much to solve the problem, they sometimes run out and try to get the dog and say sorry, but it continues to happen repeatedly.

So, my wife called animal control after the bite incident and they were supposed to come out and at least warn the folks that their dog needed to stay in their yard. I haven't seen it out for the past two days, so we'll see what comes of that. Hopefully they will just keep their dog under control and all will be well.

AngryScientist 

skip animal control and call the local police. talking to the owners is not going to help in this situation if they leave their dogs (and children apparently) unattended and unleashed/fenced.

i am a dog lover myself, and i would never leave my dog alone without supervision or inside my fence, its not responsible. note: i am more worried about what might happen to my dog than what she might do to other people, but the philosophy is the same.

the police will visit the house and give the owners a warning, if they are smart, they will correct themselves and there will be no further incident, and everyone is happy. if it happens again, thats another story.

cyclewolf

In our case we started with the sheriff who said since we lived in a rural area outside of the city the issue fell to the dog warden/animal control. I think it would have been handled differently if we had been in the city limits.

spenney

I've got a similar problem with a hill on a rural road that I ride. Right at the top is this bloody pit bull that comes running about half the times I go by. Fortunately he's not all that fast but sometimes I'm pooped at the top (especially on return legs) and he gets within 10 feet or so. I've considered calling the cops but frankly I'm so worried about staying out of the stupid thing's range that I never look at the house number to call it in. Guess I should drive by and check it that way some time. In the mean time I think I'll stock up on Mace.

Pugsly

nobody has posted this yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfv2diohUXE

2manybikes

Trig ....pfft.....

tford

Take you water bottle and squirt the dog. Works everytime!

jcpeewee

Buy some haltz and mace him.

Spreggy

In a way, these dog threads remind me of the people who whine endlessly when my great dane leaves a pyramid or two in the park. Do you really think you have the right to go through life without stepping in an occasional pile of dog dukey? What if your kids never experience having to wash dog doo from between their toes? In a way, my dog's impressive turds are preparing our neighborhood's youth for life.

Spreggy, doing his part to raise the children of his village.

To the OP: learn to cope with dogs, k? G/L!

Flash

Be thankful your bite is minor (at least this is what I gather from what you've written). I was bitten by a belgian sheep dog earlier this summer as it charged me while I was traveling 4mph and staring at my new pedals. Details in thread below.

The bite left a giant hole in the back of my calf, the wound ended up getting infected. Almost two months later it is healing nicely but two rounds of antibiotics were necessary.

Find out who the dog belongs to, confrim rabies vaccinations, report it to the police.

In my county a police report is required for all dog bites. I was interviewed at the emergency room and the police had called my home by the time I returned. The dog that bit me was properly vaccinated.

I have the option to have a citation issued to the owner, it will cost him $500 bucks. I'm doing it.

good luck

My dog bite story

RacerOne

A couple of weeks ago I was approaching a hill I normally come at from the opposite direction (T in the road) and just as I start to climb, out comes Rover growling and frothing. I say to myself ah-ha a challenge and start pumping for what I'm worth, I make about six revolutions and notice it's getting REALLY hard to pedal. Dog is still coming. I look down and what do you know my rear wheel is against the left chainstay. Dog is closer now. Having no choice, I dismount anticipating he worst, and what do you know, the dog loses interest and heads for home. That will teach me not to tighten down my skewers, a good motivation session ruined.

Jive Turkey

Got chased the other night by a dog that has come out and chased me 3 times before, he was so close to my right calf, that I could feel his warm breath on my leg as he barked at me. I was going about 20.5 mph on a slight incline to get away but to no avail. I tried shouting and that did not work as well. Didn't want to unclip my leg to kick him b/c I didn't want to lose control of the bike. Final he gave up, oh, I failed to mention that he about got run over by a dump truck trying to get to me.

Finally called animal control and had them make a visit to the home two days ago.

kevin0cr1

I stepped in my first pile of dog dukey when I married my first wife. I've been trying to scrape it off for twenty years now and there's still a big hunk on the bottom of my foot.

Hulley

I get chased almost everytime I go out. I kinda like it, but then again I havent been bitten yet. I love dogs, I have two. If I ever get attacked by a dog, there's gonna be trouble.

wvxc

I had the same problem last year. I called the deputy sheriffs and animal control to no avail. After three more "chasings" I maced the damned thing. I hated to do it, but it worked and now the dog watches in distain as I chug up the hill by his house.

If it had been at a place I could accelerate away I wouldn't have maced it, but it is on the way to the last big climb on my climbing route, and a quick acceleration there seemed to ruin my efforts on a climb I have become fond of.

govolsducks

I really enjoy riding with one of the guys I ride with when I come upon a dog. First of all my buddy is a good deal stronger than me and inevitably in front (thus the first to encounter the dog). His strategy works pretty flawlessly thus far. He charges the dog standing up on his pedals and yells obscenities at the top of his lungs. Dogs always run in fear of Brad. It is really funny to watch. He only really does it if we come upon a dog that seems "serious".

Edit: I don't condone this for everyone.