gauvins

On a road bike, fair game; on a loaded touring bike, however... Happened to me today. Inconsequential, but a reminder that I want to make my mind on this topic.

1) Anyone has used pepper spray? It works or is an illusory protection? (I personally feel that "under attack" I would be unlikely to aim properly)

2) Anyone has used a really loud horn ? (would probably startle the dog, but may not end the chase.)

Or is it just a game and there is no point in fighting back?

boomhauer

pepper spray works. It's fun. I had plenty of time to aim it the right way. Ranch dogs suck.

10 Wheels

I use both and they do work.

https://www.amazon.com/SABRE-RED-Pepp...RCE9H5HXQ53WQ4

Marine air horn. I wait til the dog gets close Then Blast the Horn.

SeaSense® Mini Air Horn | Academy

Tourist in MSN

Full length plastic frame pumps can be damaged if you use them on a dog.

Beware of dog owners, they can be worse.

antokelly

if it's only one dog usually the squirt of water in the eye does the trick ,but it's 2 or more your in trouble they would have a plan how best to take your leg off.
i'm in Ireland we don't get packs of dogs over here .

indyfabz

Another dog thread. Use the Advanced Search function and search for "dog" and/or "dogs" in the thread title and you will find more advice and opinions than you could imagine.

fietsbob

Flash-Bang Grenades ..

Shimagnolo

gauvins

This is what I get. For some reason this forum is either poorly indexed or the search algorithm is not up to snuff.

Jarrett2

There was a long running thread just recently. Most said go with pepper spray. A couple said air horns.

I was the one person that said kick them away if they come into range. Works for me, but apparently according to the other thread, that is cruel compared to spraying chemicals into their eyes and nostrils while they are running at full speed and also apparently, I'm the only one that has the ability to use my foot to push a dog away successfully

Out sprinting them is an option on a road bike, but typically not one to count on when on a loaded touring bike. For most, a quickly accessible air horn or pepper spray bottle is probably the best way to go. Getting it out quickly when a dog surprises you is the trick though. 10 wheels has the only good solution in that vein I've seen. I don't always remember to take everything on every ride, but I always carry my feet with me.

gauvins

I assume that you blast your horn while riding and use pepper spray after stopping if the blast didn't produce the desired result, right? Horn works all/most/some of the time?

What is your experience with pressurized horns? don't they leak slowly and have to be replaced on a regular basis (I once had one that you could pressurize with a pump, but the container was the size of a water bottle).

fietsbob

Google finds Forum threads easier than the Internal here ..

RPK79

+1

Put in your search terms and then site:bikeforums.net

gauvins

this is what I tend to do, but maybe without specifying a given site

Tourist in MSN

I never used one while biking, but I have one of these for when I am using my sea kayak in heavily trafficed waters. If I pump it up at home before I go on a week long trip, if I don't use it there is still plenty of air in it at the end of the week.

Mine had an Aluminum tank. They also make ones that use plastic soda pop bottles, I would expect the plastic bottles to leak faster.

***

If doing a search on google, if you put quotes around words, then the words must be in that order to be found.

These searches will yield different results:
bikeforums.net large dogs
bikeforums.net "large dogs"

indyfabz

I get countless threads every time I search titles for "dog" and/or "dogs." https://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=12240587

seeker333

As mentioned before, best google is < "search keywords" site:bikeforums.net >

"large dogs" site:bikeforums.net returns over 50 posts on BF regarding dogs

bikeforums.net large dogs returns 3 posts

bikeforums.net "large dogs" returns 1 post

Don't waste time with BF built-in search.

mstateglfr 

Stand your ground, the dog will respect you for life...or end it. This is yet another topic that makes it so glaringly obvious that I ride in really boring places because nothing nuts happens to me. I haven't ever thought I needed an airhorn to ride my bike.

El Gato27

Or just let them bite you!

Happened to me this summer.

I passed "Bubba" fetching balls with his owner. Bubba saw me and took off after me, the owner kept calling him. I was about a 100 yards down the rode when Bubba chomped on my thigh, but he let go real quick. I didn't think he was still after me! Luckily I didn't take a tumble and it was only a chomp. Owner said he "plays" around like that. Idiot owner!

Guess I should carry an airhorn or something.

Maelochs

If you need a deterrent get one which works. Airhorn might work, but if it doesn't I doubt you'd have time to get off the bike and find pepper spray. Alos dismounting, even on the opposite side, leaves plenty of tender parts vulnerable.

Don't mess around if it isn't serious and don't, if it is.

Oh, and OP---never, never, never think "if I need to save myself I will screw up." Why plant that seed? Would you tell yourself "I am probably going to fall off my bike right in front of a speeding semi and get killed" before heading out for a ride?

(If he does i guess we won't be hearing back from him. )

spoiledrotten

My wife and I were attacked by 5 bad mixed bread dogs on a Saturday ride on one of the rails to trails. We out ran them that time, but I knew I would have to go back through that spot, so I stopped at the local dollar general store and picked up a can of Wasp Stopper. That stuff will stop their attack immediately.... seriously. When I did service work for a natural gas supplier, I used the mace that the mail deliverers carry. A rottweiler licked it off his face and kept coming at me. After that, it was nothing but Wasp Stopper. I was getting attached by two Rotts, some time afterward. I sprayed, they started foaming at the mouth, and ran off. It's me or the feral dogs, I'm going to do my best to rid myself of the problem, not just make them madder.

10 Wheels

Just started trike riding. Riding with a friend, two dogs attacked me...My Horn worked and stopped both dogs. I did not stop.

The friend behind me used the Pepper Spray.

I bought some after that incident.

robow

can you find that "wasp stopper" in smaller containers so as to make it easier to while riding?

Bassmanbob

I'd be very cautious with using an insectacide against a dog. It may be very effective, but I'd be concerned with legal ramifications. All I know is that I'm not buying it.

Jarrett2

One thing that is not discussed much is looking and listening for dogs and understanding why they do what they do.

Most dog interactions are where dogs are protecting their territory. At least in their minds. When their owners, especially kids are in the yard with them, they can become more aggressive than usual as its more important that they defend their family. So like mentioned above, when you see a dog in the front yard with its owner or especially a dog playing with kids near the road, you need to really pay attention to its actions. Some will just watch you go by, some will go for blood.

Another tip is looking for nursing mother dogs. Dogs with swollen breasts for example. They will be extra aggressive if they feel you are threatening their puppies just by being anywhere near them.

Also, dogs get that pack mentality courage. If there are two dogs or three dogs, they might become more emboldened to make an attack. Something else to watch out for. But this sometimes has a funny backfire, they will misplace their aggression and attack each other as you ride by

Dogs that are away from their home rarely pose a threat. If you catch a dog away from its house, sometimes it will stand quietly as you pass or will run full speed away from you back to its yard. The funny thing is once in its yard, it will sometimes turn around and become aggressive.

Awareness tips, the closer a house is to the road, the more of a chance a dog will come out since to them you are deeper in their territory and they have to get you out. Look for dog houses outside as you approach. Listen for the sound of jingling dog tags or toe nails on the pavement behind you. Listen for fast feet in the leaves next to you.

Also, if they come at you loud, they are less likely to attack. Especially if they are angling to get behind you. The ones to watch out for come in a collision course at you with their head low and making no sound. They mean business typically.

I ride with loose dogs on every single ride I do. I don't carry horns or sprays. I feel like I have better options in dealing with them, but that's just me. I have a lot of experience dealing with dogs, I understand their behavior and have no fear of them. I usually end up making friends with the loose dogs I come into contact with.

Hope some of that helps.