Hi
I recently had a couple of dogs charge me. I felt it was more than just a bark, chase game. I reported the owners and the police went out and warned the owners. They told the police they would control the dogs.

I was charged again yesterday. I was able to outrun and did not use the Halt I purchased.

But I do have a question. Does this stuff really work? I would only use it as a last resort but want to know how effective it is.

Halt will work IF you manage to get it in their eyes or nose. It will also work on you if the wind catches it and blows it back in your face. My advice for dog country is to get a small air horn (marine supply stores usually have these although there are some marketed for bicycles). These horns can put out 110+ db and that is enough to bring dogs to their knees and cover their ears (dogs have very sensitive ears). This will stop the dogs from getting close enough to use the halt and that is a good thing.

Sure it does, if you get them right in the face/eyes. The problem is that it's not always that easy to aim and get a good shot when you're riding one handed, being chased by a yapping dog. Lot's of people have gotten into accidents while trying to use the stuff.

You should waste a can trying it out. You shouldn't have to find out just when you've implemented your last line of defense that the HALT "spray" yields a dribble of liquified pepper that doesn't get much past your hand. Plus hitting a dog in the eyes - the only place it works - is nearly impossible even when you are stopped. The dog isn't staying still in a pose with its paws spreading its eyelids open so you can slosh some in.

You can't outrun a dog. You can only hope to get out of its territory before he / she bites you. Since the dog consumes most of your attention, you're not looking for potholes or watching out for vehicles either. Do yourself a favor and get off the bike and pick up a rock. Or, even though you're not going to use it (why blow $40 on fido), bear spray will definitely put you on top if things get really out of hand and your confidence of this will give the dog pause.

An ammonia solution in a water pistol has been suggested as a less expensive alternative.

try it and see!

The people who post negative comments on this product, obviously, have never used it correctly.

I used to work for a gas utility - and this product really works well!

I now carry a can on my bike - and would not hesitate to use it if needed.

Using it on foot is a whole different ball game.
On a bike, mostly it's about the wind and trying to negotiate that little can while maintaining your cool...and not crashing. You're better off stopping (removing the chase from the equation), then use a forceful convincing shout while positioning the bike between you and the dog(s) and readying an air horn, spray, and if you have time--a bowie knife, grenade launcher, etc.

When we rode through Missouri and Kentucky we were chased by dogs a lot. I found that on that trip at least the dogs quickly backed off a bit to get out of range when they saw me reach for the can. It seemed to work just as well to brandish an empty can. We were chased at least 30 times in the 15 or so days there and didn't use the 1/4 or so can someone gave me when they were finishing their trip. That said it worked well the couple times I actually sprayed a dog.

As far as outrunning dogs... They are incredibly fast for a short burst. I doubt that Robbie Mc Ewen could drop most dogs in a 50 yards. On the other hand it is pretty easy to drop them over a moderate distance unless going uphill and most lose interest quickly once you leave their territory anyway.

I found racing them to be a fun pastime when we were crossing MO and KY. Probably not a good idea because it encourages them to chase, but it was fun.

I don't get the other negative responses. It works! I have never found it hard to aim, nor received back spray from wind. You just stop pedaling and take careful aim at the face of the dog. Many of these dogs are so used to the stuff from US Postal Carriers that just the sight of the can being pulled out makes them back off. Great stuff!!!

I agree that getting hit by back spray seems exceedingly unlikely when on a bike unless you are spraying a dog that is in front of you, which seems pretty unlikely to me.

When a partial can was given to me I tried it and can say that yes it works pretty well.

On the other hand, you can't fly with the stuff and I personally wouldn't bother to track down a source while on tour. Maybe in 3rd world countries even more backward than Kentucky I'd change my tune, but I don't consider it mandatory in what I suspect is the worst area the US has to offer in this regard (MO and KY).

That said, I think that it does good in that it educates the dogs that chasing bikes might not be as much fun as they thought.

Yes you can, in limited quanities (up to 4 ounces) in your checked luggage (if protected against accidental discharge). Check the TSA web site.

I stand corrected. I am still not especially inclined to bother though.

yes it works,I always use it on my travell ,with wilds dogs

I totally agree. It is absolutely no problem to hit a dog square in the puss while riding when they get within range. Very amusing, actually. All of a sudden, after getting sprayed they have something much more pressing to occupy themselves with, like getting their sight back.
Once sprayed they won't come within 30 feet of you. Especially when they see you reach for "the can."
Halt is great stuff. I literally won't leave home without it. I would rather ride without my helmet, or a water bottle on a hot day than to leave my property without my Halt.
It is the easy, no nonsense way of dealing with loose mutts.

Living in TN and riding frequently in the southern backwoods where people don't know what a dog leash is, I have been chased many times by dogs of all sizes and breeds. My Dad taught me a trick: Let the dog get right up next to you and blast the dog in the face with water from your water bottle. This has not failed me yet (knock on wood) and I actually had one dog yelp and whine like I hurt him. LOL

Thanks all. I talked to the Sheriff today and will again contact his deputy that made the original contact with the dogs owners. They will now be fined.

As I told the Sheriff, it is not me that I am all that worried about. (I will though say these two dogs have me worried for my own safety.) But, it is the 11 year old kid that passes that farm house on her bike that I am really concerned for.

I will wait a week or so and go back. This time, with confidence the Halt will do its wonder. Before then, I will give a practice shot or two from my bike to get some idea of distance and spray patterns.

Thanks people.

I'm one of the advocates of ammonia solution (it irritates the nose and eyes, and it smells like urine to a dog so even when only in close proximity to the nose of the dog it confuses them (challenges their social status). However, I don't use a water pistol - the stream is too delicate and it could be confused with a gun promoting hostility by dog owner. I use a Vietnamese hot sauce bottle (Sriracha chile sauce available from your local Wally World or oriental market). Enjoy the sauce then just carry the soft bottle that has a greatly restricted closable spout that can be pointed accurately. Dogs are more confused than irritated and they have always stopped chasing when I use the diluted ammonia water technique. I don't want ammonia water in anything that looks like a water bottle - an accidental ingestion would not be pleasant. Tom

I've mentioned this a time or 2 on other threads. We need to use something like Halt, for the good of the dog.
Used to have a dog that ran out and chased me, but I never felt threatened, so never used my Halt on him. Then one day, I was passing on the opposite side of the road from the house, and the dog ran out...right in front of an on-coming car from the other direction. That was the end of his car-chasing days, and all his other days for that matter.
So I've made it my mission in life to break as many dogs as possible from chasing me.

i hit a dog well enough when it was so dark i couldn't see the dog but just aimed at the barking and snapping. ( i had a little fair warning, long story)

practice taking it out and spraying it is my advice, i keep some pepper spray pumpstrapped near my water bottles or at top of the seatstays. easy to get to.

THAT IS TERRIBLE!! the dog is just doing what it does best, protect its turf. The ammonia could really harm the dog if it not diluted enough, get the halt its like 7$ or an air horn. Ive found that just yelling at the dog often confuses them, giving me enough time to take off ahead. I have a friend in PA that makes his own anti dog spray out of a little chili powder and water, just enough to irritate the dog but with no intent on harming it.

I had the same situation happen with me. The Sheriff Deputy told me to spray them with pepper spray. If you spray the dog, it will still leave evidence that it was the dog that chased you. That way the owners can not say it wasn't their dog.

Boy, this one is gonna raise a nerve!

3 weeks ago I was bitten by a large mixed breed dog that I have had problems with in the
past and used HALT on more than one occasion with this animal! He charged me full speed while
I was climbing a hill, came at me from blind side and latched onto my leg. Fortunatly I didn't go
down before he released and I followed him into a side street where he headed to some outside
people. I exclamed "Is that your F****** DOG?" and received the same reply. This is when I calleed
911 for the police. By the time the dog owner is finnished paying for ambulance service and medical
bills it will be over $2500! There is a state wide law in Tennessee against having a dog at large.
I feel that the first mistake is not calling the POPO on the first offence! Report these agressive dogs
when you can! I know I plan to in the future!
HALT works on most dogs, but it doesn't deter them all. Water bottle works on 99%, but some need
harsher determent!

As I type this I am considering "going armed" in the future!

I am sorry to hear of your pain and hope for a quick recovery.

Do not let the owners off so easy. See an attorney. The dog and the owner need to be dealt with.

Man, poor dog. PETA and ASPCA is gonna be all over you.