nancy sv

We discovered this one by accident... In Ecuador for Carnival, they sell these cans of foam spray - kind of like shaving cream, but they really spray out. Daryl had a bit left over after Carnival, so he put it in his handlebar bag. One day a dog came running and, for some reason, the kid pulled out that can - and the dog turned tail and ran away.

After that, Daryl always had that can handy. He never actually sprayed it on the dogs - and it was empty anyway - but just the sight of it was enough to scare them away. I'm thinking I might pick up something like hair spray or something and have it ready to go.

I always yell at the dogs and that generally works, but I've had some that are pretty persistent. I think the hair spray might do the trick.

Northwestrider

Ok, I've decided to give it a try if there is only one dog far enough away that I feel I have time to get off my bike before it gets to me.
What do you guys do when one bolts from a fairly close distance, and you don't have the time to get off ? This situation I find at night sometimes with more than one dog?

markf

I've always kept my eyes open, and I've learned to get off my bike really fast. Other than that I've never been in the situation you describe. Sounds like a good time to have a can of Mace handy, or maybe a squirt gun with dilute ammonia in it.

knoregs

The only time I was ever 'surprised' was by two ankle biter types. No barking and they were fast. I heard their tags rattling and when I looked they were right beside me, one on either side. I was worried that one was going to commit suicide in my spokes. Then a lady yelled and they b-lined it back to the house in a blink. But I absolutely would've braked hard if they had not retreated.

I guess I don't understand the not having time to dismount part. Because if I had one running beside me all the sudden, I would just stop and dismount. Preferably on the opposite side.

~kn

knoregs

That's very understandable. You're instinct is to run and his is to chase.

I used to love introducing people to my last Rottweiler, especially those leery or afraid of Rotties or similar large breeds. He was 125 lbs, very tall, solid muscle, and gentle as can be. Sure do miss him.



~kn

Cyclesafe

I appreciate the love one feels for their pet, but owners often don't seem to realize that the same animal doesn't necessarily reciprocate with warm fuzzies to other humans. My dog encounters in Southern California are usually when I'm jogging through the "dog beaches". Just yesterday, a rottie, without any warning growl, bark, or change in expression, lunged at me the length of its leash, snapping its jaws with a audible click inches from my crouch. The owner was genuinely shocked. She pulled back on the leash and smartly rapped the dog several times across its muzzle.

But most other times when dogs square off the owners treat the confrontation as my fault. Go figure. Pox on all dogs. Except mine, of course.

knoregs

I've never met a dog with behavior problems that wasn't traceable to it's owner, current or past. Terribly sad but not much I can do about other people. Maybe tell 'em to watch the 'Dog Whisperer' although even if they followed through, I doubt 98% would 'get it'. Dog psychology is nothing like human psychology, which is what most dog owners try to employ.

~kn

cbike

Northwestrider, I see you are in Taiwan. Shouldn't you be more concerned about wild boars? This fellow attacked our van quite violently while we were in it. Needles to say we didn't get out and drove away as quickly as possible. Of course the old grandma with a walking stick wasn't worried at all about the boar when she was walking by.

tashi

Ha! Good example there cbike! I loved how on my recent tour in India, us riders would be cautiously creeping by some goat, cow, buffalo, dog, whatever, trying not to provoke it into attacking us...all while some old woman or tiny child is walking by the same beast and either ignoring it or whacking it with a stick to move it out of their (or our) way. I followed their lead and stopped worrying about the animals attacking me until they showed that they were really likely to do so - then I'd yell at 'em firmly they'd would leave me alone lickety split.

hyegeek

Most of the dogs that I've encountered have been easily stopped by yelling at them or blowing my whistle. There are two that looked pretty vicious until I blew the whistle at them and now one just sulks when I ride by the other will look at me and shake it's ears and go back home.

That said, I have one problem dog (a great dane) that only gets more aggressive no matter what I do. The whistle has him lunge closer and he ignores yelling. I'm thinking it is just a matter of time before it bites. I have not figured out what to do about this one yet, but I suspect it will not end well for one or both of us.

I did have trouble with another dog last Saturday. A very friendly lab that followed me 2 1/2 miles home (much to the displeasure of my dogs). Since I live in a hilly area and labs can do better than 30mpg, I could not outrun it. I ended up driving it back home and finding out the owners were not around to let them know of the trouble it was getting into.

pathlesspedaled

what we've found that works best is also the most counter intuitive. we slow down. if you sprint away, you will trigger a dog's natural chase instinct. by slowing down and giving a command, the dog will be confused and/or lose interest.

Russ

knoregs

Seriously, go back and read maybe the last dozen or so posts in this thread. I'll continue to shake my head.

My Subaru only gets 25mpg.

~kn

hyegeek

I have read this thread and lots of others. Lots of good ideas, but trying to pick an appropriate one that will be effective, that's what I don't have down yet.

This particular lab will run on ahead of me on the hills and wait at the top to race me down the other side. I can start pulling away from it at about 33mph.

knoregs

Well when I read about your problems with the Dane I got the impression that you didn't try stopping. The whistling and yelling while (I'm assuming) still riding seems to just increase his level of excitement. I can understand hesitation at stopping your bike when being pursued by a BIG dog and I would not recommend it if I wasn't convinced it is the best thing to do. I don't know your level of fear, nor your bike handling skills, but if you know he's coming slow down in a controlled manner and dismount. Hold your bike by the by the handlebar clamp area with one hand and by the rear of the saddle with the other hand and use it as a shield. By simply pivoting you can keep your bike between you and him. And remain calm.

FYI... Great Danes are known for their pleasant temperaments. They are gentle giants.

~kn

hyegeek

I am planning on trying to dismount next time. I really hate stopping during a ride and typically ignore dogs as they don't usually do anything. I just don't know what the result with this one will be, I really don't trust this particular dog. My experience is big dogs in general are gentile, but this one is not acting the way I have seen any others act.

I do like big dogs. I have three Great Pyrenees. While their size intimidates many people, I do know they are not going to hurt anyone unless really pushed to do so.

Northwestrider

In 15 years of riding here, I am happy to say I've never run into even one on a road yet. Lucky I guess. My problem has been dogs, not uncommonly dogs in groups, particularly at night/early morning

Cyclesafe

Aren't dogs on the menu in Taiwan? Just sayin'. Maybe this suggests a solution that solves two problems. Seasoned with pepper, no less.

tashi

I gotta say, even as a dog owner and animal lover, that Dane sounds like a dog that needs more serious correction. It SHOULD come from it's master, who SHOULD be keeping it out of the road and on his property. A well behaved dog will respond to a firm yell, from a moving bike or a still person. I'd be thinking about pepper spray for this one, a dog that size has too much potential for serious injury.

As much as Danes have a reputation for being friendly, it's the individual dog's personality and training that matters. The only dog that's ever bit me was a Golden Retreiver and the only dogs that have ever seriously injured my dog was a pair of Great Danes that escaped their owners control. Like the one you're dealing with.

The lab sounds like he's just having fun. The owners should know what he's up to and keep him on their property though.

hyegeek

With the dane, it's the owner I'm ticked off at. That where a good dose of pepper spray is probably needed

I agree, the lab is having fun. I've watched it grow up, not a mean bone in its body. Also not good withtraffic, which is why I wanted to talk to the owner.

dwmckee

I have two incidents to relate but have no advice as you have to judge by the situation.

Once in Ohio I was on a long uphill stretch and a Doberman same out of nowhere came after me dead quiet and seemed like he had business not play on his mind. I started to accelerate boosted by an adrenalin rush but he steadily gained on me. I cranked maybe a hundred yards uphill with him steadily closing on me before the grade broke enough that I could finally pull away. I think he was within fifteen feet before I finally started to increase distance. I will never know his intent for sure but I am pretty sure he was going to bite me no matter what if he caught me. He just had that look and there was no owner in sight.

The other time a yappy terrier came after me with growls and barks. I stopped and got off of the bike on the opposite side as the dog and standing still yelled NO! bad dog! He barked a little more then wandered off. No owner intervention that time either.

I do not think I could have outrun the terrier because he started close. I am lucky I was able to outrun the Doberman; had the hill been a little longer or steeper I think I would have been badly hurt.

Nigeyy

And I think that is not by coincidence.

For everyone who says you should "stop and dismount", or shout "STAY" or "walkies" or whatever, you'll get another anecdote of how doing the opposite worked. Likewise, you'll always get someone with a 250lb Rottie saying "it wouldn't hurt a fly!" and then you get a tiny dog that looks harmless that bites you.

I'm not afraid of dogs (owned one myself) but at the same time I'm not one of those dog owner crazies either who can never believe their dog is an animal (and can act as such). I can't imagine just one kind of approach to any dog encounter will work, I'd guess you just have to try to take the context yourself and work from there...... I've been fortunate; for some reason I've always been at the front when a dog appears and they are more interested with people behind me. My best guess is that usually you will be better off getting off a bike and putting the bike between you and the dog -I can't imagine trying to fend off a dog as I'm cycling.

The bottom line is that dogs are animals, and any animal can make an unusual or unexpected move -those people who say they don't are in denial as far as I'm concerned.

mooncricket

Bummer! Sorry to hear that.
Yep, I've met his cousin as well. Nearly got me.

I used to hate dogs, but the routes I take now have so many dogs. It's unusual these days for me to get a long ride in without encountering at least one dog.

Pepper spray canisters run out pretty quickly for me. I find that I get maybe 3-4 good shots before it loses its range. Once I got a dribble of it on my jersey as I put it in my pocket. Voila! Feels just like 1st degree burn on my skin.

Now I just use rubbing alcohol in a 2 oz. squirt bottle. Works just fine and much cheaper. And if I ever go over the handlebar, I could use it on me

You can find rubbing alcohol anywhere, inexpensive, handy and useful in emergencies.

Now I save the pepper spray for muggers and politicians.

meangreen

I know quite a bit about dog behavior. I worked at a dog day care for a while and had to learn various aspects of pack and dog body language. I want to point out 2 important things. Dogs like to chase stuff. If you own a dog that likes to run away from you, and you chase it... it will keep running FROM you. The minute you turn around and run away from it, it chases you. Good tip in teaching you dog to come off leash.

So, MOST of the time dogs are chasing you because you are a moving object. This is why stopping will work most of the time. You stop the game, the dog can't play.

Now, the other very important thing is that some *ssholes teach their dogs to be aggressive. These dogs may not want to just chase you for fun... You need to learn the difference. How can you tell? Is the dog barking in snarling while chasing you? Does the bark have a pitch deep and low like if you were yelling at a burglar in your house "HEY! WHO'S THERE!" Just some ideas on how to tell the aggression level of a dog.... But of course all dogs are different. Usually they wont bite you if your not ON their terretory...

If the dog does seem overly aggressive, what is another non-harmful approach to dealing with dogs in most situations? Do you carry those gel packs with you? Maybe try opening one up and tossing it at the dog. If it is a dangerous place to outrun the dog, get on the opposite side if your bike to keep it as a barrier between you. Back away slowly. If the dog continues to persue you make yourself BIG! Put your chest high your arms up (kind of like a bear). Tilt your head to the side and at a slight angle downward. This is a positions of deep annoyance and anger in the doggy world. Last resort - pepper or bear spray. Some dogs are just off their rocker because of genetics and terrible owners. Hope this helps.

SurlyTruckJeff

I've found in my experience that stopping the bike and yelling "Hey!" or "No!" usually is enough. Sometimes dogs are just playful and want to jog with you. Others may be aggressive. I had one aggressive pitbul run out at me from across the street in Louisiana. Luckily, it ran into traffic and almost got hit and honked at. ( Luckily it did not get hit.) But it was enough to scare the dog and send it scurrying back home in defeat.

Here are some videos of my recent trip: (Looking for a world bicycle partner by the way)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCf-US5moJU

hyegeek

The statements like most of the time and usually are the ones that have me concerned. I have no trouble with most of the dogs I encounter and usually a firm word or blow of the whistle is enough. When the right attitude/behavior etc. on your part fails, as far as I'm concerned, all bets are off. Once a dog actually attacks, I'm going to assume it will try to kill me and act accordingly.