You seem to have a whole in your logic. I, too, don't turn my back on a dog. But, unless you've mastered the art of riding backwards on a bicycle, if you try to "leave" the area on a bike, you have to turn your back on the dog. That's when you get bitten.

You, and others, are greatly misunderstanding what I'm talking about. I don't stop for every dog. If a dog doesn't appear to slow down when I yell at it or appears to be gaining on me, I stop because I'm not going to turn my back on a dog...just like you. I haven't been bitten by a dog because I won't let a dog get that close to me. If I could reach out and kick the dog or hit it with a pump or even spray it with pepper spray, the dog is too close and the likelihood of getting bitten is far too great.

You are still not getting it. You have to pull out the can, flip the fliptop, put your finger on the button, then turn around and spray it at the dog...while trying to steer the bike and pedal it fast enough to keep in front of the dog. You already stated that

I full agree that trying to kick a dog while riding is a recipe for disaster but kicking at a dog is less complicated than trying to use a weapon on it. I know of no weapon that doesn't need to be directed in some way. Cowboys and American Natives could fire from the saddle with some accuracy but their vehicle was self steering and could stand up on its own. Bicycles aren't horses.


I regularly ride in situations where I don't feel wind blowing on my face at relatively high speeds. When that happens, I know that I have a tailwind that is matching my forward speed. Here along the front range of Colorado, that can be upwards of 40 mph. At times, I can only feel the pressure of the wind on my back. If I were to spray something into that kind of tailwind (or crosswind) blowback would definitely be a problem.

Do you ride out in front of trucks? Do you have some knowledge of what would happen if you rode out in front of a truck? Are you immune to being hit by trucks because you are lucky or because you use your knowledge of how to deal with them to keep from getting squished by them?

I use my knowledge and experience with dogs to avoid getting bit by one...just as I use my knowledge and experience to avoid getting hit by a truck.

You couldn't be more wrong. I'm trying to teach people how to use a dog's breeding and long exposure to humans to keep from being injured by dogs. The techniques I use aren't dependent on my size, level of testosterone or "he-manliness". They are dependent on using my brain which I assume that everyone has. While there may be some stupid people out there that train their dogs to be vicious, those dogs probably aren't going to be roaming too free for too long. Most dogs are part of a family and they are subservient to everyone in that family. A dog that would attack a family member or a guest in the house of a family won't be a dog for too long.

I'm not talking about me training the dog. I'm talking about using the dog's subservient nature for an instant to get them to stop and consider giving up the chase. Anyone...large, small, male, female, young or old...can learn how to tap into that part of a dogs mind that says "this is a human".

Frankly, using the dog's nature against it keeps me far safer than any weapon. Since the dog can't throw its teeth, it has have its mouth on me to bite. It never gets that close.

I'm "still not getting it"? But... but... I have actually done it, many times. I'm not speaking theoretically here. It's not that hard. The one thing that I do recommend is that you keep the can of pepper spray ready at hand, not inside a pocket or bag. I use the Nashbar Halt! Holder, which sadly seems to have been discontinued (probably because they finally realized that pepper spray is useless - see my final epiphany and humiliating capitulation below).

Well, then here's a secret tip which I usually only reveal to people who buy my newsletter: Stop first, and then, if the dog is continuing to attack, you can give it a dose of the spray from a stationary position. If you like, think of the pepper spray as a backup to your regular plan of stopping and then intimidating Rex into submission with nothing but your commanding presence and personal charm.

Ok, your powerful and irrefutable reasoning has won me over. I hereby retract all the occasions I've been able to use pepper spray from a moving bicycle without any blowback issues. What was I thinking? I am so stupid, and very very sorry. In fact, I'm going to go spray myself in the face now as punishment.

Neil

I just discovered this a few months ago, I was out riding and was really really tired so I was barely going and I was so out of it that I didn't notice the dog until right when I passed him. He just kept sitting there by the side of the road lol

Works with cows too by the way. Those suckers can move faster than you might think!

Watching the tour the other day and one of the riders broke off from the bunch and sprayed a dog with his water bottle until the bunch passed and then he just peddled on. The dog was fine and refreshed from the spray.

I was chased by two dogs at once while going probably in the high teens 18? don't know exactly. There were tall fences on each side of the road so the dogs had to come from behind. While pedaling I turned around for a second and with my water bottle sprayed and moved the spray back and forth in the area of their faces. I hit both of them in the eyes somehow. They stopped. It has never happened again, and it was years ago. Also, very important, it was a rural road with no traffic, and excellent visibility forward, and to the rear. Maybe I weaved around on the road, I don't remember. I have no idea if there was any wind, I was concentrating on spraying backwards and riding.
I was just as amazed as anyone else by the fact that I hit them both in the face while riding. It was not difficult. If the wind was right I could easily do the same with pepper spray. Actually the spray I have is a foam that is not effected by wind as much. It also has a wider spray pattern, giving much easier target acquisition than the water bottle stream. I have practiced this to get it right. You really need to try it before doing it on the bike. I would still use my water bottles first.
I am used to doing things while riding. I take almost all of my photos while riding. Often of other riders near me, including behind me. Not when going fast.
With low traffic it was easy. In heavy traffic I would not be able to turn around. I think it would be almost impossible to do this in traffic.
The busy streets where I live have no dogs that I know of. Hopefully the owners are worried that the dogs would be hit by a car and keep them in the yard.

Dog deterrent ideas?
 

All of the above! Dogs hate me... and the feeling is mutual.
They are descended from the grey wolf - one of man's natural enemies.
I find it a bit sad that some people's best friend is a dog... and those who confuse dogs with cute babies? Weird...

"Sir! Strike first, Strike hard, No mercy, Sir!

- from Karate Kid I think ;)

This idea of stopping and talking to the dogs.. absolutely ridiculous!
Put your bike between the dog and you... nope.
Pasadena is the the area I ride. Read this article... the dog deterrent in this case was a shotgun.
I like the strong pepper spray idea, can be used on humans as well.
I usually use the "outrun them" technique...trying to hit them with the back tire, also if they get close enough a kick in the snout.
Water bottle spray works too, but sometimes the dog will not stop..it's like a Terminator.... just keeps coming.. foam dripping from mouth.
Pasadena police fatally shoot pit bull after attack, injure two other dogs