Dogs are a pain in the ..........
I am not a dog-hater, but there are times when I wish a large car would come out of nowhere and totally annihilate the dog that is trying to take a bite out of my ankle as I am doing nothing to it but riding my bike past. Okay, I know that sounds mean and I would probably feel bad for the dog and owners if it ever happened, but dogs can be a real problem when you ride mostly country roads. Sometimes the owners are worse. They see what's happening and do nothing to call the dog back. I've never lived on a farm, I guess I don't understand how they can think it's okay to just let dogs roam free. If they would train the dog to stay off the road, I would have nothing to complain about. I don't go on their property, the dog should STAY on their property and not on the road. Now that I've let off some steam, on to some advice.
As for what to do, I usually try two things if a dog comes out and surprises me. First, YELL, in a loud voice, as deep as you can make it, "NO" or "STAY" or "GO HOME". Different dogs respond to different things. Often they will stop long enough to let you escape. Second, squirt them with your water bottle. Try and hit them in the face. Again, they usually pause long enough for you to get away. Whatever you do, don't panic. It doesn't help, the dog can sense it. I don't use Mace or Halt. It comes out in a very fine stream and you have to have good aim to hit the dog right. When I am riding along and trying to escape, my aim isn't so hot. Also, I always wondered if it would blow back in my face if the wind was the wrong way. Wouldn't that be something! Water or Gatorade from the waterbottle is safer.
If you know the dog is going to be there, try and sneak by or speed by as fast as you can possibly go and try and outrun it.
I am guessing others will have some good suggestions, too. Let's hear them.
Re: Dogs are a pain in the ..........
Hi Kumari, nice motivation to wind sprint ;-) ....seriously
"dogs can be a real problem when you ride mostly country roads. Sometimes the owners are worse. They see what's happening and do nothing to call the dog back. I've never lived on a farm, I guess I don't understand how they can think it's okay to just let dogs roam free"
I own a dog, Mae is always on a leash if out...always! She's fenced when she is not. I'd never let her just roam free. Some people think "the dog needs to be free to be a dog and roam around and be a dog", B** S***. Unleashed dogs form packs, get into all kinds of trouble, pick up diseases, get poisened from eating whatever they find, become road kill, get picked up by animal control if there are leash laws. These people should take the unleashed dog to a dog park or specific area where it's ok to run around.
Today I was out walking Mae and this unleashed older lab came ambling up, very agressive, very tense situation. When yelling "go home" at the dog did not work I grabed the water bottle, gave him a squirt and a yell, luckily that did the trick. If there are multiple dogs never get in between two agressive dogs (how to tell? watch the body language) or risk getting bitten. I also kept my hand on Mae's release for her collar because might I have to give her the ability to defend herself if I could not get this dog to go home and then just hope she does not bolt into traffic. Luckily it was ok.
"If they would train the dog to stay off the road, I would have nothing to complain about. I don't go on their property, the dog should STAY on their property and not on the road. "
Sadly no matter how well trained some dogs consider the road "theirs" and will chase anything that comes near. Good way for their beloved pet to be road kill.
"As for what to do, I usually try two things if a dog comes out and surprises me. First, YELL, in a loud voice, as deep as you can make it, "NO" or "STAY" or "GO HOME". Different dogs respond to different things. Often they will stop long enough to let you escape. Second, squirt them with your water bottle. Try and hit them in the face. Again, they usually pause long enough for you to get away. Whatever you do, don't panic. It doesn't help, the dog can sense it. I don't use Mace or Halt. It comes out in a very fine stream and you have to have good aim to hit the dog right. When I am riding along and trying to escape, my aim isn't so hot. Also, I always wondered if it would blow back in my face if the wind was the wrong way. Wouldn't that be something! Water or Gatorade from the waterbottle is safer."
Right! All good actions
I've heard that lemon in the water works well too...tasty too! Lastly if you feel you can't outsprint the dog, stop. Put your bike in between you and the dog and call for help.
Think like a dog: avoid picking up the tire pump as a weapon if you can because some dogs will consider that a threat, also don't "stare down" the dog because the dog will consider you a threat. If you've opted to stop use a very friendly tone, like talking to a child.
"If you know the dog is going to be there, try and sneak by or speed by as fast as you can possibly go and try and outrun it. "
Or carry dog treats! You can throw them at any point and hope the dog goes for them not you thus creating a friend. If there is a dog on your route that sometimes chases and sometimes doesn't consider carrying treats and stopping to give them to the dog (ask the owners permission first)
This dog is thinking "people on two wheels come near my home, my job is to guard the house, I bark at them and chase them, it must be working, they go away and fast" You may have to teach the dog that "people on two wheels are a good thing"
Mae barks at other dogs and some people, she's fine around bikes. That's because when the weather is bad she sits next to me while I ride the cycleops and from time to time I have her do tricks while I pedal and she gets treats. So she associates bikes with food and good things.
It was funny when we hiked along the Rubicon trail and she gave a (not unfriendly) woof to people but was fine when bikes rolled by.
Lastly, check your local leash law, if there is one in the area you may need to report the dog.
Re: Dogs are a pain in the ..........
annie wrote "I am guessing others will have some good suggestions, too. Let's hear them."
Bicyling magazine has this to say about chasing dogs.
http://www.bicycling.com/qanda/0,511...ticle_type_id='qa'
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