Dog Chasings...Advice?

[Miranda]

Long story short, but been recovering from some surgery stuff, but got the ok from the doc to "slowly resume" riding, meaning take it easy. Well, I was out today, trying to do just that, when out of no where comes not one, but two, big dogs ! A gym friend of mine that's a vet tech said to yell "bad dog" in a commanding voice to stun the dog with dominance. Well, apparently the dogs were not familiar with this technique, as it did not work . I thought for sure I was Milk Bones. Finally I out-sprinted the one that would just NOT let off! I don't own any pepper spray, but I don't think I would have had time to get it out anyways. I don't think this was the doc's idea of "taken it easy" but geez, at least I still had it in me to escape. Of course, I was screaming "bad dog" at the top of my lungs, no owners to be found. I love animals, and own a dog, but what it wrong wtih people ! Any advice on how to handle the chasing canines? Thanks!

[mimitabby]

before they start running (or before they get to you) get off bike hold bike between you and dog. You are no longer something fun to chase. then tell them to go home, bad dog, etc.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It's not easy to outrun a big dog.
They have a huge chase instinct, so I take away the "chase" factor. I immediately stop and get OFF my bike and swing the bike around to place it between me and the dog(s). Then I yell "NO!!! GO HOME!!!! GO HOME!!!!" in a very deep commanding voice and point away and try to look imposing. I get my pepper spray in my hand too. (i keep it bungeed to my handlebars)
So far this has worked like a charm every time for me. They stop and look ashamed and then trot away embarrassed. They wanted an exciting anonymous chase, ....they weren't figuring on dealing with a big human machine combo standing there yelling at them.

If a big dog is vicious and determined to bite you, it will whether you are stopped or riding fast. Pepper spray is a very good idea, but you need to keep it where you can grab it quickly. And don't leave it on your bike if you go into a store, etc.

[Grog]

I heard a rule of thumb that I thought was interesting:

long nose - fast running dog
short nose - slow running dog

So in theory you could decide whether to stop and confront a dog based on the type of dog. Many dogs you just won't beat because they run too fast, the stop and confront is probably better and getting thrown off your bike. Dog that don't run that fast you might get rid of easily....

Any confirmation of that somewhat dubious theory?

[Flybye]

I would put a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water in a water bottle and ride by again. Aim for the eyes and let it rip - This method seems cruel to me, but it is widely used by dog handlers and folks in the jogging community. It is a case of risk vs. benefit to me - which is worse? someone (you or even a child) getting bit, stitches, possibly a dog getting put to sleep, OR stinging eyes on a dog?

One thing for sure, don't try to outrun the dog, you could end up in a pretty bad wreck. Get off. Don't give them something to chase.

Let us know how this turns out for you.....

[Miranda]

Well, so my vet tech friend had part of the right theory about the dominant voice advice. That does make sense too about not being fun to chase if standng still.

And omg, YES, one dog was short nosed, sorta a stocky guy--he was the 2nd one neighbor dog--he let off at the "bad dog"...it was the OTHER one, a long nosed sled dog/hound dog mix looking thing that kept running...and was he FAST. By golly I did not think he would ever tire! He's is the one that came out of no where.

I had not been on that road in months, and the dog came right off a curve. I didn't hear him even bark, until I turned my head to the left, and there is was right next to my inside leg, lunging towards my calves and pedals. I was bit a couple times as a little girl, and the one I could not outrun was a German Shepard--big long nosed dog again.

The vinegar thing or other spray is good. I just need to figure out where to put it to be accessible. With the fast running guy, I had no clue as to how I would have gotten off even. He was right on top of me. Part of me wanted to get in my vehicle and drive back to the people's house to say, did you know your dog is a hazard out here lose? There are laws against that. But in the county, not city boundries, the sherrif has to witness it or something. It's terrible to enforce.

Plus, beside the dog biting me almost, or wreckig me, I would bet to say he chases cars too. A very dangerous bad habit for dogs that can get them killed. I have a lab, big dog...ahh, more long nose, but she's a so so runner, and better swimmer as what they are bred for in hunting. I don't correct her so much for barking when people come to the door, a not bad safety feature, but no barking at cars, bikes, etc. are allowed on the walk. The shelters are full of animals that were left because of ill manners, when really their owners had a bit to do wtih it as well.

Thanks for the thoughts thus far!

[coyote]

I heard a rule of thumb that I thought was interesting:

long nose - fast running dog
short nose - slow running dog

I'm going for the long legs = fast dog, short legs = slower dog.

I got chased by my neighbors shepard this morning. First time he has ever done that and it really scaried me. I need to remember to yell NO. I always shout Go Home. Not all dogs understand English and No is pretty universal.

I would rather try to out run Chihuahua then a shepard. I have yet to ever be chased by a Grey Hound. It usually is a lab or shepard (other then the Chihuahua).

[RoadRaven]

I heard a rule of thumb that I thought was interesting:

long nose - fast running dog
short nose - slow running dog

So in theory you could decide whether to stop and confront a dog based on the type of dog. Many dogs you just won't beat because they run too fast, the stop and confront is probably better and getting thrown off your bike. Dog that don't run that fast you might get rid of easily....

Any confirmation of that somewhat dubious theory?

I don't know if this is true, Grog, but the theory doeas make sense to me...

Short-nosed dogs (I'm thinking the shortest - pugs, bull dogs and so on) often have breathing problems, and the shorter the nose, I imagine less air is breathed in/out and that the nose is less efficient in getting oxygen in and CO2 out.

Long nosed dogs are made to run - greyhounds, some hounds, huskies, malamutes...

I think a combination of long nose and long legs would be the hardest to outrun...

[elk]

also short nose --technical term: brachycephalic-- goes with muscular stocky build....more inclined to grab and hold than chase.

an interesting side note :fyi.....the more wolflike the head and face, the more "mature" and predatory the dog...Border collies are using predator technique to herd sheep.... Hunting dogs who actually kill the game as opposed to finding and retrieving it...like sighthounds, whippets, Salukis, greyhounds have very long jaws, as do most terriers. Chase. But this doesn't mean they are the most likely to inflict alot of damage, although they could knock you down.


The more infantilized (sp?) the head shape (think labs/ goldens) IOW, the more puppy like the head stays (blocky/drop eared) the more likely you'll get mouthy behaviors (playful, like to carry things...retrieve).

But a dog is a dog, and at one point more dog bites were inflicted by cocker spaniels than any other breed.

[elk]

Don't mean to sound like an old Know it all...but breed history and psychology is my subject...

A GREAT book on dog body language and communication, also a great read, is The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell. Even if you just pick it up and look at the pictures, you'll learn a lot.

[froglegs]

Short-nosed dogs (I'm thinking the shortest - pugs, bull dogs and so on) often have breathing problems, and the shorter the nose, I imagine less air is breathed in/out and that the nose is less efficient in getting oxygen in and CO2 out.

I guess it depends on what the definition of "short" is. I have a boxer, they are generally short-nosed and are not allowed on many airlines because of it. I don't know how long my dog could keep up a chase at his maximum speed, but he is SO incredibly fast, I doubt it would matter. But once he got there, he probably wouldn't do anything except maybe cut you off. Anyway, our gate is always closed.

[Trek420]

Not on the bike but off leash dog encounter this morning: while walking my mutt I saw a dog off to the side of the green space area of the condo, big black lab type dog, off leash. We started to just head the other way when he started to run towards us. Doggie body language not good, hackles up, up on his toes, this is aggressive doggie language. I just drew myself up to the height of my lanky 5'1" body pointed at him and with as deep and loud a voice as I could yelled "no! go home "

and he did

[Skierchickie]

The vinegar/water is probably a good idea. I just use water from my bottle - so far, so good. A little Accelerade (or whatever you happen to have with you) in the eyes would probably make an impression, without doing any real harm. Stopping and letting them know you aren't taking any guff seems to work well - take away the incentive and the fun. And the dominant voice is key - "screaming "bad dog" at the top of my lungs", maybe not so much - just excites them.

It seems like the ones who really mean business sometimes don't bark - they like the element of surprise. Like the only one who ever bit me - he'd bark his head off every day when I walked by his house on my way to the ski trails - until that one day. He didn't bark because he knew he wasn't tied up that day! One minute he was standing silently by his house, and the next he was slipping up behind me to grab my calf. The ones who have really chased me on my bike have generally been very quiet. I had a Great Dane in my past who would race along in the field by the road, as hard as he could, until he'd get in front of me, and then just step into the road, to see if he could send me flying over him. Meanwhile, I was riding as hard as I could down the hill by his house, to try to stay ahead. I always had to hit the brakes.

I sure wish I knew how to handle my own chasing canine! She has never chased a bike (thanks to the invisible fence and the distance to the road), but she loves everybody, loves mountain biking with me, loves jumping on people, and has chased a couple of slow-moving cars (very scary). And she just stampedes our two cats (but I think they love it, actually). She is a long-nosed flying shepherd (50% Aussie & 50% German). I'm afraid to take her anywhere within 1/4 mile of a road, and she isn't so good on a leash before she gets a few miles in. I'm positive she'd chase a bike if she could, but for the fun of the race, not to bite anybody.

[emily_in_nc]

In addition to the other excellent suggestions here, you might consider an Air Zound air horn, if you can stand the fred factor. I have one on my bike now after fracturing my pelvis when two dogs ran right out at me on the road a couple of years ago. Better fred than dead (or in the hospital, having surgery to patch up a bone or several!)

Most dogs are very startled by the horn and stop running long enough for you to get the heck out of dodge if you're on the flat or going downhill.

That said, I don't hesitate to stop and use the other methods mentioned here if the dogs are in front of me or I'm climbing when I see them.

Good luck!
Emily

[OakLeaf]

One (possibly useless, but here it is) thought is that most dogs just want to chase you, they really don't want to catch you. They definitely don't want to get run over by you, and they are much more agile in more directions than you are. The only time I've been bit by a dog on a bicycle is when I stopped to talk to its owner.

I deal with my neighbor's dog on my motorcycle many days. It's very different, but also starker. On the moto, I could run over the dog without major consequence to myself... but I REALLY, REALLY don't want to, so I don't. On the other hand, if I hesitate or pay too much attention to the dog on the rutted gravel driveway, I'm going to fall over and break something on the motorcycle and possibly need help picking it up. So I don't do that, either. Bottom line is, the dog gets close, but she stays out of my way. It's been instructive, and it's not nearly so scary as it was at first.

On the velo, I do the "bad dog" thing, but I don't know that it has any effect. Definitely there are biters, and that's scary... but I have a feeling they're in the minority, especially for road riders who are in territory that the dogs know belongs to other vehicles. For the most part, I don't adjust my riding to the dogs any more.