Dog!

[abecedarian]

Ok, I'm a newbie...a very GREEN newbie. I'm working up to a five mile ride, that's how new. Husband challenged me to go riding up and down our dirt road while he's at work...tried to do that this morning and was doing just fine til the neighbor's Mastiff came out and went ballistic. Usually when we walk, at most he'll come out and see who we are, then turn around and go back to his yard. Not this time. He lunged at my left leg and ran off when I yelled at him. As I got to the end of our road to turn around and saw my own dog was with me, so I thought maybe she'd run interference for me. Instead, he ignored her completely and attacked me again, this time biting my right calf and breaking the skin. I'm a dog lover from way back, but I didn't hesitate to call animal control. They'll be out here shortly to pick up 'Deuce' and have me fill out a report. I'm getting a tetnus shot from my doc this afternoon unless they call back to work me in sooner. Ouch!

[Biciclista]

next time, can you get off the bike and put the bike between you and the bad dog??
Sorry to hear that you were bitten!!!
welcome to TE...

[abecedarian]

Is dog spray very effective against a huge dog like this one? I'm just glad he was happy with one chomp, and that it wasn't my ten year old. The dog would have knocked him down like he nearly pitched me off.

[beccaB]

I wish people would exercise more control over their dogs. All but the most gentlest lazy dogs should be watched over carefully by their owners if there is not a gate or effective fencing method. I never let my dog outside without my direct supervision. It just burns me that people are so irresponsible with an animal that has the potential to cause great injury. One day while on a long ride a dog ran out into the road to "greet" me and I saw it get run over by a car. I saw the front tires go over that dogs body. It lived but I was traumatized!

[Biciclista]

spray isn't such a great idea on a bike. Best to get down off bike (quit looking like prey)
put bike in front of you between you and dog. You can use it to block dog. say:"Bad dog! go home! "
"lay down!" whatever commands you can use to let the dog know you're not a deer.

Now, other people use waterbottles and can spray the dog with water, also, pumps are good batons to hit dog with.

I am not that good of a rider to be able to do that kind of stuff and stay on the bike.

[Catrin]

First of all, I am sorry to hear this happened to you. I had a similar experience earlier this summer with a pit bull mix

How bad is the bite? Was it a full double-tap bite or more of a broken skin problem? If it is the former then you should at least have your doctor clean it well, I had quite a problem with getting mind to heal.

I've decided against spray since it doesn't sound all that effective and it matters which way the wind blows. What I need to get is an Airzound...

Don't let this put you off, I must admit that I am more nervous than I once was about dogs, but I still ride. Now, however, when I see someone walking an unleashed dog I am more likely to just stop my bike and let them get by before continuing.