Quote Originally Posted by Flybye View Post
I just want to make the point that just because a dog runs at you and barks doesn't mean that it is vicious. It is just doing what dogs do - being a dog. I have found it WAY more beneficial to stop and say hi to the dog than keep going. I have, I am sure, avoided dog nips on the heels by doing just that - stopping.

I don't feel picked on by you Lisa, because I already know that I am a responsible dog owner. No worries!!
I'm glad you are not offended.

I agree with you about stopping your bike when a dog comes running. There is really no way I can out pedal a running dog unless I'm flying downhill. I stop my bike when I see one coming, get off and swing the bike between us, grab my pepper spray off my handlebars just in case, and then when the dog is about 12 feet from me I use my most commanding deep loud voice and say NO!-GO HOME!! GO HOME!! and point back to where they are coming from. I try to look big and authoritative. Might need to throw in a BAD DOG if they hesitate. This routine stops the dog in its tracks every time I have used it (about 6 times now, maybe just lucky so far?) and usually the dog seems ashamed, confused, and embarrassed and slinks off back home. It's the best thing to do I can think of, and it seems to work well for me so far.

If I threw dog biscuits I'd be training every dog for miles around to chase bikes-