Dogs--yet again

[tiva]

What do you all do about dogs who run out barking as you ride by? I ride in farm country, and I much prefer the tiny township roads, which are incredibly lovely, have zero traffic, and have fun hills. But they also have farm dogs who aren't leashed or fenced (unlike the larger state and county roads, where there's so much traffic that farmers all tie their dogs).

I used to try and race by chasing dogs, but since I ride the same roads over and over again, I realized I was only training these dogs to keep chasing me.

So now, as soon as a dog comes running out on the road barking, I hop off my bike, put it between me and them, pull out my water bottle in case I need to spray the dog, and walk away, never looking the dog in the eye but still walking with a tall, calming demeanor. I'm no longer a yummy predator, in other words, just a boring person. This seems to work: they never bite when I do this and they never follow me past their property line. If the dog does come too close, I sternly tell them to get a life. (We have 2 wonderful, loving pit bulls on our FENCED farm, so I have developed an authoritative manner with dogs. They usually do what I say). But this method sure does slow down a ride.

I worry about the long, steep hills, all of which seem to have a farm right at the bottom. If I'm going as fast as I'd like to go, and a dog rushes out right at the bottom of the hill--the collision wouldn't be pretty.

So what do most of you do when a dog roars out at you? Speed up and outride them? Or stop and put your bike between you and them? Or spray them? I keep meaning to bring my kayaking air horn with me, which gives a tremendous honking sound, and could wake the dead. I have no idea how a dog would react, however. At least it might get the attention of the dogs' owners.