Funny that this thread should come up after my dog-related crash-and-burn. This medium-sized (to me... I grew up with Samoyeds) dog always runs out barking at me, and I'm on gravel so I can't really hit the gas and zip past him (and his house is right on a corner, so right past the house it's either a loose gravel turn or a stop sign. Bummer. ) I've thus far ALWAYS gotten off my bike to tell him to go home, because he 'bout terrifies me, though he's never really gotten within 10'. I sometimes wonder if he's really all that bad, or just chasing me for the heck of it. The first time I stopped and yelled, he slammed on his brakes so hard he skidded on the gravel before making a 180. Huh. I'm going to invest in that Halt, though. It's a real buzz-kill to be enjoying my ride and then have to sneak past this house on either the way out or back or both.

BTW My dad is a rural USPS worker and has used Halt! before when a 200# Rottie threatened to jump into his car with him. Unfortunately, for what he got on the dog's face, some blow-back still got in his car, and made for a hot, teary rest-of-the-route.

Also as far as Mace and Halt go: My manager- ex police etc, actually has sprayed Halt and Mace on his pizza. He enjoys it. I'm not sure about residual effects to the dog but I wonder what that'd do to your insides