Quote Originally Posted by mimitabby View Post
stop bike, get off, put bike between you and dog.
Tell dog

GO HOME! BAD DOG!
Yep, that's what I do, depending on the situation. I also carry pepper spray right on my frame where I can grab it if I have to. It has a flip-top so you can't spray it at your own self by accident.
Had a little poodle run alongside me today twice, when I passed his house in both directions. Seemed to just want to join me on my ride.
One can often sense if a dog is going to be trouble. Labs and Goldens seem to respond very well to GO HOME if they approach to close, and they often will bark loudly but not approach. It's the rotties and dobes and boxers I really worry about. One boxer last month broke away from his inattentive owner standing chatting in the road and made towards me like a bullet with head down for business. There was no way I was going to escape. Before he got to me I stopped, I got off my bike, swung my bike between us and said "Now you GET DOWN!". In response, he slowed to a trot and looked a bit confused. I repeated GET DOWN, that's a GOOD BOY. and then he just sort of sheepishly waggled up to me to sniff. Sure, I was scared, but I acted in command and I truly think the broadside of the bike intimidated him. Didn't need the pepper spray.