HALT! animal repellent

[RolliePollie]

Actually, it's Triple SSS, at least for me:

1. Swear
2. Spray
3. Sprint

No measley Triple S for me! Oh no, it's always the Quadruple S:

1. Scream
2. Swear
3. Spray
4. Sprint

Many times I add in extra screams for dramatic effect.

My scariest dog encounter was with a Rottweiler because I really think there was the potential for death (mine!). Second scariest was an Australian Shepherd because he was trying to bite my legs and back tire. Third scariest was a terrier because of the potential for a nasty crash. All three of these were within two days and I didn't hit any of them with my pepper spray (I was too terrified to think of grabbing it!). I'm hoping my quota is up for a while. It doesn't help that I'm scared of dogs in general.

[Cari]

Thanks for the support, rij.

Sandra, I'm glad to hear you were using it for personal safety -- sounds like you have the right idea.

Scarlet: Several times it's *looked* like the dog would try to bite me, but like I said, they just licked my leg. I've come across dogs along farms and narrow, winding mountain roads which are steep enough so that a quick getaway would be unlikely. Which is probably while I had to learn to deal with them. Fortunately, people who have truly dangerous dogs *usually* keep them confined.

I did encounter an aggressive-looking chow chow once while mountain biking. It was sort of scary because I was alone, and the trail winds around a lot, so if I'd kept going, he could have easily cut through the brush and reached me. So I calmly got off my bike while I was still at a safe distance, grabbed a water bottle, stood facing the dog, and put the bike between him and me. I kept track of Mr. Chow but pretended ignore him while I sipped some water. This went on for 5 or 10 seconds until he lost interest, turned around and walked away.

KSH: You're right, there's definite potential there for a wreck. That's partly why (unless the dog is very, very far away) I usually slow down instead of speeding up. Once I let them catch up, dogs will usually run alongside me at a safe distance, not toward me.

I actually had a close call once with a *cat* who seemed to think that he could outrun me. When I slowed down, he jumped right across my path and gave me a nice scare. What a nut.

[SouthernBelle]

I was nipped in June, so yes they will get you. Sometimes they do just want to run with you. I have an ankle-biter sized dog that regularly likes to chase me on one route. I miss him when he's not there.

As to chows, there was one that would come charging down from his home up on a hill, sounding like he was going to eat me up. I shout out, "Hello Puppy!" He sits down. Too funny.

[Dogmama]

Sometimes dogs are just jazzed by our feet turning on the pedals. It's hard to know, unless you are experienced in reading dogs. I even get surprised sometimes at the dog parks.

I have a funny cat story (thread hijack warning). Post surgery, I had to walk. I would walk up my street and the neighborhood cat would join me. He had a self-proscribed boundary. If I ventured beyond his boundary, he would grab my leg with his teeth & claws until I turned around. He is also the kind of cat that doesn't move for cars. He lays there & looks up like "So go around me!" Thankfully, this is a very quiet cul-de-sac and everybody knows about "Grey Cat."