HALT! animal repellent

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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-

[Zen]

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

Instead of the ice cream man you'd be the Dog Biscuit Woman. I can hear the familiar music now as dogs dash out their front doors with quarters in their teeth and notes tucked into their collars....

[Flybye]

I'm glad you are not offended.
I stop my bike when I see one coming, get off and swing the bike between us

I read somewhere, might even have been here, that a rider did exactly that to ward off a BEAR

[SAMbike]

An owner who sits by letting a dog chase after runners or cyclists is irresponsible IMO. That is in effect letting the dog know it's ok to do this. I have witnessed first-hand dogs being called off mid-chase so know that dogs can be trained to respond to their owners commands.

Just two weeks ago my husband and I were out running and a dog started coming straight at us, full speed, barking aggressively (meaning not just bark bark woof woof, but teeth showing snarl bark). Suddenly we hear "NO! Come here!" The dog stopped dead in its tracks, almost fell over itself it stopped so fast, and immediately turned its complete attention to getting over to its owner pronto. I was in awe of this owner and very thankful! Owners like this are few and far between where we live. We yelled out "thank you!!" and waved and went on our way.

I think that one of the problems is that many owners don't see things from the runner/cyclists perspective. It's always "oh, don't worry about Fluffy, he won't hurt you" said with a smile. Well I don't think it's fair to the dog or fair to those of us out there trying to enjoy the outdoors to let a dog chase, no matter how nice the dog usually is because you never know what could happen. The person being chased could get aggressive and hurt the dog, or visa-versa.

[Dogmama]

<rant on>

Some people are terrified of dogs. They have a right to use the streets without harrassment. It isn't up to the populace to train other people's dogs with pepper spray.

Dogs should be confined or leashed, period. I don't care how good the recall is, they're still DOGS. A speeding motorist could take out the family pet in an instant.

I've trained dogs to advanced obedience degrees. Not only do they come immediately when called, but I can have them drop (lay down) in the middle of a recall. I would still never allow them to roam freely, much less chase anybody. It isn't fair to the dog or the citizen.

<rant off>

[Tuckervill]

The other thing I think about when I see a dog off leash is what about a stray dog that comes to attack your dog?

I saw a couple jogging today with two identical dogs (labs), one younger, one older. The younger dog was on leash, but the older one was not. She was leading, and even worse, she had no COLLAR on. No tags. Very busy street. They really trust their dog, I can tell, but what if their dog gets attacked by another dog and she runs off in fear or in chase? There's not even a way to identify her with no tags!

I had two stray dogs (they escaped their yards, I knew where they lived) meet in my yard and tear each other to pieces one time. They both ran off before AC could get there. That's just to say that there are aggressive dogs who get out and have no compunction about attacking another dog.

Karen

[Dogmama]

You are spot on, Tuckerville.

Dogs that are leashed who encounter unleashed dogs are often threatened. This can culminate into a big dog fight, whereas two leashed (or two unleashed dogs, as in a dog park) would be fine. They instinctively know that one dog has a handicap.

Sorry for the thread hijack, everybody. I am pretty adament about this.

[RolliePollie]

Some people are terrified of dogs. They have a right to use the streets without harrassment.

Thank you, Dogmama, for saying exactly what I feel! I am one of those terrified people!!! If I dog chases me on my bike, I cannot tell if it's trying to be friendly and run with me, or if it wants to eat me up. My brain automatically assumes the latter. But this fear is not going to keep me off the road. I carry my pepper spray just in case, but I don't know if I'd ever have the presence of mind to actually use it. Terror kind of messes with your thought processes. This loose dog thing just gives me something else to complain about, and anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I'm a very skilled complainer

By the way, my two cats bite. They stay inside so they've never chased anyone down on the street, but they've been known to bite guests. So why am I not scared to death of cats?