Dog Chasings...Advice?

[boy in a kilt]

A squirt from your water bottle works just as well. Assuming you can get the range with a water bottle.

I've been chased by my fair share of dogs, particularly in the hinterlands of Oregon where I grew up. What I've realized is most dogs are chasing you just because, well, you are moving. I think the mindset of the average dog is "moving thing, chase." It's the ones that KNOW what they are going to do when they catch you that worry me.

Mostly, I've learned not to pay them any mind. If they don't lose interest after an appropriate amount of time, I'll give them a shot of water.

[silver]

I go with the nice approach...

"hey there, you're a good doggie, go home now" In a nice soothing voice, or no reaction at all. it's worked so far.

[RolliePollie]

Dogs really are my biggest fear while riding. First of all, I'm basically terrified of dogs, so it's hard to think straight when one is coming after me. I think it's that "fight or flight" instinct...I'm not sticking around to fight. Nope, I'm running! Or in this case, pedaling my little heart out. I know I should stop and get off the bike, but I'm too scared. And each situation is so different. Like the dog that was chasing me while I was slowly grinding up a very steep hill. I really didn't think I could get unclipped and stop before he bit me, so I rode up that hill like a mad woman while screaming bloody murder. I've had three really scary (well, really scary to me) dog encounters this season. So I do carry pepper spray, I try to be prepared and tell myself what I should do if I get chased, and I hope like hell that I luck out and the dogs stay away!

[boy in a kilt]

I got attacked by a dog when I was in high school. The thing honestly did jump out of a bush and take a chomp on my leg. It was coming around for a second pass when the owner caught it.

I'm still a bit spooked by dogs so my "don't pay them any mind" remark was basically saying that I keep an eye on what they are doing, but as long as they just chase, I'll keep doing what I was doing.

However, I have seen a dog get hit by a car because the dog was running across the road to chase me. I'm sure it was a very nice dog.

[OakLeaf]

Sara, if you were speaking literally when you mentioned screaming, that's one of the worst things you can do. High-pitched expressions of fright like that really inflame a dog's predatory instincts. If you were engaging in hyperbole, sorry

[Aggie_Ama]

Well seeing as how we have absolutely no leash laws in my rural part of the county I deal with dogs daily. I have had one scary encounter going up a hill which I was saved by a motorist cutting the dogs off.

Other that I have decided the real danger is hitting the dogs, not being bit. Most of the dogs around here come to a screeching halt once you pass their property line. I use Silver's method and tell them calmly to go home. Getting off the bike would work well if you have a chaser determined to keep running. My mom had a rottweiler that would get out, if she ran after him or from him he would just run like the wind. It was all a game. If she stood still he got bored and came home.

Now cows in the road, that is a real danger in rural Texas!

[Miranda]

Yes, I think getting off takes the thrill out of it, but like posted too, I wasn't sure how to get unclipped/stop/get off, etc. without the dog chunking me/darting in front of me wrecking me. One man friend from the gym says the worst is when the go to attack the front tire. OH! I did have some nice man in a SUV run the interference for me too between stopped dogs and I. Felt like I had my own personal tour car lol! I think sometimes why the dog stops on the edge of the property line is that the "defense" of home turf has ened. The one dog just would NOT stop. I think he would ran forever...I was really starting to wonder.

[echidna]

If/when a dog situation gets up close and personal, stick your water bottle in its mouth!!! That gives them something to chew on, makes 'em feel like they've "won", and it doesn't require putting vinegar or anything nasty in a special doggie-defense-system water bottle.

[annie]

I live in Iowa, close to the Wis. border and ride in both states. There are farm dogs everywhere! You can't really go on a ride without getting chased by at least one dog. I used to carry pepper spray, but I'm just not coordinated enough to feel comfortable using it. I'm always afraid I'll end up spraying ME instead of the dog. NOT a good plan. Sometimes I'll spray them with whatever is in my water bottle, and that's usually enough to at least distract them long enough to ride out of their territory. But what seems to work the best is this - "STAY!" said authoritively, firmly and calmly. Do NOT let the dog know you are afraid.
"NO," is too undefined, I think. "Stay" tells the dog exactly what you want it to do. Works almost all the time.

Annie

[trichef]

A squirt from your water bottle works just as well. Assuming you can get the range with a water bottle.

I've been chased by my fair share of dogs, particularly in the hinterlands of Oregon where I grew up. What I've realized is most dogs are chasing you just because, well, you are moving. I think the mindset of the average dog is "moving thing, chase." It's the ones that KNOW what they are going to do when they catch you that worry me.

Mostly, I've learned not to pay them any mind. If they don't lose interest after an appropriate amount of time, I'll give them a shot of water.

yes a squirt from the water bottle would do the trick. i had an experience in the past when i was chased by one angry dog and squirted water on its face, however, for some strange reason it wasn't enough to squirt once, i had to do it three times and ended up having half-full water bottle but at least i got rid of him.

[Bklynmom]

How about carrying a kid's water pistol filled with vinegar and water? Probably easer to aim than a water bottle and covers a bigger distance. You could put it in your bike jersey pocket.

OK, kind of a silly idea, but I bet it would work .

I live in NYC where there are very few loose dogs, and I never untill this moment thought about the dog danger on my occasional rides in the country. Good thing to be aware of for the future.

Our big dog danger here is long easy release leashes - several bad accidents caused by the biker hitting a leash they didn't see. Not good for the dog either.

[boy in a kilt]

Good idea, not even sure the vinegar would be necessary. Water alone will usually throw them off.

Some friends used bitter apple to train their dogs. It could be used to fill a water pistol and dogs seem to really hate it.

The problem with pepper spray is that if you are upwind when you spray the stuff, you have just pepper sprayed yourself.

I've been hit with pepper spray. (military uses it and tear gas to show us our gas masks work. So they claim). I'd rather deal with the dog.

[Kimmyt]

Bitter Apple is a maybe thing for some dogs... I have known some dogs that eat that stuff like candy, go figure!

I have done the 'bad dog' thing with the bike between me and said doggy, luckily i was already dismounted. Should have seen that dog's confused little face when suddenly it's target became big bad shaky bike thing with a deep booming voice. It ran off with it's tail between it's legs!

Never been chased by a dog while mounted, but was chased by one while running the other day. I stopped running so it wouldn't chase and tried to yell but luckily the owner came out and pulled it in (and don't EVEN get me started on dogs that are not leashed or fenced when their owners aren't present....)

[ibcycling]

Check into your local laws too. Here if a dog comes off his property in a "menacing" manner and it's reported the dog will be labeled as a "potentially dangerous dog". The owner then has to relocate the dog outside the county, appeal the decision, euthanize, or pay a hefty fee to license the dog as a potentially dangerous dog. As a dog lover I do think it's harsh and there should be a warning first (unless the dog bit but he'd be in the dangerous category at that point anyhow) but it's nice to know the law exists. I have one dog (Australian Cattle Dog) that chases me on occasion and I'm sure will bite if he gets close enough. That's what he's bred to do so I don't fault the dog but I did let the owner know about the dangerous dog law.