Dog Chasings...Advice?

[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.

[SouthernBelle]

I agree that I have had better luck speaking sweetly to dogs. If they are just running for the sake of the chase it seems to make them pull right up. If they are determined to bite, I don't think our tone of voice will matter.

I have had more than one dog pull up when I've said, "Hello, Doggie."

[indigoiis]

Start with a hello - acknowledge the dog.
Cuz it's usually just a game, and like the above posters have said, it ends at the property line.
If they keep chasing and barking aggressively, say a firm, low, "NO."

Carry dog treats.

A runner who passes my property daily throws dog cookies over the fence to my (fenced in) retrievers. They wait for him every day. They bark and run along the fenceline next to him. It's a game.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I personally think it's not a good idea to reward dogs with doggie treats for barking and chasing you.

[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

[Miranda]

Excellent thoughts ladies. I actually went by my dog incident situation to get a better look, and the house is hidden in the curve corner (thus aiding in the sneak up factor) plus I could see how it got out... the people have a chain link fence, but their driveway goes thru it, with a double gate for a vehicle to go thru... it was wide open, as I assume it is a pain to shut it going in and out, thus how the dog is out. I say at my house with our dog, that the nice expensive fenced yard does absolutely no good if someone forgets to shut the gate. Yeah, I could also see me "pepper spraying myself"...maybe other squirt stuff would work, if I could get to it in time.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just a note: the little pepper spray cannister I got on Ebay has a flip-top that you have to flip up with your thumb to reach the red spray button- there is really no way to spray it at yourself accidentally because it sort of has to aim away from you to get your finger on the red button. I keep it bungee'd upright, right on my headtube where I can grab it quickly.

[annie]

Just a note: the little pepper spray cannister I got on Ebay has a flip-top that you have to flip up with your thumb to reach the red spray button- there is really no way to spray it at yourself accidentally because it sort of has to aim away from you to get your finger on the red button. I keep it bungee'd upright, right on my headtube where I can grab it quickly.

Have you ever had an occasion to use it, Lisa? And how well did it work, if you did?

Annie

[Technotart]

Just a note: the little pepper spray cannister I got on Ebay has a flip-top that you have to flip up with your thumb to reach the red spray button- there is really no way to spray it at yourself accidentally because it sort of has to aim away from you to get your finger on the red button. I keep it bungee'd upright, right on my headtube where I can grab it quickly.

The wind will blow it at you when you spray it if you are standing downwind from what you are trying to spray.