Dog Chasings...Advice?

[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.