Dog Chasings...Advice?

[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

[elk]

as a trainer and student of dog behavior...I would suggest:

Directly confronting a dog who is genuinely aggressive can be risky and
unless you feel pretty sure that you're able to "own the space" with a calm, and certain "knock it off" it might be a better idea to--as most of you already know-- get off, keep the bike between you, stay very calm, keep your SIDE to the dog, fake a yawn and move away slowly.

In other words, send calming signals and refuse to play chase me, or who can yell the loudest.

You guys are right about the chase...in 90% of the cases, nothing to chase, game's over.

And better to learn to read dog body language than rely on nose length...

elk

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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

Annie

I have not needed to use it yet. Had it in my hand a couple times, though!

I did test it out on my lawn when I first got it, so I would know how the spray pattern was, etc.

So far, every time I hop off my bike and do the deep "GO HOME!" confrontation command, each dog has stopped in it's tracks and become ashamed before it got too close. Keeping my fingers crossed.