Oh My Goodness, you did have an interesting day - I hope your friend recovers quickly and that the homeowner will finally keep the dog under control.

My friend who suggested my base route yesterday made sure I avoided another part of his route on which he is always chased by 1-3 dogs. Apparently they are quite predictable but I don't feel up to outrunning dogs yet. Thanks for your tips on dealing with dogs - my trainer tells me that splashing them with his water bottle always works - but at this point I can't get my hand off of the bars to do that...another reason to learn!