Anyone ever hit an animal?

[pumpkinpony]

Strong leaders hold their ground, and don't swerve. In a dog pack, the leader walks straight through the pack, and the other dogs jump out of the leader's way. Even if the 'follower' dogs were asleep. They wake and scatter. So followers go around and swerve. If you swerve, the dog perceives you as weak. This means the dog is more likely to chase you, the weaker animal.

Interesting. I was out in the country on my mountain bike. A pack of four dogs came up to run along side, bark and growl at me. One decided to 'zag' right in front of me. I have no idea how I didn't crash but I sent him rolling. Maybe he was the leader because he ran off yelping and the others followed. (then the owner came out and started yelling at me, not the dogs - I just kept riding)

[buffybike]

I've run over a squirrel before. It ran off, so it must not have been too bad. Another rider told me to make a loud PSSTTTT!!!! noise (like a snake but in a short burst like a squirt of water) at squirrels who look like they may run in front of you. I do it now and it works every time.

I'll have to try the dog advice next time I get chased. There's a scrappy little mutt that runs after me on one of my routes. I usually yell, 'Go home!"...to no avail. Eventually he gets tired and stops chasing.

[Crankin]

About 8 years ago, DH hit a squirrel going about 40 mph downhill. The squirrel broke half of his fork off. It was amazing he didn't crash and a fellow cyclist noticed the incident from his car and brought my DH and his bike back to the office (it was a lunch time ride).
It took quite a lot of hard work to get the fur and blood off of his bike.

[Zen]

Every time I read this thread title I think "well, I beat my dogs. Does that count?"
Sorry. It was in me and had to come out.