Dog!

[abecedarian]

Is dog spray very effective against a huge dog like this one? I'm just glad he was happy with one chomp, and that it wasn't my ten year old. The dog would have knocked him down like he nearly pitched me off.

[beccaB]

I wish people would exercise more control over their dogs. All but the most gentlest lazy dogs should be watched over carefully by their owners if there is not a gate or effective fencing method. I never let my dog outside without my direct supervision. It just burns me that people are so irresponsible with an animal that has the potential to cause great injury. One day while on a long ride a dog ran out into the road to "greet" me and I saw it get run over by a car. I saw the front tires go over that dogs body. It lived but I was traumatized!

[Biciclista]

spray isn't such a great idea on a bike. Best to get down off bike (quit looking like prey)
put bike in front of you between you and dog. You can use it to block dog. say:"Bad dog! go home! "
"lay down!" whatever commands you can use to let the dog know you're not a deer.

Now, other people use waterbottles and can spray the dog with water, also, pumps are good batons to hit dog with.

I am not that good of a rider to be able to do that kind of stuff and stay on the bike.

[Catrin]

First of all, I am sorry to hear this happened to you. I had a similar experience earlier this summer with a pit bull mix

How bad is the bite? Was it a full double-tap bite or more of a broken skin problem? If it is the former then you should at least have your doctor clean it well, I had quite a problem with getting mind to heal.

I've decided against spray since it doesn't sound all that effective and it matters which way the wind blows. What I need to get is an Airzound...

Don't let this put you off, I must admit that I am more nervous than I once was about dogs, but I still ride. Now, however, when I see someone walking an unleashed dog I am more likely to just stop my bike and let them get by before continuing.

[abecedarian]

While I'd still call this a simple bite, since it's not too deep, it is definately a double tap. The animal control officers said he ran from them and tried to cover another neighbor's cocker spaniel who was in heat. I never saw the smaller dog today; I'm sure 'Duece' thought I was there to cause trouble with his 'intended'. The officers shot him with a tranquilizer, but he ran off anyway; they spent 45 minutes trying to find him after that. We live out in the county, where there's plenty of open fields a tawny dog could hide in. I'm going to my doc here in a few minutes to have it looked at and to get a tetnus booster.

[Catrin]

It is true the dog thought you were a prey animal though. Definitely stop, get bike between you, and act authoritative if it ever happens again.

I've been told this is less likely to work for a small number of breeds, pit-bulls and pit-bull mixes in particular. Is there anything to this, does anyone know?

[Owlie]

I'd imagine it depends on the dog. I've met quite placid pit-mixes, and some batsh!t insane members of "gentle" breeds. But looking and sounding like a human rather than "I don't know what this is. Maybe I can eat it!" goes a long way with most dogs.

I'm sorry you were bitten, OP. People really should keep their animals under control.

[marni]

another thing you should absolutely do is contact the owner, if you know them, or can and get proff from them that the dogs rabies vaccination is up to date. If the owner has proof then you can feel pretty safe, if the owner can't prove recent rabies vacinnation the dog can be held in quarantine for a specified time to see if the rabies develops. of course by the time they figure this out from the dog, you are probably going to be past the prophylactic (preventitive) treatment.

If the dog is safe, no problem, other than the trauma to the dog in being quarantined, If it turns out otherwise, well, they at least have a place to start and can autopsy the dead dogs brain to determine strain etc.

just saying.....

As far as I am concerned, all states should have a law requiring rabies for all domestic pets, not only for the protection of the animals, but owners and others as well.

just sayin.

heal fast

[Catrin]

Edit: when I read about your dog bite earlier this summer, I thought what you did sounded about right. May have worked better to stay and take charge of the situation, but its owner was there and it was biting you. Possibly being protective? I'd want to get out of there, because it was probably something hinky in the dog/owner relationship that caused the bite to begin with.

Thanks for this Murienn, I did what felt right at the time, but have wondered about my approach. I know next to nothing about dogs, haven't had one since I was 8 years old...