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Any tips for dealing with dogs?

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    • CommentAuthorbmiller
    • CommentTimeJul 5th 2008
     
    I had two run-ins with dogs today. I was doing a nice, 36 mile ride to House Mountain and back. The first encouter was mild and easily avoided. Riding down an old country road, a pack of about 5 dogs came barking down the road at me. They were far off enough and this was not the road I wanted to be on anyway. I now know to avoid that road.

    The second encounter was far more frustrating. I was back in town about a mile or so from home... Almost there! Then a black lab came charging out of its yard and took a chomp in my rump. Broke skin too. Damn dog. I got off my bike and lifted it up. At first I thought of hurling the bike at the dog, then found it made a decent defensive weapon. Kind of like a shield you can push out at the dog. By then, the owner of the dog saw what was going on and heeled him. Day late and dollar short. I reported the dog and the city has it in lock up for 10 days. The owner will have to pay a $100 fine to get him back in 10 days.

    Anyway, I thought about keeping pepper spray on the bike. I also thought about a knife, but my wife wisely said that would be quite dangerous in a bike wreck, so I'll stay way from that. Of course, the problem with pepper spray is getting to it in time. Is it better to stop and get off the bike or try to out run them? Any tips for dealing with dogs would be much appreciated. Thanks... Brian
    • CommentAuthorpramclub
    • CommentTimeJul 6th 2008
     
    I've seen (but haven't tried) a Dog Dazer http://www.dogdazer.co.uk/ which seemed very popular some time back - I'm sure you can get similar items locally or online. Anyone tried these?
    • CommentAuthordmacmurc
    • CommentTimeJul 8th 2008
     
    It's been a long time since I've had to deal with this, but when I was a kid I was routinely harassed by the same dog on the way to school, until I finally brought with me a water pistol filled with household ammonia: it only took one "lesson" and the dog never bothered me again. I don't know how well this scales, though - I encountered a bear on a ride to Port Renfrew last week and was wishing I had something like that with me. Luckily the bear (about 20 meters away at the roadside) seemed more interested in berries than me!
    • CommentAuthorbmiller
    • CommentTimeJul 11th 2008
     
    Thanks pramclub and dmacmurc... I like the sonic noise strategy if it works. I like it because I don't have to point it successfully while riding. I can just keep it clipped to my waist, or taped to the handlebars. Dog comes, I hit button, dog goes away, I keep riding. Simple and elegant... the way I like it. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks again!
  5.  
    When I do long overnight tours, I take Halt with me. There's a handlebar clip for the product. My first line of defense, though, is to swing my Silca frame pump maniacally in the air.
    • CommentAuthorPatHat
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2008
     
    Having similar problem on a training route .The problem is that the dog chases me at a nasty bend going down hill so its either potentially road rash or dog bite. Noxious chemicals are all very well until they leak or you crash. I am likely either pepper spray or a dog tazer gun - should be good for any crazies who lurk in the hills as well!
    • CommentAuthorjacknolan
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2008
     
    Back in the old days, when pumps where longer, I would use the pump as a lance- went for the face, that seemed to work.

    I also use my water bottle, but without the ammonia, although that isn't a bad idea. If your water isn't too scarce, give them a squirt in the face, that tends to stump them long enough to get out of range. I was under the impression it's all about territory for dogs, so if you can keep riding, you move out of their territory and they give up. But who knows...
  8.  
    Pedal faster.......lol


    Or a swift kick usually does the trick.

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