My first dog encounter!

I've learnt a good trick by trial, error, and inspiration: when you notice doggy has noticed you and is getting ready to chase, aim at them, and accelerate. They go into defense mode and start to back up. Now just out of pouncing range veer back on track. They generally don't even try and chase after that. Their owners tend to shout and swear after you for frightening their little precious, but I'm still on my bike and uninjured, which is a result.

And if it don't quite work out as planned at least you put the damned mutt out of every other cyclists misery and make the world a slightly better place. Do remember dogs that chase cyclists also tend to be involved in killing other neighbourhood pets, worrying livestock and attacking children. So don't feel bad about it.

Manic said:

Well, today I went out for my morning ride. It went uneventfully until I spotted what looked like a great dane or maybe a greyhound. It was tall and skinny with a pointed nose (I don't know my dog breeds very well). Anyways, when I first spotted him he perked up and I knew the chase was on. As I passed him I tried not to make eye contact in hopes that he would let me pass by, but as soon as I passed him he started chasing. It was a downhill run and I pedaled like crazy. He finally gave up so luckily I didn't get bit or knocked off my bike. Oddly enough, the dog never barked at me. I'm not sure what that means in doggy behavior...

I know dogs pretty well, and when a dog starts chasing without barking it's a pretty good indication that he means business. A barking dog is usually less to be feared. (This information is for general use only. The author does not guarantee its accuracy in all situations, and shall be held harmless in case a barking dog gives you a sex-change operation.)

Pendejo said:

I know dogs pretty well, and when a dog starts chasing without barking it's a pretty good indication that he means business.

The first time I got bit the dog did not make a sound. While bonked and grinding up a small hill I thought I had jammed something on my bike until I looked down and found a dog latched on to my sock.

I think dogs are one of the most dangerous things on the road. If one runs under your wheels you will probably go over the bars, and that that sort of crash has a high probability of messing you up.

As to the original post, if it was a Great Dane you would know it. They are freakin' huge.

Try a little ammonia squeeze bottle. Most of the guys that come through on the trans-america bike route will use pepper spray, but their prefered weapon is a nice sized wooden club. The ones that have ridden through kentucky have told me the club works much better than the spray. You can also use an air horn which are prefered by those that ride recombents.

For me I like standing my ground, but if I had a great dane on my rear I'm not waiting for anyone and as far as a grey hound those suckers can cook and they look like they could do some real damage if they caught you. I used to get chased all the time when I was doing lots of running, I've found a nice sized brick upside the head to put a stop the problems real quick. I've had a pack of dogs chasing and attacking me through the streets in the middle of the night on one of my runs, they kept lunging after me one after another trying to wear me down. Owners of these types of dogs should be thrown in jail as far as I'm concerned.

After a string of dog attacks on children, here in Aus, there are new tough laws and dog owners are directly responsible for any attacks.

Even if a dog escapes a backyard and attacks someone, if it is proven in court the owner did not upkeep the yard sufficiently, he could go to jail.

Therefore, doggies roaming the streets looking for mailmen or other quarry are rare...

I have just started riding again over the last few weeks and have been lucky enough not to get chased by a dog.....yet

I do remember when I was a young kid I was out on my bike... maybe riding to a friends house or something.... and this little dog started chasing me with this weak little bark and snapping at my heels..... I looked around but didnt see anyone so I kicked the dog away from me and it yelped.... sure enough some lady stands up from her gardening and starts yelling about kicking her dog.... well keep it leashed then lady.

It seems like America needs to take some cues from Australia when it comes to owners responsibilty of their dogs.

i've come across two dogs on my current routes.
one's small and yappy and some clever work with some chicken wire by the owner has the problems sorted nicely.
the other was a complete surprise, it just came bolting out of the front yard one night. straight across the road at me and then chased for a while. it was uphill and towards the end of my ride, so acceleration wasn't much of an option. the approaching red light didn't improve the situation. swinging a leg at it could have got ugly too, so i just yelled at it to "go home". it stopped shortly after...

is it the chase that dogs are into?
what would happen if you just stop?
not that i know enough about dog psychology to be game enough to attempt it, but if the dog suddenly doesn't have anything to chase, would it stop?

Most any pet dog, not a stray, if you stop, get off your bike and put it between you and the dog, and look mean and yell, "BAD DOG!" Most dogs will back off since they know those words since they were puppies. This can buy you a few seconds to get a frame pump in your hand. Doesn't work well for those guys that use the C02 cartridges, now does it? :eek: