What do YOU do abt dogs?

Doug Taylor said:

I just finished a leisurely 3 mile

Whoops -that would be 30 :-)

No bad dogs that close to home...

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Do you carry heavy duty pepper spray? If yes....what brand?

What other strategies to deal with dogs on country roads when touring
alone?

I yell at them ("heel," "go home" and "bed" often seem to work) and
outrun 'em. So far it's worked every time. ;-) I've never carried
pepper spray.

I have a friend who tells them calmly "we have the legs of Laurent
Jalabert, you cannot catch us." And darned if the dogs don't stop
chasing. Maybe they read VeloNews back in Jalabert's heyday.

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Do you carry heavy duty pepper spray?

bdbafh said:

Yes. sometimes.

Quoted message said:

If yes....what brand?

http://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/pepper.htm

Quoted message said:

What other strategies to deal with dogs on country roads when touring

alone?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Outsprinting them has worked for me thus far, but that won't help
should the dog cross the road and cause an oncoming car to swerve in
the direction of the cyclist.
I have not yet used pepper spray on a canine, but I think that in
general the more dogs that get sprayed, the fewer that will be out
there that will chase bikes.
Far better for them to get an eyeful of mace once than to get taken
out by a vehicle.

The other (backup) strategy is a knife in the seatbag.
See the above site for folding knives.
At 4.8 oz its a little heavy, so I don't take it for local stuff, just
long country rides.
http://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/new_knives/sw/tactical_folders.htm

I would prefer not to be close enough to a vicious dog to use a knife.
Bicycles make excellent weapons and give one a bit of 'reach'(I have
swung a bike successfully against a human).

A forceful "STAY" while pointing at the dog seems to work well for me.
--
Andrew Muzi

Silca pumps with Campy tips... I've ruined a number of pumps smacking a
surly cur across the snout when they've come too close and I couldn't get
away.

I once had to dismount and use the bike as shield to fend off 2 dogs.

Chas.

On Apr 26, 10:11 am, John Forrest Tomlinson <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:08:24 GMT, "Leo Lichtman"

Quoted message said:

Once, when I was riding a motorcycle, a barking dog came after me. I was
wearing boots, so I felt that a dog bite was not going to be a problem, and
I stopped. The dog got really confused. His "prey" was not running away,
so HE stopped. Then he approached slowly, alternately wagging his tail and
growling. Then I rode off, and left him standing there. I'm not suggesting
this for bicyclists--just an interesting observation on dog psychology.

I've done stuff similar on a bike -- just stopped for a moment and
then the dog stopped running. And I've also yelled loudly and sharply
at dogs, which often gets them to hesitate for a moment.
--
JT
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I've never actually tried this, but it sure makes sense based on what
I know about dog behavior and training. The way to get a dog to
"come" is not to chase it but to run away from it. It works very
consistently. (whether you can get the dog close enough to apprehend
is another thing, but not what we're trying to do on our bikes, no?).
You stop running away, the dog stops chasing you. I almost always just
ride away and have been able to do so, but the stopping sounds like a
good strategy, stopping the chase/predator circuit in the canine
walnut-sized brain.

Quoted message said:

Do you carry heavy duty pepper spray? If yes....what
brand?

What other strategies to deal with dogs on country
roads when touring alone?

First, I now live in a fairly civilized area. When I lived in
Georgia, dogs were a real problem. In fact, it was rare to take a
ride without being chased. It's much better up north, trust me. So
you could move, if necessary. ;-)

I now have so little problem with dogs it's not worth much worry. My
wife is still nervous from our time in Georgia, so I carry Halt!
pepper spray, mostly for her protection and her feeling of security.
But if there is a problem, I use the tactics I developed in rural
Georgia.

Our usual riding routes now have no aggressive dogs. Back when one
popped up, I made sure to ride past that place frequently, to train
the dog.

I train dogs by being more aggressive than they. The first move is to
glare at the dog. In the dog world, glares are challenges. I'm
daring them to come out, and envision the bloody dog carcass that will
result if they do. That alone stops most dogs.

If a dog tries to chase me, I will not be fearful. In fact, I'll turn
around and ride past it's territory again, daring it to come out. If
the dog is in the road, I'll ride right for the dog. This confuses
them, at least. With most, you'll start to see them turn their head
and look back over their shoulders, hoping for a hint of what to do
next. They won't stop barking, but they'll realize they have a
problem.

If the dog actually tries to attack, I first keep my front wheel
clear. Hitting a dog is the major danger.

Beyond that, I yell explosively. "NO!" is what they've most probably
been trained to obey. And if they're in range, I spray with Halt. It
takes some skill, and you have to be careful about the wind, but it's
pretty effective.

If necessary, I kick the dog. I find a fast karate-style side kick to
work pretty well. In fact, I once used a side kick to the nose to
knock over a St. Bernard that was purposely sicked on me. (OK, I was
much younger then.)

If the situation demands, I revert to the tactic I used most in
Georgia: I throw rocks. Something about 2" diameter, fairly round
shape, works best. In my Georgia days, I used rocks to train many
dogs not to chase cyclists. And I didn't even charge the owners for
the training service! ;-) Back then, I actually carried a supply of
rocks in my handlebar bag. Now, problems are rare enough that I just
pick them up before circling back at the dog.

I refuse to get off the bike and give them a better target, or delay
my trip, unless it's to demonstrate my dominance and train them. I
refuse to sprint and give them positive reinforcement. The yard may
be their territory, but the road is MY territory, and I make sure they
understand that.

- Frank Krygowski

email hidden said:

On Apr 26, 11:50 am, mark <[email hidden]> wrote:
<deleted>

Quoted message said:

If I'm being chased, my standard response is to get off the bike fast
and stand with the bike between me and the dog. I try to look and sound
assertive/aggressive/dominant and shout "NO!", "GO AWAY", "BAD DOG" and
other phrases intended to intimidate the dog. So far it's been 100%
effective. Usually this confuses the dog, who thought he was chasing his
prey and found himself confronted by an irate human who sounds like his
owner sounds when the dog has just done something wrong.

<deleted>

Quoted message said:

mark

Someone I know like to use the phrase 'GET OFF THE COUCH', probably
the "BAD DOG" phrase they hear most of the time. And since they are
not on the couch, a bit confusing.

When I run or hike and get chased, I pick up a big rock just in case,
but turn towards the dog and yell loud and low: NO. SIT. That
almost always works. Most dogs are pets and know these things. The
ones that aren't just don't like the loud angry voice. But the big
rock is for the focused, unrelenting American Staffordshire Terriers.

Quoted message said:

Do you carry heavy duty pepper spray? If yes....what
brand?

What other strategies to deal with dogs on country
roads when touring alone?

Never had to, but it's one of the reasons I usually carry a frame-fit
pump, either along the top tube or seatstay.

My mom had to whack one once, but only after it bit her, as its owner
watched, and was unapologetic, and [censored] that his dog got hit on
the head.

Cops were called.

Quoted message said:

Do you carry heavy duty pepper spray? If yes....what
brand?

What other strategies to deal with dogs on country
roads when touring alone?

Do NOT make eye contact. Eye contact to a dog is a challenge, it's the
worst reaction and it provokes them in EXACTLY the same way that
staring at a person can provoke them.

I haven't had a problem and I believe that it's because I avoid eye
contact and speak quietly "Good fellow, go home." Speaking softly and
conversationally (I believe) calms the dog. Dogs are just behaving as
dogs must - they guard their territory and like all animals they don't
really want to scrap. As a cyclist you're not usually entering their
space - you're passing by it.

There are dogs that have been mistreated or they've been encouraged to
attack. A dog that has raised hair along its spine, bared teeth and is
snarling should not be approached and if it approaches you then, yes,
you will have to take defensive measures if you can't outsprint it or
ride back the way you've come.

I'm opposed to the use of peppers sprays and so on - that's
mistreating a dog unless it's obviously attacking. It's the owners
that need mace for not having their dogs enclosed or under control.
Report cases of dogs rushing or threatening you - the authorities will
act if you're insistent.

In my neck of the desert, what seems to work is to slow down and yell
"NO". That's stops 99% of them. You can't out run the fit ones, only the
fat ones. I learned this with my night riding throught the Indian
reservation, where you can't see the dogs (dark, lights point forward where
they arn't), you just hear them, sometimes packs of dogs. Dogs have
incredible hearing, so if you shift even one click on your sti shifter that
gets them going, especially at night. One time, I was riding through a
known dog pack area at night, trying to coast, pedaling as softly as I
could, then I out of damn habit, clicked once on the STI shifter, and all
hell broke loose with the barking, Moments later I could hear them running
along the bike, so all you can do is say "no" repeatedly, and slow down to
make sure one doesn't get in your front wheel. A couple times I've had to
get off my bike, try to find a rock, and hold it in my hand. The illegal
aliens, and Indians have trained these dogs, because they usually back off
just by holding a rock in your hand.

"> > Outsprinting them has worked for me thus far,

Quoted message said:

Nobody can out sprint a dog. A dog is faster even than the horse.

---------
there is an exception, ......fat dogs. Not many of the chasers are fat
because they workout, but I've out run into a few that I sized up
immediately by their strained breathing and weight, as not up to the
challenge.

On Apr 26, 8:42 pm, Paul Cassel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

bdbafh said:

Outsprinting them has worked for me thus far,

Nobody can out sprint a dog. A dog is faster even than the horse.

There was a similar thread some time ago, in which a poster referred
to a dog's tendency of losing interest as it got further away from its
turf that it thought it was defending.
Perhaps they finally heeded their owner's commands.
Maybe I've been fortunate in that such dogs were old and slow or had
hip problems.

I've seen horses go 65 mph, but then again they were in the back of a
trailer being pulled by a pickup truck. YMMV.

Quoted message said:

Do you carry heavy duty pepper spray? If yes....what
brand?

What other strategies to deal with dogs on country
roads when touring alone?

I use ninja foot spikes. Or one could always use stars (they are much
lighter) - J.

http://www.geocities.com/the_ninjutsu/weapons.html

Callistus Valerius said:

"> > Outsprinting them has worked for me thus far,

Quoted message said:

Nobody can out sprint a dog. A dog is faster even than the horse.

---------
there is an exception, ......fat dogs. Not many of the chasers are fat
because they workout, but I've out run into a few that I sized up
immediately by their strained breathing and weight, as not up to the
challenge.

Oh, I get it. While we're making up exceptions, why not include legless
dogs? How about dead dogs? Dogs which are glued to the earth?

Quoted message said:

On Apr 26, 6:42 pm, Paul Cassel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

bdbafh said:

Outsprinting them has worked for me thus far,

Nobody can out sprint a dog. A dog is faster even than the horse.

Dear Paul,

Absolutely!

http://www.families-first.com/pets/images/bassetbigears.jpg

Yup. Long ago when I was a distance runner, we discussed this at length.
We figured even world class sprinters can't outrun these things.

These animals are as great a threat to runners (or anybody I suppose) as
they are to bicyclists.

Not that long ago, a pack of dogs tore up two women who were on horses.
They got the horses too. Dogs are very nasty animals. Beats me why folks
worship the smelly scavengers.

Quoted message said:

Oh, I get it. While we're making up exceptions, why not include legless
dogs? How about dead dogs? Dogs which are glued to the earth?

Except one time a big dog slowed me down, because of his speed, and only
then did I notice that his foot from one of his rear legs was missing.
Fastest 3 legged dog I've ever seen. The leg was moving, but nothing
touched the ground.

On Apr 27, 5:31 pm, Paul Cassel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Callistus Valerius said:

"> > Outsprinting them has worked for me thus far,

Quoted message said:

Nobody can out sprint a dog. A dog is faster even than the horse.

---------
there is an exception, ......fat dogs. Not many of the chasers are fat
because they workout, but I've out run into a few that I sized up
immediately by their strained breathing and weight, as not up to the
challenge.

Oh, I get it. While we're making up exceptions, why not include legless
dogs? How about dead dogs? Dogs which are glued to the earth?

Hmm. I never thought about Crazy Glue as a dog defense...

;-)

- Frank Krygowski

On Apr 27, 5:35 pm, Paul Cassel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On Apr 26, 6:42 pm, Paul Cassel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

bdbafh wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Outsprinting them has worked for me thus far,
Nobody can out sprint a dog. A dog is faster even than the horse.

Quoted message said:

Dear Paul,

Quoted message said:

Absolutely!

Quoted message said:

http://www.families-first.com/pets/images/bassetbigears.jpg

Yup. Long ago when I was a distance runner, we discussed this at length.
We figured even world class sprinters can't outrun these things.

These animals are as great a threat to runners (or anybody I suppose) as
they are to bicyclists.

Back in the days we lived in Georgia, we had a good friend who was a
marathon runner. He took up bicycling when he saw how much we
enjoyed it.

Anyway, he was always sanguine about dogs. "They won't hurt you. They
just like to bark." That included the two loose dobermans on his
normal running route.

Until, that is, one attempted to take a bite out of his hamstring.

Quoted message said:

Not that long ago, a pack of dogs tore up two women who were on horses.
They got the horses too. Dogs are very nasty animals. Beats me why folks
worship the smelly scavengers.

It was once written: "A well trained dog is a joy and a delight. An
untrained dog is a damned nuisance. Most dogs are untrained."

And after "nuisance" I'd have said "Or worse."

- Frank Krygowski

Paul Cassel said:

Quoted message said:

On Apr 26, 6:42 pm, Paul Cassel <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

bdbafh wrote:

> Outsprinting them has worked for me thus far,
Nobody can out sprint a dog. A dog is faster even than the horse.

Dear Paul,
Absolutely!
http://www.families-first.com/pets/images/bassetbigears.jpg

Yup. Long ago when I was a distance runner, we discussed this at
length. We figured even world class sprinters can't outrun these
things.

These animals are as great a threat to runners (or anybody I suppose)
as they are to bicyclists.

Not that long ago, a pack of dogs tore up two women who were on
horses. They got the horses too. Dogs are very nasty animals. Beats me
why folks worship the smelly scavengers.

Q. What's the difference between a man and a dog?
A. Dog's don't bite the hand that feeds them

Reminds me of my adventures riding the lakefront trail south of the
Chgo loop. Between McCormick Place and Hyde Park/Robert Taylor homes
toward 35'th st the gangs would appear to be loitering near the lake
shore drive footbridge (escape back to their turf), and would casually
form together towards the trail as I approached, and I'd suddenly find
myself with about 5 of them in front of me, so I'd accelerate hard,
veering toward the closest one, who would go back on his heels while
the others came towards me, and I'd just keep on veering toward the
nearest one. They never got me (and I'd tell the sparse cops about
it), but I read in the paper that a women was nearly killed, and in
the hospital, so for a few weeks they posted a lone cop in the area.
But I'm not going to be driven from a public byway, so I never stopped
riding down there, and it never occured to me to wield a weapon.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Paul Cassel said:

Not that long ago, a pack of dogs tore up two women who were on
horses. They got the horses too. Dogs are very nasty animals. Beats
me why folks worship the smelly scavengers.

It's been a long relationship between humans and dogs. There's a decent
argument to be made that the domestication of dogs were a factor if the
development of human societies, especially livestock farming.

That said, I generally dislike the beasts mainly from having been chased
by dozens of them over the years. Too many dog owners watched "Born
Free" and applied the message to their dogs.

Dogs are a big problem. There has been a few people attacted by them.
Just last weekend we had a run in with a dog.
We got off our bikes and used them as a shield till the owner came.
Any other tips, air horns, etc.
Thanks
"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Callistus Valerius said:

"> > Outsprinting them has worked for me thus far,

Quoted message said:

Nobody can out sprint a dog. A dog is faster even than the horse.

---------
there is an exception, ......fat dogs. Not many of the chasers are
fat
because they workout, but I've out run into a few that I sized up
immediately by their strained breathing and weight, as not up to the
challenge.

Oh, I get it. While we're making up exceptions, why not include legless
dogs? How about dead dogs? Dogs which are glued to the earth?