[rola643]

I have yet to run into a dog that a good squirt from the water bottle didn't stop Maybe I'm just lucky but it has worked every time I have used it. I carry pepper spray with UV when I think about it for the other ( 2 legged animals ) that need tamed

[Noel]

In my experience most dogs chase you because you are moving and my biggest concern is that the dog will follow me too far or run into the road and get hit by a car. So I first try to speed up a bit and see if the dog drops back, if not I will try to get a read on the dog ( most are not vicious and just want to run and maybe play ) and if it "feels safe" I simply stop and talk to it telling it to go home. This works most of the time. (Of course it is a good idea to keep your bike between you and the dog). Many times I have ended up either following the animal home to make sure it is safe or even getting hold of it and checking for tags so that I can call it's owner. I feel as cyclists we can save animals and try to make up for all the drivers who kill them. Also on my regular routes it seems that the dogs get to know me and after awhile stop giving chase.
Dogs can be fast and if they really want to get you they will. The one dog I will never mess with is of course the pit bull or any dog that looks part pit. I see one of those and I am an adrenalin fueled rocket.
This is probably stupid advice and I take no responsibility for anything that happens to someone foolish enough to follow it. I'm just saying what works for me.

[SUX VR40 Rider]

If you are attacked and the dog bites your arm, which is very unlikely because our natural instinct is to use our forearm to defend our chest, neck and head area from attack, when the dog grabs your arm shove it all the way into the back of its throat. Yes it will hurt like hell, but it also cuts off the dogs airway and usually opens it jaws even wider, making it difficult for ti to keep a hold of you. When this is happening it is also likely the under side of the dog will be exposed. Typically because the dog is standing on its hind legs with its front paws/legs in the air or planted against you. Use your free hand and legs to attack the soft under belly of the dog. If the dog is male even better, kick, hit, grab and squeeze its genitals, especially if it has testicles and has not been neutered yet.

Yeah I know you may be a dog lover and don't think you could ever do this, I am a dog lover myself and know I could do this, because I have had to. But think about it this way. at that moment it is you or the dog. You don't know if that dog is intending to kill you. Do you want to take the chance to find out or fight back?

I was attacked when I was a teenager. When the dog attacked it leaped for my head and neck area. I put my arm up to protect myself. When it bit down I shoved my arm into the back of the dogs throat, gagging it, used my foot to kick at its soft underbelly which affected its breathing ability even more. The dog let go of my arm and tried to bite at my leg and foot, I didn't give it the chance and kicked it in the side of the ribs. I felt the ribs give way and I took off running. When I returned with my brother and a couple of baseball bats we found the dog laying there, blood coming out of its nose with animal control getting ready to take it away. Do I feel bad? No, not even to this day. It was between me and that dog, I walked away, the dog didn't, simple as that, end of story. I had a couple of shallow puncture wounds on my arm and tested negative for rabies.

[BeginnerCycling]

I bought this Dog Repeller to use when mountain biking in the Caribbean region -- lots of lose dogs down there, and I thought I might have problems with the pepper spray based dog repellant (either taking it on the plane, or possessing it in the other country). This repeller was not too heavy to have in my MTB baggy shorts. Thankfully, I didn't have to use it.

[Gomez]

Had plenty of loose dogs chase and snarl at me and luckily have never been bit. A good stern voice usually works "Go home", if not a water bottle is in hand just in case, and a dismount (Front wheel can make a excellent shield and a battering ram if it gets that far). Just make sure the bike is between you and said roargy.

[salvage_bikes]

Thanks for the tip. For $10, I'll try one! http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31WTQ7F57QL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


I saw this one too, looks good, $11. [IMG]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61PR6gBVNqL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


Since it's only a sound device and bright yellow, looks like you can put it in a belt or waistband, or carry it on a lanyard.

I'm stocking up on all kinds of nifty things now for the great year of biking I plan to have next year, starting with New Years festival rides.
I hate how dog owners seem to think that dog-incidents "come with the territory" for bicycling, so I aim to use all legal means to keep stupid dogs away from myself and friends, starting with the most non-lethal. The dogs that stay away, and the dogs in yards or on leashes, I ignore. The ones that come out in the road or that chase in the city are problems, esp since most cyclist in the group have no defense but maybe their U-lock. Encourage all your friends to get HALT or OC, noise-devices, etc.

I plan to try this also. I've had once since I started driving trucks. It's called a Screaming Meanie alarm clock (1x9v). There are 2 models. The 3 setting model is actually useful as an alarm clock. The highest setting on either model is PAINFUL. But there is a neat on/off panic button you can "bump" on/off for just a second (or as long as you want) that might make this an effective dog-chaser sound device. Unless they want to attack the machine. In which case you could leave it ON and throw it in the ditch and make a getaway (out $15 but the dog would be paying for it in pain!).

If you use the Low setting as a travel alarm, it works great, even on buses and hotels. If you accidentally leave it on HIGH probably someone will take it for a fire alarm or worse. I have no way to describe how PIERCING the sound is other than imagine standing in front of a cop car when they hit that button for the loud squealing noise from the bullhorn.
The 120 dB Screaming Meanie 220 Test Demonstration - YouTube

Originally Posted by BeginnerCycling

I bought this Dog Repeller to use when mountain biking in the Caribbean region -- lots of lose dogs down there, and I thought I might have problems with the pepper spray based dog repellant (either taking it on the plane, or possessing it in the other country). This repeller was not too heavy to have in my MTB baggy shorts. Thankfully, I didn't have to use it.

[Goose5]

Most of my encounters I hear the barking and am able to come to a complete stop. Dog circles, barks, and sniffs and wanders off. I have not been bit yet using this method. My last two run in's were different. I'm cruising along and this mid sized dog appears out of nowhere. Didn't make a sound. He just ran along side for awhile and dropped off. Two small dogs were on me before I could stop. They chased me for two blocks trying to nip me. A couple of squirts from the bottle were enough to get them to disengage. Good thing because I was at the end of my ride and was just about out of gas.