I like to road bike. I recently moved to a rural area where people are inconsiderate and often do not secure their dogs within their own yard. I've been chased a number of times and was wondering what the best way, chemicals, or other to defend myself from these evil beasts.
2007-05-27 14:08:08 · 20 answers · asked by Mylo884 1 in Sports ➔ Cycling
What I've found useful is to always keep pedaling, that way the dog will get kicked in the mouth if it tries to bite your feet. If this doesn't work, you can use your bike as a shield (this may sound awful) but you can hit them with your bike pump. I've used these techniques, and they work for me.
2007-05-27 14:14:35 · answer #1 · answered by Purple Jesus 28 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dogs have a funny way of sensing your energy. If you fear the dog, he or she can sense it, somehow. If you feel that you are superior to the dog, he or she will sense that as well, and most likely leave you alone. That same thing happened to me the other day. I was riding my bike along this trail, and stopped off at a crossing to do a few jumps. There was a dog, unsecured by a building. The first time I passed him, I kind of ignored him. I looped around and passed him again, and he started barking at and chasing me. Immediately I turned my head to his and started barking back while imagining that I was about to fight this dog. Instantly, he turned away and went back to where he was sitting before. I am not sure if this was an isolated incident. But I do notice that if I think about fearing the dog for a split second, the dog acts a certain way.
2007-05-29 16:37:35 · answer #2 · answered by Victor P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try squirting the dog with pepper spray, or for a milder effect, just use your water bottle and squirt the dog. If you have to stop, get off the bike on the side opposite the dog and keep your bike between you and the dog.
To deal with the inconsiderate rural dog owners, contact your local animal control agency and ask what to do. If you can't get a good answer or get the people to control their dogs, wait until a dog bites you or causes you to crash, get a good attorney, and make the dog owners miserable for a while. Keep in mind, if you spray a dog with pepper spray, be prepared to defend yourself physically against an irate dog owner.
One thing you might try -- I've seen it work for FedX and UPS drivers -- keep a supply of dog biscuits with you and give one to the misbehaving dog when you ride by. I bet you may make a friend who will eagerly anticipate you riding by in the future.
2007-05-30 18:49:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like Chad M and Frank J said - If you are stopped dismount the bike, grab the stem and seat or seat post and keep the bike light on the wheels and up-right in front of you, using it almost like a shield. If the dog comes at you, quickly swing the back wheel with your seat/seatpost arm and try to catch them with the spokes of the back wheel in the muzzle. I have not had a dog take a second run at me with this technique - but also have never used it on a pit bull.
2007-05-28 11:52:09 · answer #4 · answered by OlMacDude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing I found is hornet and wasps spray. It shoots over 20 feet and stops a dog dead in their tracks. It is a bit bulky and you need to have it ready to shoot. You can carry it in one of your bottle holders. If you ride a lot, you probably have an idea where trouble spots are. I shot 2 dogs the other day after one had bit me just above my ankle. They stopped, turned and ran! I haven't tried it on a dog owner yet.
2014-09-14 04:58:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A glock 9 is to heavy and big to carry. However a Taurus 32semi auto is small, easy to carry in a frame bag and works wonders, did have a pit bull that it didn't scare once, but any other time they ran off with the fear of god and hopefully wont chase the next guy, you people in north Florida know who I am.
Oh, and a permit wouldn't be a bad thing.
2007-05-28 10:49:25 · answer #6 · answered by D'Artagnan 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The best advice for quick reaction to a chasing dog is to stop, face the animal, look it in the eye, and yell NO!
Dogs will only chase something that's trying to get away, instinct. They will not stand and fight something that tells them NO!
2007-05-27 14:13:45 · answer #7 · answered by Triplets Dad 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Keep pedaling, Dogs are territorial. Most will loose interest in 50-100 yards. By then you will be out of "Their Territory" and no longer a threat.
Dogs are also sprinters, not marathoners. They will get tired very fast. Any recreational cyclist should be able to out sprint most pets.
As a second option, squirt them in the face with your water bottle. They will loose interest.
If you feel energetic use a fast dog to chase you for sprint training, see "Eddie" in "American Flyers".
2007-05-29 15:04:45 · answer #8 · answered by Dennis F 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes! both. while i was walking in front of my house when i was a kid the next door neighbors dog came up and nipped at my calf. then a few years later i was riding my bike with my friend and a Huge dog came and chased us. an older woman asked if we were ok and gave us a banana
2016-03-13 00:37:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They sell a product called "Halt". Its a spray that irritates the dog but not as much as human pepper spray. Available at most bike shops. To the guy that said hit them with a pump.....check into CO2 cartriges....it is 2007!
2007-05-27 15:13:10 · answer #10 · answered by Ben G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋