Dogs - stop or escape?

[soulful dog]

+1 to what Rickshaw Phil just posted.

It's not a good idea to run/cycle away from a dog. Most dogs think it's a game to chase, and you'll only find out that they've got over-excited by chasing you, or are just simply vicious mutts, when you feel their teeth sink into your leg!

Slow down and wait for their owner to call them (or speak to the dog yourself, a stern "NO" if you don't want to chat nicely to them ). If that doesn't work or if the dog looks aggressive, stop and put the bike between yourself and the dog.

 

[on the road]

If I'm riding and a dog comes running after me I stop, but I'm starting to think a swift escape might be a better plan.

The logic for stopping is that I don't want the dog to kill itself in my rear mech, and I don't currently try and outrun the canine as I'm an unfit fat knacker and also don't want to give the dog 'game'. That being said no big dogs have chased me yet...

So dogs eh? What dooo you do?



p.s FENTON!

They're just chasing a moving object, so if you stop then they'll get bored and go somewhere else.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

If you "know" dogs you can normally get a pretty good feel for it, but not always.

Yes, the one time I was 'attacked' by a dog whilst out it was a small fluffy yappy thing. It might have had a nasty nip to it, but I knew I could SO outpace it!
I need to add that it was with a kid (of about 8 or 9) at the time, and both himself and the dog seemed to be surprised of my presence (I actually got the impression the kid was deaf or at least hard of hearing, judging by the way he reacted), so I used this to my advantage and kept moving before it (the dog, not the boy) could properly think of what to do. In the end, it did decide to try and bite me, more out of surprise I suspect than aggression, but it was so late in reacting that all it got was a brief mouthful of clipless shoe as I shot past.

I never thought about it getting injured by the rear mech, and I just hope I didn't injure it, as it was clearly just defending its owner from me, the big nasty (and no doubt ugly) intruder on a strange or scary sounding contraption who had suddenly appeared out of thin air.

I wasn't exactly hanging about to find out though.

It hadn't occurred to me to gauge the impending interaction by the owners' expression. Thanks!

Well, it doesn't always work, as the dog might just be new or it is being looked after by someone who doesn't quite know how it will react. The owner's facial expression might betray totally the dogs true intentions.

You cannot judge a book by its cover, sorry.

 

[berty bassett]

i was bitten by a medium sized dog while trying to keep its larger chum away from my obviously tasty looking bony legs - i had stopped as i knew there was no way of out running the great dane - until i was bit i was calm , then i went into retaliation mode and tried getting my own back on the smaller dog but it was too quick . the woman went nuts when she finally came and got her dogs and was blaming me for lashing out at them , by now i had lost any argument as i was loud and abusive ( also bleeding ) she told me she would call the police if i harmed the dog . in the end i called the police and was told if i have been attacked by a dog off a lead in a public place i have every right to defend myself - even to the point of killing the dog and could get the dog took away from the owner . i did neither just covered myself with the phone call and went home - there are some idiots out there - by the way i have owned dogs all my life and usually not scared by them

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

A bit like kids, people should really have to pass a test before owning one.

That said, it hasn't done much good on the motoring side of things

 

[Nihal]

It happened to me a couple of days ago.I was almost done with my ride and my legs were acting like two wussies when two street dogs came chasing.Luckly some kind soul in(the only so far) inan SUV decided to have a race with them and started beeping at them.

 

[Nihal]

Funnily enough I've posted about this on another thread this morning.

I tend to get chased fairly often and find that the vast majority of dogs (even the big ones) are just playing; you are a moving object, therefore it is fun to chase you.

My tactic is to slow and speak to the dog in a gentle voice. Since this is not the response they expect, they tend to end the chase quite quickly. Slowing right down or stopping tends to work for the same reason but I rarely have to try a second tactic.

I personally wouldn't recommend shouting at the dog as they think it's part of the game and it tends to encourage them. Definitely don't kick out at them as this is likely to lead to a bite.

Of course it helps that I have a couple of dogs at home and living with them you get to know the difference between a bark that means "I want to play" and one that means "I'm going to rip your head off and spit down your neck".

Try speaking to a rabid dog and tell me what happens later

 

[Nihal]

If there is an owner apparent, ride really fast and aggressively at them, shouting "banzai!!!" - and gauge from their expression whether they are scared!

Just run over them while you're at it.
<thinking like a dog>
You evil human being
<thinking like me>
Still evil

 

[fossyant]

Shout sit at them as a loudly as you can. If that doesn't work you may want to get the bike between you and the dog. Try not to appear scared. Also if a dog is going to chase you they can run at 40mph, so unless you are cav you won't outpace a determined mut.

You know your KOM down Birtles. Try it up it !

There used to be a big alsatian in the big house on the left just before the top. Me and a mate were climbing up, and the thing was giving chase along the garden. Oh my did I accellerate in 42x19 - never pedalled so fast. My mate pooped it, and slammed on. Dog shot out of top of garden, but I'd gone by then. Had to wait a few minutes till my mate could come past. We were aware of the dog prior to this, but this time the bugger went for it.

 

[fossyant]

I never thought about it getting injured by the rear mech, and I just hope I didn't injure it,

I only really use the Trans Pennine in Winter, when my MTB is fitted with tungsten carbide spikes. I do worry about the dogs running too close, so I slow right down - shredded dog won't look too nice. PS the spikes can easily cut into a car bumper - shame it was my car when wheeling the bike past it.

 

[Nihal]

Cheers all, a lot of this comes down to never having lived with a dog - I bear them no mallace though.

Best way to kill 'em is to grab ther neck and wring it(marine style)but i love dogs and had one() so i haven't tried it.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Try speaking to a rabid dog and tell me what happens later

Yes but we don't have Rabies here, unlike in India and the rest of the world. Just ask Vince, he's bitten a few in his time!

but i love dogs so i haven't tried it.

And please don't, there must be better ways of stopping a dog.

 

[Nihal]

Yes but we don't have Rabies here, unlike in India and the rest of the world. Just ask Vince, he's bitten a few in his time!

And please don't, there must be better ways of stopping a dog.

And please don't, there must be better ways of stopping a dog.

I know,i love them(not the rabid types)

 

[tyred]

Smith and Wesson in the jersey pocket. Never fails

 

[fossyant]

Smith and Wesson in the jersey pocket. Never fails

Handy in the Rockies for the odd Bear !