I would consider not fukin peddling like a mad man and stopping because dogs only chase you if you are at high speed but if you stop they stop and go away too
This is from experience btw not pulling it out of my ass
666Menneskebarn on
Give scratches
notgoodohoh on
Homie out there pedaling with bacon in the bag
Useless_or_inept on
Personally, I live in a civilised area where the only dogs are friendly. If somebody had dangerous/aggressive dogs which could get out and scare random members of the public, I’d keep going fast and then report the problem.
But if you think dogs are scary, pray you’ll never cycle past a pack of baboons. I’m pretty sure I set some PRs and won some strava segments that day…
Devinstater on
99% of the time, I stop and put out my hands for the dogs to sniff before it becomes a drag race and they jump on you and knock you over.
spartacusroosevelt on
I got torn up pretty badly by a dog last spring on city streets. My normal 5 am ride (on my birthday). Normally I can pour it on and leave a dog but there was a few already moving on a dark street and before I knew it one was gnawing on my calf. Rabies shots are not that bad now, for the record. But I still just outrun the dogs, though now I have an incredibly loud siren to make them hesitate just long enough to add a few feet to my lead.
pinprick420 on
Ride that same route, but next time, take pepper spray. A quick blast, and they’ll leave you alone.
Down vote if you want, but I’m not about to get mauled on a public road due to negligent dog owners.
I’ve been in the situation before out on BLM land with a few pit bulls, belonging to, shall we say a meth enthusiast living in a van. I dismounted off the bike, swung the bike at the dogs, made myself look as big and imposing as possible while yelling. Thankfully, the dog stopped charging after attempting a few bites at the rear tire. After two or three minutes of standoff the owner crawled out of the van and started yelling for the dogs to get back. Eventually, they listened, but the next escalation point was going to be drawing either bear spray or my ccw sidearm.
PiratesLeast on
Good it seemed to go downhill and he could outrun them.
Otherwise, he hopefully had a 9mm or some equivalent in his bike bags.
Wouldn’t be pretty if they got to him
bigredbicycles on
I own a dog with aggression issues (against other dogs, we never let him off leash), so I feel like I have a different take on this. Most of the time I’d say “hi pup” in a friendly voice, if the dog seems to calm down (less barking, relaxed ears, tail wagging), I’ll keep talking sweet to the dog until I’m away.
* If the dog is suspicious (no hackles up, head bowed, small amounts of tail movement, no barking) I’ll stop, and let them smell my hand or bike and sweet talk them
* If the dog is running and barking, I will shout at it loudly and suddenly “Hey! Go Away! Get! Go Home!”. It’s like barking back at the dog, and they often will leave me alone.
On the rare occasion I am riding alone in a rural area, I bring bear spray. I’ve never had to use it, but I wouldn’t hesitate to. Our dog got attacked once while my wife was out with the dog. I told her next time she can kick or punch the other dog to get it off our dog. I’m not above protecting myself, my dog, or my family from an aggressive dog through physical force, though I prefer that to be a last resort.
orange_melted on
I have pepper spray mounted on my top tube. Unfortunately, I use it far too often. Additionally, if the dog is running towards you, aim right for it. It usually freaks them out.
Fair_Champion on
Learned from a guy who lived out in a rural area to look the dog firmly in the eyes and shout NO…99% of dogs know that command, I have never had a problem since. They will be coming full bore and growling and then just stop on a NO command. If they don’t stop you were in trouble from the beginning!
DadFight2 on
Sprint or spray them with my water bottle. An eye full of Gatorade is usually enough to deter most dogs long enough to ride away
Tincup67 on
I got attacked by the same type of dog. The only thing that worked was taking a cleat to the head. I had to stomp on its head while riding and after getting bite twice on the calf. If I had a gun I would have shot it. Same dog attacked a runner a few months later.
RedBrixton on
If you out-sprint them, they will give up quickly.
The trick is to anticipate their speed and angle. You’re probably smarter than most dogs.
bjeep4x4 on
Spray him with my water bittle
SandMan3914 on
They did good. As scary as it was those dogs weren’t attacking and keeping calm and peddling forward is really all you can do
Same happened to me in Summer, couple dogs took case after me on a remote gravel road, at I just kept pedaling, hoping they wouldn’t knock me over, once I saw they were just keep pace and running along side, I just kept they juice on and they dropped off after a few more seconds
Difficult-Hope-843 on
Spray from the water bottle works for me. Harmless and effective.
frantic_cowbell on
Spray of water right in the nostrils. Stops them immediately and causes no harm other than discomfort.
DiamondsteinBP on
I had this once, I barked back at them as loud and mean as I could, they stopped in their tracks. I was surprised it worked so well.
racerdad47 on
I carry a small air horn it’s never failed me
jameswill90 on
Kick the dog to kingdom come is what you do!
AlanEsh on
Squirt him with water bottle
CategoryCautious5981 on
I’ve had a love hate relationship with this because I love dogs. I’ve been chased by some and when I stopped they were overly friendly and it was all good. Some of them Alabama dogs are downright terrifying and hard to outrun. I always felt like pepper spray would never work because you could get the back wind of it and spray yourself and now you’re in a real bad spot.
tenasan on
Uh, ride behind the brown down to draft him/save some watts and then slingshot.
82-Aircooled on
That’s frightening!
balaenoptera89 on
yeah ok , that dog never tried to bit him , he was faster and could bite his leg whenever he wanted . i’m not a fan of amstaff / pitbull in general but that one was not aggressive and the other either .
edit : i would have shit myself too and i totally understand all the people in the comments
Bellabungo on
I’m not sure why there are all the down votes for the posts which respectfully point out that dogs tend to get excited by exciting things (like a bike wizzing past) and calmed by calming things like holding a hand out to sniff, talking calmly, being relaxed and confident etc? Dogs are pretty predictable and the points being made are valid.
Having said that, they should not be off leash, we should have to somehow anticipate where they may be on our rides and slink past them slowly and we should feel able to use humane sprays etc to deter them when we have inadvertently put them in prey-drive mode. And, although I have never encountered one (yet) I’m sure there are dogs that do not follow the expected behaviours and are simply dangerous.
Downvote away my muddy gravel brethren! 😀
P.s. the dogs in the clip looked lovely. American Pit Bulls?
mcgeggy on
I read once the advice to get off, put bike between you and doggy, and say “Awww, who’s a good doggy? Who’s a good boy?” Supposed to make dog like you because you’re addressing it in a friendly fashion…
UpbeatDoomer on
So this might be anecdotal, but I a Weimaraner chased me last month on my commute to work after it broke lose from it’s keeper at the adjacent dog park. I tried to ride away first but that’s a large hunting breed, so no chance. After a while I just got gradually slower, sat up straight as tall as possible on the bike and yelled “Aus!”. In that moment it turned around and walked back to it’s owner.
Most likely it was a well trained dog and him seeing me zoom past just turned it’s hunting instincts on.
Lesson: Don’t always assume a dog is going to bite you, and intimidation might be just as effective a deterent as violence.
LAlostcajun on
Stop and pet the dog
atfarley on
Try and kick it in the face. Had this happen occasionally when i lived in Chile. One good head-foot connection and they left me alone the next time.
33 Comments
I would consider not fukin peddling like a mad man and stopping because dogs only chase you if you are at high speed but if you stop they stop and go away too
This is from experience btw not pulling it out of my ass
Give scratches
Homie out there pedaling with bacon in the bag
Personally, I live in a civilised area where the only dogs are friendly. If somebody had dangerous/aggressive dogs which could get out and scare random members of the public, I’d keep going fast and then report the problem.
But if you think dogs are scary, pray you’ll never cycle past a pack of baboons. I’m pretty sure I set some PRs and won some strava segments that day…
99% of the time, I stop and put out my hands for the dogs to sniff before it becomes a drag race and they jump on you and knock you over.
I got torn up pretty badly by a dog last spring on city streets. My normal 5 am ride (on my birthday). Normally I can pour it on and leave a dog but there was a few already moving on a dark street and before I knew it one was gnawing on my calf. Rabies shots are not that bad now, for the record. But I still just outrun the dogs, though now I have an incredibly loud siren to make them hesitate just long enough to add a few feet to my lead.
Ride that same route, but next time, take pepper spray. A quick blast, and they’ll leave you alone.
Down vote if you want, but I’m not about to get mauled on a public road due to negligent dog owners.
[“Sprints with Eddie!”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8uP-dxllKQ)
I’ve been in the situation before out on BLM land with a few pit bulls, belonging to, shall we say a meth enthusiast living in a van. I dismounted off the bike, swung the bike at the dogs, made myself look as big and imposing as possible while yelling. Thankfully, the dog stopped charging after attempting a few bites at the rear tire. After two or three minutes of standoff the owner crawled out of the van and started yelling for the dogs to get back. Eventually, they listened, but the next escalation point was going to be drawing either bear spray or my ccw sidearm.
Good it seemed to go downhill and he could outrun them.
Otherwise, he hopefully had a 9mm or some equivalent in his bike bags.
Wouldn’t be pretty if they got to him
I own a dog with aggression issues (against other dogs, we never let him off leash), so I feel like I have a different take on this. Most of the time I’d say “hi pup” in a friendly voice, if the dog seems to calm down (less barking, relaxed ears, tail wagging), I’ll keep talking sweet to the dog until I’m away.
* If the dog is suspicious (no hackles up, head bowed, small amounts of tail movement, no barking) I’ll stop, and let them smell my hand or bike and sweet talk them
* If the dog is running and barking, I will shout at it loudly and suddenly “Hey! Go Away! Get! Go Home!”. It’s like barking back at the dog, and they often will leave me alone.
On the rare occasion I am riding alone in a rural area, I bring bear spray. I’ve never had to use it, but I wouldn’t hesitate to. Our dog got attacked once while my wife was out with the dog. I told her next time she can kick or punch the other dog to get it off our dog. I’m not above protecting myself, my dog, or my family from an aggressive dog through physical force, though I prefer that to be a last resort.
I have pepper spray mounted on my top tube. Unfortunately, I use it far too often. Additionally, if the dog is running towards you, aim right for it. It usually freaks them out.
Learned from a guy who lived out in a rural area to look the dog firmly in the eyes and shout NO…99% of dogs know that command, I have never had a problem since. They will be coming full bore and growling and then just stop on a NO command. If they don’t stop you were in trouble from the beginning!
Sprint or spray them with my water bottle. An eye full of Gatorade is usually enough to deter most dogs long enough to ride away
I got attacked by the same type of dog. The only thing that worked was taking a cleat to the head. I had to stomp on its head while riding and after getting bite twice on the calf. If I had a gun I would have shot it. Same dog attacked a runner a few months later.
If you out-sprint them, they will give up quickly.
The trick is to anticipate their speed and angle. You’re probably smarter than most dogs.
Spray him with my water bittle
They did good. As scary as it was those dogs weren’t attacking and keeping calm and peddling forward is really all you can do
Same happened to me in Summer, couple dogs took case after me on a remote gravel road, at I just kept pedaling, hoping they wouldn’t knock me over, once I saw they were just keep pace and running along side, I just kept they juice on and they dropped off after a few more seconds
Spray from the water bottle works for me. Harmless and effective.
Spray of water right in the nostrils. Stops them immediately and causes no harm other than discomfort.
I had this once, I barked back at them as loud and mean as I could, they stopped in their tracks. I was surprised it worked so well.
I carry a small air horn it’s never failed me
Kick the dog to kingdom come is what you do!
Squirt him with water bottle
I’ve had a love hate relationship with this because I love dogs. I’ve been chased by some and when I stopped they were overly friendly and it was all good. Some of them Alabama dogs are downright terrifying and hard to outrun. I always felt like pepper spray would never work because you could get the back wind of it and spray yourself and now you’re in a real bad spot.
Uh, ride behind the brown down to draft him/save some watts and then slingshot.
That’s frightening!
yeah ok , that dog never tried to bit him , he was faster and could bite his leg whenever he wanted . i’m not a fan of amstaff / pitbull in general but that one was not aggressive and the other either .
edit : i would have shit myself too and i totally understand all the people in the comments
I’m not sure why there are all the down votes for the posts which respectfully point out that dogs tend to get excited by exciting things (like a bike wizzing past) and calmed by calming things like holding a hand out to sniff, talking calmly, being relaxed and confident etc? Dogs are pretty predictable and the points being made are valid.
Having said that, they should not be off leash, we should have to somehow anticipate where they may be on our rides and slink past them slowly and we should feel able to use humane sprays etc to deter them when we have inadvertently put them in prey-drive mode. And, although I have never encountered one (yet) I’m sure there are dogs that do not follow the expected behaviours and are simply dangerous.
Downvote away my muddy gravel brethren! 😀
P.s. the dogs in the clip looked lovely. American Pit Bulls?
I read once the advice to get off, put bike between you and doggy, and say “Awww, who’s a good doggy? Who’s a good boy?” Supposed to make dog like you because you’re addressing it in a friendly fashion…
So this might be anecdotal, but I a Weimaraner chased me last month on my commute to work after it broke lose from it’s keeper at the adjacent dog park. I tried to ride away first but that’s a large hunting breed, so no chance. After a while I just got gradually slower, sat up straight as tall as possible on the bike and yelled “Aus!”. In that moment it turned around and walked back to it’s owner.
Most likely it was a well trained dog and him seeing me zoom past just turned it’s hunting instincts on.
Lesson: Don’t always assume a dog is going to bite you, and intimidation might be just as effective a deterent as violence.
Stop and pet the dog
Try and kick it in the face. Had this happen occasionally when i lived in Chile. One good head-foot connection and they left me alone the next time.