How do you react to dogs chasing?

[qwerty]

Ride like they aren't even there. Slow down if you can, but just ride on through. When you are safely in front speed up.

I have to deal with dogs on my bicycle too. They just want to have some fun with you, usually they are not trying to attack and harm you. They are not going to lunge at your bike with the intent of coming in contact with it. They think that if they come at you, they'll get a reaction like you stopping or turning around and going the other way similiar to how another animal would react. So just ride on through. They'll come damn close and may even get in front of the bike for a moment. But they'll move. The last thing you want to do is assume which way they are going to move and you move the opposite way the last second. That will be like trying to pass that person in the hallway and you end up doing that little dance back and forth. Except this time it will be at high speed and you won't get a chuckle out of it.

Man, lots of bad advice. I've been bitten twice by dogs when riding. I've also hit a few when the went after the front tire.

Forget tracking down the dog's owner. You pull up in the drive, what's the dog going to do?

If you are riding in an area with leash laws, there is quite a bit you can do. Call animal control.

Next time you see the dog, call the police and ask to file charges against the owner for reckless endangerment, which is what it's called around here if you place a booby trap. Chasing dogs are a threat to your safety.

If it comes down to either you or the dog, there are other options:

If you have a light, quick dirtbike, use the dog for a jump. Yup, turn around and run it down.

Ammonia in a squirtgun will do the trick, too. This works best at very low speeds, like in a parking lot. Make sure the dog is off to the side, so you don't ride through the squirt. Aim well in front of the dog so the ammonia hits the ground, not the dog, leaving a very strong scent the dog will run in to. Most dogs will immediately break off the chase. After a couple of uses, the dog usually won't chase you any more.

If the dog continues to chase every time you ride by, aim for the eyes. Better a blind dog than a roadrashed (or worse) you.

Three feet of closet rod.

Ride by at night and spill some antifreeze.

[froldt]

I'll just have to try out the MSF suggestions, then. Slow down and shoot past them.

We're out in the country, and I'm not so sure how the laws work around here about animals.
One of them only chases when the kids are outside. One just chases for fun, he never gets really close, just sort of runs along side. One just lies around in the yard and sometimes stirs when I drive by. That's my kind of dog, the third one.

[scan]

Yep - I agree with the the MSF thingy. When I have been in a place where a dog is nearby, I down shift, which puts me in a better place in my powerband, keep a track on them, and jet away. No dog is really prepared for that, or can keep up with you. I had one chase me for a bit down the road with the owner yelling at his dog like mad. Kind of funny really.

[d2mini]

Man, lots of bad advice. I've been bitten twice by dogs when riding. I've also hit a few when the went after the front tire.

Dude, read it again. I said exactly what everyone else is saying from the MSF. Slow down if you can and when you are passing speed back up. The rest of my statement fills in the middle part that everyone else has left out. The most important thing is don't be afraid. Most dogs are not viscous animals that eat humans. You just have to know how they think. Stay calm, don't make any sudden reactions and try to pass like they aren't even there. If they are freaking you out they'll sense that immediately and react to it. For the most part they're just f***ing with you. Remember that commercial with the two squirrels that cause the car to swerve and run off the road and then high five each other? That's not that far off base.

Sounds like you've had some unusual run-ins with dogs. I don't know you, but perhaps if I did I'd want to bite you in the "O Ring" too. Dogs aren't stupid. I kid! I kid!

[Sev]

Don't forget that given enough attempts a dog will learn to compensate for your speed change and angle further. This just means that you cannot always accelerate away at the same rate. And that you should not always approach at the same rate.

[camthepyro]

d2mini Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:58 pm Post subject:

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Ride like they aren't even there. Slow down if you can, but just ride on through. When you are safely in front speed up.

I have to deal with dogs on my bicycle too. They just want to have some fun with you, usually they are not trying to attack and harm you. They are not going to lunge at your bike with the intent of coming in contact with it. They think that if they come at you, they'll get a reaction like you stopping or turning around and going the other way similiar to how another animal would react. So just ride on through. They'll come damn close and may even get in front of the bike for a moment. But they'll move. The last thing you want to do is assume which way they are going to move and you move the opposite way the last second. That will be like trying to pass that person in the hallway and you end up doing that little dance back and forth. Except this time it will be at high speed and you won't get a chuckle out of it.

I knew a guy who got in a very bad accident because a dog ran under his rear tire.

qwerty Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject:

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d2mini wrote:
Ride like they aren't even there. Slow down if you can, but just ride on through. When you are safely in front speed up.

I have to deal with dogs on my bicycle too. They just want to have some fun with you, usually they are not trying to attack and harm you. They are not going to lunge at your bike with the intent of coming in contact with it. They think that if they come at you, they'll get a reaction like you stopping or turning around and going the other way similiar to how another animal would react. So just ride on through. They'll come damn close and may even get in front of the bike for a moment. But they'll move. The last thing you want to do is assume which way they are going to move and you move the opposite way the last second. That will be like trying to pass that person in the hallway and you end up doing that little dance back and forth. Except this time it will be at high speed and you won't get a chuckle out of it.



Man, lots of bad advice. I've been bitten twice by dogs when riding. I've also hit a few when the went after the front tire.

Forget tracking down the dog's owner. You pull up in the drive, what's the dog going to do?

If you are riding in an area with leash laws, there is quite a bit you can do. Call animal control.

Next time you see the dog, call the police and ask to file charges against the owner for reckless endangerment, which is what it's called around here if you place a booby trap. Chasing dogs are a threat to your safety.

If it comes down to either you or the dog, there are other options:

If you have a light, quick dirtbike, use the dog for a jump. Yup, turn around and run it down.

Ammonia in a squirtgun will do the trick, too. This works best at very low speeds, like in a parking lot. Make sure the dog is off to the side, so you don't ride through the squirt. Aim well in front of the dog so the ammonia hits the ground, not the dog, leaving a very strong scent the dog will run in to. Most dogs will immediately break off the chase. After a couple of uses, the dog usually won't chase you any more.

If the dog continues to chase every time you ride by, aim for the eyes. Better a blind dog than a roadrashed (or worse) you.

Three feet of closet rod.

Ride by at night and spill some antifreeze.

And you're starting to sound like another guy who's going to get banned, kinda remind me of MotoF150.

First, despite the complete illogic of caring around a squirt gun full of ammonia or 3 feet of closet rod, it's also incredibly cruel, and isn't really advice you should give, because some people might take you seriously. You're totally overkilling the situation.

Do what everyone else said, if the dog runs up to you, slow down until it's fairly close (20 or 30 feet), then speed off, take advantage of the bike's acceleration. That's all there is to it. No reason to plan conspiracy, or go around killing neighbors dogs.

[KarateChick]

Actually, I know an MSF instructor who got into a terrible accident because of dogs. He's only just able to really ride again at the end of this season after having to recuperate last season from the accident happening the season before. Oh yeah, his full face helmet (sheered down pretty good on 1 side) saved his head/face too. He's gotten that helmet back to show his students during classes.

In brief, rural road and 3 sheepdogs running along road & ditch, kept his eye on them and did what MSF suggests as he said it has always worked before, then all of them veered into his path just as he was parallel and about to throttle on, swerved and missed 2 but hit and went over the last one which upset the bike and voila, major bike (Goldwing if I recall) and rider slide down the road. (Oh, the dog lived.) The dogs' owners were located and charged for having the dogs loose and he's getting/got his bike fixed plus damages through their insurance.

(No dogs have actually chased me yet but I did have a huge one make a leap for me as I stopped on my bike beside the open bed truck it was in. Damn good thing it was leashed cause the leash slammed it back into the truck but it scared the crap outta me. Any other dogs I've noticed have freaked when I go by but at least they've been on leashes when they lunge.)

[DragonSlayer]

down the street from me there is a chiuaua that chases bikes(not cars) at around 1.5-3 feet away from it i was suprised to see how fast that thing could run

[scan]

I hope no one misunderstands though - there are exceptions to the rule and you might get killed on your bike doing everything right.

Still there is a right way to avoid a dog, and it is also possible when you do it the right way, it won't work out. Most of the time it is best to follow the change your speed and accelerate rule. The three sheepdog story is certainly the exception to the rule and I'm sorry your friend was hurt - especially doing what he loved, and doing it the right way.

Animals in general add a variable to riding that is very hard to predict. Look at all the deer strikes per year. Not much you can do coming over a hill at 50 MPH as posted, and animal is in the road. Hope none of us have to deal with that one either.

[KarateChick]

...Still there is a right way to avoid a dog, and it is also possible when you do it the right way, it won't work out. Most of the time it is best to follow the change your speed and accelerate rule. The three sheepdog story is certainly the exception to the rule and I'm sorry your friend was hurt - especially doing what he loved, and doing it the right way...

He would still avoid a dog the same way as he was taught per MSF and has practised and said it is still the best way. He was just mad there were 3 of them and he just could not get by that last one.