Ever bitten by a dog?

kavanagh_h

I'm getting fed up with being chased by dogs. Even on the man road to ashbourne a dog ran ferociously towards me with its back up but thankfully that's all it did. On the kells road I was also chased along a small enough fence by an alsation terrified that when i got to the gate it would be open and he'd be on top of me! Its getting to the point that I am trying to stick to routes that don't have dogs. Wish I was sure they wouldn't bite. I'm going to have to start going where i please. There are mostly country roads around me that may not get much bicycle traffic. Do you think i am GENERALLY safe?

72hundred

Maybe its time to take a proactive stance?

Joking aside, this sounds like a pain to have to deal with. Don't have any other solution than avoiding the dog houses. Although I'd say they're unlikely to actually manage to bite you at they'd get mangled in the back wheel / drive train first.

Bunnyhopper

I haven't encountered this problem much myself - only a couple of minor scares that I can think of (and it can be properly scary). There have been threads on here before about this problem, so you might find some useful tips on those (in amongst the discussions of stem-mounted tasers and arguments about whether a white dog is more Euro than a black one...)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055496103
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055569557

CheGuedara

Been chased a bit but never bitten thankfully (touches wood, x's fingers)

Of the dog solutions out there I've found slowing and giving them a squirt in the face from the water bottle un-nerves them enough to get by them un chased. If you want the pooch to remember you you could carry a second bottle spiked with tobasco and give the agressive beastie a blast of that (animal lovers I make no excuses).

I think one of the most important things to remember is not to swerve out on the road in response to a dog as a following motorist may not have time/distance to avoid accident. Seen one or two forget that before and nearly bought the farm.

kavanagh_h

Thanks guys. Bunnyhopper I read that first thread and it definitely does not put my mind at ease. Think I will continue to avoid the more scary routes!. I don't mind the little yappy dogs its the big ones i fear the most and there are three lovely routes that are spoiled unless I am with someone else that gives me a little more courage - safety in numbers!

Bunnyhopper

Didn't mean to scare you off

These threads will always be a bit skewed though, because the people who post on them will be the ones with the shaggy dog stories. You end up with ten years' worth of reminiscences about encounters with dogs compressed into one thread - no wonder it starts to look worrying.

On the plus side there are some useful suggestions: a spray from the bottle, a swing of a pump, even the get-off-the-bike-and-say-hello option (not so sure about that one myself...), etc.

Maybe try one of those when you've someone else along and see does it work? Easy for me to say at this distance, I know, but it seems a shame to have to avoid those routes altogether.

Captain Havoc

I was bitten once by a Red Setter on the ankle. There are a few things you can do 1)Sprint, this is good training anyway. 2)Give a load cry of "git", this might scare him 3)Grab your waterbottle and spray or swing it at the dog. 4)Dismount bike and keep it between you and the dog, cry help and the owner of the dog will take in Fido and explain that he's a really well behaved mutt.

kavanagh_h

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

You end up with ten years' worth of reminiscences about encounters with dogs compressed into one thread - no wonder it starts to look worrying.
.

Yeah its just I was on cycling hol in sicily and I saw a man two bikes in front of me get bitten on the ankle by dog when it ran at him and he put his foot out to kick at it. You can see why I was wondering if it happened to those of you 'real' cyclists who must encounter them frequently. I am new enough to cycling really and need to train for dublin to paris charity cycle in three weeks.

kavanagh_h

jerseyeire wrote: »

1)Sprint, this is good training anyway. 2)Give a load cry of "git", 3)Grab your waterbottle and spray or swing it at the dog. 4)Dismount bike and keep it between you and the dog, cry help .

1) don't have enough enery if its up a hill.
2) The rest I will try in that order - thanks Jerseyeire!

ba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfv2diohUXE

biomed32

i personally find cycling an hour after the postmans route tends to work doesnt always stop them going for the wheel of your bike though lol

Deisetrek

I've had an ongoing battle with a sheepdog for nearly 2 years now on one of my routes . He has nearly had me killed on a couple of occasions , shows no fear of the "roar " , my Ebay dog dazer or the baton I have strapped to my crossbar . However , yesterday he got his comeuppence , and as a dog owner myself I don't take (too) much pleasure in this , but yesterday ,as usual the little b****x came charging out the driveway at me ....attacked ferociously ,avoided my size 10 and smugly turned to head back into his driveway . Hadn't reckoned on the Toyota Carina behind me though . Got a good 'ol rooling under her for 20 yards or so . For the dog lovers on the forum ( including myself)....no he wasn't killed , leapt up after the car stopped ,and roaring like a bull ran into the driveway .
Hopefully lesson learned and he will associate a week of licking his wounds with the sound of my steed passing by , thus remaining seated on the step 'til I pass .

Lumen

jerseyeire wrote: »

I was bitten once by a Red Setter on the ankle.

If a dog ever manages to sink its teeth into my heel it'll get the entire shoe fed to it, cleats and all.

Seriously, I've had success with the water bottle squirt. The look of shock and bemusement is quite funny.

short circuit

Lumen wrote: »

If a dog ever manages to sink its teeth into my heel it'll get the entire shoe fed to it, cleats and all.

Seriously, I've had success with the water bottle squirt. The look of shock and bemusement is quite funny.

aaah ... come on ... dogs are cute ... the shoes along with the cleats should go down the throat of the owners ... not the poor dog ...

davgtrek

heres a solution.

why not try bringing a bag of raw stewing beef with you. as you approach the dog throw a nice chunk of steak at him ( round is better as its leaner )
that way he will associate you as being a kind alpha figure and won't be inclined to try to harass you in future. He may look forward to receiving his reward for not chasing you in future but after a few trips and a few chunks of meat his habits of chasing you will cease.

I find the back pockets on the cycling jersey ideal for the chunks of meat.

petethedrummer

davgtrek wrote: »

I find the back pockets on the cycling jersey ideal for the chunks of meat.

Keeps the flies away from your face too.

07Lapierre

Dogs chase cars/bikes etc. because when they chase them..the car/bike ALWAYS runs away (in the dogs mind). So if your chased by a dog, heres what you do..
STOP, turn around and chase the dog! In most cases the dog will be so shocked by this reaction, it will turn and run! I deally chase the dog with a full size Zefal Alu. pump in one hand and a "fully loaded" water bottle in the other (steering with your elbows naturally)

If the dog in question is an angry Alsation or Pit-bull...to hell with it...pedal like the clappers and stuff the doggy psycology!!

Captain Havoc

07Lapierre wrote: »

STOP, turn around and chase the dog! In most cases the dog will be so shocked by this reaction, it will turn and run!

Hein? No, Fluffy will keep coming for you until you get out of his patch. Dogs as humans are territorial. I think from now on I'm going to bring poisoned sausages in my back pocket.

07Lapierre

Seriously though..I've turned and chased a dog and it does work!..
Another trick is to call the dog and get it to chase you. Once the dog runs out of steam, then You turn around and chase HIM. If the dogs starts to catch up with you..wait until the dog is just beside your rear wheel and "flick" the back wheel at him!.. This takes practice, but very satifying.

Limestone1

Heres a solution I've seen on the telly:
When being chased by a yapping dog lure him towards a steep drop - a cliff face or a ravine will do for this. He'll be looking at you or your wheels or your pedals and won't notice what's ahead or where you are leading him. As you approach the edge of the drop slow down slightly to let him edge closer and closer to you, then right at the last second - brake hard coming to a complete stop inches from the end of terre firme. The dog goes shooting over the cliff and down,down, down until you hear a distant muffled thud .....problem solved

Ryaner

jerseyeire wrote: »

Hein? No, Fluffy will keep coming for you until you get out of his patch. Dogs as humans are territorial. I think from now on I'm going to bring poisoned sausages in my back pocket.

Dogs are territorial as jersey is saying. That is why they don't run _towards_ you when they first see you and only case _after_ you.

Blowfish

Ryaner wrote: »

Dogs are territorial as jersey is saying. That is why they don't run _towards_ you when they first see you and only case _after_ you.

Not all of them though. I have one just near where I live that likes to actually run along about a foot in front of the bike, while twisting his head backwards to look at and bark at me.

I'm not worried about him biting me as he's too small to do any damage, but if he slowed down or tripped while he's running, I'd end up flattening him.

Captain Havoc

We've all seen them, but here they are again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0wcC_CP_VA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aBD1oLKpQ4