Serious Problems With Dogs Whilst Out Cycling

Taffy Kat

Anyone any experience of how to cope with dogs when out cycling? I'm having serious problems with a fair few along a country lane I have to cycle along on my route.

The worst I've had is today when three dogs, a labrador, and two little scuts (a Jack Russell I think and another sort) chased me snapping at my heels. The labrador was by far the least of my worries, he only came to his fence, but the two little ones ran under and after me.

It really makes me very angry because all I was doing was minding my own business. And I can't understand these idiots who leave their dogs loose in the front garden so they can attack cyclists/walkers. The biggest problem is though, that it is a fast country lane, and whilst I'm wobbling trying to avoid the dogs, I could be hit. I think I can cope with a nip, but being smashed up by a land rover might be different.

Generally speaking, I roar at dogs that want to pick a fight and they usually get scared and back off. These just seemed to get worse though, to the extent where the only way I could get rid of them was to stop quickly, pick up stones and fire them at them.

Obviously I don't won't this to continue (a)its dangerous; (b)I don't particularly like throwing stones at anythings; (c)it'd make interesting conversation with a Guard if I was seen throwing stones; (d)I would prefer to have a peaceful cycle rather than have to roar like an ass; (e)at the end of the day I am a person who actually likes dogs and I don't want to see them get hurt either.

Any ideas?

Fender76

A quick blast from the water bottle has worked for me in the past...:D

Captain Havoc

They 99% of the time won't attack you, they'll just keep barking at you until you get off their patch. Sometimes, the biggest worry would be if he goes infront of your wheel.

Unregistered.

Carry one of them Jif lemons in your jersey

monkeyslayer

Blast them in the face with some of your water bottle, or just calmly tell em to go away, I find if I get aggressive they persist even more so. Its tough one one tho. I remember I was cycling down through a sleepy valley in Andalusia and set one off barking at the top and it awoke an entire region full of dogs to the chase... came through the village at the bottom with an entire parade of chasing barking dogs of all sizes in tow. Must have looked hilarious.

Mr Marri

The loudest roar you've got will normally scare them off, failing that just forget they're there and peddle faster. those small dogs are tough so your unlikely to do much harm even if you end up cycling over one. my biggest concern with dogs is that they can be so busy chasing me that they might get hit by a car.

Rew

Water will do the job, small dogs are notorious for this.

ArticHare

Get off and walk with your bike until you're past their house. This worked when I was a kid. They might go ape but they won't come up and bite you.

Taffy Kat

I usually roar obscenities :rolleyes:, which probably wouldn't help me if the owner is close by because if they hear someone shouting "f**k off, little f**king s**t" they're probably going to get their back up. I just get so worked up though.

I'll try the water bottle trick, though the Jif Lemon sounds good, I'd say it'd be fair sore if it got in their eyes.

The owners are fair stupid though in my opinion. (A)I'm sure they'd have objections if I stuck a lion out on my front lawn to have a pop at them when they walked by; (B)Ultimately, if their dog bites me and draws blood then the dog will end up dying anyway, not because my blood is highly toxic lol but because the law enforces the dog has to be put down.

tomasrojo

ArticHare wrote: »

Get off and walk with your bike until you're past their house. This worked when I was a kid. They might go ape but they won't come up and bite you.

And put the bike between you and the dog.

That was the advice in Richard's Bicycle Book anyway. I seem to remember he also described how to asphyxiate a dog as a last resort. Probably best not to do that.

EDIT: In fact, he had more canicidal advice:

Any small dog can simply be hoisted up by the hind legs and his brains dashed out.

Alexei Sayle remembered the book thus:

I think there was one single paperback that everybody who cycled owned; this book did contain a few brief sections on maintenance, cycling clubs, safety and so on, but I seem to remember that what obsessed the author more than anything else was different ways to kill dogs. Obviously at some point in the past while out riding, this man had had a traumatic encounter with a canine, so there were whole fevered chapters on exactly how to dash a terrier's brains out on the pavement or the best way to stick your fist down an Alsatian's throat so it choked to death.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/watch-it-mate-alexei-sayle-looks-back-on-his-30-years-of-twowheeling-around-london-2008642.html

(I am in no way advocating this, as I hope is clear. I just think it's bizarrely amusing.)

Lazairus

like every one else said


its get a water bottle and a squirt the dog in the face.

thanks

CH

Taffy Kat

tomasrojo wrote: »

And put the bike between you and the dog.

That was the advice in Richard's Bicycle Book anyway. I seem to remember he also described how to asphyxiate a dog as a last resort. Probably best not to do that.

:D:D:D:D

Can't I just experiment once?

---

Thanks to everyone for the advice, water it is.

robinph

I think the jif lemon thing is meant to be filled with water, but lemon juice in the dogs eye would still work.

Korvanica

blast it with.. water, from your water bottle...

Taffy Kat

Seriously, thanks everyone, very much appreciated. At least I can go out with a bit more confidence now. But why does water scare them? My Grandad's dog jumps straight into the river everytime he takes it for a walk and he has a hard job getting it to get out again.

seamus

The water doesn't scare them as such, but the spray is something they've never seen before so it will distract them and scare them at the same time.

Tenzor07

Get one of these: Dog Repeller

unionman

Could it be anything to do with the fact that your name is Kat?

I'll get me coat.

The dog at the top of Stocking Lane has been responsible for bursts of hill speed I am incapable of anywhere else. He managed to nip me once, nothing serious but not fun.

Water bottle / roar seems to work.

dermur

The shock factor of a sudden squirt of the water bottle definately works.

The problem is always going to be that the dog thinks his barking/chasing is what's making you run from his turf. Who really has the time/patience to get off your bike everytime a dog comes after you and face him down until he backs off?

All very well if you're The Dog Whisperer but I'm busy enough trying to give myself a coronary when I'm out...

ednwireland

Taffy Kat wrote: »

It really makes me very angry because all I was doing was minding my own business. And I can't understand these idiots who leave their dogs loose in the front garden so they can attack cyclists/walkers. The biggest problem is though, that it is a fast country lane, and whilst I'm wobbling trying to avoid the dogs, I could be hit. I think I can cope with a nip, but being smashed up by a land rover might be different.

let me know how that works out

(a month off the bike and 2 big holes in my calf from a sheepdog)

talked to a guard i know (dog would be dead if it stood still long enough) dog disappeared

anyway never had a problem since , the little ones i ignore - seems to work, big ones aim a water bottle, although there seems a lot less out the roads round me than there used to be

personally i would tazer the little fu............

Taffy Kat

I understand. My Grandad always told me that too. If a dog ever threatens you just stand still, when he sees you're not frightened he'll back off. Sort of like a bully in a playground. I've even made rottweilers back off just by standing silently. Trouble as, as one user said, when you're cycling its a bigger job to stop than if you're walking.

I did think however of another way to solve the problem. If I cycle down that lane now, get the dogs to chase me but give them dog biscuits then they'll probably befriend me. If I then go down later in my car and throw dog biscuits to them, perhaps they'll come across. In which instance I can practice naught to sixty using them as ramps...

tomasrojo

Taffy Kat wrote: »

I did think however of another way to solve the problem. If I cycle down that lane now, get the dogs to chase me but give them dog biscuits then they'll probably befriend me. If I then go down later in my car and throw dog biscuits to them, perhaps they'll come across. In which instance I can practice naught to sixty using them as ramps...

Richard?

Lumen

Taffy Kat wrote: »

But why does water scare them?

Because they're stupid.

Jawgap

Taffy Kat wrote: »

Anyone any experience of how to cope with dogs when out

Any ideas?

Stay away from Coppers, especially in the latter stages of the hurling and football championships:)

Now for the serious answer - old water bottle, water and lots of tabasco - apply liberally to obtain the desired effect.

......and before anyone goes mental, I'd just like to point out as a responsible dog owner myself I wouldn't let my own dogs out where they could cause an accident or injury to a passer-by.

Taffy Kat

Jawgap wrote: »

Stay away from Coppers, especially in the latter stages of the hurling and football championships:)

Now for the serious answer - old water bottle, water and lots of tabasco - apply liberally to obtain the desired effect.

......and before anyone goes mental, I'd just like to point out as a responsible dog owner myself I wouldn't let my own dogs out where they could cause an accident or injury to a passer-by.

Exactly my thoughts. Its not the dogs' fault, its the fault ultimately of the owner. Interesting would be the owner's reaction to being faced (a)by a Guard and (b)by a legal suit; after his dog had bitten a cyclist and drawn blood.

By leaving their dogs roam loose they're risking seriously hurting or killing a passer-by, not solely by cause of dog attack depending on the size of the dog but also by distracting a cyclist/walker into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Also, they are risking causing a motor collision by a dog distracting a motorist. Further, if the dog draws blood via a bite then that dog will be put down by order of the Gardai. Plus, a great risk that the attacked cyclist/walker will take issue with the owner's negligence for leaving the dog loose and sue. Personal injury claims due to other's negligence pay out tidy sums.

If I left my toddler out the front playing on his own then social services would pay me a call. Why isn't it the same for owners of dogs left loose, particularly in view of the fact dogs have a far lesser intelligence capacity than a human.

Thanks for the tabasco idea, I was already thinking of what I could put in the water to make it more potent.

g0g

Glad to see this thread heading more in favour of the cyclist and less about having sympathy on the stupid animals and their owners! I'm not going to pretend to be an animal lover because I'm not. It disgusts me that some idiots with dogs don't have the decency to put up a fence or close the gate to keep them in. The road past the house is not their "patch" and they should not be out on it terrorising people.

I shouldn't have to be thinking about bottles of water or getting off my bike or standing still etc. I should be able to cycle in peace anywhere on public roads. I'm not hugely comfortable with dogs, and knowing where the loose big ones are would almost put me off a route and certainly the thought they might be around puts me off exporing new routes. Dogs should be treated just like other animals and either tied up or fenced in. I don't see bulls chasing people down the road whatever else.

Rant over.

stylie

All dogs tied up or fenced in ? You dont spend much time in the country side do you.

If a good kick in the face didnt work, get a childs water gun, the very small type and fill with water and lemon juice. The water gun shoots the water farther than your own water bottle and I would had to waste a drop on a dog and then be thirsty afterwards.

ednwireland

g0g wrote: »

I don't see bulls chasing people down the road whatever else.

had a big shire horse following me down the road a couple of months ago (Clever animals horses though, just decided i was going the wrong way and stopped)

Caroline_ie

I am a total wimp when it comes to dogs, I will turn around when I see a small dog in my way. I get so terrified that I can't even roar at them. Great for sprint drills though...

g0g

stylie wrote: »

All dogs tied up or fenced in ? You dont spend much time in the country side do you.

I spend enough time there to observe how many idiotic pet owners live there! We simpy shouldn't need to be having discussions about how to deal with them - the problem is with the irresponsible animal owners. I don't have a problem with a dog that comes down to the gate to just bark at me, but once they leave the property where they belong they're simply an accident waiting to happen.

Rew

Kicking a dog is a good way to get bitten, 99.999% of these dogs are all bark and no bite. Dogs that bite random people dont live that long...

Unregistered.

robinph wrote: »

I think the jif lemon thing is meant to be filled with water

No, it's not.

ednwireland

g0g wrote: »

I spend enough time there to observe how many idiotic pet owners live there! We simpy shouldn't need to be having discussions about how to deal with them - the problem is with the irresponsible animal owners. I don't have a problem with a dog that comes down to the gate to just bark at me, but once they leave the property where they belong they're simply an accident waiting to happen.

totally agree,
rant
its like that speed kills advert, and the young fella overtakes a car on a straight road with dashed lines and the judge says you were doing an inappropriate speed , no iyts cios someone let there dog run on the road

/rant

Rob A. Bank

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Get one of these: Dog Repeller

Fine... until you meet an angry deaf mutt

The long distance cycling site CrazyGuyOnABike has a detailed look at all the options and comes down in favour of pepper spray.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/dealingwithdogs

pmcd22

If i see a dog out, i take my foot out of the cleat. If they start to come towards me then i go towards them causing them to back off and take a defensive approach.

Its the little ones that come out from nowhere. Was hitting around 33km/h and could heard cars coming from behind on a 100km stretch.. Thankfully the car slowed down before coming to me as the dog came out fast and stayed right beside my bike for a good few seconds. Car backed off me so that was good driving on his part. He wasn't one of these drivers that stays at 100km/h and stays tight to ya when overtaking.

I did feel like going into the owners house and give him a good scare on how he his animal nearly caused a serious accident in which he would have being held responsible for but I was focused on my cycle and didn't feel like stopping.

SWL

g0g wrote: »

I spend enough time there to observe how many idiotic pet owners live there! We simpy shouldn't need to be having discussions about how to deal with them - the problem is with the irresponsible animal owners. I don't have a problem with a dog that comes down to the gate to just bark at me, but once they leave the property where they belong they're simply an accident waiting to happen.

I have had problems with dogs.

One Sunday morning out on a newly bypassed road a guy was out walking his dog. This was not the “dogs patch” as soon as the dog spotted me he ran towards me barked and eventually showed his teeth. I dismounted the bike and really wanted to shove my pump down his throat as the dog was becoming more and more aggressive. I assumed once the owner got near he would deal with the situation instead unbelievable he walked right pass me while the dog continued to bark. I ask him if he could get his dog under control so I could continue, we swapped some colourful words and eventually I told “If your dog bites or damages my bike I will be suing you”. The dog was immediately put back on a lead.

Again had a similar problem with another dog on a route I used, the problem with this mongrel was if he was on the road as you approached it was almost impossible to pass. One day I got so annoyed I turned for home got into my car and drove back to the house, again I told the owner that on several occasions his dog was causing a public nuisance. If he bites me or causing me to crash and damage my bike I will be suing – never had a problem with that dog again – they put him on an extended lead that restricted him from roaming around the roadside.

Moral of the story – tell the owner you will sue.

furiousox

One of the lads in our group was constantly being terrorised by a vicious jack russell....until he blasted him in the chops with a bottle of vinegar!

ednwireland

furiousox wrote: »

One of the lads in our group was constantly being terrorised by a vicious jack russell....until he blasted him in the chops with a bottle of vinegar!

glass bottle of malt vinegar i hope

andy69

these little f**kers chase after me all the time. and the road is uphill, and goes south, so usually I've a headwind, and it's near the end of my spin so sprinting past is too tough

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lFG052gincU?hl=en&fs=1&quot; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFG052gincU

One day I'll get round to reporting to the Dog Warden, but first I'll drive up and have a word with the irresponsible owner.

ThisRegard

So was anyone actually attacked in this thread ? All I've read about so far is about dogs chasing and barking and then some "it's s bloody disgrace I tells ya" type replies.

Back in my day we'd run past angry german shepherds for the thrill of the chase, now we have cyclists avoiding routes were little yappy dogs live.

Weylin

Mr Marri wrote: »

The loudest roar you've got will normally scare them off, failing that just forget they're there and peddle faster. those small dogs are tough so your unlikely to do much harm even if you end up cycling over one. my biggest concern with dogs is that they can be so busy chasing me that they might get hit by a car.

that would be the LEAST of my concerns.:)

g0g

ThisRegard wrote: »

So was anyone actually attacked in this thread ? All I've read about so far is about dogs chasing and barking and then some "it's s bloody disgrace I tells ya" type replies.

Back in my day we'd run past angry german shepherds for the thrill of the chase, now we have cyclists avoiding routes were little yappy dogs live.

So do we have to be bitten or cause a crash before it counts as a problem? Sound logic. Are drunk drivers not a problem then til they hit someone and should we let them continue on?

ednwireland

ThisRegard wrote: »

So was anyone actually attacked in this thread ? All I've read about so far is about dogs chasing and barking and then some "it's s bloody disgrace I tells ya" type replies.

Back in my day we'd run past angry german shepherds for the thrill of the chase, now we have cyclists avoiding routes were little yappy dogs live.

Didnt read my first post. Had a collie put two large holes in my calf. Came running out of a drive straight for my leg. I always watch collies other dogs are mostly noise

ThisRegard

ednwireland wrote: »

Didnt read my first post. Had a collie put two large holes in my calf. Came running out of a drive straight for my leg. I always watch collies other dogs are mostly noise

Sorry, didn't spot it as you said.

But generally in my experience dogs are just out for the chase and can be by and large safely ignored, they're like kids playing knick-knack, they get the most enjoyment out of those who react most. Best thing for the persistent gits is the water though.

Shadow78

Cayenne Pepper is supposed to work wonders. Water + cayenne in a bottle or you could try this

blorg

Small dogs I turn around and head the bike straight back at them. I chased one a good few hundred metres with it jumping up and bouncing off the hedge until it finally found a gap it could get through. I find this hilarious.

Bigger dogs there are two options. First is to outsprint them. If you can't do this you need to stop and face the dog with the bike between you and the dog. They won't, even in a pack, go around the bike. A frame pump raised in an aggressive manner is effective, as is pretending to throw stones (at least outside Europe, where throwing stones at animals and children is the standard way of making them go where you want.) I've never needed to actually hit a dog but I wouldn't shy from it if necessary.

If you have panniers the dog will latch on to them before your ankle. Worst I had was a pack of Turkish Army alsatians at a checkpoint in Kurdistan; they were handled by stopping/facing and then the army throwing stones at them while I made my escape.

Redmond101

Clip off and a a little kick will normally get rid of them!

Personally I don't like doing this and it would be more of a nudge than a kick incase anybody thinks I'm being cruel to animals

Taffy Kat

ThisRegard wrote: »

Sorry, didn't spot it as you said.

But generally in my experience dogs are just out for the chase and can be by and large safely ignored, they're like kids playing knick-knack, they get the most enjoyment out of those who react most. Best thing for the persistent gits is the water though.

That's possibly true. It doesn't make them less of a nuisance though. If, for example, my neighbour was a gun enthusiast and every time I walked past his house he trained his AK47 on me should I just let it slide because its his idea of fun? Perhaps I know he's not a murderer and is highly unlikely to ever pull the trigger. Does it make it any less worrying?

Half the problem is the attitude of a lot of dog owners that dogs are equally or more important than humans. I know for example, if my Grandad's dog had been chasing someone and the person complained my Grandad would kick the dog up the ar5e. My Gran might be less helpful to the passer-by though.

seamus

Shadow78 wrote: »

Cayenne Pepper is supposed to work wonders. Water + cayenne in a bottle or you could try this

Only thing is I don't know who has the space to carry a spare water bottle to fend off dogs. Plus, what if you drink it by mistake :eek:

If, for example, my neighbour was a gun enthusiast and every time I walked past his house he trained his AK47 on me should I just let it slide because its his idea of fun? Perhaps I know he's not a murderer and is highly unlikely to ever pull the trigger. Does it make it any less worrying?

I think you're overestimating the danger posed tbh. In this country, dogs are massively unlikely to fatally attack someone. It's been at least 20 years since anyone was killed by a dog in this country afaik (excepting the woman who killed by the German Shepherd's sperm, gotta watch that one). Dog bites are a good deal less rare, but very rarely do they do any permanent or serious damage. Though they hurt like a bitch cos they're puncture wounds more than scratches.

A more accurate comparison would be a BB gun, I guess.

blorg

Redmond101 wrote: »

Clip off and a a little kick will normally get rid of them!

Personally I don't like doing this and it would be more of a nudge than a kick incase anybody thinks I'm being cruel to animals

I really think that's a bad idea, the dog probably has more coordination than you do on the bike and there's a fair chance it will end up biting your leg. I keep my body away from the dog at all times. I'm really quite careful around animals here as there is a risk of rabies not present in Ireland.

Taffy Kat

seamus wrote: »

Only thing is I don't know who has the space to carry a spare water bottle to fend off dogs. Plus, what if you drink it by mistake :eek:

I think you're overestimating the danger posed tbh. In this country, dogs are massively unlikely to fatally attack someone. It's been at least 20 years since anyone was killed by a dog in this country afaik (excepting the woman who killed by the German Shepherd's sperm, gotta watch that one). Dog bites are a good deal less rare, but very rarely do they do any permanent or serious damage. Though they hurt like a bitch cos they're puncture wounds more than scratches.

A more accurate comparison would be a BB gun, I guess.

I think you're missing the point. Why should I be at any risk of being hurt, even forgetting being killed, when I'm going about my daily business and not bothering anybody? And it doesn't take much imagination that someone wobbling on a bike to avoid a dog could unwittingly manoeuvre themselves into the path of a vehicle, much more likely to kill.

The simple answer to all this would be introducing a law whereby if a dog chases someone it gets put down because of the danger it poses, regardless of whether it bites or not.