Chased by dogs...best strategy?

[Dekonick]

Originally Posted by Tickdoc

Just ride with a slower friend and you’ll be fine.

Hey!

[sokyroadie]

UPS driver - works every time, just saying

[Dekonick]

I carry a cat and use it as a decoy...

[tab123]

I used to know all the dogs on my routes around NW Indiana and SE Michigan. I used a similar tactic to the shop rag. I carried an old tennis ball to toss if the dog didn't respond to a stern "no" or "go home." This worked with most dogs, except one German Shepherd. For him I stopped and walked on the other side of the road with my bike between us. I was delighted when his family moved.

[Elefantino]

1) water bottle.
2) my two-tone whistle.
3) sprint workout.

[KJMUNC]

The well shouted "NO" usually works pretty well, but Memorial Day 2018 I was riding east of Austin descending a hill when a country dog came out of nowhere and ran straight into my front wheel before I could even react. I went down hard and fractured my arm.

Bike (my Yates MXL) was ok and somehow sustained zero damage.....shows how durable that bike is (or how lucky I am). Not sure what happened to the dog, as he ran off into the woods.

Owner came out and gave me some pain meds and a ride back to my house (45min away).....he was grossly apologetic and as much as I wanted to be mad at him, I can't fault a guy for having having a dog running around the country without a leash....it's the country and I was riding there.

[RWeb]

I genuinely, perhaps foolishly, have no fear of dogs.

During the few times that I have been chased, I have gotten off my bike and chased the dog while yelling. It’s worked every time for me.

I believe that if you are not on their turf, you’re not cornering them, and you genuinely have no fear, then the dog will yield. That’s always been my approach toward aggressive dogs.

It seems that aggressive, unleashed dogs were a common problem in the past but pretty much a non-issue these days.