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Permalink Reply by Mike Bullis 5.5-6.5 miles on March 6, 2015 at 2:41am

About 50 years ago, I got my ankle gnawed on by a friends dog while riding my Evans. No real damage, I was more scared than anything else. His parents took pretty good care of me, took me to the local GP, and penned their dog for ten days. Turned out the dog was just a jerk towards me. There were no lawyers involved.

About ten years ago, I was chased by four big mutts in Barrington Hills. Didn't get munched on but I did get the local constabulary involved. I didn't want to press charges, just wanted the the owner to get a good talking to. Seemed to work.

Last time was Maine, 2007. This huge monster, like the one in the movie 'Sandlot', came barreling out of a farm at me. I was ready to nail him with my pump, but that would have made him mad. Turned out, he just wanted to play. Ran along side me for half a mile or so, the turned around and loped home.

Possibly a few more, but these are the ones that stick out.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 6, 2015 at 8:59am

Agreed. This happened to me a few times when I was living in New Hampshire and riding on tiny little farm roads. There was only one time when the dog pursued me aggressively for a distance. I sprinted like a mad fool and squirted him in the face with my water bottle when he didn't give up quickly.   Score: me 1, dog 0.

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Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on March 6, 2015 at 4:14am

Yes!  I was about a mile from home on my commute, on Sunnyside about 3/4 of a block E of Central, riding W towards central.  I see 2 dogs on the lawn of a house on the South side of the street, and right when I am passing their house they start after me.  1 was a big headed Pit or American bulldog, the other was a Rott. A car was passing going west at the same time, I think the rott was smart enough to stop but the pit/bull kept after me and the car hit the dog about 10 ft behind me.  Kinda pushed the dog into my lane, by hitting it right on the left hip...and it kept running after me!   I sprinted past central, luckily I had a green...or I would of got nailed by a car..once I slowed down from about 2 1/2 blocks away I rode back to see if there was any damage.  2 older ladies across the street said they got the dogs back in, they weren't hurt, and it happens kind of often.  I still ride by the house every day, but I haven't seen any sign of those dogs.   For the record; I think Pits and American bulldogs are awesome dogs, with the right owners.  I don't think these were bad dogs at all, they just saw a fun opportunity and took it.  It was a rush, probably my most exciting commute ever

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Weiser on March 6, 2015 at 7:06am

By far the most effective way I've found is to baby talk them in a high pitched cutesy voice. "Hey puppy! Who's a good puppy? You are! Yes, you are!" Then you are not perceived as a threat and they just wag their tails and romp alongside you for a bit. 

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 6, 2015 at 9:00am

I've used that lots of times when walking, but not when a dog was pursuing me while I was riding.

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 6, 2015 at 9:12am

Back when I lived in Oak Park and we were commuting to the train, a dog started running for us as we passed. Brett looked at me and shouted, "Don't stop!!"

Luckily, we were faster than the dog and didn't have to worry. If sweet-talking the dog doesn't work, I hear the water bottle with a spray between the eyes can be safe and effective. I love dogs but I don't really want one biting me. Bad for both of us.

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Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on March 6, 2015 at 12:02pm

I ride a recumbent trike, so my neck is at the same level as a large dog, and my hands and ams are within biting level of any dog. I ride the lakefront and for some reason dog owners feel dogs do not need to be leashed. My usual reaction is to stop, wait for the dog to back to its owner and tell the owner to leash the dog or I call the police. This usually works.

Two years ago a woman had 6 Weimaraners along the lakefront. One started after me, so I stopped with a concrete abutment on my right, and #1 stayed at my left side. #2 and #3 came and stopped in front of me. #4 and #5 parked themselves behind me. #6 stayed with the owner and a number of them started growling. I told the woman to leash her dogs. "You are just a crabby old man," she said. This crabby old man called the police and she got ticketed.

'Tis pretty scary to be surrounded by six growling dogs and a clueless, knuckleheaded owner.

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Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on March 6, 2015 at 1:12pm

My best advice is depending on what the dog does. Always keep an eye on what the dog is doing, if he's barking but not chasing aggressively, just pass its territory slowly gauging its activity. If the dog is pursuing and looks like its out for blood, dismount bike and walk it past its turf and end the chase game. Most likely the dog will stop pursuing, if that doesn't do it, prepare to kick it hard where it hurts. Never had to do the latter. Never tried the squirt bottle. This experience is from 1000s of miles of riding in South America, where dogs are always loose.

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on March 6, 2015 at 1:59pm

Gene, my recent past experiences have also been with loose, unleashed dogs charging at me in parks and open areas. The 'owner' usually sort of laughs it off and says, "oh, (he/she) won't bite, (he/she) is a sweetheart ! While it's snarling, snapping jaws are inches from your flesh! Get a clue careless dog owners! Leash/curb your dogs! It's the law! I am also a "crabby old man" who doesn't enjoy getting bit(again) by an 'unfriendly' or 'friendly'/playful dog!

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Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on March 6, 2015 at 3:45pm

I know, Tom. "oh, (he/she) won't bite, (he/she) is a sweetheart !" is real comforting when your adrenalin level is skyrocketing, your pulse is throbbing and your hands and knees are shaking. 

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Permalink Reply by Marc A. Irwin on March 7, 2015 at 2:32am

  Remember dogs are territorial.  They are only concerned about protecting their area.  I have been chased by hundreds over the years.  99.99% will stop as you pass the legal boundary to their owners property.  I don't know how they learn it, but they seem to.  Just talk to them, and keep going forward, once they think they succeeded in driving you off, they stop.  Talking to them throws them off stride a bit, it surprises them.

Marc

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Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on March 9, 2015 at 4:03pm

I'll give it a try next time.

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