Question:
> Back up. When you’re riding your bike, you scan the block, CHECKING for >loose dogs. Constantly.
You’d be something to take a ride on the subway with! No. You live your life as normal and be prepared to deal with conflict should it arise.
Response:
: > : > Back up. When you’re riding your bike, you scan the block, CHECKING for : >loose dogs. Constantly. : You’d be something to take a ride on the subway with! : No. You live your life as normal and be prepared to deal with conflict : should it arise. A good bicyclist keeps an eye out for trouble BEFORE it runs them over. Any driving manual will tell you to scan ahead for trouble, and leave yourself an out. You’re even more vulnerable on a bicycle. Lots more to watch out for…from dogs to drainage gratings, and lots more.
Response:
Back to the spray, I am always being approached by loose dogs, when out walking my dog, small welsh terrorist, and she will not back down! I considered pepper spray. So you are all saying it works BEFORE the attack. I hate to spray too soon, but I love that little creature,and she’ll get creamed if I don’t do something, she has no idea she’s little.
Response:
>Isn’t it true that Mace has no effect on dogs? (No tear ducts.) >Isn’t that why Postmen carry Pepper Spray instead?
Well, I don’t know but I can tell you my one and only experience with whatever spray it is that the postmen carry and a dog. I had a problem some time ago in that living in a populated area, my dog and I would often run into loose, unruly dogs roaming free. Invariably, these dogs would approach my dog and my dog would beat the hell out of them so badly that I asked a postman to get me a can of the spray the postoffice issues so as to keep the loose dogs from running into my dog. To make a long story short, a big mutt approached my dog one evening and when it got so close that I knew it was seconds away from getting hurt, I sprayed it squarely in the face, thinking the dog would turn and run. Nothing at all happened. The spray had no effect. He continued to come on and not only had a face full of spray but he proceeded to get the hell beat out of him too. The postmen carrying this stuff for personal protection should definitely be sure it works.
Response:
I bought a can of red pepper and tear gas combined in one formula. I’ve used it twice on dogs. The first time I was riding my bike and a Rott-mix started chasing and attacking my feet. I kicked at him but it seemed to make him mad, so I pulled out my spraycan and gave him a 1second burst directly in his nose. He instantly stopped and started rolling around, rubbing his face with his paws. It worked. The next time, my pitbull and my friends pitbull started fighting over a bone. We sprayed the stuff directly in their nose and eyes, with absolutely NO effect. It seemed to make them madder. Regarding any pepper spray/tear gas, if the dog doesn’t know if he wants to attack, it will probably work. If the dog’s alrerady decided he wants to attack, you’d better have more than the spray. When people don’t know what your about, they put you down and shut you out. You gave to me a new belief, and soon the world will love you sweet leaf.—Black Sabbath—
Response:
: >The first time I was riding my bike and a : >Rott-mix started chasing and attacking my feet. I kicked at him but it : >seemed to make him mad, : Here’s what to do in that case. I am a 15+ year veteran of innercity bicycling. Here’s what you do- : As soon as you see a dog coming at you : while you are riding your bike Back up. When you’re riding your bike, you scan the block, CHECKING for loose dogs. Constantly. Soon, you’ll find dogs ridiculously easy to spot. I’ve never been bitten, and only seriously threatened a few times. Dog probably will be sleeping. I will wake when it hears you. For a few seconds after waking, dogs are very impressionable. They have to decide wether to get up from a great nap to chase you or to go back to sleep. You TELL them lay down. Hee hee…it works. Sometimes, I almost think that when they totter between sleep and wakefulness, they must think it is their own inner voice telling them to go back to sleep. 
: slam on the breaks, get off the bike, : pick the bike up high but still between you and the dog, and charge : the dog with the bike. Screaming: "GO AHEAD! I’LL KILL YOU!" helps. I’ve never stopped, nor had to get into any histrionics to control a dog. Many factors have to be in place, and several mental obsticals to be overcome for a dog to connect with enough prey drive to confront a human. : Basically, the dog sees you speeding by o your bike and his prey drive : kicks in. You totally take him by surprise when you attack him when he : is in chase mode. Na, just take control before he connects with his prey drive. I only had to get pushy while bicycling one time. Had to traverse a REALLY rough area. I passed a black youth who spat, and flicked a cigarette butt against my arm. No sooner had I gotten over "yukkk-ing" from that encounter, than an UGLY Rott spotted me from his porch, and decided to have some sport with me. I intercepted in plenty of time, telling him to knock it off, and lay down. He ignored my command. I started cussing him out for his disobedience. It was sort of funny, but for a moment, I forgot the details of the situation and was seriously pissed at him for disobeying me. He got this expression of embarassment, dropped his ears down and went schootching back to his porch. : Youaren’t going to get away fro the dog anyway so it : doesn’t pay to exasorbate the situation by speeding up. Attack instead : and in a pinch, be prepard to have to beat the dog with the bike. If : the charge doesn’t stop him, the bike might.
Response:
>The first time I was riding my bike and a >Rott-mix started chasing and attacking my feet. I kicked at him but it >seemed to make him mad,
Here’s what to do in that case. As soon as you see a dog coming at you while you are riding your bike, slam on the breaks, get off the bike, pick the bike up high but still between you and the dog, and charge the dog with the bike. Screaming: "GO AHEAD! I’LL KILL YOU!" helps. Basically, the dog sees you speeding by o your bike and his prey drive kicks in. You totally take him by surprise when you attack him when he is in chase mode. Youaren’t going to get away fro the dog anyway so it doesn’t pay to exasorbate the situation by speeding up. Attack instead and in a pinch, be prepard to have to beat the dog with the bike. If the charge doesn’t stop him, the bike might.
Response:
Isn’t it true that Mace has no effect on dogs? (No tear ducts.) Isn’t that why Postmen carry Pepper Spray instead?