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Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:33 pm
by Gummikuh
I had a farm dog chase me a few days ago and I have never really been bothered by dogs before, but this one was belligerent and really a bit scary, throwing himself at my calves and doing his utmost to make a point.
I wanted to get off and give it the biggest kick, but I was worried that I would maybe miss and get bitten properly, So I just pedalled a bit harder and got some distance between us, which I know is the wrong thing to do but self preservation and all that!
I tried to report the incident to the local council and they no longer have dog wardens!
Lets hope someone doesn't get bitten in the future.
Curious as to what others would have done?
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:41 pm
by wriggles
Get off and walk. Never had a problem with a dog once walking. Think they realise you are human and not something to be chased and chewed. Includes the notorious dogs on the Great Divide route as well.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:47 pm
by Lazarus
I have dogs so i think you can tell to some degree the level of intent
Dismount from bike use it as a barrier between you and the dog -only had to do this once mind and sort of roll it around and just keep it between you and the dog
if this fails plan b is to hit dog with bike by spinning rear wheel at it whilst holding the bars
this does rather depend on how much notice you have but off the bike is always a better statring point than on the bike
Staying calm always helps aswell but easier said than done
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:57 pm
by mikehowarth
Generally a big skid, followed by dismounting the bike has always worked for me, it kind of shocks the dog and then it realises you are a human.
If they're really persistent a quick squirt of a water bottle has always worked in UK.
South American dogs are somewhat different and none of these tactics work, particularly when they are in packs, the only thing that generally works for them is a swift and judicious kick in the chops (not very pc I know).
The worst animals I've encountered whilst cycling are monkeys, they are a totally different level
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 1:02 pm
by ScotRoutes
Never mind the council, report it to the Police. They might do nothing this time but will build up a picture if it's repeated and will then take action.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 2:16 pm
by lune ranger
I’ve never had to resort to kicking a dog in the UK but have had to once or twice in Asia and Africa.
The counterintuitive stop and get off advice is generally the best idea to de escalate aggression from most animals in my experience. Combined it with some loud confident shouting.
Report the dog to the cops.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 2:17 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
I too would advocate walking. Most farm dogs I've ever met will readily chase wheels or moving objects, yet have little interest in people. Those that are still a little keen often respond well to a good shouting at.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 3:15 pm
by Jurassic
I agree with all the advice to get off and walk. If it's a farm dog it's probably had it's herding instinct stimulated by somebody riding past on a bike. Border Collies are notorious for chasing bikes, cars etc and trying to round them up. Something fast moving also plays to a dog's "prey drive" instinct which is why they'll happily chase a ball or stick for hours on end (or a fleeing person in the case of a Police Dog
).
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 3:17 pm
by The Cumbrian
As an aside, my ex was bitten by a farm dog when she was pregnant with our first child. Her mother attributed our eldest son's childhood fear of dogs to this incident. The look on my and my ex's faces when she said that could have been used for a WTF? gif.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:51 pm
by Ray Young
I was accosted by an aggressive alsatian in Germany once so got off the bike and put it between me and it but I was sort of backed into a corner. Every time I went to move it barked even more aggressively. After a minute a guy walked nonchalantly around the corner and called the dog. He didn't even look at me never mind giving me an apology.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:07 pm
by fatbikephil
Being slightly dog-a-phobic, the thought of stopping and walking isn't one that comes easily. The skid trick works flawlessly (well so far), just kick the back wheel out a bit and the resultant spray of gravel stops them in their tracks. Dog dazers are effective at close range but the best thing is to tell the owner to get their hell hound under control. A trick whilst walking is to brandish your walking poles in front of you when the dog approaches. If the owner is in view they generally twig your not a dog person and try and get the thing back under control. I've once had to jump off the bike and hold it between me and the foaming mutt. This shocked the owner so much she dragged it back and made a sharp exit.....
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:27 pm
by Jurassic
htrider wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:07 pm
Being slightly dog-a-phobic, the thought of stopping and walking isn't one that comes easily. The skid trick works flawlessly (well so far), just kick the back wheel out a bit and the resultant spray of gravel stops them in their tracks. Dog dazers are effective at close range but the best thing is to tell the owner to get their hell hound under control. A trick whilst walking is to brandish your walking poles in front of you when the dog approaches. If the owner is in view they generally twig your not a dog person and try and get the thing back under control. I've once had to jump off the bike and hold it between me and the foaming mutt. This shocked the owner so much she dragged it back and made a sharp exit.....
I love dogs and am totally at home around them but I can totally sympathise with your point of view. The bottom line is that if a dog is able to run up to you ( whether barking etc or not) then it's not under control. It really annoys me when people let their dogs run up to people (and other dogs) and then come out with the line "Oh don't worry he/she only wants to play". What if the other person is afraid of dogs or the other dog is antisocial (and their owner has done the responsible thing and kept their dog on the lead)?
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:57 pm
by Mr conners
I’ve generally found that if I’m not in a position to outrun the offending animal then stopping and letting it do it’s barking thing till it gets bored generally works. Failing that, throwing rocks in its general direction or actually chasing it on the bike sometimes has the desired effect . I find the worst can be Collies in farmyards. Or in Peru, where they were off the scale aggressive.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 9:59 am
by Bearbonesnorm
I'll just add a little caution with regard to calling the police ... a dog that has shown some aggression towards you but HASN'T bitten you isn't really a dangerous dog. It's more likely to be a scared dog.
Ringing the police could result in the dog being destroyed ... not because it was actually a dangerous dog but simply because it scared you.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:22 am
by Lazarus
Understanding the dogs "motivation" is a tad difficult and little more than guess work
No dog is going to be destroyed/killed for simply chasing you - however if it has bitten in the past and the owner has been warned to secure said animal then action MAY occur
Hardly surprising - could be a small child next time etc
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 11:50 am
by ScotRoutes
Lazarus wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:22 am
Understanding the dogs "motivation" is a tad difficult and little more than guess work
No dog is going to be destroyed/killed for simply chasing you - however if it has bitten in the past and the owner has been warned to secure said animal then action MAY occur
Hardly surprising - could be a small child next time etc
This. It's about establishing a pattern of behaviour. The Police might also have a word with the owner about keeping it under control.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:12 pm
by BigdummySteve
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:40 pm
by Specialist Hoprocker
I had to circumnavigate a guard goose in a farmyard on Sunday.
I think I'd prefer a dog!
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:47 pm
by fatbikephil
Geese are easy - pinch your thump and fingers together in a sort of beak shape and point towards the goose / geese. They will think its a really big goose and back off. A goose owning friend taught me that. I thought she was winding me up but it does work!
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 9:40 am
by mattpage
Agree with most of the above, if it seems bad just jump off.
Most of the time they are really friendly after, just like chasing things.
As a former postie I got to know good dogs from bad pretty quickly.
Only one have I had a really bad dog while riding and after jumping off it was still persistent and in this situation you have the bike as a shield. If it is bad at this time it really needs reporting, or perhaps speak to the owners first and have them tie it up. Farmers will happily tie a dog up to keep it alive as a good sheepdog is worth a lot of money.
As for Geese... bugger that! Several times had to run from a house door to jump in the van on the road.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 9:46 am
by In Reverse
Police dogs are usually fine tbf.
It's the police dog
handlers you need to keep an eye out for - absolute wrong 'uns.
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:16 am
by rufus748
In Reverse wrote: ↑Fri Jun 26, 2020 9:46 am
Police dogs are usually fine tbf.
It's the police dog
handlers you need to keep an eye out for - absolute wrong 'uns.
Oi
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:16 am
by rufus748
In Reverse wrote: ↑Fri Jun 26, 2020 9:46 am
Police dogs are usually fine tbf.
It's the police dog
handlers you need to keep an eye out for - absolute wrong 'uns.
Hmmm......
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:59 am
by FLV
htrider wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:47 pm
Geese are easy - pinch your thump and fingers together in a sort of beak shape and point towards the goose / geese. They will think its a really big goose and back off. A goose owning friend taught me that. I thought she was winding me up but it does work!
I'm not having that....
But am looking forward to trying it, I actually know just the grumpy old goose to try it on too....
Re: Dangerous dogs
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 11:04 am
by Lazarus
i am thinking use both hands to make it think its the double head goose of myth and legend come for its soul
My experience ,and we had geese, is definitely make yourself large and dont run as they will just chase you and its hard to defend when fleeing .
Roundhouse kick to the head is pretty effective assuming you have the skill to execute one [ i was ladden with shopping and it was my only option other than drop my shopping and run as i could not run with it - had i done this the goats would have eaten it