How to stop dog attacks.

[PaulB]

Has anybody found any ways of stopping attacks by dogs while out riding/running/walking?

I ask because there is a wonderful expanse of open land right at the back of my house that's used as a funeral parl...sorry, golf course (same thing but with worse clothes) that's very hard to resist. The trouble is, on the other side of that rolling open countryside, there's a large run-down estate with a very high dog population. And some of the worst of these breeds live with some of the worst dogs!

I've been threatened by dogs many times but they are usually small, stocky types but this morning it was a much larger dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback and the useless silly wee lassie walking it had no idea how to bring it under control.

So what's a good deterrent to have with you should you anticipate such an encounter? I complained to the police once about one dog and it never gave any trouble after that but I knew where he lived so that was easy. This one though I think will not go away. I always think it's a shame pepper sprays are illegal in this country!

 

[Chromatic]

SIT!

 

[rugby bloke]

To be honest, if the person with the dog cannot control it, there is not a lot you can do - as in the case of the Ridgeback, big strong dog, its going to do what it wants if not under control.

 

[PaulB]

To be honest, if the person with the dog cannot control it, there is not a lot you can do - as in the case of the Ridgeback, big strong dog, its going to do what it wants if not under control.

That's nice to know. One dog that regularly used to attack me by chomping at my ankles while I was riding through the village of Horton but it must have got sick of me squirting it with super-sticky liquid from my drinks bottle so it doesn't do that anymore. Another regular incident was a pair of Alsatians that used to go for me to the extent of their chains on a farm leading to Widdop en-route to Hebden Bridge but if I wear my red cycling helmet, they recognise me and wag their tails now.

 

[User6179]

I find most dogs just like the chase so stopping usually works on the bike .

 

[Profpointy]

SIT!
View attachment 131124

There's more than a grain of truth in the above. Act with authority and confidence (even if it's bluff) and 99% of dogs will not bother you. Don't run; instead face them, and give them the stern look or even the friendly look if appropriate. Run away or look nervous and they're far more like to chase you even in play. Realistically though, very few domestic dogs will casually bite anyone. An escaped guard dog or dog baiting dog maybe, but even a very badly behaved pet dog is unlikely to bite really.

I've never owned a dog, but having been generally very frightened of even little dogs as a child, I recall being "menaced" by a dog as a (stroppy) teenager and just thought "not today" - and gave him the "do you feel lucky, punk" look and he slunk off. Ever since, I've been confident with them, and indeed I've subsequently got on well with dogs, but still occasionally deploy "the look" if needed. My ex-Mrs told me off once for staring down a somewhat threatening farm dog (who was only guarding his yard to be fair) saying "he'll think you're threatening him" "But I am threatening him !" and indeed he duly thought honour best served by just guarding the gate, not running out to see us off.

No doubt a dog expert will say this is all wrong, but it's worked for me for over 40 years

 

[rugby bloke]

There's more than a grain of truth in the above. Act with authority and confidence (even if it's bluff) and 99% of dogs will not bother you. Don't run; instead face them, and give them the stern look or even the friendly look if appropriate. Run away or look nervous and they're far more like to chase you even in play. Realistically though, very few domestic dogs will casually bite anyone. An escaped guard dog or dog baiting dog maybe, but even a very badly behaved pet dog is unlikely to bite really.

I've never owned a dog, but having been generally very frightened of even little dogs as a child, I recall being "menaced" by a dog as a (stroppy) teenager and just thought "not today" - and gave him the "do you feel lucky, punk" look and he slunk off. Ever since, I've been confident with them, and indeed I've subsequently got on well with dogs, but still occasionally deploy "the look" if needed. My ex-Mrs told me off once for staring down a somewhat threatening farm dog (who was only guarding his yard to be fair) saying "he'll think you're threatening him" "But I am threatening him !" and indeed he duly thought honour best served by just guarding the gate, not running out to see us off.

No doubt a dog expert will say this is all wrong, but it's worked for me for over 40 years

I would agree - confidence around dogs is everything.

 

[Profpointy]

I would agree - confidence around dogs is everything.

worth looking on youtube for the Masai guys stealing food from a pride of lions. Basically it's the same principle with dogs

 

[PaulB]

I would agree - confidence around dogs is everything.

But a baseball bat would be better?

 

[Chromatic]

Here's my dog attack experience, posted here a while ago now.

I got attacked many years ago by an Alsation. I can't remember how old I was, I suppose I was about 12 13 or 14, something like that. I was walking home alone from playing football with mates when, as I approached a house with the front door open, the alsation came charging out of the house, across the front garden and just came right at me. At the last split second as it leapt up at me I turned my shoulder towards it and it sunk it's teeth into me at the top of the arm. I may be a bit melodramatic in saying it went for my throat but if I hadn't turned my shoulder towards it that's where it seemed like it would have got me. That put me off dogs for a while, I can tell you.
As far as I remember nothing was ever done about it, today I imagine that dog may have been destroyed.

 

[mybike]

This might work.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I find it quite laughable the new trend of harnesses rather than collar's, they are ideal for the dog to get maximum pulling power through their back legs, you see people now being pulled all over the place because of them. There are very few bad dogs, just a lot of bad owners, they are a pack animal & by nature defensive if they perceive a threat to their pack. They need to be dominated & shown the pecking order in the pack, the problem is a lot of owners allow the dog to be the dominant within the pack.

 

[Blue]

Does it hurt less if bitten by a dog that isn't bad?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Does it hurt less if bitten by a dog that isn't bad?

I have no idea, I've never been bitten, please share your experiences with the group

 

[Joffey]

I don't get attacked by dogs as I'm riding so fast they can't keep up... (This may not be true)

I'd avoid the area, only way to prevent dog attacks is don't go near the dog. Or carry some kind of cosh.