I would kick the dog.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in a neighborhood with lots of loose dogs, some on the aggressive side. A very firm yell directed at them worked well. Very firm and authoritarian. Bear spray is a bad idea, as it can kill the dog.

As a dog-owner who loves my dog and fosters dogs, I really wouldn't mind if bear spray seriously injures a dog that scares people. But the risk is that the panicked person sprays themselves. Be careful of wind gusts. You can get a faceful without intending to.

Came to say the same re: bear spay, pepper sprays etc. Took a course with a self-defense specialist and he said that sprays often end up hitting the person doing the spraying and can incapacitate the victim instead of the intended target. A blast from a water bottle that has a good, strong spray of water would be safer for the cyclist though it might not drive off a dog the way a chemical spray would. Be cautious if you use any form of spray.

Anonymous wrote:The dog is not chasing to eat you. He is chasing to chase, it is a game to dogs to chase. Why do you think they chase balls?

Were you hurt? No, then just hope that was a one off and you can tell all your friends at their next dinner party.

Not OP, but -- I see the "dogs can do no wrong" poster has arrived.

Suddenly having a strange dog chasing you is frightening and frankly could cause a cyclist to crash. Of course we know the dogs don't want to eat us; don't be obnoxious. But we know nothing else about them and are not obliged to play along with their game of chase, nor do we have to find it amusing like you seem to.

Do you have any ideas to offer on what a cyclist should DO in this instance, PP, or do you think cyclists (or walkers who don't want to be approached by dogs) should just play along because Fido's only playing a game?

The dog is not chasing to eat you. He is chasing to chase, it is a game to dogs to chase. Why do you think they chase balls?

Were you hurt? No, then just hope that was a one off and you can tell all your friends at their next dinner party.

Nipping at your heals did he actual bite you, you may want rabies shots

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Squirt it with your water bottle.

This actually works on a lot of dogs. We carry a water bottle that can be easily squeezed to squirt water out on walks after being charged by several dogs. One good squirt of water in the face freaks most of them out enough to make them back off.

This. Squirt water at them it stops them in there tracks

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in a neighborhood with lots of loose dogs, some on the aggressive side. A very firm yell directed at them worked well. Very firm and authoritarian. Bear spray is a bad idea, as it can kill the dog.

As a dog-owner who loves my dog and fosters dogs, I really wouldn't mind if bear spray seriously injures a dog that scares people. But the risk is that the panicked person sprays themselves. Be careful of wind gusts. You can get a faceful without intending to.