|
| |
How To Deal With Bad Dogs
By Fred Matheny and Ed Pavelka
In Tasmania, owners of bad dogs must post this sign on their property!
Dog attacks are high on the list of cycling fears. Maybe you can’t stop Fang
from giving chase, but you can outsmart him if you know how dogs think —
assuming that stinkin’ mutt even has a brain!
Know dog psychology. The majority of dogs who chase cyclists are merely
defending their territory. When you pedal off the section of road that they
consider their turf, you no longer pose a threat to their ancestral instincts
and they lose interest. Incidentally, this is why you’ll rarely be chased by a
dog you encounter way out in the boonies. He’s not on his turf so he couldn’t
care less about you.
Know dog tactics. Dogs want to attack from the rear, coming up from the
hindquarter. Even one who sits up in his yard ahead of you may wait till you
pass before giving chase. You can use this to your advantage in the next tip
because it gives you a head start.
Sprint! You often can outsprint Fido when he’s more interested in fooling around
than in actually attacking. You can tell his intent by how hard he’s running and
his expression. An easy gait with woofing and ears and tail up, no problem. A
full-out sprint with ears back, tail down and teeth out, problem. Still, the
territorial gene can save you. If the road is flat or downhill, stand up and
sprint to get past the dog’s invisible boundary.
Guard your front wheel. When a dog sees you coming, he might make a beeline for
your bike, then attempt to turn up beside you. The danger here is that his poor
little paws will skid on the pavement and he’ll plow into your wheels. If he
hits the front one, you’ll crash. Sprint so that you move forward faster than he
expects, and give him a margin for error by steering farther into the road — if
traffic permits!
SCREAM! Most dogs know what happens when a human is angry with them. A sudden
shout of “No!” or “Git!” or “Stay!” will surprise Fluffy and probably make him
hesitate for just the second you need to take the advantage. If he’s hard of
hearing, raise your hand threateningly as if it contains a rock. Outlaw mutts
usually have had experience with bad things flying at them when a human makes a
throwing gesture.
Play douse the Doberman. If you see big, fast Prince up ahead and know that he
sees you, sprinting might not work. Especially if the road is tilting up. Take
out your water bottle. Just having it in your hand may make him stay away. If he
does come near you, give him a faceful and a loud yell. This distraction will
slow him down, though he may come back for more. Just don’t distract yourself
and ride off the road.
Some riders swear by Halt pepper spray that they clip to their handlebar. This
stuff works great — if you hit your target. That’s a big if when you and Spot
are going different speeds, the air is moving, and you’re trying to stay on the
road. Pepper spray stings a dog’s eyes, nose and mouth, but it doesn’t cause
lasting damage. It also works on human attackers, but that’s a different story.
Give up and get off. If nothing works and Toodles has the upper hand, dismount
quickly and hold your bike between you and those sharp teeth. Swing it like a
weapon if necessary, and start calling for help. Someone may eventually come out
of a house and yell, “Oh, he won’t hurt you!”
Call the cops. If you are attacked and bitten, report it to the county sheriff
or other authority immediately. Include the location, a description of the dog
and the owner’s name and address if you know them. Get medical attention without
delay. If the dog was rabid, you are at risk of serious illness or even death.
Demand proof of rabies vaccination or insist to authorities that the dog be
quarantined.
If the same dog accosts you every time you ride the road, report this to the
authorities, too. You have a right to life, liberty, pursuit of cycling
happiness and public roadway access free from fear of fanged attack. Keep
following up with calls to make sure steps are taken to put PupPup on a rope.
This article is provided courtesy of RoadBikeRider.com and was written by its
founders Fred Matheny (left) and Ed Pavelka (right). Fred and Ed were longtime
Bicycling Magazine editors, are noted cycling authors and rode together on a
world-record-setting Race Across America team in 1996.
RoadBikeRider offers cycling books, many more cycling guides and even a free
weekly e-mail newsletter full of tips and news for aspiring bicyclists. Receive
a FREE copy of the eBook “29 Pro Cycling Secrets for Roadies” by subscribing
today. 
|
