Dog tools

What kind of things do you use to scare away persistent dogs? If yelling "Bad Dog" doesn't work ....I am reluctant to spray them .....especially on windy days I could end up spraying myself.

 

A stun gun such as the Vipertek VTS-989. Small, light, less than $30, 53 million volts. Just the sight of the spark and the sharp noise of the discharge is enough to make most dogs turn tail. If there's one brave enough to keep coming, zap him. Guarateed he won't come back.

 

Many dogs I've encountered don't stop when hearing "Bad Dog" but most will with

1. NO!
2. Go Home!
   
3. Air horn.
4. Pepper spray.

I have found that many of the dogs I encounter just want to run/play. That being said, YES! there are some who want to catch me. With them I use #4 above, and 99.9% stop in their tracks even if I don't make contact but get the spray near them. I guess they don't like the vapor they may have inhaled. The other day I used #4 with a group of 3 and did not hit any of them (spraying over my shoulder while trying to accelerate), but came near the leader. All 3 turned around.

Been there and it is not pleasant especially if it gets on your lips or in the eyes, but I survived. During my tandem DF days my stoker was in charge of the spray. One time the stoker hit the mirror on my handlebar and bounce it onto me. A lot of water was used to rinse my arms and face. Thankfully I had my rap-a-round SUN glasses on.

Gary

 

I got me a flashlight that doubles as a stun gun. $13 on eBay. When I hit the button it SCARES ME!!! Have it with me but have not encountered any chasing dogs yet. But I am loading and ready for action. Took this advice from AD.

 

I've found that most dogs will stay back if I simply raise my water bottle over my head. They read that as a threatening posture. They think I'm going to use it as a weapon so they don't come close enough to be a problem. At least that's been my experience since I made the realization a couple years ago.

 

My approach is a little different. I call them to me, whistling and snapping my fingers. "Here boy! Here boy!"
I find it changes their attitude from attack to confusion. They are hearing the words they are used to hearing from their masters. In all the years of riding I have only had one dog that didn't respond well to this. He was a young pit mix and decided to lunge at my leg while I was on the Venom. I clocked him upside the head with my fist and left him looking stunned in the middle of the road.

 

Ha! Sometimes a good head knocking is what it takes. I call too if they're acting a little crazy, or a sometimes a switch, to whack them across the nose if they get too close.

 

What was really funny was the next time we rode by there. Two of us with me in front, he completely ignored me and went for the guy on the upright. But he didn't attack, just gave a good show.

 

Probably looking good for his fellow dogs who just might be watching. hahaha

 

the sizzle doesnt always work, and some dogs if they have a think coat or 2 or 3 undercoats (some breeds are insulated) they wont feel the shock, i know this from experience,

 

i been chased 20,000 times, actually attacked twice, went to hospital once, the second time the dogs owner tried to sue me, but his dog will chase no more, depending on the vibes im recieving when the dog charges me dictates my reaction, times i just done a high speed uturn and chased the dog back home, i,ve had dogs jump into my lap wanting a ride, ive had dogs snapping at my tires but when i stopped rolling they stop snapping and allowed me to pet them, start rolling again they start snapping at tires agains, had more than a few just ran along side of me, a couple actually followed me home (strays looking for a friend or a home?) there was a short stocky bulldog mix when i head his way i can hear him blocks away getting all worked up, he waits in the exact same spot everytime, when i roll past him i pour on the coals and ride as hard as i can while he's runs beside me, and he breaks off at the same spot every time, its almost like he's waiting on me so he can run his sprint or something one day i just stopped suddenly and it confused him, i thought he was gonna have a anxiety attack waiting on me to race him, and once i had the biggest meanest looking pitbull running beside me, it was night time i never heard him, had no idea how long he been shadowing me, i just happen to glance back and nearly crapped all over myself, he followed me home, i put him in my side yard separate from my other dogs, next day put a harness and leash on him and back tracked my route from the night before and sure enough his momma was looking for him, i personally own one dog that if you raise your hand in a threatning manner she'll go in defense mode, so be careful using that move on a strange dog, pepperspray, bearspray if your in areas when strays runs in packs, water bottle filled with ammonia, my dogs wont come near me if im using icy hot lol, because my *** is just a couple inches off the ground,
eyeball to eyeball level with most dogs and disabled to the point it takes me a minute or so to position myself just to stand up, i carry a 9mm in a shoulder holster as cheap insurance, luckily out 20 000 encounters only had to use it once, some guys carry a paintball guns shooting hard rubber or nylon balls, the sound of the gun going off then being struck hard in the hip or shoulder tends to send them running, one of the strangest thing i ran across was a decent size pack of dogs in the middle of nowhere, assuming the were feral, i prepared for battle, i stopped watched them they shyly worked their way towards me, turns out they wasnt feral, yet,
i think the area was a popular dumping ground, made a few calls to local rescues, and most after being checked out by vets nursed to health and vaccinated, ended up in colorado, for some reason our rescues and shelters here are over crowded, but colorado has a shortage of adoptable dogs? i'll quit now im talking to much lol, sorry it happens sometimes