By Fred Matheny and
Ed Pavelka of www.RoadBikeRider.com
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!
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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 use public
roadways free from fear for your life, liberty and
pursuit of cycling happiness. Keep following up with
calls to make sure steps are taken to put PupPup on
a rope.
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