Best way to deal with dogs threatening while biking?

[sagra]

I take a long bike rides every day on some rural roads and through local villages. What is the consensus on the top 2 or 3 ways to repel or scare off dogs that are chasing and threatening you? Thanks for any suggestions offered.

[shdmn]

Maybe try spray them with water mixed with vinegar or rubbing alcohol.  If that doesn't work then pepper spray should do the trick.

Edited February 23, 2021 by shdmn

[CharlieH]

When a dog approaches stop pedalling, the motion attracts some.

 

I carry a water bottle and a flick of a water bottle usually deters them.

Dont make eye contact just ignore them.

 

Works for me anyway.

Edited February 23, 2021 by CharlieH

[Eindhoven]

I just get off the bike, sometimes until they calm down. Inconvenient of course. But once they are familiar with you, the nuisance with that pack should stop. But I'm a dog person, so I don't have any fear.

[PatOngo]

A good pair of steel capped boots!

[Oldie]

38 minutes ago, shdmn said:

Maybe try spray them with water mixed with vinegar or rubbing alcohol.  If that doesn't work then pepper spray should do the trick.

Don't use pepper sprays you can buy. Pepper sprays are regarded as weapons. 

 

"Civilians found in possession of pepper spray can by law be jailed for up to 10 years and fined as much as Bt1 million. In other words, the penalty is far worse than if you’re caught with illicit drugs or a firearm." 

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/opinion/30303925

 

 

 

 

[RichardColeman]

Tin fog horn !

[rumak]

44 minutes ago, Eindhoven said:

I just get off the bike, sometimes until they calm down. Inconvenient of course. But once they are familiar with you, the nuisance with that pack should stop. But I'm a dog person, so I don't have any fear.

 

first i would take a look and assess if they look serious .   a good look tells me most are not really aggressive ,  but the more the worrier .   just takes one bad one to encourage the others.

I do not try to outrun,  but will yell   Pai, glap bahn     that stops them   haha   

Keep a steady pace ,  don't go all crazy..... but if they persist and you think you might get bit than i

do stop, put the bike between us,  and get my stick ready if really necessary.  

If same route often  they will know you,   but going into unfamiliar territory does bring the dog or dogs out .     

[Dagfinnur Traustason]

Something really heavy and hard to throw at them.

[KC 71]

4 hours ago, PatOngo said:

A good pair of steel capped boots!

good luck with that

some guy tried that on my dog and it just made things worse

[KC 71]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Tin fog horn !

actually that might just work you know

[HighPriority]

MARR DEE !

MARR DEE !!!

”Dog good”

 

in a rural area, a farang screaming marr dee normally gets the owners attention, it’s worked for me a few times.

The dogs are usually a bit perplexed and hold back as well ????

Edited February 23, 2021 by HighPriority
Addition

[PatOngo]

12 hours ago, HighPriority said:

MARR DEE !

MARR DEE !!!

”Dog good”

 

in a rural area, a farang screaming marr dee normally gets the owners attention, it’s worked for me a few times.

The dogs are usually a bit perplexed and hold back as well ????

Problem is, so many of the inbred mongrel soi dogs are ownerless!

[Tagged]

Any movement triggers dogs, so slow down or stop, and they will stop. Easy as that, but at once you start moving again, they will follow, but they will be more relaxed if you talk to them and let them get to know you. I guess this is local around your house, so take your time and get to know them.

 

the trick if they still appear aggressive after stopping, just rise your hands above your head, and they will back off, and also talk to them, doesnt matter what you say, just talk to them. Never had problem with breifly eyecontact either. Takes awhile to get confident enough to keep your stress levels down, but I managed to teach my gf who where terrified dogs, to now controll the packs of dogs in the neighboorhood. 

 

Pepper spray? Idiot!

[wombat]

Take some dog treats/biscuits with you and feed them.

Have you never heard the phrase never bite the hand that feeds?

It really is that easy.

[cooked]

I frequently go for long runs before dawn and have experience with these dogs. 

They become less aggressive after they have seen you a few times. Some of them (alpha dogs) are still looking for an opportunity to take a bite out of your leg all the same. Not knowing what they have in mind is the aggravating part. The one time I got bitten, it was a bitch with pups... I told the owner, showed the blood, bitch disappeared prompto. 

In the past, I took a squeezy bottle loaded with vinegar... as soon as they just SAW this they disappeared.

I discovered that shining my headlamp directly into their eyes was a deterrence, planning on buying a powerful version in order to do a good job of that.

I try to go on the other side of the road from where the dogs consider to be their territory, helps a little. 

Only some of this is applicable to bike riding I guess.... I take a stick sometimes also, depends on whether it's a new route or not.

I won't tell the story about being chased by a ghost which worried me less than the dog stories, that's for another bar stool.

 

[J Town]

I carry a stick in my front basket. I stop, raise the stick over my head, and that stops them. Then I have to move away slowly cuz the gutless chickensh!ts start to come at me again.

[RocketDog]

19 hours ago, shdmn said:

Maybe try spray them with water mixed with vinegar or rubbing alcohol.  If that doesn't work then pepper spray should do the trick.

If necessary, these measures at least will not harm the animals. 

 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

Take some dog treats/biscuits with you and feed them.

Have you never heard the phrase never bite the hand that feeds?

It really is that easy.

Does laxative work?

[RocketDog]

19 hours ago, PatOngo said:

A good pair of steel capped boots!

If you get close enough to kick them you will lose the reaction time game; they are much faster. Typically this will only double their response instead of deterring them. 

You are simply confirming the dogs' supposition that you are harmful. Escalating violence with violence is a last-ditch maneuver. They will mark you and respond worse every time they see you again. It's an endless cycle. Battles often happen because both parties actually wish to engage. 

 

A huge risk compared to the several other very effective methods already listed in this thread. 

 

When I used to run everyday I was terrorized by a large dog even the postman was afraid of. One day I had enough. Instead of running, I stopped, turned around, and ran toward the dog yelling and waving my arms. It paused for second, looked confused, and turned tail and ran away. He never bothered me again. Play the game they know and it never ends. Invent a new game and they become very wary. Think out of the box. 

 

All of that said, I understand that there will be a few dogs who cannot learn. In that case just find a different route and save everybody the aggravation. It really is a choice. 

[Brock]

Carry one of the taser torches, apparently the sound of it going off is enough to deter the dogs.

[RocketDog]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

Take some dog treats/biscuits with you and feed them.

Have you never heard the phrase never bite the hand that feeds?

It really is that easy.

Works nine out of ten times. Best first attempt. After that several other minimal efforts listed in this thread will work. 

[keithkarmann]

19 hours ago, PatOngo said:

A good pair of steel capped boots!

And a piece of 2 x4

[ChrisKC]

20 hours ago, shdmn said:

Maybe try spray them with water mixed with vinegar or rubbing alcohol.  If that doesn't work then pepper spray should do the trick.

If you are a cyclist and actually riding a bike, this is not a practical solution. Is one holding a bottle? Which hand will you have it in? My experience is that dogs will suddenly appear from either side and anything you may have in your hand might be too late to do anything to alleviate the situation.

 

 

[Tropposurfer]

You can buy dog deterrent torches that emit a nasty sound not unlike that which a taser makes. Dogs freak out at it ! ... it can be easily mounted on the handlebar right next to your finger to activate fast.

 

[JanPeder]

Yesterday this happen to me att closed to a Temple. I pass, this area, many times but yesterday around 17.00 it was about 15 dogs and I came with a high speed....every dog start barking and one dog, almost bite my leg...ooo I got a little scratch....no blood.... I try to get away as fast as I could. One car stopped and a man saw my situation.....start shouting....jissus I was scared.....but I got away. Some advise here said stop and talk calm with the dogs. <deleted>. Never in my life I will stopp when 15 dogs attack me. Before it use to be maybe , 4-5 dogs in front of that Temple but now it was so many. 

I had problem some times before. Always in front of the Temples. Many dog have meeting there and maybe wait for food. In the future i think best advice from people in this forum, is water and vineager. Maybe I will try. I hate dogs.

[ChrisKC]

In my 12 years of frequently cycling I have been bitten twice. On both occasions matters came to a head (a dog's head) and nothing I could do would have prevented it - happened so quickly.

 

I now only ride my bike on the main roads that are straight and have 100% motor cycle lanes that I use: very few soi-type dogs around.

 

I have two ways of "trying" to avoid another incident.  First I will stop and do nothing except look at the dog (I never threaten dogs). That usually works, The second way is for me to accelerate (I am good at that) no dog has ever caught me!

 

An observation: For me, at least, I haven't had any kind of a dog problem for nearly two years. I am out on the roads for up to ten hours a week. I don't worry about it at all!

 

Nothing is guaranteed I am sorry to say!

[TPI]

A water pistol filled with water, shoot them in the face....total confusion, disraction...even works with dogs fighting each other!

[cauldlad]

I go out for a walk most mornings around 6ish and pass many dogs which in my experience are 99% passive.

 

However just this morning I was walking down 2nd Road (Pattaya) and as I approached 2 dogs they started barking aggressively. I bent down and pretended to pick up a stone and they ran away about 10 meters, still barking. I walked a few more meters and they started to come closer, one in front and one behind. This time there was a stone in front of me which I picked up and they both saw the stone. The one in front ran away and the one behind just stopped and continued to bark.

 

Did not have to throw the stone but I would have had no hesitation if either dog had gotten any closer.

[nobodysfriend]

The soi dogs are always hungry . Just carry some dry dog food in a small container , when they start chasing you , throw a handful to them . they will be too busy to pick that up to further annoy you ... and , if you take the same route often , after a while they recognize you and you will get tail wagging instead of barking when they spot you .