dogs

freetobeme

Hello, Dogs are always a problem. Our club has had several accidents involving dogs. I have noticed a cyclist whistle adverstised for 39.99. It would be well worth the cost if the whistle actually works. Has anyone used this whistle to keep dogs at bay ? I have used a police whistle, and it seems to keep the dogs who are not overly aggressive away. The cyclist whistle is supposed to have a different pitch which dogs cannot stand. If you have or know of anyone who has any experience with this whistle please advise. Thanks !

John Knees

Years ago when heavily into dog-training, I used this sort of whistle to recall my Labrador if she went out of voice or human-whistle range. Mine was tuneable (the whistle, not the Labrador!) by a little screw which worked like the piston of a Swanee whistle. I doubt that such a whistle would be any use as a deterrent.

My cycling days ended 10-15 years ago, but much of it was on Sussex back roads. Any dog that wanted to chase me was usually a sheep-dog, Border Collie or similar.

As I've always enjoyed the company of dogs, I'd stop, keep the bike between me and the dog, stand still and talk calmly. An amiable dog would make friends (and remember me next time I was that way) while the (rare) nervous one would scuttle away.

If this doesn't appeal, or you haven't time, try letting the dog get close, then make, as loud as you can, the "Phhhssstttt" noise of a rapidly-deflating tyre - it works, but it won't stop him chasing you next time.

On no account kick out at the dog: it makes you unstable and provides a target - and will probably buy you an attack next time you're that way.

One last thing though, the whistle probably is working but is inaudible to you. A dog can hear frequencies way beyond what we can - 40,000+ Hz against our 17,000+ Hz.

Wuff-wuff!
John.

ABG

Around here, dogs are not nearly as much of a nuisance as I remember them as a kid 20 years ago. This is not due to the fact of growing up; this is rather due to leash laws that all towns around here since have enacted. 20 years ago, cycling in any residential areas used to be a nightmare; now it's pleasant.

Still, you may occasionally come across an unleashed dog or one whose leash allows him to bite a passerby coming close to his yard. A $40 whistle seems to be a bit much, and you'd have to wear the durned thing or carry it in your pockets in order for the whistle to be effective in an emergency where a dog is about to attack you. I'd forgo the whistle and stick with the water bottle - any dog that is not quite aggressive will be deterred with a spray of ordinary water from an ordinary bike bottle. Trust me, it works! And the second step if the water spray doesn't work is, as freetobeme said, dismount the bike and use it as a shield between yourself and the dog.

So your bike already probably has a built-in dog deterrant. Isn't that dog-gone awesome?

Olden Crow

Become as one with our friends the dogs. If you spray HALT! into the headwind, you'll feel their pain.