What to do with bad dogs

treebiker

You guys who try to out sprint dogs are just asking for it. Dogs love to chase, and your training them that it's ok. If your regular course has bad dogs, big or small that chase bikers, you need to be responsible and change the dogs and their owners thinking. If you hit a dog enough times with pepper spray it will finally realize that bike chasing is not something that he should do. And your doing a good service for all bikers that also use the same route. But that is not enough. The truth is, dogs put bikers in hospitals every year. Kicking at the dog makes it even more fun for him, your more of a challenge, but can cause you to loose your balance and go down. But please think about this. A mother and her 9 year son can't out run a dog, and it can change their thoughts abought biking. Thoughts such as " it's just not worth the risk we take to bike." That mom is not going to knowingly put her child in harms way. Well, you can do something about it. It's not fun. It disrupts your whole ride, you lose your rhythm, you time is out the window, if your riding with group, most will leave you. But sometimes being responsible is not fun. So, what to do what to do! First thing, slow down, with pepper spray in hand let him have it or let them have. Now the uncomfortable part. If possible, go find the owner. With spray still in hand, ( I know your thinking, this guy is going to tell us to spray the owner of the dog.) NO. The spray is for dogs. ( and your protection)
If you find the owner explain that their dog almost caused an accident that they would have been responsible for, and that they must stop the dog from chasing people, that you often ride your bike in this area, and the dog problem must be taken care of. Now please understand that you don't personally have to go to the owner. In some cases you shouldn't. Call the police, call the pound, call 911, call Bubba. Just make sure the measage is received by the dogs owner. And then make sure it is taken care of. Yes, thats a lot of trouble, but do it. Do it for your bike community. Make your route enjoyable for anyone to ride it. Just do something other than sprint a race with the dog. Look at a bigger picture.