Bike ride interrupted by Fido

I was doing a ride this weekend with Tri Take Me Away and we were getting chased by dogs left and right.  One guy even stood in his doorway and watched as his dog ran into the street to chase us.

My best "revenge" element was when a dog was chasing us, and coming really close to Jess's feet.  I was a bit in front, so I took my water bottle and sprayed a stream from it which hit him square in the face.  He stopped dead in his tracks and went running home.

It is SO frustrating dealing with inconsiderate individuals with their dogs. Not sure they understand how dangerous it is for fluffy and us on the bike, crashing is no fun, let alone having to then worry about a dog biting you *ugh*

I hate irresponsible dog owners and I also hate those stupid retractible leashes.  I have 2 dogs so I love dogs and realize that they are DOGS and only act the way they do because they know no better.  The owners though, you have to question them sometimes.  I also have come to the realization that people just don't apologize any more.  I can't tell you how many times I have gone out places and have almost been run over by adults or kids and noone tries to move or say excuse me.  I am a fairly big guy (6'7" 215lbs) and people try to barrel over me.  When I was a kid I would never try something like that. 

Now with the retractble leash thing.  I actually got in a discussion/arguement with my wife yesterday about those.  The thing is her brother will walk his dog with one and his dog likes to chase animals.  Well over the weekend apparnetly the dog took off towards a bush and he just let him go and he attacked a skunk and now smells horrible.  My comment was why would he let the dog run in the unknown basically.  As soon as the dog runs, the stop the leash.

There's a dog that is always tied up along the route of our group ride. Little fluffy Llasa Apso type of yapper. He always comes running out barking. One day - not tied up. Ran right out into the middle of the road to bark, and nearly got hit about 9 times as we all brake, dodge, etc. to get around him. I missed him by inches, but at least by then he had mostly stopped running and was simply frozen in the road watching wheels go by within inches of his head. It was really scary though. Wreck hitting the dog? Wreck smacking into someone else? How much road rash do you get at 17mph? At least it wasn't on a downhill.

Jeez all these near misses with chasing dogs....

I may have to start packing one of these....

http://www.softairpro.com/airgun_gallery/product.php?productid=17297&cat=252&page=1

It even uses CO2...I carry that anyway....lol....

Plastic pellets at low velocity won't injure the dog either...but they'll run!!!

Let me start out by saying that I'm a HUGE dog person.  I've got a 112 lb. Great Dane and a 65 lb. Yellow Lab mix and they're my babies.

Anyway, I had just started my run a couple days ago and all of a sudden I hear someone yell for their dog to come back.  I look to the side and see this cute little 15 lb. white and black dog coming for me.  I'd seen it out before w/ its owner walking - loose, of course - when I'd been out walking my dogs - on their leashes.  I just stopped and took the chance that it would just sniff me out and not bite me.  I guessed right.

I get so irritated with people who let their dogs in the yard unleashed.  Hey, that's great that their dog can do that, but there can never be any guarantee that he won't go beyond his yard.  Plus, it's not safe for the people or for the dogs who have to encounter him, nor is it ultimately safe for him.  I live in a farming community and it's partly a cultural thing, but it is one of my hugest pet peeves.

I'm a huge fan of dogs (obviously... based on my username).  We've got two retired greyhounds that I absolutely adore. That being said, I will do what I need to in order to protect myself or other riders from a charging dog.

A couple years ago, I was doing a solo ride and about 10 miles from home.  As I pedaled on a country road, a medium size dog charged me from a driveway.  I yelled for it to stop and go home, but it just kept charging.  I ended up unclipping my right leg and giving it a swift kick in the mouth.  I heard the metal of my cleat strike its teeth, and it ran off towards home wimpering the entire way.

I still feel bad about what I did.  But if it happened again, I'd do exactly the same thing.  People need to learn that if they're going to have a dog outside, they need to A) have the dog in an enclosed dog run, B) put up a fence that will keep the dog in the yard, or my least favorite option C) have the dog on some type of rope or lead that will keep the dog in the yard (note that I didn't say anything about an invisible fence!!).

Rant over.

-Joel