What to do about dogs?

I find shouting at them to sit, or a loud sharp "off!" actually works pretty well. When I get 2 at once, it's usually more like 'oh fer s*%#s sake!' and a 'dog sprint' interval. LOL

If you are riding with someone that uses  mace or pepper spray or whatever, be sure to ride in front of them!

Sounds like you made a good decision doing what you did.

Carrying something specific is trickier than it sounds, like most things it should be practiced. remembering where you have the pepper spray, getting the release off while trying to keep the dogs at bay, making sure you spray them and not yourself or someone else, it has some challenges.

A water bottle i've heard can be used to deter them as well, something most of us have some experience taking out and using,,,,, not necessarily on the dogs but it doesn't carry much risk compared to mace. I'd use the bottle with the gatorade if I had a choice . But I"m just plain mean.

If you get in a situation where you end up off the bike try to back yourself up against something and use the bike to keep the dogs away from you.

Glad your experience we as well as it did, be careful out there.

I'm a dog person/amateur dog trainer as well as someone who's been menaced by poorly-trained dogs many, many times...

Most dogs will back off if you holler at them.  A high-pitched girly scream is not the best way to go, because it will make you seem like a terrified prey animal and thus trigger further prey/chase instincts.  Dogs love to chase joggers and bikers partially because of territory guarding and partially because of their instincts to chase prey.  If you pitch a "NO!  BAD DOG!"  or a "GO LAY DOWN!" as loud and low-pitched as you can, most dogs will back off.  You don't want to come off scared as much as you want to come off assertive and tough, someone that the dog doesn't want to mess with.  The majority of dogs will back off if you tell them to get lost in language they can understand.

If the dog ignores this and keeps coming at you, squirt something in its face.  A well-aimed squirt from your water bottle will probably be unpleasant/unexpected enough to stop the dog in its tracks for a few seconds if you're on the bike, which might be all you need.  More unpleasant, and thus more effective, deterrents include a squirt gun full of diluted ammonia or diluted lemon juice.  I usually go with the lemon juice, because the ammonia can give the dog chemical burns and I'm too soft-hearted to burn the dog.  Pepper spray is the most effective thing of all, especially if you're jogging, but it's really difficult to aim pepper spray when you're on a bike, especially if there's any kind of wind at all.  Chances are you'll totally miss the dog, and in the worst-case scenario, you'll end up spraying yourself.  Then you will be totally blind, in wicked pain, probably crashing your bike, with an angry dog tearing a piece out of your shorts.

Also, make a note of which house the dog came out of, so that you can have a "chat" with its owners (and maybe the police) later on.  You should be able to bike and run without being afraid that Cujo's going to have you for dinner. 

LOL.  I love the "dog sprint" interval.  it is definitely one of the best motivational tools, and i just happened to be on a flat enough area and in a decent gear for sprinting.   Having not read all the great advice here 1st, i had to dog chasing (me being the chasee) incidents on this mornings ride. 

I will definitely work on my banshee yell.  At least maybe the dog will fall over laughing. 

Kevin

Normally yelling in a low mean voice works for me, if not, a squirt in the face with the water bottle does it. You do lose some water or sport drink, but better than teeth or the road in your face! Maybe I will try the banshee scream next time.