pepper spray

Since I got a new bike and started to ride around, I am getting chased by dogs constantly. and not nice ones that just want to run along beside me. They growl and snap at my feet and its scary. I always think I am going to crash on my bike trying to get away.

So question is, has anyone used pepper spray on dogs before? Whether walking, running, biking, whatever? Im planning on keeping it with me just in case. Will it work? do the dogs run away and not come near again? I am worried if I sprayed it that the dog would just bite me anyway.

I am suprisingly comfortable with the thought pepper-spraying an annoying dog...actually I think it sounds like a fantastic idea!

However, I don't know how the dog would react or if it would cause permanent damage or whatnot...nor do I think there will be many people out there who would support pepper-spraying a dog...

Call the cops and make a report about the loose dogs.

haha yeah i know. i plan on getting some hateful responses. but i would rather pepper spray a dog than get bit or wreck on my bike.

i dont think it causes permanent damage because mail carriers i believe are allowed to carry pepper spray and spray any dogs that come too close. i know a lot of people whos dogs have gotten sprayed.

but who knows.

Who knows if you could get arrested for animal abuse if you start spraying neighborhood dogs...reporting them I guess would be logical

they are country roads. i live outside of a very small town. the cops around here would do nothing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIfs2c1wpe8

here is a clip of a cop at our town parade on the 4th. :)

Original Post by priceless7:

they are country roads. i live outside of a very small town. the cops around here would do nothing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIfs2c1wpe8

here is a clip of a cop at our town parade on the 4th. :)

 where I used to live, same thing. sometimes you gotta fend for yourself.

I believe you when you say they'd do nothing, but I say, still report it.  With the sheriff, if you're outside city limits.  That way, there's a complaint on file and if you did pepper spray the dog, or if it bit you, there's documentation of problems with that dog.

good idea. thanks!

Pepper spray can blind a dog.  Especially country dogs whose owners pay very little mind to them.

Are you prepared to potentially cause blindness (or death by accident or owners who'll kill the dog because he's of no use anymore) to an animal that's just doing what he's born to do?

Vinegar diluted with water will probably make the dog stop chasing you as well.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Pepper spray can blind a dog.  Especially country dogs whose owners pay very little mind to them.

Are you prepared to potentially cause blindness (or death by accident or owners who'll kill the dog because he's of no use anymore) to an animal that's just doing what he's born to do?

 Do you have a better suggestion? I see your point but that leaves the OP with biking with dogs that may bite. Do you want OP to get bit, fall off the bike, get their neck bit and die from blood loss? What's a viable solution so nobody gets hurt?

I hear you - I also live in a rural area, NO ONE fences their dogs. Even though there is a state leash law, it's a joke, the parish police do nothing just because of the sheer numbers.      You can't ride your bike without being threatened by dogs.  I've even had them nip my shoes.  Thank goodness I never got a serious bite.  

Anyway, the local sporting goods stores don't sell pepper sprays with a bike mount, so I got this to put the spray in.  No lasting effects on the dogs other than that they now have a healthy respect for bikers...

I wonder if one of those super loud annoying air horns that fans bring to sporting events would back those naughty pups off without injury

I watched a documentary on bears, and a guy actually used a small fire extinguisher to scare off a bear (he was protecting bear cubs), so that is an option that (I think) might be safer.

My dog is scared to death of plastic bags and flyswatters (I have no idea why - we've never punished him with those), so you shake one at him he scurries away (he is about 75 lbs).  A soda can with a handful of pennies also does a number on a lot of dogs, as well as a paper towel tube snapped across the nose.

Pepper spray has always scared me because you have to be careful of which way the wind is blowing or it blows back to you.

Original Post by bagga:

I wonder if one of those super loud annoying air horns that fans bring to sporting events would back those naughty pups off without injury

 bonus effect of annoying the neighbors to do something about their (*&(*& dog.

that's right it could pull double duty

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Vinegar diluted with water will probably make the dog stop chasing you as well.

Air horn would most likely work as well.

For the record, I grew up on a country road and have met many dogs just like the OP is talking about.  If I stopped and talked sweet to the dog, in 99.9% of the cases he'd just give me a confused look and wander off.  Sometimes they'd follow me home.  The dogs typically aren't as vicious as they appear to be.  They're just doing what dogs do.

I like the air horn idea.

haha these are good ideas. i dont know if id want to carry a fire extinguisher with me or an air horn tho. :)

i have a really small pepper spray thing that my mom gave to me for when i walk at night or for...just whatever i guess. shes a worrier.

dont get me wrong, i love animals and i would love a puppy of my own someday but its true, i would much rather a dog go blind than me break my neck or get bit....

but that being said, i will definitely take other ideas over pepper spray and yeah i was worried about spraying it in the wind and it getting in my face or something.

You should bark back.  I do it all the time and it works quite well.  Bark like a very mean, scary dog.. or make dinosaur noises.

Maybe a police whistle or other high pitched whistle.