What did you use and how effective was it?
I almost pepper-sprayed a dog but I’d just used my last pepper spray on a bunch of i-pod wearing joggers and bike riders.
I guess it worked out ok, the dog was just barking but the joggers and bike riders were downright dangerous.
Ineffective for one reason:
Most pepper sprays dispense some sort of a stream of liquid, so it is hard to aim it exactly at the target’s face, especially if the target and the shooter move at considerable speed.
Basic ballistics…
i have not done it yet, but I would.
By the way prepare to be flamed I am surprised this forum has not been re-named DogTwitch.
Q: This insane dog hunts me and chases me almost every time I get on my bike. Do you have any tips for evading this mongrel?
A: Take another road. But if you have to take this road, then you have a couple of options. In the olden days, frame pumps worked rather well, but now they are too small. Squirting water from your water bottle can also momentarily stun dogs. You could also throw your water bottle at the beast, but that could get expensive. But then I’m not the best person to talk to when it comes to throwing water bottles. And if all else fails, the dog will give you an obligatory sprint workout. *From July 2000 Bicycling magazine *
What did you use and how effective was it?
I don’t want to say we spray them regularly, but it comes up in K9 every so often.
It really depends on the dog - whether its has strong fight drive, defensive, etc…
Many police K9’s will ‘fight’ through it on a bite and won’t be affected.
Same holds true for everyday dog. Just depends. The last dog I sprayed was about 3 years ago - Rottie (stray). Used 10% OC to the mouth. He shook his head a couple of times and backed off.
**“I almost pepper-sprayed a dog but I’d just used my last pepper spray on a bunch of i-pod wearing joggers and bike riders.” **
Excellent and funny response.
In February I went to the Texas Hill Country for Hell Week and the Spousal Unit proudly gave me some pepper spray for country dogs. I dutifully took it along and put it in the right front pocket of my 400 mile bibs (unsolicited advertisement for Desoto) and never saw one dog but there were unfenced Longhorns all over the place and when I saw the first one I thought - I don’t this pepper spray is going to do anything except make that big guy mad… Apparently, cattle are not bothered by people in lycra but I was damn glad I was going downhill for the first one when I had no idea what it was going to do.
Yeah, this is a pack of what appear to be wild pit-bulls that I’m fairly certain won’t listen to anything short of my .357.
Take a little spray bottle of slightly diluted ammonia with you. The little bottles that people use to clean their eyeglasses with works fine. One in the face spray will dramatically alter that dog’s behavior, and he will remember it the next time. It works perfectly well and other than being unpleasant, does not harm the dog. This will work better than a pepper spray that projects a narrow stream. One shot, all it takes. No more dog worry.
I own two wonderful golden retrievers who will never have to experience such a thing, as they have a good master who never would let them get in such a situation to start with.
I have sprayed several dogs in the past. It takes about 15-20 seconds to be effective in my experience. I make sure I get them in the mouth and eyes.
I’ll tell you what. I will go find a pitbull and you can shoot it in the face with some ammonia. I will be in the Spousal Unit’s truck with the windows rolled up and the engine running to run over the pitbull and then take you to the hospital if you are wrong. If you are right I will buy you a beer. 
yes the familiar “no such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners argument”
i don’t necessarily agree with that when referring to wild animals. However your dogs are most likely well behaved if you say so.
this is a better alternative. it uses citronella.
Hello Hugh and All,
Some diluted solution of ammonia in a water bottle will do the trick, or you can use a water pistol , or if it is a big dog a water cannon that shoots a burst of solution.
EDIT: DO NOT USE WATER BOTTLE - One mistaken swig by you and you wouild be lunch for the dog. Bad idea - use the water cannon.
Ammonia has been used for years to train dogs not to chase cars. (for their own saftey)
Good luck.
Cheers,
Neal
Cousin Elwood and a water cannon full of ammonia. The comedic possibilities are so endless that my brain just locked up…
We used to have one route that had a couple of dogs and we basically took the sprint workout option. Got kind of dicey if there were more than 4-5 of us, as some zigging and zagging to avoid a particularly speedy pooch was the norm. I actually kind of preferred taking this road on our long ride option over the high-traffic stretch to get around it. It definitely spiced up the morning!
Mike
forget the dog…find the owner of said dog and pepper spray him. He is responsible for the dog and if hes chasing you, he could be chasing cars also which could get him really hurt.
Ineffective for one reason:
Most pepper sprays dispense some sort of a stream of liquid, so it is hard to aim it exactly at the target’s face, especially if the target and the shooter move at considerable speed.
Incorrect for one reason - personal experience. I HAVE used pepper spray (MK-4 OC solution, looking at it as I type this) twice on dogs. Once while running (effective), and once on the bike (ineffective).
Running: Two medium sized dogs ran out of their house, driveway, and down the street toward me barking loudly. I ran faster, they caught me quickly. I turned, stopped, sprayed the first dog directly in the face from about 7-10 ft away. It stopped, squealed, and turned to run away. The 2nd dog was about 10 ft. behind it, stopped, saw what happened, and left also. They were medium sized dogs (maybe small sheep-herding looking dogs), 60-70 pounds I’m guessing. Twice after that the same dogs jumped up to chase me. I can only assume they realized who I was because both times they stopped and just barked at me. The family moved last year so bye bye idiot dogs.
Biking: One large dog (looked like a black lab mixed with some other mut look) chased me, ran beside me. I spraying it, and I yelled at the same time. I recall my pepper stream hitting the dogs head & body, but I can’t confirm a hit on the face. I also think my yelling is what may have stopped the dog, not the pepper spray.
Lately I have simply preferred to just pedal like hell to outrun the dog, and when they keep up with me - I yell something like “Hey there - you stop dog!” (seriously), and they always pull back and stop. Two things to consider:
Reaching for, unlocking, and using pepper spray/mace while riding may actually be more dangerous - I can guarantee that you are oblivious to oncoming traffic or other obstacles during the dog engagement. Aside from the potential for a car-bike collision, how many of us are adept at wielding a weapon while riding? I always carry my “mace” with me, but I realize it will be rare when I use it (like while standing to take a piss or a drink and a dog comes up).Larger dogs (especially those historically trained for or known for violence - rotweiller, doberman, german shephard, etc) have been known to ignore pepper spray and mace, and in fact may get angrier when it’s used on them.
Don’t have to spray the dog, just ride with someone slower than you…
Unfortunately I live in a rural area with alot of dogs that like to chase, some like to play, some like to bite. I’ve talked to the owners…with some success. I’ve used solutions of ammonia, I’ve used pepper sprays (several different kinds) and all have usually worked very well. Herding dogs, hunting dogs, protection type dogs, you name it and we have them. Ammonia & pepper spray have always been the last resort for me…I own 3 dogs and don’t want to hurt an animal if I don’t have too. Bottom line is that they should be trained to stay off the road or kenneled…pure and simple. It’s really the owners fault and the animals pay the price.
Oh and no matter what spray you use…make sure you don’t have a strong tail/side tailwind…sometimes the spray catches bback up to you!!
James