Dog Trouble

Yesterday and today on my bike training rides I have ran into dogs along my routes. Yesterday I was chased by a very big dog who wouldn't give up. He stayed within 2 to 4 feet of me for a good 100 yards and just when I was getting out of his domain the neighbor dogs were alerted and they joined in on the chase. So for another 50 yards I had 3 dogs after me. I couldn't outrun them and had to go very slow so as not to make them attack. For those of you that have been through this it is a tedious process. Dogs like to bite at things that go around, like wheels, pedals and your feet and legs. So I would coast a while and then when my speed had decreased to the point that I was going to tip over I would pedal just enough to get moving again. Each time I pedaled the dog would lunge toward my moving foot on his side. Luckily, he never grabbed a hold of anything. Last week I ran across the big dog on this very same route.

So today I thought I would try a different route. I had my first encounter at two separate farms where single dogs took up the chase, but I was able to easily outrun them (the wind was at my back). On the return trip, I never saw these two dogs, but as I neared the end of my ride, two dogs gave chase at another farm and with the wind in my face I had to struggle to outrun them. It was nip and tuck for a while, but as my speed increased I pulled away.

I have a plan for my next ride to prevent any dog mishaps. I will either bring some pepper spray or better yet a can of wasp spray. The pepper spray has a very short range (4 to 5 feet), while the wasp spray can easily reach 20 to 30 feet.

Sign me doggone tired of being chased by man's best friend.