Question: What to do if a dog chases you?
I was on my bike riding down a hill when a dog came after me, instead of stopping I kept on riding and trying to peddle even faster. Then I jumped off the bike and climbed onto the roof of a car. That was a hecka scary experience. What should i have done instead?
Relation Questions:
Answer:
just keep riding, most dogs are only barking till you leave their considered territory and will give up chase after that. If it runs in front of you, stop and place the bike between you and the dog, and say a firm NO. and continue walking. Or you can get a taser and let him have a 50,000 volt jolt
It was a long time ago, and it may have been mean, but I had a similar experience.
I dismounted the bike while still moving, throwing the bike on top of the dog at the same time ( it was a german short hair pointer )
and started to jump up & down on the bike with the dog underneath of the bike.
The dog never chased me again.
I was able to run my paper route without further incident.
I bet that was scary! But, actually, trying to run from a dog will only make it chase you even more. It's very likely the dog was chasing you for sport and not to harm you; so, if a dog thinks you're playing, then it will continue to act like it's playing, too.
The next time you go riding and the same dog decides to chase, the best thing to do is to stop. Don't try to run on foot from the dog or it will follow you. Stay as still as you can and, most importantly, do not try to incite the dog by speaking to it or looking it in the eye.
Eye contact with dogs is critical. To look one in the eye, if you're not its owner, can be dangerous as it's usually seen as a challenge. You don't want to play with the dog or put up a fight, so act as if you "surrender'" to the dog by paying it no attention.
Don't get scared if the dog comes up to you or sniff you. If you remain still and neither speak nor look at it, it will eventually leave you alone and go find something more interesting to do. Eventually, over time, if you ride the same route, the dog just might learn you're no fun and leave you be.
But, if the dog continues to be a bother and you don't feel comfortable ignoring it, then it might be best to simply alter your biking route to avoid contact all together. And, of course, if the dog shows signs of aggression (i.e. snarling, raised hair on back, stiff posture, tail raised, etc.), it would be best to not engage the animal at all. That means it wants to fight you for getting in its territory, which isn't a good sign. In that case, you would definitely want to avoid the dog at all costs.
I know that was a scary experience. Geez. It would be a good idea to carry some pepper spray with you. That would help, maybe. The continuous action and speed is what causes the chasing. The faster you go the more excited the dog gets. I want to tell you not to panic but that is kind of hard not to do. I probably would have gotten off the bike, put it between me and the dog and stood there. If the dog is human aggressive, you got a problem. If the dog just likes to give chase, he will back off. I would play the odds. But then again, I never leave my house for any reason without my weapon. Even when I walk my dogs. I am armed.
hate it when a dog chases me. I never know what to do.
Anyway, I suggest the following:
If I know the dog and/or its owner and he is just being friendly then I will go to the dog’s home, ring the bell, and tell them that their dog is off of its leash.
If I don’t know the dog, or it is behaving in an aggressive manner, then I will stand up very tall, point in the other direction (usually in the direction of the owner or where the dog came from), and say “GO!....GO HOME!” in a very stern voice. You might have to do this a couple of times. Never look the dog in the eyes because they will take this as a sign of aggression from you and it might start a conflict.
In the case of the Doberman, they have a tendency to be more aggressive than other dogs. If the owner continually fails to keep it contained, I would suggest you consult with a veterinarian about the use of pepper spray. Family and/or friends that have a pet can recommend one to you if you don’t have one yourself.
As a last resort, I would put in a formal complaint at your local police station. There are leash laws for a reason.
1. Stop.
2. Stand tall and proud - do not bend over the dog.
3. Make no eye contact.
The dog may think it's a game - by standing still you've stopped the game.
By standing tall and proud, you are becoming the authority in the situation.
Dog's read alot from your eyes, so avoiding contact means there's a chance they won't sense you're terrified.
I would also either cross your arms or put your hands in your pockets to take away any obvious bite targets.
Dogs think chasing is a game. Next time stop, fold your arms and turn your back on the dog, do not make eye contact, chances are it'll sniff you and move on. Once it does you grab your bike and walk away slowly. Peddling faster will only make the dog chase you more.
Now that all the spine rabbits have spouted their prey-behavior nonsense....
NEVER run from a predator-ATTACK!!!
Dogs are bullies...act like rabbit & that's how you're seen.
Act like a HUMAN w/a brain & SPINE.....they leave.
Well, kitty the first thing you should do is change your name.
ask the dog to stop
Dogs can smell fear, so if you had not acted like you were afraid of the dog then they would have lost interest
u shouldve stopped of biking and u shoulnt of kept the dog running
Dogs are hunters - they will chase anything that runs (or cycles) away from them. As to what you should have done, I think it depends on the dog that was chasing you. If it was a large dog with strong jaws (Rotty, Pit, etc), you probably shouldn't stop unless you can defend yourself (if it came down to it).