Dog Attack

mgcycleguy

Hello all... been a member for a while, not really posted before but have always found the forum interesting and very useful so thankyou to all those who contribute...

... however thought i would tell a story of caution concerning something which happened to me yesterday whilst out on a solo training ride in the derbyshire countryside.... Was coming to around the 30mile mark, out in the middle of knowhere riding along a open country road, as i approached a bottom of a rise and hill, a big mastiff (sp) cross type dog appeared from a field to my left, out the corner of my eye i could see its owner with lead in hand, car parked by gate, but the owner was a good 70metres aways... anyway... rode past dog who was looking lively, as usual i spoke to the dog firm and friendly ... hello boy etc etc.... normally i would speed up and generally dogs will give up very quick... but as i was now starting the climb, the dog was keeping up, then running along side he was half jumping at me... then started to make bite attacks... i managed to keep upright just.... then on of his lunges he got a bite on my shin, thankfully he didnt get a grip (thank god for lycra eh !)... anyway next lunge i managed to get a punch on the top its head, which stunned him a bit i think... so we battled on to the top of the hill, him attacking me trying to punch and swerve into him, as we reached the top i at last started to outrun him (on checking my Garmin later it recorded by the way, he didnt give up until i was well over 20mph i reckon ... actually hit 27mph just over the crest of the hill... with my heart rate reading 99% of max !!!... never been that high in my life... difference between sport and survival i suppose !!!)... checking my shin its a bit bruised and got some grazes and a couple of cuts... but what is scary is what would have happened if he got me down, or if i'd been a kid !... also what is shocking is that within 10 seconds you go from "hello boy, arent you a lovely dog"... to thinking if this b***stard gets me down, go for his collar and try and break its neck, plus trying to land punchs as hard as i could anyway.... !!!

... question im not clear in my own head, was riding on past him the best action, or is it best to stop !

Sorry if a bit of long read... still a bit shaken to be honest been riding 4 years 4-5 hours a week (dont commute.. just pleasure riding) and never had anything like this before happen

pottssteve

I regularly get the wrong kind of dog interest - there are laods of scrap yards and lorry parks near here which have seemingly semi-wild dogs looking after them. Most of the time they seem interested in the rear wheel rather than me, and they generally give up. I've never been bitten. I have thought about carrying a BB gun.
I think you did the right thing. I've heard people say squirting them with water might work, but it sounds like this was more serious than that. I don't suppose you get a look at the owner's car regestration, or just make and model - might be worth making enquiries locally to see if it can be tracked down. I hope you're OK
Steve

downfader

McCycleguy you need to report this to the police! The dog was clearly out of control and could end up causing a more serious incident. As you say good job you werent a kid.Its a big strong dog to deal with and I'd imagine you'd come off a lot worse if it had got a grip.

Not sure what advice I can offer other than the police. I know some would attack it with their aluminium pump or water bottle but you can never be sure this will work. Did the owner even make any attempts to withdraw their animal?

If you go to the police tell them the time, place, description of the owner/ any car they used... plus the dog. The sooner the better really.

Red Rock

downfader wrote:

McCycleguy you need to report this to the police! The dog was clearly out of control and could end up causing a more serious incident. As you say good job you werent a kid.Its a big strong dog to deal with and I'd imagine you'd come off a lot worse if it had got a grip.

Not sure what advice I can offer other than the police. I know some would attack it with their aluminium pump or water bottle but you can never be sure this will work. Did the owner even make any attempts to withdraw their animal?

If you go to the police tell them the time, place, description of the owner/ any car they used... plus the dog. The sooner the better really.

+1

I'd have phoned the Police as soon as I'd got clear of it.

Glad to hear you managed to escape it's attention - don't let it put you off your cycling.

fast as fupp

next time it could be a child-report it to the bizzies

Frank the tank

I was out with a couple of mates a few years ago in Derbyshire this time of year and had a similar type of incident.

We were making our way via a convoluted route to Elton cafe and we were all saying how knackered we were and the cafe couldn't come soon enough. Suddenly from out of a farmers yard came bounding two full grown Rotwillers :shock: 'kin'ell, we were sprinting like Cavendish in the bat of an eye. This persuit went on for what seemed like a mile but must have only been about 150yards in reality. Phew!!!! it was a close call.

When we had sufficient breath the comment was made, "Can you smell s**t"?

On reflection we were angry as had it been a child it could well have been fatal.

mgcycleguy

Thanks for support guys... I have been out again today, actually rode back to the same place... sort of if you fall off get straight back on theory... didnt see anybody around, then again its a real isolated sort of place at the best of times, let alone when the weather was as it is..

.... i did think about reporting it, but to be honest, all i can remember was the car was a sort of estate I really wasnt paying that much attention to be honest when i rode past, the owner was a woman i think, but was over 70meters away in a snow covered field, and it was a bloody big light brown dog ! I do know exactly where it happened though, due to my Garmin GPS... in fact i could tell them down to a few feet !!! ... but it doesnt give them much to go on does it ?...

MG

(ps... one water bottle empty, the other one half empty... and no pump, I have a little gas inflator in my saddle pack... so hence was left trying to punch the thing.... !)

holmeboy

Cycling alone on country road past coupla cottages, Women in Garden with BIG dog, BIG dog (cross between a bull dog and something bigger) sees me and makes a bee line for me, doe'snt make any threatening noises or anything but it travels fast to reach me. I was in between two reasonably steep hill climbs, at the bottom of the 2nd so making a sprint for it was,nt an option.never really had time to panic but was wondering what the hell I should do, when by pure reflex/fright I yelled with full voice in the dogs face "Steady". the dog immeaditly ran back to it's owner. Still do'nt know if the dog was being threatening or "friendly" but like i say shear fright took over! :oops: :shock: :evil: :roll:

fast as fupp

the best thing to do is get off the bike and put the bike between yourself and the beast- its a dogs natural instinct to chase-so if you stop and face it its less likely to attack- dogs are natural cowards and usually dont attack if they think theyre gonna get some back( or get a can of mace)

drewfromrisca

fast as fupp wrote:

the best thing to do is get off the bike and put the bike between yourself and the beast- its a dogs natural instinct to chase-so if you stop and face it its less likely to attack- dogs are natural cowards and usually dont attack if they think theyre gonna get some back( or get a can of mace)

+1

Also mace doesn't work, pepper spray does fyi lol!!! Oh and fire extinguishers!!!

We've been told in work (police force) that if you shout and wave around they get frightened and back off...apparently, haven't had chance to try it out yet, my dog is a softy!

drewfromrisca

fast as fupp wrote:

the best thing to do is get off the bike and put the bike between yourself and the beast- its a dogs natural instinct to chase-so if you stop and face it its less likely to attack- dogs are natural cowards and usually dont attack if they think theyre gonna get some back( or get a can of mace)

+1

Also mace doesn't work, pepper spray does fyi lol!!! Oh and fire extinguishers!!!

We've been told in work (police force) that if you shout and wave around they get frightened and back off...apparently, haven't had chance to try it out yet, my dog is a softy!

Tom Butcher

In no way excusing the owner of that dog and understandably you were shaken up by it - I would be too - but I'm sure if the dog had really wanted to grab hold of you it could have done - dogs are very agile and if it could nip you it could get a decent bite in.

Quite a few dogs will chase and nip at moving objects but it doesn't mean they would carry out an all out attack on you. Personally if confronted by an aggressive dog I reckon the best thing to do is to block it with your bike or some other object - make yourself look confident - avoid direct eye contact.

Red Rock

drewfromrisca wrote:

fast as fupp wrote:

the best thing to do is get off the bike and put the bike between yourself and the beast- its a dogs natural instinct to chase-so if you stop and face it its less likely to attack- dogs are natural cowards and usually dont attack if they think theyre gonna get some back( or get a can of mace)

+1

Also mace doesn't work, pepper spray does fyi lol!!! Oh and fire extinguishers!!!

We've been told in work (police force) that if you shout and wave around they get frightened and back off...apparently, haven't had chance to try it out yet, my dog is a softy!

:shock: Not the easiest thing to carry on a bike

Red Rock

On second thoughts...

Monty Dog

There's a big difference between a playfully exuberant dog and one that's plain nasty and going for you - the mastiff was the former, but because of it's size and behaviour there's no justification. Often it's the thrill of the chase that makes them go after you - stop and get the bike between you and the dog - they'll probably have a quick sniff and then clear off. A metal frame fit pump is a useful implement to be carrying - a Zefal HP-X in particular.

mgcycleguy

Well... popped to my GP today, and got some jabs, he reckons the bite is clean and looks ok, really its just the drag of canine aross my shin.... bit of a bruising as well.... but I'll live...

... giving it some thought, i suppose stopping would be the best option, but then your natural instinct is to try and ride on... I suppose we are just hairless monkeys on bikes at the end of the day... ! :shock: and our nature is run from preditors ?

antfly

Also they could be wrong and if you stop it might just kill you.Don`t take the chance,keep riding and smacking it I say.Damn dogs and their owners.

Phil92

Tom Butcher wrote:

In no way excusing the owner of that dog and understandably you were shaken up by it - I would be too - but I'm sure if the dog had really wanted to grab hold of you it could have done - dogs are very agile and if it could nip you it could get a decent bite in.

Quite a few dogs will chase and nip at moving objects but it doesn't mean they would carry out an all out attack on you. Personally if confronted by an aggressive dog I reckon the best thing to do is to block it with your bike or some other object - make yourself look confident - avoid direct eye contact.

You seem quite humane considering "Butcher".

A fight isn't the best thing, but a call to the police is a good start. As an adult a dog may be easy to deal with, but the owner...

In the countryside around my area, many people go hunting with their dogs - birds, not foxes. I doubt they'd point their guns at anyone but I think a phone call to the police is better than risking it.

Keep safe bud; but I have to say, an hillarious story. Perhaps not at the time but you got a swing in whilst climbing a hill? Perhaps you should start a new sport, Baekwondo.

Le Commentateur

In those situations a blast of energy drink between the eyes usually dampens the dog's enthusiasm for the chase.

downfader

mgcycleguy wrote:

Thanks for support guys... I have been out again today, actually rode back to the same place... sort of if you fall off get straight back on theory... didnt see anybody around, then again its a real isolated sort of place at the best of times, let alone when the weather was as it is..

.... i did think about reporting it, but to be honest, all i can remember was the car was a sort of estate I really wasnt paying that much attention to be honest when i rode past, the owner was a woman i think, but was over 70meters away in a snow covered field, and it was a bloody big light brown dog ! I do know exactly where it happened though, due to my Garmin GPS... in fact i could tell them down to a few feet !!! ... but it doesnt give them much to go on does it ?...

MG

(ps... one water bottle empty, the other one half empty... and no pump, I have a little gas inflator in my saddle pack... so hence was left trying to punch the thing.... !)

I think its a shame you're not reporting it, your call obviously. Dog walkers are creatures of habit so theres a reasonable chance of finding them.

mgcycleguy

Phil92 wrote:

Keep safe bud; but I have to say, an hillarious story. Perhaps not at the time but you got a swing in whilst climbing a hill? Perhaps you should start a new sport, Baekwondo.

... well yeah i can imagine if anybody was about it would have made an entertaining site... bloke riding up hill with a mad dog trying to headbut and bite him, cylclist taking wild swings at its head ... whilst maintaining a Lance Armstrong cadence !!!

mgcycleguy

... well i think i will go out there again this saturday... considering how far away the owner was, im not even sure they might have been aware what was really going on... so if they are there, I might have a polite civilised chat with them... rather than getting the police involved

alfablue

mgcycleguy wrote:

... well i think i will go out there again this saturday... considering how far away the owner was, im not even sure they might have been aware what was really going on... so if they are there, I might have a polite civilised chat with them... rather than getting the police involved

Yes, good luck. Last time I tried to have a polite civilised chat with the owner of a dog that severely bit me, the owner offered to throw me in the canal! Some dog owners won't hear a word said against! Hope you are luckier.

Oh, I did go to the police, they said "can't tell if that part of the canal is Bath or Wiltshire police, so can't help (aka 'can't be arsed')".

I was pretty upset about my own injury, but more incensed because the dog was allowed to roam free on the towpath where many children walk by. They still had it on the loose when I returned an hour after I had made them aware of the attack! :twisted:

alfablue

I got the dog's name though - it was called "Flint", and it was a mean bastard! And it's teeth were like flints...

alfablue

On the plus side, they did offer me Savlon before the offer of being thrown in the canal...every cloud, eh?

thiscocks

obviously easier said than done but if a dog does show an interest in you then it's best to stop and show him your not interested in playing games by just standing there and not acknowledging him. Sounds like he just enjoyed the chase..

mgcycleguy

..tell you what the Tetanus jab is hurting way more than the bite did ! :shock: