I'd mount a stuffed dog's head to my aero bars and spend the whole day riding back and forth past each of the farms - show them who's boss!

I thoroughly subscribe to the theory that dogs smell fear - any time a dog approaches me, I bark back at them. Sounds silly, but it works. You might want to stand up on your pedals and take a more aggressive stance as well.

If that doesn't work - doggy mace 'em.

I just picked up some Haltz also because I have the same problem. I will keep it in my bento box.

I also yell "NO" at them. It's worked pretty well so far.

I was attacked by a big dog on one of my trianing rides. The dog ran across in front of me and when I slowed down he jumped at my right side and decided to taste my arm. I have used the Halt Spray since then and it has stop dogs from chasing me.

RG

yelling no really loud works sometimes. there really is not a "best" way to handle dogs, if they want you they will get you. i cannot imagine spraying a dog with mace. shoot, i'd spray a person long before i sprayed a dog. i love dogs- big, small, loud, quiet, rabid, whatever. love 'em. well, maybe not rabid.
ge.02

for the deer guy, i saw a guy at IMC last year who got smoked by a deer, at the time i didnt know he had been hit by a deer, i just assume a car or truck got the poor guy, his wheels and frame were a wreck, he was all bleeding from the head and all messed up. only later did i find out that it was a deer that ruined this guys IM. my hill specific rides are out of a valley, when going down at 60-75k/hr i am always fearful and on the lookout for deer.

Ha its impossible not to go by where the dogs are here.... its just farmland forever... I talked to some people here and another good idea that I heard was hit them with your frame pump and spray 'em with your water bottle if yelling doesn't work..

George you crack me up.. you ride with a whip?

Last night a group of seven of us were going down a grade at about 30/40 mph. An unleashed 130 lb. playfull german shepherd got to the sixth rider, only pushing him sideways. He made it through. I was number seven rider with big dog standing sideways, 5' in front of me. I suffered a broken helmet, broken collarbone and not sure how much bike damage, yet. The dog's master, a paramedic, took me to the hospital and even stayed there thru x-rays, marine splint, bandages, etc, then he took me home and gave me his home owners insurance policy information. The hospital says I must see an orthopedic surgeon, for some reason. (Maybe proper bone alignment, healing?) But now, what should my workouts consist of , considering I have that broken collarbone in my way? Tyler Hamilton finished Tour De France. Should I still ride? I can fast walk, slow run but no road races. Swim: Kick stroke only? I'll get fat , only reading tri fuel posts. Whats the downtime 'till I can do an olympic or half tri. I guess the musselman tri at Genessee,Ny is out of the question, being one month away. (July 17,2005) I'm not giving up my weekly run mileage!(40 to 48), but I hope the bone sets cleanly. This will teach me for not riding up front.( Dog wouldn't of gotten to me)
Lump sum settlement of $29,500 for pain & suffering. Includes the $8,495.61 in lost wages. Nationwide will continue to pay medical bills. Fractured clavicle involved rod in (sleep), infection needing local anathesia, & rod out(sleep). I didn't retain an attorney, although I did have two(2) consultations. My orthopedic surgeon informed me he could of gotten me $40,000, since it was negotiable. Also, what happens if in ten(10) years I have a problem with the shoulder?

Sorry about the crash. I hate falling from the bike. Last week I got cut off by a pickup around a corner turning right. He was behind me, saw me, but sped up as we both entered the right hand turn, then, he squeezed me into the curb and down I went. *******! I broke my bottle carrier ripped the handlebar tape, scraped my knee and hurt my sholder somewhat on a bus stop sign post. Bugger kept going too, didn't stop. No respect by some people.

On the dog side, I have used my water bottle. Squirt the bugger in the face and yell loud. It worked for me. Get well soon.

LM