Dogs really small fear?

[look 171]

They sure smell me sihtting in my pants that's for damn sure. Got in after a bike ride in the cold (for us)this afternoon. Unloaded my bike from my 4runner. Here's comes this little dog, mad as hell showing his teeth barking at me as I walked across the street to home. I have to tell ya and hand in my man card here, I am terrify of dogs of all sizes. It came at me as I yell to scar it away. The owner was half way up the street taking her sweet time walking down. I was ready to kick its ass across the road, but it came around my bike and bit me. Broke the skin on my shin and decided that was enough to make me pee in my pants. Those teeth are damn sharp! With owner yelling, which did nothing, damn dog started walking back to the owner. Do they really sense that I frighten?

[varmint]

Yes.

Next time punt it’s ass.

[MysticLlama]

And the only way to get over it that I've found is living with your limit of scary.

My order:
Husky, year or so old, big, powerful bite, strong chewer, but generally happy, loved everyone.
Dutch Shepherd puppy, terror, needle teeth, liked to have power struggle, sweet once tired out. Rarely tired out.
German shepherd mix, year or so old, somewhat abused, took a while but ended up super sweet, was, needed space and time, barks and sounds scary, pretty cuddly, love people.

Newest addition, Belgian Malinois that was picked up as a stray, possibly abused, but still trusting, startles easy, occasionally gets super wound up and is a complete a-hole until you can grab him and chill him out, would be the scariest thing ever if I hadn't had the other three.Super cuddly with family, but takes a while to adapt to new people and yells at them.

And while typing this I reached over to give him a pat and zapped him with some static and got a deep growl in the dark... So gave him a quick hug.

Long process though, not something to just get over. I do think that the fear leads to reaction that can escalate the challenge situation, which makes it that much harder to figure out.

[sc_rufctr]

Wow... Little dogs are often "basterds". Take care dude.

Have you seen the video of the mom wrestling a raccoon away from her daughter?

[stevej37]

Were you rolling the bike along when the dog charged?

A lot of dogs don't like/understand a moving bike. I've been charged at many times while biking and once knocked off my bike by a med size dog.

I've often thought of carrying a foot long section of re-bar on clamps on the cross bar.

[masraum]

Some say they smell fear. I don't know if there's a pheromone or what. Some dogs are just azzholes. I don't generally fear any animal, but some dogs still bark and get excited.

I feel like you should have used your bike as a shield between you and the dog. I wouldn't have intentionally hit the dog with my bike but I wouldn't feel bad if it did get hit by the bike if it was charging.

A lot of small dog owners don't control their dogs because "it's so small and sweet," so the small ones get away with stuff that a big one wouldn't.

Sorry about your experience which I'm sure helped to cement your fear. Yep, their teeth can be darn sharp.

[javadog]

I don’t think they smell fear so much as they are just very observant with respect to body language. Quick about it, too.

If you learn how dogs think, you’re halfway there to maybe preventing this sort of thing from happening.

[GH85Carrera]

There is no evidence that humans produce or can react to pheromones. Dog can certainly "read" a human's state of mind. Just watch Cesar Millan with a dog he has never been around. Calm confidence and letting the dog know you are alpha is something he has mastered.

As a kid I had a mutt dog the size of a terrier that would chase me every time I left my house on my bike. I had to ride along with my feet on once side and pedal just on one side. Finally I had enough, and I put a brick on my bike in a basket. Tat dog got right along side snapping at my ankles, and I dropped the brick on his head. He came to an instant stop, and I continued on my way. He never chased me again. He would bark at me from his yard, but no more chases.

And if a dog is threatening you and trying to bite you, you have the old fight or flight decision. You can't outrun a dog, so stand your ground, say NO in a firm loud voice, and if he keeps coming, kick it hard. The dog need to learn humans are alpha over dogs. If it is a big dog, use your bike and carry a big stick or mace. There is never any excuse for a dog to bite you on a public street. None. I love dogs, but I will go medieval on his ass if attacked.

[MysticLlama]

Originally Posted by masraum

A lot of small dog owners don't control their dogs because "it's so small and sweet," so the small ones get away with stuff that a big one wouldn't.

I think this might also be true a lot, the owner doesn't seem to see the danger factor because of the size of the dog and pays less attention and their behavior rarely gets corrected.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by look 171

They sure smell me sihtting in my pants that's for damn sure. Got in after a bike ride in the cold (for us)this afternoon. Unloaded my bike from my 4runner. Here's comes this little dog, mad as hell showing his teeth barking at me as I walked across the street to home. I have to tell ya and hand in my man card here, I am terrify of dogs of all sizes. It came at me as I yell to scar it away. The owner was half way up the street taking her sweet time walking down. I was ready to kick its ass across the road, but it came around my bike and bit me. Broke the skin on my shin and decided that was enough to make me pee in my pants. Those teeth are damn sharp! With owner yelling, which did nothing, damn dog started walking back to the owner. Do they really sense that I frighten?

I'm a responsible dog owner. I sense that she is not.

Not the dogs fault, she needs a lesson. I'd report her, and since it broke skin make sure dogs shots are up to date. I would also have probably went to the doc and sent her the bill.

Teeth rip your pants? Send her the bill for those also.

[stevej37]

Some dogs don't understand a bike...especially when the pedals and tires are rotating.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by varmint

Yes.

Next time punt it’s OWNER.

Fixed.

Dog didn't do anything wrong. Why kick it?

[KFC911]

Dawgy senses are amazing, and I don't know if it's fear, unease, or what, but they do react differently. Fortunately, they all like me .

Some things scare me (Copperheads and heights), but not dogs ....

Don't have any advice tho' ....

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

You can't outrun a dog, so stand your ground, say NO in a firm loud voice, and if he keeps coming, kick it hard.

I have had good luck with standing my ground, squaring off and yelling. Never had to kick one but I would if I was getting bitten. I would also scream like that little girl in the racoon video.

[wdfifteen]

I'm not sure they literally smell it, but I do believe they sense it somehow.

[Superman]

There is a nearby thread on Exposure Therapy. As someone mentioned, perhaps work through your fear? I would say I am 'appropriately' frightened by aggressive dogs. If a dog tried to kill me, I think I would likely win that struggle. In a short time if I had a good stick in my hand, or better. A casually aggressive dog can also hurt me, as with the OP. Dog bites are not okay. I might have punted that dog.

I think dogs do "sense" stuff and I think turning your back on an aggressive dog is an invitation for the dog to act more aggressively. I keep my shoulders square to an aggressive dog. Often, I will move toward the dog. Like Robert DeNiro's character, rehearings in front of a mirror, in Taxi Driver.
"You lookin' at ME?"

[javadog]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I'm not sure they literally smell it, but I do believe they sense it somehow.

Body language. Dogs are very keen observers of other dogs, humans, you name it.

I’d wager to say they process more visual cues in that regard that we ever do.

[varmint]

Originally Posted by Baz

Fixed.

Dog didn't do anything wrong. Why kick it?

If a dog is attacking you and draws blood you deal with the dog.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I've often though of carrying a foot long section of re-bar on clamps on the cross bar.

[stevej37]

^^^ That would work.

A couple years ago, I was on a rural road when a pair of German Shepherd dogs (looked like about 1 year olds) came out of a yard and tried to bite my ankles on both sides of my bike. I tried to out run them, but having to kick at them on both sides, I was not pulling away. I think I went about a quarter mile before they gave up and dropped off.

I called the animal control when I got home. They said they would look into it...yeah right.