how to thwart off leash dogs

ORIGINAL: DumDog
but else is good and safe for bikers and skaters?

Responsible owners. That would be good and keep everyone safe.
But not according to BOB.

If the dog is a pit bull you'd better RUN FOR THE HILLS AND PRAY IT DOESN'T SPREAD ITS DRAGON WINGS, CATCH UP TO YOU, AND RIP INTO YOUR FLESH LIKE AN UNLEASHED T-REX.

and they really freakin DO have wings!!

Responsible owners. That would be good and keep everyone safe.
But not according to BOB.

If the dog is a pit bull you'd better RUN FOR THE HILLS AND PRAY IT DOESN'T SPREAD ITS DRAGON WINGS, CATCH UP TO YOU, AND RIP INTO YOUR FLESH LIKE AN UNLEASHED T-REX.

[sm=backtotopic.gif]
I doubt if a slam on someone named Bob will help people deal with aggressive off leash dogs.  Although Pit Bulls can be a bit more aggressive when attacking then other dogs I think you are exaggerating.  Running for the hills as you suggest may not be the best approach.  If you can get to a safe place running could work but it could also cause the dog to chase and attack.

There is also a product called Spray Shield formerly known as direct stop.  I have never used it so I can not say how effective it is.

I encounter this problem all the time and it has made my dog leash reactive.
 
My dogs are very small and there are not many dogs I trust to approach unleashed.  Especially since as a child our small dog was killed while on a leash by two unleashed dogs (NOT pbs by the way - GSD - not that it matters). 
 
Anyway, I encountered another unleashed dog today and thought of an idea and am wondering what you all thought.   I am considering carrying a tennis racket with me.  Currently when an unleashed dog approaches I lift my dogs immediately into my arms, this I think is contributing to the leash reactivity.
 
If a dogs seems like a friendlier type I am wondering about keeping the tennis racket between the dogs but allow them to sniff?  My dogs are somewhat fearful of new dogs and also refuse to let any dog sniff their butt.  But they do sometimes want to sniff noses, but get scared easily.  I wonder if allowning them to sniff while having something to use to protect them from the dog a bit would be a good idea.  Obviously I would only do this if I were really certain the dog was friendly.
 
Is this a bad plan?

i can see how it would be of an issue for cyclist, joggers, and roller bladers because they are already moving fast, which any high prey drive dog - friendly or not - is going to chase. Kaydee, when i first introduced her to the bike, tried to attack it..... which was BAD because i wanted to train her to run WITH me... not try to kill this instrument of evil... thankfully she has changed her mind since then!

Kelliope- raising your dogs in the air may not be the best idea as a first resort. It enforces the idea of your dogs being prey, assuming the approaching dog is approaching to attack. I understand if there is nothing else you can do, but if the dog is intent on attacking this puts you right in the line of fire and you will likely be attacked too. I have read to first in a stern and loud voice take one step toward the dog and say "NO" or "GO HOME" and see if that deters the dog or catches him off guard long enough for you to get to a safer place. I have also heard to carry a small umbrella and pop it up to scare the attacking dog and shield your own but I'm not sure how affective that is. To me scaring a dog in attack mode would CAUSE them to attack but...I don't know.

Chewbecca,
someone did not get your sarcasm in your post []

Dumdog, love that picture!!! [sm=headbang2.gif]

Jenny thanks but i cant take credit for it... i stole it [:-]
which makes me a typical bully owner... .thieving rascals that we are.

and they really freakin DO have wings!!

 
Did you set up that photo just to respond to the post[]

lol no not at all, i got it from another forum. she was a member's dog and the wings were part of a halloween costume for her youngest daughter - about 6 or 7 years old - the daughter was a knight and the dog was a gargoyle []
i saved it because ... well i liked the picture and i also like it for art refferences... and i shamelessly use it every chance i get!

whats your best advice?

If you dont want your dog to play or socialise with other dogs,then just ignore them,or like someone else said,just step inbetween your dog and them.
My dogs are always off leash when we are in a safe place,their dogggy body language is so much better than mine.If they want to interact with the other dog,then they will,if not then they will continue on walking and ignore them.
If the other dog is being annoying then i just stand inbetween them and wait for the owner to get there.
But in the main i let my dogs decide if they want to interact or not,i find the more anxious you get and the more you try and manipulate the situation the bigger chance you have of getting in trouble.If i stay calm,so do my dogs.
Airhorns,sprays and whatever i would never use,really because i have never had the need to,and they would scare the bejesus out of my dogs and probably make them relate the scary noise to the dogs i was trying to get rid of,therefore making them more reactive in the future.

Currently when an unleashed dog approaches I lift my dogs immediately into my arms, this I think is contributing to the leash reactivity.

Lifting up your dogs is probably one of the worst things you can do.In their eyes you are elevating their status and giving them something to worry about.The more you let them interact with other dogs,the better they will become.Although this is hard to do when your dogs are on leashes,as their fight or fligh instinct will kick in,they cant act naturally whilst on the leash.
I dont let my dogs go near on leash dogs,i dont see the point.The on leash dog cant play or socialise properly and only get's frustrated,and if they are fearful then having a unleashed dog come up to them will only make them worse as they are stuck on the lead and cant get away.

I bike my dogs darn near everyday. Two at once. Its good exercise for your left arm.

In our travels we have come into contact with so many off leash dogs. . .puppies, adults, pit bulls, yorkies. Never once in my life have I had to break up a fight or scare off a "chaser" while biking my dogs. And I've been doing this for several years now so its not like I've gotten lucky and only come into contact with only friendly off leash dogs.

Like any good dog owner, I have socialized my dogs well since the day I brought them home. My PON Bentley is less-than-dog friendly and is sometimes the aggressor when it comes to encountering other dogs. However when I'm walking or biking, I've learned over the years to calm the heck down and stop reacting like there is a fight imminent when I see another dog in the street. That's half the battle. If I had an air horn and pepper spray and started frantically waving my arms and yelling whenever I saw another dog. . well shoot. . thats like ASKING for a dog fight. Your tension = your dog's tension.

The great thing about being on a bike is that your dogs have to move forward. If there is a dog on the sidewalk, they can crane their necks to look at it, but eventually they're going to run out of flexibility and have to look forward again. A dog that isn't given the chance to make eye contact cannot get into a dog fight. If a dog ends up chasing us while we're on a bike. . we keep moving forward. My dogs can keep turning around to see who the heck is following us. . but soon enough they're going to have to look where they're going. They lose eye contact and the chaser loses interest.

Instead of freaking out and thinking "oh my god its a pit bull its going to attack me!", I take a deep breath and CORRECT my dog's tense body language. A jerk on the leash snaps em right out of it. Then we move forward and they forget about it.

Dog on dog aggression is 100% about a dog's body language. Tense dogs get into fights. Dogs that stare each other in the eyes get into fights. Humans that are panicking and jerking on leashes only add to this tension. Humans that are calm and project calmness can see a fight well before it happens and take measures to prevent it from ever happening, every time.

iiartisanii [sm=bravo.gif] Brilliant post!

You just echoed my thoughts exactly []

ORIGINAL: iiartisanii

Tense dogs get into fights. Dogs that stare each other in the eyes get into fights. Humans that are panicking and jerking on leashes only add to this tension. Humans that are calm and project calmness can see a fight well before it happens and take measures to prevent it from ever happening, every time.

 
This is exactly my problem.  I have trouble remaining calm since I witnessed my little dog get killed by two unleashed dogs.  In addition my littlest dog (3.5 lbs.) is an instigator.  She stares at other dogs, strains at her leash and barks.  She only does this when another dog approaches her - if the other dog is walking calmly she is fine and she is fine in pet stores, etc.  We have had some scares with dogs running at us - not happily, but appearing to be in hunting mode.  She is so tiny that it is really terrifying. 
 
If she is loose, she runs with her tail between her legs in fear if any other dog tries to sniff her, but on a leash - wow - different story. 
 
I just think most dogs see her as prey and really seem to go after her.  I have seen seemingly nice dogs really start tracking her until she turned around and screamed in fear and I was able to finally catch her.  This is a normally friendly dog that did that.