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joe817,

I have sprayed quite a number of dogs who've come after me - with mixed results.

The majority, if I hit them in the eyes, nose, mouth stop and do their best to wipe off the spray by scraping their face against the pavement, all the while forgetting about me. I aim a little above their head in a Z pattern. I've found over time that's the best way to insure a hit. Trying to aim straight into their face generally results in a low miss.

I use Freeze +P, a combination of pepper spray and OC tear gas. This is potent stuff.

I've used it on a wide variety of breeds including pits, chows, husky's, German Shephards, and mongrels of all kinds. The majority stop coming after me if I hit them squarely in the face, but some shake it off and keep coming. When that happens I don't stop spraying. I've found that sometimes they keep coming because I thought I'd gotten em, when in fact I'd missed.

Understand, I'm pedaling furiously all the while, so unless their absolutely next to me it's difficult to have great accuracy. However, I know I've hit a few in the eyes and yet they still came after me. These are the ones that really worry me. Which ones - strangely enough, at least to me - mongrels. These are the most likely ones that seem able to shake off the spray and keep coming. Pure breeds seem to have less fight in the dog...

P.S. I really don't want to spray any dog and many times I don't - though I have the can in hand ready...but, if you cycle as many miles as I do, it's absolutely essential to have strong spray as you WILL encounter attacking dogs.

Also, if you use spray against an attacking dog, be prepared for the irate dog owner (fortunately, I've encountered only two vs. at least a hundred sprayed dogs) who often seem to think it quite alright for you, the cyclist, to be attacked. That's not a problem for him or her, in fact, entertaining. It's when you spray the attacking dog their common sense goes awry...

Two days ago I had a pit bull chase me while on my bicycle.

Fortunately, he seemed more inclined to chase as sport, not kill. By that I mean he wasn't snarlingly aggressive and seemed more to be play chasing, but how can I be certain? I can't. I sprayed him with pepper spray when he almost close enough to bite.

I've had other dogs come after me that initially seemed harmless until they got within biting distance, then started in with determined aggression - so you can't be certain anytime a dog comes after you if he just chasing for sport or attack.

If a dog is a potentially lethal danger like a pit, I'm taking no chances. I'm spraying and hoping...If spraying doesn't change his mind, then I'm prepared to take other measures if my life's in danger.

I did have a Texas Highway Patrolman tell me a dog would actually have to bite me to be justified in shooting the dog in self defense. I think that was his uninformed opinion and not the law.