My first near-accident

[iandunn]

I've been riding for about two months. Just a few minutes ago I was riding home from the gas station and was pulling up to a stop sign in my neighborhood. I noticed a bunch of kids hanging out in the yard where the sign was and then as I'm about 10 feet from the sign (already in first, probably only going 10mph) this big golden retriever darts out in front of me. He wasn't running at me, but in front of me. I was already on the breaks for the stop sign, so I squeezed them hard and came to a stop; the dog was no more than 5 inches from my front tire.

Sigh...

[94suzuki500]

There is this dog in my neighborhood that always runs out to my bike and barks and gets really close, and its on a long bending curve.  I was about to get pepper spray and stop and spray the dog but for some reason he dosent run out anymore.  I think his owners saw him doing that and tied him up.

[juggernaught]

For whatever reason....most dogs hate bikes.  kinda threatens them.  If you see one off a leash while at a light...keep an eye on them.  If your already on the move don't worry about it.  I love dogs but if one comes at me while riding down the street (and it's happened) accelerate only if safe...otherwise just continue on course...dogs don't anticipate engine heat, weight, momentum...they will learn real quick it's a mistake to attack a moving motorcycle.  Avoiding hitting an animal is one thing.  Avoiding a chasing animal is another.  Survival of the fittest.

[crash]

from my MSF course:  if you see an unleashed dog, slow down as you approach it.  as you pass it, accelerate.  don't try to kick at it, etc.

[Mk1inCali]

And if you get an eerie feeling that your headlight covers just enough space in front of you to see the dog/animal as it is running out to get hit by you with no room to slow down, SLOW DOWN.  I had that exact thought a couple months back and sure enough, out ran a dog and I hit him square in the front shoulder.  His tooth chipped the paint off my left side axle mounting flange on my fork's lower leg.  He was alright, saw him walking around with his human the next couple days.