I live in a ghetto area and get chased by a different fuckin dog about once a week while out riding. DESU it's starting to give me some kinda PTSD where I go into full sprint panic mode whenever I so much as hear a barking dog now while out riding. Last chase was this big fuckin Chow looking thing the size of a bear that managed to pace me for about a quarter mile before it just got bored and turned back. So far I've only managed to aggro on flats and downhills but I'm worried one of these days one is going to aggro on a climb and get fucked.

What's the deal with dog chases? Do they actually want to fuck you up or are they just chasing? Anyone ever get caught? Opinions on defense?