I wondered about the pepper to throw off the dogs....
http://www.greenwichtime.com/techno...ggest-rumors-about-why-it-took-so-6356526.php
ETA: Throwing off dogs originated from Cool Hand Luke movie. Myth busters disproved it according to the link.
http://www.greenwichtime.com/techno...ggest-rumors-about-why-it-took-so-6356526.php
ETA: Throwing off dogs originated from Cool Hand Luke movie. Myth busters disproved it according to the link.