Always Grateful
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,947
Location: Durham, NC
Dogs Name: Mercury's Prince of the Universe (Boon)
Titles: CFFII,NW1, NW2, NWE1, CFFIII, CFFIV
Dogs Age: 12/29/12
Gallery Pics: 22
Visit triciakoontz's Gallery Thanks: 9,005
Thanked 12,652 Times in 4,151 Posts
I carry pepper spray. Everyone needs to PRACTICE using it if you carry it. It is NOT pleasant to experience (been there, done that, accidentally) but it doesn’t permanently harm any dog, including your own, who is likely to be affected if you have to use it.
I consider this to be a much better solution than getting in the middle of a fight and having my dog/myself get harmed by flashing slashing teeth. Cannot count the number of dogs we saw in our vet clinic with serious injuries from a random attack by someone’s off leash aggressive dog. It happens way too fast and way too often to not be prepared with spray, in my opinion. Just realize that you can beat the crap out of some dogs and only manage to escalate their behavior and/or redirect it to you.
If there are multiple dogs attacking, which are usually the worst attacks, I can’t imagine anything that would stop the attack faster than a bear sized canister of pepper spray. Nor can I imagine being able to stop 2 or more dogs with a stick. If approaching dogs continue after my freezing/posturing/loud commands to stop while standing in front of my dog, I have the spray already in my hand and ready to go. If I end up using it, things got very bad and I won’t have regrets. As much as I love dogs, there are some very scary ones out there.
As for the electronic fences, that’s a recipe for disaster and I purposely avoid walking my dog past those situations. My best friend had a dog raised from a puppy who, at age 18 months, broke through her electronic fence and pulled a toddler off a tricycle, causing extensive bodily harm and permanent damage to the child’s leg. That dog, very sweet and friendly to everyone in calm one-on-one situations, had m7ltiple puppy obedience classes, and had also had months racing up and down the “invisible fence” with extreme reactive behavior when people walked by her house. It was a busy neighborhood so, lots of practice getting amped up. Two adults were unable to make the dog release the child’s leg for an extended period of time, despite repeatedly kicking and striking the dog. No one had pepper spray.
This dog, a pit bull (for information purposes only, take a deep breath, it’s not a breed attack) was from a shelter and had a well educated owner who took excellent care of her throughout her life. It happens. That’s why I carry pepper spray. And I periodically practice with it. Pepper spray saved me from injury from two large shepherd mix dogs that attacked me on a bike ride many years ago. I trust it.
Great thread! So smart to have a plan BEFORE any chaos happens.
THE BOONDOGGLE