Be prepared, carry pepper spray or a pocket knife when strolling or walking a dog

[quinnox]

You never know when a big aggressive dangerous dog, like a pitbull, could be on the loose or break free from their yard, and then proceed to attack you or your pet. I just did a google news search, and it happens more than you would think, and sometimes the story ends up very tragically. At least with pepper spray or a big pocketknife, you have a fighting chance. I carry both. And I wouldn't hesitate to use either and go for the jugular, if a dog attacked me.

[uppityperson]

1. good god. eom

[Orrex]

12. What do you recommend instead?

Large dogs routinely roam my neighborhood. I know nothing of their temperment. If such a dog confronts me while I'm walking with my two small children (as has happened), how do you suggest that I handle the situation? What if it's two dogs? Or three?

I look forward to your answer. Thanks.

[JaneyVee]

30. How about a can of dog food?

[Orrex]

32. Forgive me if I remain skeptical of that proposed solution

It seems to me that aggressively territorial dogs aren't going to roll over and show me their tummies just because I offer them a can of ALPO.

Even if it might work, I'd rather bank on something that I'm sure will work.

I'm sorry that the dog might wind up getting maced, but I'm not going to risk my children's safety just because the dogs' owner can't keep them in the yard.

[quinnox]

34. I doubt the poster was serious

It seems some people aren't experienced with this situation, and are responding flippantly. Their attitude would probably be rather different if they ever faced a situation where a hyper-aggressive dog was attacking them or being threatening towards them. I think taking precautions like you do is a very wise thing to do.

[Orrex]

36. Shame on me for missing the joke. Doh!

To be honest, I've heard that suggestion before, though. Some kind of treat or dog biscuit is supposed to soothe the savage breast or something.


I wish that I had a better solution, because I don't go out of my way to chem-spray anybody. And even if the dogs in question would respond to my height and stern voice, my two kids can't quite convey the same intimidating presence...

[slackmaster]

51. I presume you mean to use as a blunt weapon

Probably better than nothing.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

62. According to some, a can of beans is better.

[RKP5637]

31. Where I grew up we had dog packs in the woods, packs of wild dogs. It could be scary to say the

least. Sometimes one could hear them howling off in the woods ... a squirrel, possum or whatever treed.

[uppityperson]

70. 2 things in the OP. The "like a pit bull" and carrying a pocketknife.

If you are walking with your 2 small kids, would carrying a pocket knife really help? What if it's two dogs? Or three?

Pepper spray sounds like a better idea, but beware with your kids, watch for breezes. I've carried a large stick before and it has helped, much better than a big pocketknife. Now I carry pepperspray.

And the "like a pit bull" thing also got a good god from me. Any large dog can be more dangerous than a small one, non-breed specific.

[hlthe2b]

2. Could we tamp down the pitbull paranoia.

Enough, already.

[Myrina]

3. I carry Halt, and a few times have put myself between an agressive dog & mine ...

... they seem to go after whichever dog is 'first' in line as if they instinctively think that's the Alpha, so to protect my older & mostly toothless furr kids, if something's coming toward us, I step in front and turn myself into the Alpha Grizzly - making myself huge & snarling - & (thus far) it's worked - the roamers retreat. **I do NOT advise anyone else to do this. I'm just crazy enough not to give a shit.**

.... I do have to say, though, it's my opinion that if a wandering dog (or criminal - it's not just dogs that attack) is hell bent on attacking your or your kid/pet, not much short of a bullet is going to stop it.

[pintobean]

5. I've done the same thing

several times. It works. If I was going to recommend anything, it would be a walking stick. It's easily seen and intimidating. A dog isn't going to see any danger in pepper spray or a pocket knife.

[Kolesar]

9. Would make a great YouTube video

We did that to an antelope that was walking toward us on a trail in Wyoming. He skeedaddled after we stood on a big rock and "looked big".

[Myrina]

16. Yep, especially the one time it doesn't back down ...

.... then my Darwin Award-worthy performance will be preserved for all time.

[Kolesar]

17. One for Tosh.0 ... eom

[Downwinder]

4. A reason to carry a cane or walking stick.

[MineralMan]

6. Louisville Slugger - I always carry it when walking

my overly-friendly dog.

[yellowcanine]

21. Walk softly and carry a big stick. Always good advice.

A big stick is good for holding down poisonous snakes also, particularly if one end is forked.

[MineralMan]

25. Oddy, I've never encountered a poisonous snake

while walking my dog. The times I have encountered them, though, I've found that giving them some room and avoiding contact with them was the best choice.

Only when I've encountered them where people are likely to be have I done anything about them. I grew up in a rural area in California, and have encountered dozens of rattlesnakes. Only a couple were near places people normally went. Those I killed. The rest, I let go about their business of keeping the rodent population down.

[cbayer]

7. In my younger days, I used to take bike treks of up to 2 weeks by myself.

I was much more threatened by dogs than people or cars. I always had pepper spray on my belt. Though I didn't have to use it often, I was very glad I had it when I needed it.

[sharp_stick]

8. A .357 magnum

does the trick and it's easier to reload than a can of mace.

If we're gonna jack up the pit bull paranoia, I don't see why I can't toss in some gun porn just for kicks.

[Fla_Democrat]

35. Aparently, it's more humane to

cut their throat and let them bleed out than put a slug in their brain.

Personally, I carry hypos loaded with sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride. Ya know, just to be humane to an animal trying to rip my face off.

[Eleanors38]

57. I carry 2 303 cans of beans (back-up in case I miss).

[FSogol]

10. LOL. What no Super Kung Fu Death Punch?

Last edited Wed Mar 27, 2013, 01:58 PM - Edit history (1)

When I go for a walk, I carry a smile to give to everyone I see.

[hedgehog]

11. Pfft! pitbulls !

My walk crosses several coyote paths!

[DollarBillHines]

37. I had a mountain lion in my front yard a few weeks ago.

My front yard is a meadow, with some of the grasses reaching 3 feet tall. I think the lion was waiting for some hapless deer to cruise by.

We just looked at one another until I went back inside.

[frylock]

42. yep. coyotes, rattlesnakes, maybe even cougars..

I carry a snake kit, and that's about it.

[olddots]

13. Dogs Bad paranoia Good .

n.t.

[NightWatcher]

14. My terrier carries an AR15

The only thing that stops a bad dog is a good dog with a gun.




I actually carry an Asp extendible baton in my pocket.

[Zorra]

15. I have a really solid walking stick, just the right size and weight,

so I can get that Ted Williams perfect swing in every time.

I also carry double strength extra long range pepper spray.

Most of my strolling is done on the beach or in the desert, where there are few or no other people, and no trees to climb, and I would be a sitting duck for a vicious dog attack if it were not for these defenses.

[Earth_First]

18. Do you also carry these items when you walk in, you know, *that* part of town?

Your paranoia is extraoridnary...

[wercal]

38. Why is the OP Paranoid?

Some of the strongest memories I have of my youth (when I did alot more walking) involve fear of large and aggressive dogs. I never thought about carrying pepper spray...but the mail-man certainly carried it, and I can understand why.

A co-worker of mine lost everything he had (and his wife went to prison) because his dog killed a boy. And just a few months ago, another small child in my town (Topeka, KS) was killed by a dog.

There are lots of people who love dogs. There are lots of great dogs out there. But then there are the outliers. I volunteer at the shelter, and deal with all kinds of dogs...and every once in a while, I fear one. I don't think I'm paranoid...just being logical. Some dogs have been trained and/abused to be dangerous monsters.

I would scrap the pocket knife...the dog will just clamp on your arm or leg while you're trying to use it.

[yellowcanine]

19. Not sure "going for the jugular" on a pit bull with a big pocketknife is such a good plan.

Standing upright and trying voice commands first is probably a better strategy. You are more likely to avoid serious injury. Most dogs have had at least some training which will make them respond to a firm verbal command if the command is clearly directed at the dog and not the dog's owner/handler. I would only go for the pepper spray or using a pocket knife if the dog is actually closing in on you.

[quinnox]

20. true, the knife would be a last resort defense

only good if the dog was on me, and I was fighting for my life, then it would be effective to cut the pitbull's throat. My knife is pretty big and sharp, its not a small knife.


But yea, I would use other methods first, that would be a last resort.

[uppityperson]

71. What if it was a shepherd or a mutt? Would you use the pocket knife then, or only if it was a

"pitbull"?

Dog attacks, you pull your knife out of your pants pocket, open it, cut it's throat. huh

[Lizzie Poppet]

28. Excellent reply.

I'm not particularly physically intimidating to other humans (I'm small...), but I can bluff most dogs, even big, potentially dangerous ones. There's a few million years of social evolution at work in their noggins, and if I can do a passable initiation of the alpha bitch, they back off. Unfortunately, a fair few of my less-than-pleasant dog encounters tend to happen while cycling, where it's a lot harder to get yer alpha on! I usually have a little can of pepper spray clipped next to my computer, and it works very well indeed...but it's definitely a "last line of defense."

[a la izquierda]

22. Or a gun.

Just shoot it, ya know? This is America.


People are afraid of their own shadows...

[quinnox]

24. no, a gun isn't necessary

not in my view.

[ceile]

23. I'm sorry. Did I miss the roving dog gang notice?

Where the hell do you live that this is seen as reasonable? Oh and nice flamebait.

[quinnox]

27. maybe the other recent threads about pitbulls should give a clue

Ya know, when topics come up, it tends to make people post threads about them. It isn't exactly rocket science. I don't think it is wrong to give advice for people to be prepared to protect themselves either.

[ceile]

41. I tend to ignore the threads that promote fear mongering and ingnorance.

And I didn't think the sarcasm tag was needed in my first reply.

[Common Sense Party]

26. I always carry a can of beans.

Or a bicycle tire.

[Lizzie Poppet]

29. I see what you did there.

[Eleanors38]

58. Damn! He beat me. (#57)

[formercia]

33. A Water Pistol with dilute Household Ammonia.

A squirt between the running lights will give them pause.

[Peter cotton]

39. Over 100 years ago, the "Velo-Dog" revolver was marketed for just this purpose.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velo-dog



The Velo-Dog was a pocket revolver originally created in France by Charles-François Galand in the late 19th century as a defense for cyclists against dog attacks. The name is a portmanteau of "velocipede" and "dog".

Surviving examples vary considerably in appearance, but all have certain features in common. All have short barrels and fired the 5.75 mm (.22 calibre) Velo-dog cartridge. The hammer is shrouded to avoid its snagging on clothing, so the weapon is double action only. Another unusual feature on many guns is the lack of a trigger guard, and a trigger that folds into the body of the weapon when not in use.

The revolver uses the 5.75mm Velo-dog cartridge, a centrefire 5.5 mm (nominally 5.75) cartridge slightly less powerful than the 22 Long Rifle, using a jacketed bullet. For the more humane, there were cartridges loaded with spice or salt.[citation needed] The cartridge is, or was until very recently, still made by Fiocchi.

They're quite inexpensive as older firearms go, with very nice examples usually selling for no more than $300 or so.

[slackmaster]

49. You can even get ammunition for it for only $1.95 per round. Limit one round per customer. Sorry,

...no boxes available.

http://www.ammo-one.com/5-75VeloDog.html

[Peter cotton]

54. Someone listed a full box of 50 on Gunbroker a few months ago.

It went for $57.

[slackmaster]

55. I guess that's a bargain, in a world where people are trying to get 50 cents per round for .22 LR.

[Peter cotton]

59. I'm glad I have a few thousand rounds of CCI stashed away.

Today's prices make me want to pick up an AK-74. 5.45x39 is cheaper than .22 LR!

Weird world we live in...

[ladjf]

40. I haven't had any problem with vicious roaming dogs in my neighborhood. However, I frequently

see small people walking dogs that are in the 70 to 100 lb range, sometimes even in pairs.
I don't think that the owners realize that they would not be able to stop an 80 lb dog if the animal seriously wanted to break away.

My advice is to never own any pet that could physically over power you and escape.

[Silent3]

43. Sure, rain on my plans for a pet wildebeest! n/t

[ladjf]

73. Well, maybe if he was a very sweet wildebeest. nt

[Silent3]

44. Is this a common a concern? More common when walking a dog than when walking alone?

I don't know where the line between being reasonably prepared and going too far with living in fear is here.

[quinnox]

45. I think so

When I read some of the news stories about pitbull attacks, a lot of the time another dog would be a provocation for the pit bull to attack.

I think it also depends on where you live, I live in a neighborhood with a lot of aggressive dogs, unfortunately. (It is not a great neighborhood)

[slackmaster]

50. I'm a lot more concerned while walking a small dog than while walking alone

A small dog may look like a target to an aggressive dog. I look like something a dog wouldn't want to fuck with.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

64. Small dog = bait

[Mosby]

46. I think this is very good advise

Me and my SO (phx_dem) are beagle people, right now we have Brock the beagle in our family. He is really good with other dogs and due to the fact that he is an only dog right now we walk him twice a day. Statistically speaking this this greatly increases the odds of encountering off leash dogs, it has happened 3-4 times so far. We carry a spray I got at the local gun store, its mace and pepper spray.

[HereSince1628]

47. And don't forget to always identify an ESCAPE ROUTE!!!! It's the apocalypse

and you've always got to be ready to bug out when you encounter the walking dead.

[muse03]

48. I carre a tactical tomahawk

[IMG][/IMG]

I was once attacked by a pitbull while walking my 15 pound mutt. Ever since that day I invested in a tactical tomahawk.

May god have mercy on the poor dog that decides to attack us

[BainsBane]

52. I carry a dog

And we do fine.

[mr_hat]

53. I always walk past this grizzled dude and he ALWAYS

pulls out a can of mace and aims it at my dogs as our paths cross.

He's just itching for one of them to get curious or god-forbid friendly.

[appleannie1]

56. Bears and fox roam in my yard all the time. Maybe I should never go outside.

[baldguy]

60. You're more likely to be attacked by the random human on the street than any Pit Bull.

[Lizzie Poppet]

69. Great argument for concealed carry!

*whistles innocently*

[oldhippie]

61. I just try to act friendly and unafraid of them ......

..... and that has worked for me for 65 years of walking around neighborhoods with dogs. I have NEVER been attacked by a dog.

If that doesn't work, the S&W 340PD with 5 rds of .38spl +Ps that is usually in my right front pocket will probably discourage an aggressive dog.

I really like dogs. I'd hate to have to hurt one, but if I have to, it will likely be permanent.

[Drahthaardogs]

65. One time while goose hunting and walking back to the vehicle

and ice-fisherman's dog came running up to me showing his teeth. I covered the dog with the shotgun while the owner is running to catch up yelling, "Don't shoot Don't shoot!" I yelled back that I sure as hell was NOT going to get bit while I had a gun in my hands and he better get his ass over in a hurry and get his dog.

All ended well though, but still, it was close for a few seconds

[Scootaloo]

63. BE AFRAID OF TERRORIST DOGS! BE AFRAID! FEAR! FEAR! PANIC! PANTS-SHITTING TERROR!

Yuh huh, I'm glad you're a fucking badass. now if you're done patting yourself on the back about how you've read some newspapers and are now a boy scout (be prepared!) DU has important shit to talk about.

Like Olive Garden.

[madville]

66. Animals can be unpredictable

Dogs break off leashes, dig out of fences, roam free, etc and can attack other people, animals, children, etc for no reason sometimes. I usually have a stick or a small handgun with me when out for a walk, lots of strays around here. This entire county only has one part-time animal control guy.

Just saw this on the news yesterday:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57576303/mark-kelly-gabrielle-giffords-husband-pulls-daughters-dog-off-sea-lion-in-calif/

[Chisox08]

67. When I walk my smaller dogs I make sure to bring my assault dog with me.

I have three dogs and one of them is a pit bull mixed with mastiff. Bones, don't me for the name because he came with it, is just like me we look scarier then we actually are. The only threat he poses is covering you in drool. If people too care of their pit bulls you wouldn't have the problem of pit bull attacks, they are very loyal and friendly dogs.

[LWolf]

68. No thanks.

I don't know how I've managed to live for 53 years, strolling around all over the place, with or without my own dog, without ever having run into an aggressive dog on the loose.

Dogs on the loose? Plenty. Aggressive? None. As a kid, I lived in between a doberman and a german shepherd. They both ran loose, and often got in fights which I, when no one else was around, broke up. I was a kid. They never turned their aggression on me.

Plenty of loose dogs; none aggressive.

I've known two dogs aggressive toward people. One was a malamute, one a great pyrenees. Both families were careful to keep their dogs well-fenced and separate from visitors.

53 years. 2 dogs, neither loose.

Maybe it's because I'm not paranoid, and choose, rather than to live in fear, to use common sense.

[Neoma]

72. This brings back weird memories.

I used to have a razor scooter when I was a kid. Most people use it to just get around... I used it to go down large hills while being chased by dogs. Roller coaster speed...

[magical thyme]

74. there's a pet lion in my neighborhood.

Or, rather, a pet lionness. Not a mountain lion. A lion. ness. My neighbor saw it as a cub at a zoo auction. Told me their eyes met and she knew she'd found her soul mate.

The thing is humongous. I saw a pic of her gazing up at her lionness sitting next to her on their couch.She assured me she is registered with the state and follows all state and federal regs, including 2 fences.

I know zoo fences for tigers and such top 14 feet, and I find it hard to believe either of her fences is that big, I'm guessing the 2nd fence is some sort of backup, but that she can probably hop over either of them should she get bored some day and go on a walkabout looking for some excitement.

Any recommendations? I don't think a pocket knife, a can of pepper spray, or a can or three of beans will suffice should the lionness be out looking for a "playmate."