General Discussion

wercal

(1,370 posts)

38. Why is the OP Paranoid?

Wed Mar 27, 2013, 03:10 PM

Mar 2013

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.

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Be prepared, carry pepper spray or a pocket knife when strolling or walking a dog [View all] quinnox Mar 2013 OP

good god. eom uppityperson Mar 2013 #1

What do you recommend instead? Orrex Mar 2013 #12

How about a can of dog food? JaneyVee Mar 2013 #30

Forgive me if I remain skeptical of that proposed solution Orrex Mar 2013 #32

I doubt the poster was serious quinnox Mar 2013 #34

Shame on me for missing the joke. Doh! Orrex Mar 2013 #36

I presume you mean to use as a blunt weapon slackmaster Mar 2013 #51

According to some, a can of beans is better. AnotherMcIntosh Mar 2013 #62

Where I grew up we had dog packs in the woods, packs of wild dogs. It could be scary to say the RKP5637 Mar 2013 #31

2 things in the OP. The "like a pit bull" and carrying a pocketknife. uppityperson Mar 2013 #70

Could we tamp down the pitbull paranoia. hlthe2b Mar 2013 #2

I carry Halt, and a few times have put myself between an agressive dog & mine ... Myrina Mar 2013 #3

I've done the same thing pintobean Mar 2013 #5

Would make a great YouTube video Kolesar Mar 2013 #9

Yep, especially the one time it doesn't back down ... Myrina Mar 2013 #16

One for Tosh.0 ... eom Kolesar Mar 2013 #17

A reason to carry a cane or walking stick. Downwinder Mar 2013 #4

Louisville Slugger - I always carry it when walking MineralMan Mar 2013 #6

Walk softly and carry a big stick. Always good advice. yellowcanine Mar 2013 #21

Oddy, I've never encountered a poisonous snake MineralMan Mar 2013 #25

In my younger days, I used to take bike treks of up to 2 weeks by myself. cbayer Mar 2013 #7

A .357 magnum sharp_stick Mar 2013 #8

Aparently, it's more humane to Fla_Democrat Mar 2013 #35

I carry 2 303 cans of beans (back-up in case I miss). Eleanors38 Mar 2013 #57

LOL. What no Super Kung Fu Death Punch? FSogol Mar 2013 #10

Pfft! pitbulls ! hedgehog Mar 2013 #11

I had a mountain lion in my front yard a few weeks ago. DollarBillHines Mar 2013 #37

yep. coyotes, rattlesnakes, maybe even cougars.. frylock Mar 2013 #42

Dogs Bad paranoia Good . olddots Mar 2013 #13

My terrier carries an AR15 NightWatcher Mar 2013 #14

I have a really solid walking stick, just the right size and weight, Zorra Mar 2013 #15

Do you also carry these items when you walk in, you know, *that* part of town? Earth_First Mar 2013 #18

Why is the OP Paranoid? wercal Mar 2013 #38

Not sure "going for the jugular" on a pit bull with a big pocketknife is such a good plan. yellowcanine Mar 2013 #19

true, the knife would be a last resort defense quinnox Mar 2013 #20

What if it was a shepherd or a mutt? Would you use the pocket knife then, or only if it was a uppityperson Mar 2013 #71

Excellent reply. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2013 #28

Or a gun. a la izquierda Mar 2013 #22

no, a gun isn't necessary quinnox Mar 2013 #24

I'm sorry. Did I miss the roving dog gang notice? ceile Mar 2013 #23

maybe the other recent threads about pitbulls should give a clue quinnox Mar 2013 #27

I tend to ignore the threads that promote fear mongering and ingnorance. ceile Mar 2013 #41

I always carry a can of beans. Common Sense Party Mar 2013 #26

I see what you did there. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2013 #29

Damn! He beat me. (#57) Eleanors38 Mar 2013 #58

A Water Pistol with dilute Household Ammonia. formercia Mar 2013 #33

Over 100 years ago, the "Velo-Dog" revolver was marketed for just this purpose. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #39

You can even get ammunition for it for only $1.95 per round. Limit one round per customer. Sorry, slackmaster Mar 2013 #49

Someone listed a full box of 50 on Gunbroker a few months ago. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #54

I guess that's a bargain, in a world where people are trying to get 50 cents per round for .22 LR. slackmaster Mar 2013 #55

I'm glad I have a few thousand rounds of CCI stashed away. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #59

I haven't had any problem with vicious roaming dogs in my neighborhood. However, I frequently ladjf Mar 2013 #40

Sure, rain on my plans for a pet wildebeest! n/t Silent3 Mar 2013 #43

Well, maybe if he was a very sweet wildebeest. nt ladjf Mar 2013 #73

Is this a common a concern? More common when walking a dog than when walking alone? Silent3 Mar 2013 #44

I think so quinnox Mar 2013 #45

I'm a lot more concerned while walking a small dog than while walking alone slackmaster Mar 2013 #50

Small dog = bait AnotherMcIntosh Mar 2013 #64

I think this is very good advise Mosby Mar 2013 #46

And don't forget to always identify an ESCAPE ROUTE!!!! It's the apocalypse HereSince1628 Mar 2013 #47

I carre a tactical tomahawk muse03 Mar 2013 #48

I carry a dog BainsBane Mar 2013 #52

I always walk past this grizzled dude and he ALWAYS mr_hat Mar 2013 #53

Bears and fox roam in my yard all the time. Maybe I should never go outside. appleannie1 Mar 2013 #56

You're more likely to be attacked by the random human on the street than any Pit Bull. baldguy Mar 2013 #60

Great argument for concealed carry! Lizzie Poppet Mar 2013 #69

I just try to act friendly and unafraid of them ...... oldhippie Mar 2013 #61

One time while goose hunting and walking back to the vehicle Drahthaardogs Mar 2013 #65

BE AFRAID OF TERRORIST DOGS! BE AFRAID! FEAR! FEAR! PANIC! PANTS-SHITTING TERROR! Scootaloo Mar 2013 #63

Animals can be unpredictable madville Mar 2013 #66

When I walk my smaller dogs I make sure to bring my assault dog with me. Chisox08 Mar 2013 #67

No thanks. LWolf Mar 2013 #68

This brings back weird memories. Neoma Mar 2013 #72

there's a pet lion in my neighborhood. magical thyme Mar 2013 #74