Pepper Spray

[gaddylovesdogs]

Hey guys - I need another reccomendation!!

Because I live by a bunch of morons who don't control their badly behaved, and many times, vicious, dogs, I need a good, strong pepper spray. I had some, but when I went to release it on a hound that was coming after me, it did nothing but drizzle down my hands and cause my already dry skin to burn.
So, I need a reccomendation for a good pepper spray that will come out when I press the button, in the direction I point it at!!
I would also like a reccomendation for a small blowhorn.

I'm so sick of all these dogs...any dog that comes near me is gonna get it.

[calgal]

The same exact thing happen to me. My husband bought me the pepper spray when we moved to the country in TN. and I got bit on the butt when I went up the road to check my mail. The next time the dog came for me I tried to spray him but it didn't spray. It did get his attention and he just took off. I'd also like to know of one that works, so I can carry it when we are out walking or bikeing.

[gaddylovesdogs]

OMG calgal. That's horrible

There's a bit of a typo up there...I mean an AIRhorn, not a BLOWhorn lol. I'm thinking the "dog horn"?

I'm going to be completely armed...I plan to carry the airhorn, pepper spray, and an extra leash to use as a whip every walk. It's p*sses me off to no end that it's come to this, but oh well.

[Ritz459]

Good grief. You'd think animal control would control the problem as that IS what they are for....but some animal control officers are so ill suited for the job, and under paid, and over worked, that they just don't bother with it.

I don't know about a brand of pepper spray...rocks have always worked for me.

[gaddylovesdogs]

The *one* AC officer I saw trying to do anything about the problem got a call from someone that there was a loose dog running around and stopped ME and my LEASHED dogs, practically the only leashed dogs you'll ever find here, and asked if my dogs had been loose, warning me that there is a leash law. Finally I had an opportunity to complain, so I told him where many people let their dogs off and he said he'd check it out.

It PO's me to no end that I have to go out ARMED to take a WALK.

I would try rocks...but unless I were to go into somebody's yard to steal some landscaping rocks, I'd be out of luck lol. I ended up kicking snow at a loose dog yesterday and I think the thought that I was really coming after to him, and that he was caused pain due the fact that this, apparently arthritic dog, had to leap away. At this point, as cruel as it sounds, I really don't care if I end up kicking somebody's dog, or spraying it in the eyes with pepper spray, or terrifying it with an air horn. I just want to take a dang walk.

[calgal]

We lived in the country in TN. and there is no leash law except inside the city limits. You see unleashed dogs roaming everywhere and they tend to be mean. Anyway we lasted 20 months out there and sold out and moved back to CA.
I'm not saying you can't get bit here either. Just the opposite. I was walking my dog one day and this dog came right up behind me and bit my butt and pulled my sweats down. Thankfully the people who owned that dog was outside as well and called her off. I had a red mark but no broken skin. Also my husband was walking the dogs and a garage door was just opening up and a dog came flying out when he spotted our dogs and ran right over to attack them. My husband grabbed ours up while the owner called his back. He didn't even give it a second look or even apologize. Another time we were both walking the dogs and we were near our friends house when we noticed them in the garage so we decided to stop to say hi. Her JR was in a little wire crate, but he somehow got out and attacked Azrael. Since she was wearing her rolled leather collar he couldn't get a good bite on her neck, but did get enough that caused her to cough. These are reasons I've decided we need pepper spray, and we WILL use it. There is no excuse for anyone to be careless enough that their dog can attack a person or another dog.

[AVA]

one bad thing about pepper spray is the wind....you take a chance of your own dog or yourself of getting the spray on you. Personally, if I lived in a town that
allowed dogs to run free like that I'd be doing my walks with a hot shot. You
should be able to find these at any farm and ranch supply or feed store. As for
the horn, go to any place that sells boating supply, even walmart has them, and
buy canned air horn. They are very loud and are used on boats. So if I were on
a walk and was approached in a viscious manner by a stray dog or unleashed dog
I would first blow the horn and if that didn't make the dog think danger, if the dog
got close enough it would get a prod with the hot shot. Would work for me and
I don't think it cruel only putting myself in a safer situation.

[dogs4life]

What about some chicken in your pocket? Can you befriend them? Are they aggressive, protective, or fearful? Most dogs I come across are fearful and protective. Very few are pure aggressive.

I've seen grizzly bear spray used on loose dogs fighting, you can aim it and it's very powerful. I've never had to use it but I used to walk with it when in rural areas with loose dogs. Make sure you get the one that looks like a fire extinguisher, the other ones are too small and you cannot discharge more than once.

Personally I'd only use the spray or horn when the dog does something like bite or attack your dog. It may make matters worse if you just spray the dog when you get scared and anticipate something is going to happen. JMO

I love your idea about the horn....that should scare them good. We see them for sale at hardware stores here for football games

I've seen people walk their dogs with stun guns, personally I don't like that idea, too much room for error.

What's a Hot Shot?


ETA

Here's a great link on bear spray use and misuse
Brown Bear Projects at the Alaska Science Center

[britishbandit]

Originally Posted by dogs4life

I've seen people walk their dogs with stun guns, personally I don't like that idea, too much room for error.

Yikes!! Stun guns are actually available to the general public? That's a scary thought. Then again, people are allowed guns in the US too.

[dogs4life]

Originally Posted by britishbandit

Yikes!! Stun guns are actually available to the general public? That's a scary thought. Then again, people are allowed guns in the US too.

It's not the same as the law enforcement version, but it's a shocking devise I see people carrying. Here's the one I've seen most often Cabela's -- Palco Mini Thunder Blaster I Stun Gun

[gaddylovesdogs]

Originally Posted by AVA

one bad thing about pepper spray is the wind....you take a chance of your own dog or yourself of getting the spray on you. Personally, if I lived in a town that
allowed dogs to run free like that I'd be doing my walks with a hot shot. You
should be able to find these at any farm and ranch supply or feed store. As for
the horn, go to any place that sells boating supply, even walmart has them, and
buy canned air horn. They are very loud and are used on boats. So if I were on
a walk and was approached in a viscious manner by a stray dog or unleashed dog
I would first blow the horn and if that didn't make the dog think danger, if the dog
got close enough it would get a prod with the hot shot. Would work for me and
I don't think it cruel only putting myself in a safer situation.

My plan is to blow the horn first, and if the dog is stupid enough to come closer, pepper spray it.

The thing is though...would I get in trouble for carrying a hot shot (it's a cattle prod, dogs4life; it shocks 'em)? I would kind of rather just give the dog a burning sensation in the eyes than shock it... But...I mean, I really just don't want the cops coming after me for shocking somebody's dog.

Originally Posted by dogs4life

What about some chicken in your pocket? Can you befriend them? Are they aggressive, protective, or fearful? Most dogs I come across are fearful and protective. Very few are pure aggressive.

I would really prefer *not* to befriend these dogs, as many of them are loose often and if I were to start feeding them, that would only be encouraging them to pester me and my dogs.

There are several dogs here who are either aggressive from the beginning, or become aggressive as time goes on.

I've had several dogs, who, while I'm kicking at them, screaming at them, my dogs are lunging and and barking, snarling, baring teeth, will CONTINUE to try to get to them. It pisses me off because, I have a dog dominant dog, and she was doing AMAZING, and because I've been put in situations where my main priority is protecting myself and my dogs from the loose dog, rather than distracting her, she's gone a few steps back in her training. The fact that she's DD is the main reason these loose dogs annoy me so much; because I cannot guarantee that if they got up close and pissed her off, she would not bite them. I have warned people of this several times, they can see she's distressed and angry, but they don't seem to care. One person, when I told them she would bite their badly behaved, truthfully horrible dog, replied, "well, that's what he needs; it'll teach him a lesson!"

Personally I'd only use the spray or horn when the dog does something like bite or attack your dog. It may make matters worse if you just spray the dog when you get scared and anticipate something is going to happen. JMO

But this is what I want to avoid; a dog fight. I would prefer no blood be shed. I'm working with my dog to end her dominance/aggression issues, and allowing her to be in a fight with another dog would wreck that. I really don't feel I should let it escalate before I take the step to protect myself and my pets.

At this point, as I said in my last point, I am so angry that, if I do end up spraying dog that doesn't mean harm, I really just don't care. It will only last for a little while, and hopefully, the next time that dog is loose, and sees me, it will remember the pain I caused it and leave me the heck alone.

[dogs4life]

Well looks like you know what you need.

If you need a spray, I'd suggest looking into the sprays hunters use, not the personal protection type you see in department stores since you may have more than one dog at a time to worry about. I carried this one in Yellowstone UDAP Bear Deterrent Pepper Spray and I had the pleasure of meeting the man who developed it. He stands behind his product and has a personal mission to offer a great product. If you get a chance read his story, A Grizzly Attack, The Story Of UDAP Pepper Power. There are also 3 testimonials from people using the bear spray on dogs UDAP Pepper Power Bear Spray testimonials

I was looking on-line for retailers for you and found a dog version of the bear spray. Its called SABRE Dog Pepper Spray

Please read up on first aid and the link I gave you above from the USGS on spray use. It will help you protect yourself and your dogs from accidental spray. It also has tips and a review of the main sprays on the market.

You can find other brands in Hunting and Fishing supply stores and online at Cabela's -- UDAP Bear Spray with Hip Holster

[dogs4life]

Originally Posted by gaddylovesdogs

The fact that she's DD is the main reason these loose dogs annoy me so much; because I cannot guarantee that if they got up close and pissed her off, she would not bite them. I have warned people of this several times, they can see she's distressed and angry, but they don't seem to care.....

But this is what I want to avoid; a dog fight. I would prefer no blood be shed. I'm working with my dog to end her dominance/aggression issues, and allowing her to be in a fight with another dog would wreck that. I really don't feel I should let it escalate before I take the step to protect myself and my pets.

If your dog is this aggressive, maybe you need to muzzle your dog for walks in public. The muzzle itself may help change your dog's state of mind and help with your training. Many dog show supply stores stock all sizes in many varieties.

If you don't like that idea, then maybe you should walk your dog somewhere else without loose dogs or at a different time of day. Find an empty fully enclosed soccer field or football field for walking. What about running, your dog will be too busy running to think about attacking another dog...

[gaddylovesdogs]

It looks like what I want is bear spray. I don't want to take a chance at the pepper spray not dispensing.

Originally Posted by dogs4life

If your dog is this aggressive, maybe you need to muzzle your dog for walks in public. The muzzle itself may help change your dog's state of mind and help with your training. Many dog show supply stores stock all sizes in many varieties.

If you don't like that idea, then maybe you should walk your dog somewhere else without loose dogs or at a different time of day. Find an empty fully enclosed soccer field or football field for walking. What about running, your dog will be too busy running to think about attacking another dog...

A muzzle would actually be a very bad thing for several reasons:
1. I would not be able to work on her behavior, as she would not be able to accept treats.
2. She would feel trapped, thus escalating her behavior. She's already trapped when she's on a leash and they've got free range; without use of her teeth (her only protection), she's weak.
3. She would not be able to defend herself from any aggressive dogs, if I were not able to defer the attacking dog.


It's not like any and every dog that comes near her is gonna get a chunk out of it; she's much more dominant aggressive (ie; she wants to dominate the other dog, not actually hurt it), but if she felt need be (ie; the other dog was aggressive, really pissing her off, trying to hurt me), there is a chance she would bite it.

I also do not feel I should have to drive somewhere to simply take a walk. My dog is not the loose dog. My dog is on a leash, under control. We walk on the sidewalks. We do not go into peoples' yards. I pick up after her. We do not irritate any other walkers, dogs, etc. In conclusion; we mind our own business.

I would love if our local park's tennis court or baseball diamond or something were enclosed so she could run free (she's got loads of energy), but it's not =[ And though she's got a great recall, it's illegal to have her loose (like that really matters any; everyone here lets their dogs loose...).