As a result of my DD's dog being attacked by a Pit Bull, I am considering purchasing a defensive device. This is the second time in 4 years her dog has been attacked. The other time it was a Bull Mastiff and her dog suffered wounds that required two visits to the Vet to patch him up. Last month I was walking Ricky to a mini-park in our development and we encountered a man who had his 50 pound mixed breed dog off leash, his dog bolted toward us, and I picked up Ricky. I yelled at him to get his dog and put him on leash. He came over to me and slugged me in the upper arm. He said, "Mind your own business! Do you want me to hurt you? I can really hurt you!" I backed away, he collected his dog, and I called the police. The police said they could do nothing about it since there were no witnesses. Six months ago, Momi had Ricky at the front of our house on a leash. The new neighbors across the street have an aggressive German Shepherd. The owner was working in his garage with the door open and his dog off leash with him. The dog saw Ricky and bolted across the street. Momi picked Ricky up but the G.S. was jumping up trying to bite Ricky. Momi ran to our front door with Ricky in her arms and the dog pursued her. She opened the front door and the G.S. tried to follow her inside our house! The owner ran across the street and got his dog under control. Momi was in tears and I went to the neighbor. I was upset. He said it wasn't his fault, the dog accidentally got away. I called the HOA administration. They said they couldn't do anything about it since there were no witnesses (even I didn't see it). The neighbor and I no longer speak to each other and I am always wary of his dog who is now causing problems with other people/dogs in our neighborhood. I chose not to bring the last two incidents up with Ricky on HF, just because.
I am getting really tired of this. I have been researching defensive mechanisms for dogs for both me and my daughter. There are several options:
- Spikey harnesses that look like clown suits on a dog
- Spike neck collars
- Pepper spray
- Stun guns and tasers
The first two options are of very limited utility in my opinion and by reviews on the Internet.
Pepper spray is easy to use. easy to carry, and effective. You can use it at a distance of a few feet. The problem is that it is not a 100% assured deterrent. There is a chance you can enrage the target, whether human or animal, even after being sprayed.
The difference between a taser and stun gun, is that a taser shoots probes about 10 feet into the target and they do look like guns. A stun gun is either an 18 inch baton or a small box about 6 inches by two inches. It doesn't look like a gun. You must come in contact with the target in order for it to be effective. Although outlawed in some States, both are legal in California and in our city (I checked with the local P.D.) I eliminated the taser because I don't want to carry what looks like a gun with me every time I go out. The stun baton is about 18 inches long. You must touch the target with it and press the "on" switch. One resident pedestrian in our community (doesn't own a dog) carries one with him at all times. He was attacked by a dog in our community a couple of years ago. It is a hassle to carry. The stun box fits easily in a pocket, but you must touch the target so you have to be within 6 inches. Both baton and box are effective BUT the amount of disability can vary depending on the physiology of the target both human and animal. Again you risk the chance that you can increase the intensity of the attack by a partially disabled target. You have to remember to recharge both devices on a regular basis.
I have reduced my potential choices to pepper spray and a stun box, but I am having second thoughts. Am I being paranoid? Am I succumbing to fear? Would I even be able to use a device effectively if I am panicked and not thinking clearly? Do I stop taking Ricky on walks (me too) and just stay in my own fenced yard? Do I continue walking but always be aware of my surroundings (which I already am but that doesn't always work)? I am on the fence right now about proceeding with a choice, if any.
I would welcome some feedback from HF members with opinions and experiences, both first and second hand. This could be a controversial subject so try to be kind. Everyone will come to different conclusions and that is fine because all circumstances are different and can vary. Thanks for your input.
Ricky's Popi
I am getting really tired of this. I have been researching defensive mechanisms for dogs for both me and my daughter. There are several options:
- Spikey harnesses that look like clown suits on a dog
- Spike neck collars
- Pepper spray
- Stun guns and tasers
The first two options are of very limited utility in my opinion and by reviews on the Internet.
Pepper spray is easy to use. easy to carry, and effective. You can use it at a distance of a few feet. The problem is that it is not a 100% assured deterrent. There is a chance you can enrage the target, whether human or animal, even after being sprayed.
The difference between a taser and stun gun, is that a taser shoots probes about 10 feet into the target and they do look like guns. A stun gun is either an 18 inch baton or a small box about 6 inches by two inches. It doesn't look like a gun. You must come in contact with the target in order for it to be effective. Although outlawed in some States, both are legal in California and in our city (I checked with the local P.D.) I eliminated the taser because I don't want to carry what looks like a gun with me every time I go out. The stun baton is about 18 inches long. You must touch the target with it and press the "on" switch. One resident pedestrian in our community (doesn't own a dog) carries one with him at all times. He was attacked by a dog in our community a couple of years ago. It is a hassle to carry. The stun box fits easily in a pocket, but you must touch the target so you have to be within 6 inches. Both baton and box are effective BUT the amount of disability can vary depending on the physiology of the target both human and animal. Again you risk the chance that you can increase the intensity of the attack by a partially disabled target. You have to remember to recharge both devices on a regular basis.
I have reduced my potential choices to pepper spray and a stun box, but I am having second thoughts. Am I being paranoid? Am I succumbing to fear? Would I even be able to use a device effectively if I am panicked and not thinking clearly? Do I stop taking Ricky on walks (me too) and just stay in my own fenced yard? Do I continue walking but always be aware of my surroundings (which I already am but that doesn't always work)? I am on the fence right now about proceeding with a choice, if any.
I would welcome some feedback from HF members with opinions and experiences, both first and second hand. This could be a controversial subject so try to be kind. Everyone will come to different conclusions and that is fine because all circumstances are different and can vary. Thanks for your input.
Ricky's Popi