Hi,

I was just out for my usual walk and romp with my girl in a nearby ballfield. Some guy with what appears to be a Pitbull or Staffordshire Terrier is attempting to get into the neighboring field, all the while I hear this dog getting worked up, barking, and it doesn't sound good. It breaks off leash and is frantic to get at me and my dog. I truely was frightened. This guy obviously had no control over his animal. Fortunately, he was able to corral it and get the leash back on.

What would I have done had that dog gotten in?? Does pepper spay work?? Now my dog seems spooky to go out in the yard. I've worked long and hard to help her with her confidence and over reactions.

I'm thinking I should have had my cell phone on and called 911!!!

I'm a little freaked out. Now I'm gonna try to coax my dog outside.

Is it any wonder why the shelters are full of dominant untrained dogs. There were kids playing soccer nearby also.

This guy promptly put his dogs in his car and split. I did give him an earful I'm afraid......

Linda

Linda
I can completely understand your fears. My dog was attacked and I was hurt. It took me a year to be able to walk my dog without feeling sick to me stomach from fear. Then I got MAD and decided to take action. I now carry a PVC pipe and pepper spray. I usually have one confrontation a week with someone with their dog off leash. It's the law where I live. I tell them I will spray their dog if it comes near me. I had one person say she would call the cops. I told her go ahead and we could just explain you were breaking the law with an off leash dog. So get yourself can of REAL Pepper spray , not that Citronella stuff. It doesnt work.
Good luck and don't be afraid to protect yourself and your dog.
Vikki
PS: Tip on pepper spray. I suggest you test it (down wind) to see its shooting distance.

Linda,

This situation has been discussed here several times. The ladies here recommend everything from pepper spray to cattle prods to short swords; and no I am not kidding.

Vikki makes a great point, what ever you decide to do to protect your pack, practice it several times. It is important to select weaponry you will be willing to carry and can use effectively. Make sure you can deploy your weaponry quickly, without breaking eye contact with the aggressor (man or beast) and without dropping it. Make sure that using whatever safety it may have is automatic. Threat identification to deployment to employment should all be a smooth practiced set of motions. You require no less of your dog in obedience work do you?

Anyway, I hate hearing about people who are fearful to go about their lives because of the idiot behaviour of a few. I love hearing about people who have decided to fight back.

Here are a couple URLs with various mostly nonlethal options that are hopefully legal in your area. If not, PM me.

http://www.chiefsupply.com/pepper_spray.phtml

http://www.chiefsupply.com/monadnock-batons.phtml

Note, I don't endorse this particular vendor, but the products are solid.

Hugh

"....... the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed."