I was recently surfing the net and spotted this product: http://www.stuartk9products.com/browsecat.asp?cat=19. It's a stun gun for use against attacking dogs. I was thinking about purchasing it for protection for myself, my dog and my horse. It says it delivers 120,000 volts. What exactly does this feel like? Is it enough for most situations? Any comments? Thanks.

Hi Jackie, That looks like some pretty serious hardware. $100.00 too. It is a foot and a half long. How about a little can of pepper spray instead? Instead of waiting for the attacker to get 18 inches from you, it can be used from many feet away. Like from the saddle of your horse. Or when your dog is in a brawl and you do not want to get into it to. Less conspicuous in public as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> May you never need to use it.

I have heard several reports of pepper spray "backfiring" and forcing more aggression than less. Does not even mention the issue of wind.

Jackie,
That version of the stun baton is actually over 15 years old. It delivers more of a jolt than a cattle prod, but doesn't seem as effective as the top end stun guns available nowadays.

One advantage to the baton however is reach - the more concealable stunguns would require you to be well within bite range of a dog to protect yourself.

Are they effective? No. If you need to protect yourself from attacking dogs, get a Concealed Weapons Permit and learn to effectively engage targets with a handgun ( attending Thunder Ranch or API for instruction would be ideal ), preferably in .45 ACP caliber. Any other choice is making a compromise in your personal safety - your call. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

It's nearly impossible to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Maryland.

I've been doing some more web-surfing. There are quite a few newer models of stun batons. Cheaper and with higher voltage. I think it's a good option for my needs.

Thanks,

Hey Jackie - sorry for the firearm advice, I didn't realize that you lived in Maryland.

And do I really feel that stun weapons are completely ineffective - put it this way - they'll stop better than 85% of dog attacks. However, you're still pretty darn close to the attacking canine to have to use the weapon, and I'm not convinced that they'll deter a determined animal. So my advice was given to give you the maximum chance to protect yourself with no risk of injury to *you*. I commend you for not wanting to inflict a lethal injury to a strange dog, it shows alot of compassion of your part.

Yep, that's a better version of the baton - technology catches up, finally. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Nice home page for your animals! I'm glad to see that I'm not the lone cat lover on the board, too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I ride, too, and have a problem with a couple of large mutts up the road from me. I have not ridden my pony by there yet because they came after me on my bike one time.
The road is a state road. There are no leash laws in this county in VA. Very rural. The owners are just plain stupid. They don't care that these dogs chase cars (and are good enough not to get hit).
I have also thought of the stun gun, but I know that the crackling sound of electricity would spook my pony (he knows what electric wire is and respects the popping noise).
I don't feel comfortable shooting someones dog in a state road.
Any other suggestions on how to end the problem? lori

Lori,
You're safest just avoiding the situation. If your county has an anumal control officer, speak with him/her and see if he/she can pick up the stray dogs. If you're feeling threatened by them, animal control will usually work with you.

I also live in a very rural location - but everyone in Georgia carries a gun, darn near. Makes people a bit more polite sometimes.

Lori,
I do think that avoiding a potentially dangerous situation with a half ton animal is probably best, as Will suggests.
But, that said, there are things that make your horse safer/sounder in handling unexpected unpleasant dog encouters. (oh, and yeah, I say this from many years of riding the stinky spooky things)
Train your horse to respond to threatening noises/stimulus by facing them. The instinctive response in these grazers is to run away and prepare to run-and predators-dogs-dig this response, it makes them feel like big bad meat eaters.
With your horse in his stall, eating his dinner with his rear end towards you, take a whip and stand there and begin making an irritating sound-click your tongue or go shh shhs shhhs repeatedly. Your horse should take notice by laying his ears back or rolling his eyes or even kicking at you. if your horse is ignorant, pop the whip. (Most horse KNOW this sound. Don't let him kick you, of course, but DO NOT STOP or even react until he faces you. then stop immediately. You can offer a treat when he faces you or not-I never did, for my nags the reward was the cessation of the irritant.
Repeat this in the lunge pen, the arena, mounted with another rider, etc. Just like dogs-use many situations. Make the horse become more confident facing an adversary rather than flight or with a rear kick-and you retain much, much more control when a bad situation arises while riding. If nothing else, you will have time to dismount the animal before he becomes too panicked to stay aboard safely.
This is only if you have to, not something I'd do for a trial of the horse's learning process-a good test is a horse who turns to face (calmly!)all people and things that aproach it the pasture or free run pen.
Alot of dogs running loose are scared off by water guns filled with vinegar or bleach-but it is possible that such a thing would only anger some of them. I carried a water gun (and big furry dogs and weapons of my own as well) with vinegar when packing in the mountains-but never had to use any of them. there are dogs who are not easily scared away-few and far between, but they exist. The big voice that may shoo dogs away often scares the hooie out of horses as well-so it may pay to incorporate big voices into the training of your horse.