I have carried a spray can of pepper spray with me every time I take Ramsey for a walk. I am hoping that it will help deter or stop a potential dog fight( off leash, uncontrolled dogs)or whatever.

I have actually never used it. I try to avoid those situations.

But the other day, a young, very cute pit bull puppy, 5 months or so, came charging at my dog. It could have been in play, but Ramsey started to fight. I yelled at the owner who came and got the dog.

In the meantime, I was trying to put Ramsey behind me and kick the puppy. Because it was a pup, I did not want to spray his eyes.

Incidentally, I just found out pit bull puppies are like "sherman tanks" all muscle!! Not one of my kicks even bothered him!!

So anyway, does the spray work? Has anyone here ever had to use it?

Here are some threads that mention pepper spray (if it's legal where you are). I have also read here about awareness of spray-back as well as practice with pulling it out and aiming it.


http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=31401&page=1#350262

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=32499&page=1

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=29463&page=3#324871

But I also think we have several regular members who have posted more recently about pepper spray.

Thanks Connie, I like the idea of hornet spray, but the cans are large and very clumsy to carry.

Maybe I'll go back to my steel baton again.

My pepper spray is a nice pocket size can.

Inconsiderate people not taking care of their dogs, really make it bad for everyone

A couple years ago I asked this question because we have been attacked a couple of times. Will said that pepper gel (spray) is better because it is less affected by weather conditions like wind, so you don't get the spray back on you much. I got some, haven't had to use it yet. He also said a walking stick is a good choice - I have one,but I hate having to carry that thing on walks cause we walk fast for exercise and it's a pain.

A friend of mine who is a K-9 officer showed me this article
http://policelink.monster.com/training/articles/1759-effects-of-pepper-spray-on-the-police-k9

Many years back, I was carrying pepper spray in my car. It was a 3 ounce can that was issued to police departments only. I would typically keep it up underneath my front seat, easy to reach if I needed it. I would take it with me on walks, into they can houses that I had to go into, and just generally carry it in the car, just in case...

I left the dog in the car one day for about 15 minutes, and when I came back I could see that the windows were covered in dog slobber. My Rott had found the can underneath the seat and took it with him into the back to chew on.... It was punctured not once, twice, but a total of 11 times. Keep in mind that it is pressurized because it is an aerosol can, so the first puncture would have sprayed all of the pepper spray directly into his mouth. He kept on chewing and punctured 10 more times..... He was drooling like a mo fo, but he was in good spirits and was happy to get back in the car for the drive home.

Just being in the car made my face feel like it was swelling shut. For probably about 3 weeks after he did that, any surface that I touched in the car made my skin burn. I can't even imagine what it felt like to be sprayed with that the mouth, but the fact that he kept showing it even after that means to me that it would never have stopped HIM had someone tried to stop him with pepper spray... I never replaced it....

I used to carry pepper spray for that same reason but honestly I wouldn't count on it at all. With a truly aggressive dog I would be worried it would only peeve the dog off (same thing with humans).

Here is a video of a pitbull named Winston pulling the bumper off of a police car and flattening the tires on other cruisers that show up. The dog was not only maced but TAZED and he just kept going (not shown in video). This dog wasn't even fighting, he seems to be having fun, and he still wasn't slowed down in the least bit.

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1xndiXQJsc

If someone wants proof that he was maced here is the news video, apparently after he was tazed the dog pulled the prongs out and just kept chewing the car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrmijP9Eel0

Maybe carrying a top sirloin would be more effective?

Sirloin , extra slip leash and/or a baton would seem to be the most effective methods imo - LE officers have to be exposed to OC spray before they can use it because it's not unusual to get it on yourself. OC spray cans expire. And if you miss and it doesn't affect the dog, you need backup anyways.

Ohh, dopey me. Just checking.

You guys ARE joking about the sirloin, right?