Robbin -

Yeap.. I hate people too

I used to encounter dogs off leads all the darn time, everywhere. I just couldn't get away from them in the mountains as nobody ever leashed their dogs and most did not have collars. Then I moved to the big city. You encounter an unleashed dog in an alley in West Allis you better have a gun, screw the pepper spray!

And during these times I did not have a dog aggressive dog so I was capable of putting most of my focus on keeping the mutts away without having to worry about my pooch being a moron. Not that Levi is a moron by any means I just have loving nicknames for my pets.

I'm well known for kicking things. People, mostly. I kick like a mule. I've kicked a few dogs in a way most farriers would relate with. I also find that dogs often react the same way horses/stock animals do when you whirl a rope at 'em. I walk my dogs usually with 2 leads, a traffic lead and a long line or 6' lead. I remember holding the husky on the traffic lead while swinging the 6 footer around like a lasso at spaniel mix once.

I've used all sorts of stuff to keep critters away/chase them off. When I started seeing pepper sprays and spray dog deterrents and the like for sale I thought hooray! No more grasping for random near at hand objects!

Good that nothing bad happened.. take care of those hands, rope burn smarts!

Just to add.. the dog kicking was in self defense with off lead dogs that were NOT friendly.


Edited by Jennifer Marshal (01/21/2008 09:42 PM)
Edit reason: add

You could get one of those handy retractable police batons(love them) or citronella spray if you're too worried about blow back with mace. Even PetSmart carries citronella spray under the brand name Direct Stop. We have cans of it in the play rooms to break up a serious pack fight but we've never had to use it so I don't know how effective it is. Personally I would put more stock in the baton. Yelling that you're going to call the police about their off-leash dog and pulling out a cell phone may get the idiots to grab their dog and leave too.

well now i am thoroughly confused. my 18 month old f GSD 'Wolf' (her name not her lineage--she is purebred GSD) is fairly well trained to not be dog or people aggressive. when we are out, she is always on leash.(required by our city law...) she will peacefully pass by other dogs as we walk and allow other walking dogs within 2 feet or so of us, with perfect manners on her part. but if an unleashed dog comes running at full gallop into 'our' space, she will get very aggressive, growl and bark, strain against the leash to get at the approaching dog. i don't feel it is appropriate to punish Wolf with an e collar jolt when it is the approaching unleashed dog who is in the wrong. i try to stand between her and the varmint dog and yell at the interloper to go away-- but if that doesn't work, what then ? my instinct is to give Wolf a long leash and let her defend herself/us , hoping that the other dog will go away... any advice from those much wiser than I am ???
the 1st time this happened the owner of the other dog , a spaniel, was on his porch watching his dog race across the street towards us. wolf barked and growled, other dog continued on and Wolf (still on leash) then snapped at the other dog and the intruder went yipping and crying away.. the owner (who was breaking the law by letting his dog run free) was yelling angrily at us --i said 'well you are breaking city law by always letting yours run free. shall i just call animal control now and have your offleash dog arrested for attacking mine??' (said while holding my cell phone ..which does have animalcontrol on speed dial..)) i don't believe i should have have e jolted wolf for defending us ??