Well, the fact that you are 270 lbs. and still had trouble is unnerving to say the least.

That's why we smaller, pint-sized dog owners have no choice but to travel with equipment - stick, mace, knife. I never leave home without them. The stick is actually something to do with horses (dressage or something) that is very lightweight. It's long enough to keep strays away that are not necessarily looking for a fight but are maybe just curious. I put my dog behind me and hold the stick out at them, and for some reason, no dog seems to like this stick. It stops them in their tracks. I have no idea why they are intimidated by it.

But for a charging dog that wants to fight (and a lot of times I don't know which dog is which until it's upon us), the whip wouldn't be enough, I'm quite sure of that, so I carry the mace. I even go so far as to put the mace in an outer right pocket because I'm right-handed. Fast access is my point. If I find myself in a place that has a number of loose dogs, my hand is on the mace ready to go. I do, however, try to avoid a place that requires me to be at the ready like that though.

The knife is for all-out emergencies.

Twice I've been out walking Molly - once when she was just a tiny thing (maybe 12 wks?) and then more recently when she was about 7 months - and both times I NEVER heard them coming. The neighbors dogs just 'appeared' up on us from behind. I of course was taken off gaurd both times, the second time they wouldn't let up (they are big too whatever they are) and thankfully my husband was with me and had to kick them rather violently to get them to just back off. Pissed me off as I've tried so hard to work w/ Molly and prevent any excessive DA - I really need to invest in a stick - where does one obtain a telescoping stick? Never heard of it. I need to pick up some pepper spray as well.

Someone posted a link awhile ago to a place to purchase one of those extending batons from. Can't find it now, anyone have this link handy?

You can order them online but actually often you can obtain the same quality item cheaper WITHOUT shipping costs at any Army Surplus store....at least you can in WA. Again, even charging dogs shy off to the side at the last moment when I whip it out...they do seem to know what it is for. Worst case scenario I have had to strike downwards towards it but have never needed to actually HIT the attacking dog.

I dont know if I would hit a dog with telescoping baton, maybe as the very last option available. One hard hit in the right place can certainly kill a dog. In my opinion the best option is pepper spray. The stuff is has been used succesfully on bears for years. Get the good stuff though, not the cheapo key chain type. Also if you get your dog with it he will be okay, cant say the same for a baton hit. I can somewhat relate to your concern though. I was walking my puppy a week or so ago and out come two heavy boxers like bats out of hell. I could not be sure what they were going to do so I immedatly reached down to throw my pup over my shoulders and brace for the worst. Turns out the owners had an underground fence (I hate those things!) and we all were okay. But it sure gave me a scare.

Google results for telescoping baton:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enUS260US260&q=telescoping+baton

 Quote: Matthew Thurston

I dont know if I would hit a dog with telescoping baton, maybe as the very last option available. One hard hit in the right place can certainly kill a dog. In my opinion the best option is pepper spray. The stuff is has been used succesfully on bears for years. Get the good stuff though, not the cheapo key chain type. Also if you get your dog with it he will be okay, cant say the same for a baton hit. I can somewhat relate to your concern though. I was walking my puppy a week or so ago and out come two heavy boxers like bats out of hell. I could not be sure what they were going to do so I immedatly reached down to throw my pup over my shoulders and brace for the worst. Turns out the owners had an underground fence (I hate those things!) and we all were okay. But it sure gave me a scare.

Maybe I'm a bad person - but if I hit a charging dog and by some chance end up killing it - well I'm gonna have a hard time feeling too awful bad. Should have been kept under control. Although you make a good point about possibly hurting your own dog if there was a fight and I just wade in whacking. Pepper spray is a good idea too though...

 Quote: Keith Jablonowski

Someone posted a link awhile ago to a place to purchase one of those extending batons from. Can't find it now, anyone have this link handy?

Here it is:

http://www.usapolicesupply.com/home.php?cat=158

This thread was useful:

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/130180/page/0/fpart/1

John, Feel for you. Had this happen to me last night, as well as a couple of times at the park. It's scary to say the least. The dogs never connected, and last night it was just a dog who was out off leash. Able to get it to leave just by yelling.

I've seen many of the people who walk carry a stick. Thinking about getting a baton.

Question, has anyone ever had to use pepper spray or mace? Really concerned about spraying my dog or worse yet myself. Just wondering how much in control I would be trying to control my dog who by the time the other dog gets close enough, they are pretty much out of control.

Mace is a great idea in theory. There is mace you can get that is colored ORANGE. This will send a message to the owner. However, I decided against it after reading the directions. I had to pull it out and shake well for 30 seconds before spraying...that does not work for me because I never GET 30 seconds. Hopefully if you are set on mace you can find some that won't take so long to deploy.

The good news with the baton is I have had a couple dogs CHARGE at us at a dead run, snarling...I do not have to HIT the dog, merely pop the baton out and swing downwards. This can be accomplished within 3-5 seconds. The dog then veers away and runs off. And if the dog stays it course, I have quite the whacking stick to work with to try and protect myself and my dog. Quite the bang for the buck.

However as stated by another poster I wouldn't feel too bad either if I hit or killed one. If you're worried about hitting your own dog, PRACTICE WITH IT. It's not as hard to manage as you think. I have seen firsthand dog attacks and they can be quite brutal. A dog that will attack like that could likely seriously maim or injure you or your dog.