Let me know if you like it Christina. I think I will probably try it also.

 Quote: Nicole hardman

Thanks for the warm heart Christina! Sorry for your problems. In my case I can almost always scare away dogs of all sizes without having to resort to pepper spray, including a rather aggressive bull mastiff that escapes his yard and menaces my neighborhood regularly. Of course the first time I encountered him Aries was a 4 MO old pup and I did have to use pepper spray. I'm thinking he remembers me because all I have to do now is tell him to get back!
I'm more complaining because it seems that when I am on wheels, I am more reliant on the pepper spray. Like dogs aren't as afraid of me. Luckily Aries knows the drill so he stands by my side or just behind me while I do my thing. His hackles are up and he's ready to go if I need him but he won't lunge or move to the other dog. As far as he's concerned I am the badest cat around and trusts me to handle the situation. He is a super strong dog so if he wasn't trained to me the way he is I wouldn't be able to scare any dogs away because all of my effort and attention would be on keeping my dog under control.

When you said, "Jump on the grass for better leverage..." (or however you put it) this makes me think the loose dogs SENSE that you lack enough good footing / traction for them to "respect your authority" -- If YOU feel at a disadvantage, then those other dogs KNOW you're "shooting blanks" (so to speak) when relying on Voice / Posture in trying to make them stand down while you're wearing clumsy in-line skating boots Because you're in Texas, I bet that Stun-Batons are street legal there & dogs will leave you alone even if you just "spark" a Stun-Bat in the air from some DISTANCE (no need to actually make Bodily Contact with them at all, as the Noise & Odor repels / deters canines well enough) !!!

Hmm... so which is more humane do you think, in case I ever need to use the stun? On the one hand pepper spray has longer lasting pain, but would a stun kill a little dog? I would rather use pepper spray than kill a dog. I don't relish the idea of being that crazy lady with pepper spray of the neighborhood, but better prepared than dealing with the inevitable dog fights if I don't.
I don't feel guilty about using the pepper spray, feel bad for the dog though. It's one of those things where I hate using it but I am glad I have it!
I'll bet you're right about them sensing my weak footing.

If you are on blades, why not a modified ski pole or the like? Dog on the left, stick on the right, or not.

Or a stout walking stick. Jab an offending dog with it and it will get the message, and you aren't carrying what might be construed as a weapon.

And the stick or pole will probably improve your stability in a crunch.

Then too, an air horn can be a deterrent, and alert the whole neighborhood of the problem.

Not to make too fine a point but you can be right and end up wrong if you use a tool that might be considered a weapon, and a dog owner wants to be a jerk in addition to being irresponsible.

We live in a litigious society.

 Quote: Nicole hardman

Hmm... so which is more humane do you think, in case I ever need to use the stun? On the one hand pepper spray has longer lasting pain, but would a stun kill a little dog? I would rather use pepper spray than kill a dog. I don't relish the idea of being that crazy lady with pepper spray of the neighborhood, but better prepared than dealing with the inevitable dog fights if I don't.
I don't feel guilty about using the pepper spray, feel bad for the dog though. It's one of those things where I hate using it but I am glad I have it!
I'll bet you're right about them sensing my weak footing.

Here's how a Stun-Baton operates:

1) "Spark" it in the AIR above your head -- It lets off an ear-splitting SCREECH and the strong SMELL of ozone ... Unless trained to Attack on Command, virtually ALL dogs will run off

2) Any dog that's in enough of a RED ZONE to keep on coming at you should then receive bodily contact from your Stun-Bat ... This process works via instantly metabolizing lactose in its muscles into lactic acid, thereby temporarily expending all strength & coordination in the target's muscles for a time period that is long enough for you to safely leave the area, without either hurting OR harming the dog in question

A stun-baton is NOT a Taser Gun -- There are NO electrical wires & one is NOT deadly ... It is much more HUMANE than spraying any Chemical Irritant in the EYES

You can research them online -- Mine only cost $50 about 10 years ago ... You must check to see if they are street legal for civilians where you live, but I'm in San Francisco & have NO restrictions on wearing one in a holster-belt

Usually just BRANDISHING a stun-bat at someone's loose pet is enough to scare it away -- But on the RARE occasion when I've ever had to "spark" it in the air, that has always been ENOUGH to dissuade the errant dog from following through on its threatened attack ... I have actually NEVER had to make Bodily Contact between my stun-bat and any K9

That sounds wonderful if you are right. I was just reading up on it and other people have experienced it just making the tougher dogs more angry and fight harder. The baby doesn't go with me rollerblading but he is with me on walks and I just can't take that chance. Sounds like it would be great most of the time though!
I think I will use the sorting stick to appear more menacing on rollerblades, and keep my pepper spray as back up.
Thanks everyone!!!

Sorry, I didn't notice your post right off Mike. I can't get in legal trouble for protecting myself can I? That doesn't make sense. I certainly hope the police, judge, etc.. would have better sense than that! I am following the law. My dog is leashed and not going around picking fights and putting people in danger.

 Quote: Nicole hardman

That sounds wonderful if you are right. I was just reading up on it and other people have experienced it just making the tougher dogs more angry and fight harder. The baby doesn't go with me rollerblading but he is with me on walks and I just can't take that chance. Sounds like it would be great most of the time though!
I think I will use the sorting stick to appear more menacing on rollerblades, and keep my pepper spray as back up.
Thanks everyone!!!

Well, my own stun-bat would be considered a "man-stopper" ... Taking a direct hit from one makes the limbs uncontrollably collapse & the jaws go completely slack -- The effects are NOT permanent, but you would be all the way home before ANY dog could get back up & want to resume fighting I got one because my Akita used to attract the ire of Stupid LITTLE Macho dogs that she could easily have KILLED in less than a minute, leaving ME with the Legal Liability

Truly? You would hold liability with your dog leashed and the other ILLEGALLY unleashed? What is this world thinking?

I just looked up my state laws and it is perfectly legal for me to spray an attacking loose dog. Phew! I was about to go on a what is this world coming to rant.

 Quote: Nicole hardman

Truly? You would hold liability with your dog leashed and the other ILLEGALLY unleashed? What is this world thinking?

I just looked up my state laws and it is perfectly legal for me to spray an attacking loose dog. Phew! I was about to go on a what is this world coming to rant.

"Oh but Your Honor, my Sweet LITTLE Innocent powder-puff Pomeranian who only weighed 5 POUNDS and was just minding her own business at the end of our private driveway while my poor 3 year old Daughter held onto the (25 foot long) flexi-leash in Horror was TORN to PIECES by this Negligent Woman's insanely SAVAGE 100 POUND Akita!"

"Madame, was the Akita also on a leash?"

"Well, only at first, but when our flexi-lead got wrapped around that Negligent Woman's legs & she fell down on the sidewalk (breaking her arm in 2 compound fractures) she RECKLESSLY DROPPED her Killer Akita's leash!"

"Madame, what were you doing when this happened?"

"I was forced to Watch HELPLESSLY in a State of SHOCK from the kitchen window while my POOR Daughter SCREAMED and Ran around Flailing her tiny arms & legs Trying to SAVE her Pet from that Negligent Woman's BLOOD-THIRSTY Attack Dog!"

THIS is how something like that would play in Court