Electronic dog repellant

Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,221
Hi - I saw a video on reddit of a guy with a unit attached to the back of his bike - stopped him from getting chased. A dog attack is one of my biggest fears (15 stitches above my eye when I was 12 will do that). I found a bunch on Amazon, looks like a combo flashlight/trainer/repellant - does anyone have one and has used it to be able to make a recommendation? A key chain one would be awesome, but a bit larger wouldn't be too bad.

And, before you start naming all the calibers, I'd like something non-lethal. If the repellant doesn't work I'll try to get my Benchmade out if I have time
 
Ask the postman what they use. They see dogs every day they work and can give you advice.

Posts on Reddit are to draw eyeballs and clicks. Take what you see there with a grain of salt.
 
When I was a letter carrier, dog mace and mail carts were in short supply and assigned by seniority. I naively asked a supervisor what to do and got this advice: "Get the mail bag down off your shoulder and get ready. When the dog makes his move, clobber him!" Not much of a plan, in my opinion. But if you carry a messenger bag, you could add 12 inches of lead pipe to give it some heft. Let me know how it works!

The problem with dog mace is carrying and deploying it. Can't walk around with it in your hand, you'll scare the crap out of people. A colleague was attacked by a dog that jumped through and smashed a window to get to him. That gave him time to get out his dog mace, and it took a whole can to discourage the dog.

Walking my own 30 pound dog, I carried a sjambok to ward off larger dogs. Cold Steel used to sell these things in several sizes and whoever is running the Cold Steel site still has the medium size for sale.
sjambok.jpeg

The sjambok is a whip used in Africa since time immemorial to kill poisonous snakes. It is a flexible rod, so the force of the blow is not from your muscle power but from the length of the sjambok. Traditionally they were made from hippo back hide. In modern South Africa they are made from plastic, and in the bad old days South African police used them to beat hell out of protestors and demonstrators. They are light and easy to carry, and you won't frighten people because few people here (USA) know what they are. I never actually hit a dog. Smashing the pavement a few times was always enough to scare them off.
 
When I was a letter carrier, dog mace and mail carts were in short supply and assigned by seniority. I naively asked a supervisor what to do and got this advice: "Get the mail bag down off your shoulder and get ready. When the dog makes his move, clobber him!" Not much of a plan, in my opinion. But if you carry a messenger bag, you could add 12 inches of lead pipe to give it some heft. Let me know how it works!

The problem with dog mace is carrying and deploying it. Can't walk around with it in your hand, you'll scare the crap out of people. A colleague was attacked by a dog that jumped through and smashed a window to get to him. That gave him time to get out his dog mace, and it took a whole can to discourage the dog.

Walking my own 30 pound dog, I carried a sjambok to ward off larger dogs. Cold Steel used to sell these things in several sizes and whoever is running the Cold Steel site still has the medium size for sale.
View attachment 2127347

The sjambok is a whip used in Africa since time immemorial to kill poisonous snakes. It is a flexible rod, so the force of the blow is not from your muscle power but from the length of the sjambok. Traditionally they were made from hippo back hide. In modern South Africa they are made from plastic, and in the bad old days South African police used them to beat hell out of protestors and demonstrators. They are light and easy to carry, and you won't frighten people because few people here (USA) know what they are. I never actually hit a dog. Smashing the pavement a few times was always enough to scare them off.
2 sizes available here : https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1152516042?pid=129950
 
Most dogs are just trying to warn you off "their" territory . But some few are truly dangerous , or even a lethal threat .

Fear is your worst enemy . Running from an aggressive dog just signals that you are prey and fair game to be chased .

Most will be discouraged by any effective pepper spray; but I'd always have a more certain backup plan .

Maybe an impact weapon . Walking stick , cane , baton etc . Something long enough to give you some stand-off / reach advantage .
 
Benchmade
Short knife might save your life ,as a last desperate measure .

But you are likely to get mauled, at the least, in the process .

Avoid close quarters combat with critters ! :eek:
 
Hi - I saw a video on reddit of a guy with a unit attached to the back of his bike - stopped him from getting chased. A dog attack is one of my biggest fears (15 stitches above my eye when I was 12 will do that). I found a bunch on Amazon, looks like a combo flashlight/trainer/repellant - does anyone have one and has used it to be able to make a recommendation? A key chain one would be awesome, but a bit larger wouldn't be too bad.

And, before you start naming all the calibers, I'd like something non-lethal. If the repellant doesn't work I'll try to get my Benchmade out if I have time
5c11a7fa44c0215debdf034295596186.jpg
 

Pretty tasteless to post this, knowing OP got mauled in his face...but no point in arguing with pitbull apologists. You guys don't care about facts.

20180914_Deadly_Dogs_Forbes.jpg



To Grim/Don Grim/Don

Raising your fist above your head like you're about to throw a rock will keep most dogs at bay. Seems to be ingrained in their genetics that that means danger.

I almost got attacked (by a pitbull) once, luckily i had hiking poles with me to keep that beast off of me. I wouldn't rely solely on mace or electronic devices. Carry a fixed blade long enough to reach vitals, prepare yourself to not be paralized by your fears. Carry your knife where you can reach it with both hands.
 
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Pretty tasteless to post this, knowing OP got mauled in his face...but no point in arguing with pitbull apologists. You guys don't care about facts.

20180914_Deadly_Dogs_Forbes.jpg



To Grim/Don Grim/Don

Raising your fist above your head like you're about to throw a rock will keep most dogs at bay. Seems to be ingrained in their genetics that that means danger.

I almost got attacked (by a pitbull) once, luckily i had hiking poles with me to keep that beast off of me. I wouldn't rely solely on mace or electronic devices. Carry a fixed blade long enough to reach vitals, prepare yourself to not be paralized by your fears. Carry your knife where you can reach it with both hands.
Seems weird to see Labs listed as worse than Boxers and Dobes ! :oops:
 
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