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What is the best way to protect yourself from dogs when walking?

Written by Luvs Dogs on January 31st, 2009

*Nicknames [are so over-rated]* asked:


I live in a neiborhood where more than 50% of people have dogs. More and more people are buying dogs and letting them outside without leashes and chains while they are inside, or when they are not even there. Just last week, I almost got attacked by a dog that ran across the street to attack me while I was walking. A majority of the dogs are big, but even the small ones try to attack me. What is the best way to protect yourself from dogs when walking? Any tips or advice? Thank you.

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21 Comments at "What is the best way to protect yourself from dogs when walking?"

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 1st, 2009 (#)

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Call animal control! Report these irresponsible owners.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 4th, 2009 (#)

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There are a few techniques you can use. An umbrella is a good tool - you can use it as a stick if needed, but opening it up suddenly will often scare off a dog. Yelling in a deep voice will cause some dogs to back off. In a pinch, I have occasionally thrown a rock or two while yelling a deep voice. There is also doggie mace you can use but you risk getting yourself and your own dog as well.

I’d note addresses and report any loose dogs that came off their property to animal control.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 6th, 2009 (#)

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Take Teddy Roosevelt’s advice:
Walk softly, and carry a BIG STICK!

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 6th, 2009 (#)

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carry pepper spray, but if you **** to use it on animals, try an airhorn.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 9th, 2009 (#)

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Carry a big stick with you. A cattle prod will also work as a wonderful deterrent.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 11th, 2009 (#)

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Dogs will not just attack without their reasons. Perhaps your smell attracts them.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 13th, 2009 (#)

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Wow, your surrounded by horrible dog owners.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 16th, 2009 (#)

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take a stick or umberella, keep some rocks in your pocket, and take something loud like a horn of some kind.i dissagree with dog mace normally, but if the owners are that irrisponsible, go for it. and be sure to call animal control soon.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 16th, 2009 (#)

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Sometimes it’s hard to report the irresponsible owner due to they are your neighbors and you don’t want somebody in your neighbors to have a bad feelings for you. Since you mentioned that most of them has dogs then if you reported one owner then that owner will scattered the word and guess what? Everybody will be watching you and who know what they can do to return the favor that you just gave to them. Anyway, the easier way is to get those device with a high frequency sound that only animal can here. If a dog is coming to you then activate it and it will go away because they will get irritated on the sound. In this way, you are not harming the dog or the owner and then you will have a happy and peaceful community. :-)

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 17th, 2009 (#)

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Before calling animal control, be sure that the dog can get off the property. There is a house by me with a huge doberman. Turns out they have underground fencing - - I almost had a heart attack seeing that dog charge from the backyard to the front yard. Thankfully it stopped about 2 feet from the sidewalk and wouldn’t go any further. BUT technically speaking, just because I don’t see it (or you), it doesn’t mean the dog is considered unrestrained.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 20th, 2009 (#)

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i am the same way! i **** big dogs that have no leashes or owners that come up to me. you don’t know how the dog was treated and if it’s friendly or not. if it comes at you and is for sure going to bite and you don’t see a collar, kick the head or shove your hand down it’s throat. it will make the dog stop and is a good method for not getting bit if you don’t know if it’s had its rabies shot or not. call the humane society or animal control. most places have leash laws and after one or two get tickets, the rest will follow suit! if a dog is sick with rabies or distemper, they will attack for no reason. if you get bit try to get a good discription of the dog and owner if possible, go to the doc and get it documented and call the cops. the owner can get in big trouble if it bit you.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 20th, 2009 (#)

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don’t look at them or show any emotion or fear they can smell it.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 24th, 2009 (#)

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first, the owners have to be more responsible for their dogs. But I can see where someone would laugh in your face , if you brought that issue to their attention. I mean, I they had been responsible people, they would have taken appropriate steps to prevent these encounters from happening. I mean, the streets are for people first, and then the animals (especially left loose).

but for self defense, i would look into those devices with high-frequency sound emissions (I think they emit a high-pitched sound, beyond what human ear can hear, but annoying for animals), rather than using a pepper spray and enrage the dog or something (I wouldn’t be surprised if the owner sued you for harming their pooches and won-not that I wish you that, but in today’s world, anything it’s possible). And by the way, I have recently heard something about the “the good samaritan law” where people trying to do good, were later sued by the people they helped/rescued. Crazyyy…

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 24th, 2009 (#)

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You should have the right to walk on your sidewalk without the worry of other owner’s dogs attacking you. Take a look around and study your neighborhood. See which dogs don’t have leashes and are just running amuck ready to attack.

There are leash laws. They cannot let this happen. These are very irresponsible dog owners.

Call your local animal control agency, and tell them your story and what’s going on. They are sure to help you.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 26th, 2009 (#)

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My dogs have a fenced yard and use leashes when not in the yard…that said: It seems to me that you need to build confidence around dogs. There is no way that all of those dogs are trying to “attack” you. It’s normal for them to give chase when a stranger walks by their property (unless their owner has trained them not to). Their owners do need to restrain them, and I wouldn’t hesitate to take down their address and write to them and let them know that next time you’ll be calling the police. You shouldn’t have to be intimidated by their dogs, but I think that you should work on building confidence with dogs so that you can feel more in control when these things happen.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 28th, 2009 (#)

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I too live in an area where dogs run loose, & when walking my Yorkie(now passed), I once had to jump into a stranger’s car to get away from a HUGE dog who was stalking my little dog. I now carry a stun gun, tho that may seem excessive to some. I agree with all those who have mentioned an umbrella, Mace, or an air horn. Your safety is far more important than the “right” these owners think they have to allow their dogs to run loose! But yes-I WOULD call your local animal control and report any addresses of the loose dogs’ owners. If you don’t, then a CHILD could possibly be a victim of one of the loose dogs in your neighborhood.

Powered by Yahoo Answers March 3rd, 2009 (#)

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I would definitely report all these irresponsible owners. Report them for your safety as well as the dogs. They could get hit by a car.

There is a leash law for a reason. Even if these dogs are not going to “attack” you, you still have a right to walk without being startled or messed with.

Powered by Yahoo Answers March 6th, 2009 (#)

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I don’t necessarily have the answer you’re looking for, but I have to disagree with spraying the dog with mace. I have a lab/rottie mix who would just a soon eat the meter reader as to look at her. The reason? (She told me this…) She was scared of his size alone…….he did come to alert (stand up and watch her - without growling or showing any agression) and because she was scared, she sprayed him. Now he seems to “enjoy” scaring her!

We are working on this issue. Each month I meet her at our property line (dog in tow) and he is learning that she is not here to hurt him. He still doesn’t trust her, but he is becoming better and better with her. I don’t think he wants her to be his friend, or vice-versa, but they HAVE to learn to get along.

I suggest NOT spraying the dogs for this reason.

Powered by Yahoo Answers March 8th, 2009 (#)

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I first off, would try to remember where the dogs are running loose from. I mean the irresponsible owners. I also carry an umbrella with me. Dogs get frighten by them when popped open. Also do not stare at a dog running after you. It gives them more reason to be the alpha. Do not run..that makes you into a prey mode for them. Turn away from them and if you can in a deep voice say no. Also, you need to call animal control and report every single one of these dogs..for running loose. Their are leash laws…and if they want them to run loose then make them pay a fine for it. I do not feel sorry for anyone that lets their dogs run….get a fence or have them on a leash. I wish you the best of luck.

Powered by Yahoo Answers March 11th, 2009 (#)

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Call animal control….they’ll have a field day.

Carry pepper spray.

And, this works for me:

Be the “Alpha” of your environment….you, your space around you, the sidewalk you walk on, and any pack members in your charge.

Be confident and totally comfortable with your ability to handle and protect yourself. Your calm confidence will ward off most dogs. The lack of nervous or angry energy will disarm them.

When a dog approaches me in challenge, I stop, turn towards them and gaze into their eyes and politely say, “My space. Go home.” I don’t move away from them. I don’t back down. As far as they’re concerned I will throttle them and kill them to defend myself (not really…. but I won’t let the dog know that!).

I’ve never had a dog come after me yet. Even growly, hair raised ones…. they walk around and grumble (unsure & undecided), then slowly walk away… their way of saying…”you win”. That’s all I want.