Protection from dogs

fleetzz

My friend, who got me started running, was attacked by dogs yesterday. She is ok but her little dog is not (he may live though). She was attacked by 3 pit bulls, and didn't run with her phone so had to leave her dog and run 2 miles home to call the police.

She was attacked along the same route that I normally run. I haven't had a problem before, and always felt safe.

What protection can we use against a pack of dogs? What works?

BrianSharpe

If I was worried about any predator (and dogs are predators, especially when they're in a pack and go into chase mode.....) I'd be carrying bear (pepper) spray with me and I'd make sure I had my phone with me during every run.

I don't blame the dogs......the problem is irresponsible owners (I have 2 canine family members) who don't train or learn to control their dogs.

I'd also be proactive, if I saw dogs running loose (even if I didn't feel threatened) where I run I'd be in touch with animal control.

trail_rnr

I was once bitten while running on a route that I ran all_the_time. It was kind of shocking but it made me wake up and start to pay attention more. These days I don't worry about it too much because I run in a different kind of environment, but after that incident I did start to carry one of the very small pepper sprays with me when I ran in areas where loose or potentially aggressive dogs were a possibility. You can get a very small sprayer that just clips on to your shorts/pants. Certainly wouldn't hurt to carry it!

fleetzz

I got some good ideas on the regular forums: (suggestions for guns->rejected by me), pepper/bear/mace spray, loud horns (not sure if they come in small sizes for running belts), clubs (not sure I could run with this) and taser type guns. I think I will try for the bear spray if it is small enough, and the air horn if it is small too.

trail_rnr

The bear spray canisters are HUGE (I have one of these too, LOL--for when I go to Yellowstone). They are not running friendly. Look for a small personal canister of pepper spray. Mine is about 4 inches tall and maybe as big around as a fat cigar. It has a clip on it that you can slip on to your shorts or running belt.

Raasy

A small hand help pepper spray is what I use. You can pick it up at a sports store, or even sometimes you can find it at Target.
I have seen some people run with sticks as well. In my neighborhood I have a light wooden stick that I carry when I walk.

davemunger

A great tip that I saw in action from my friend who is a dog owner (assuming you have no pepper spray, etc): as the dog approaches, face it, stand tall, and firmly yell "NO!" and "GO HOME!" Don't turn away from the dog until it has started to head away. I've seen him do it a few times and done it myself. It really works. He even used it on a group of three dogs and it worked fine.

SillyC2

A great tip that I saw in action from my friend who is a dog owner (assuming you have no pepper spray, etc): as the dog approaches, face it, stand tall, and firmly yell "NO!" and "GO HOME!" Don't turn away from the dog until it has started to head away. I've seen him do it a few times and done it myself. It really works. He even used it on a group of three dogs and it worked fine.

And after that, the pepper spray.

The biggest problems I have had aren't with "loose" dogs, but with unleashed dogs who are WITH their owner. They see me running at them, and then I guess the dog thinks I'm going to hurt the owner. When you whip the pepper spray canister out, all of a sudden the owners become VERY motivated to get the dog under control.

fleetzz

She did this. Unfortunately it didn't work. I am looking into pepper spray and if it is small enough some sort of loud horn. I was told bear spray is BIG. I won't run with a gun, but am considering a small stun gun. Some people who reviewed them indicated that have a very loud noise associated with them.

A great tip that I saw in action from my friend who is a dog owner (assuming you have no pepper spray, etc): as the dog approaches, face it, stand tall, and firmly yell "NO!" and "GO HOME!" Don't turn away from the dog until it has started to head away. I've seen him do it a few times and done it myself. It really works. He even used it on a group of three dogs and it worked fine.

sjohnny

She did this. Unfortunately it didn't work. I am looking into pepper spray and if it is small enough some sort of loud horn. I was told bear spray is BIG. I won't run with a gun, but am considering a small stun gun. Some people who reviewed them indicated that have a very loud noise associated with them.

A great tip that I saw in action from my friend who is a dog owner (assuming you have no pepper spray, etc): as the dog approaches, face it, stand tall, and firmly yell "NO!" and "GO HOME!" Don't turn away from the dog until it has started to head away. I've seen him do it a few times and done it myself. It really works. He even used it on a group of three dogs and it worked fine.

I don't know what these people call a "loud noise" but stun guns aren't that loud and you need to actually touch the target. Pepper spray is going to be the most effective of the options listed and the easiest to carry. It's not as dependent on hitting vital organs during a stressful time. I can see where yelling NO GO HOME at one dog would probably work most of the time but a group of dogs who are already in "prey mode" can be hard to deter - even with direct hits from bullets/buckshot and even when one or more of the dogs in the group have been hit. Actually, when I'm running is the ONLY time I'm not carrying a gun and that's really just because I haven't found a comfortable way to do so. I don't like carrying anything when I'm running but pepper spray is available in pretty small light packages. When I'm not running I carry a little can of pepper spray in my pocket that sounds about like the one that was recommended earlier with the little clip on the side.

A little over a year ago I was running very early in the morning (about 4:30) in a neighborhood near mine. I ran past a house and a small pit bull started growling in the driveway. As I passed the house I heard him start running toward me snarling and growling. I knew I couldn't outrun it but it looked relatively young/small so I figured if it was going to attack me I was going to punch it in the mouth but I am first and foremost a dog lover so before he got close enough to lunge at me I turned suddenly to face him and said "WHO'S A GOOD BOY?!?!?!" in that voice you use when you say that to a dog. And he stopped and his eyes got big and he thought about it and then he figured that HE was a good boy and he relaxed and settled down a little bit and he ran with me for about a quarter mile or so prancing along next to me and then turned off and went home (I assume).

TheBrolympus

They see me running at them, and then I guess the dog thinks I'm going to hurt the owner.

I almost was bitten by a leashed Border Collie because she felt I was a threat to her owners. When I came up behind them as they walked, she lunged so quickly the owners barely got her back under control. She almost bite my calf and the owners swore "She has never tried to bite anyone before". So even if a dog is on leash I generally keep my distance.

fleetzz

She did this. Unfortunately it didn't work. I am looking into pepper spray and if it is small enough some sort of loud horn. I was told bear spray is BIG. I won't run with a gun, but am considering a small stun gun. Some people who reviewed them indicated that have a very loud noise associated with them.

A great tip that I saw in action from my friend who is a dog owner (assuming you have no pepper spray, etc): as the dog approaches, face it, stand tall, and firmly yell "NO!" and "GO HOME!" Don't turn away from the dog until it has started to head away. I've seen him do it a few times and done it myself. It really works. He even used it on a group of three dogs and it worked fine.

I don't know what these people call a "loud noise" but stun guns aren't that loud and you need to actually touch the target. Pepper spray is going to be the most effective of the options listed and the easiest to carry. It's not as dependent on hitting vital organs during a stressful time. I can see where yelling NO GO HOME at one dog would probably work most of the time but a group of dogs who are already in "prey mode" can be hard to deter - even with direct hits from bullets/buckshot and even when one or more of the dogs in the group have been hit. Actually, when I'm running is the ONLY time I'm not carrying a gun and that's really just because I haven't found a comfortable way to do so. I don't like carrying anything when I'm running but pepper spray is available in pretty small light packages. When I'm not running I carry a little can of pepper spray in my pocket that sounds about like the one that was recommended earlier with the little clip on the side.

A little over a year ago I was running very early in the morning (about 4:30) in a neighborhood near mine. I ran past a house and a small pit bull started growling in the driveway. As I passed the house I heard him start running toward me snarling and growling. I knew I couldn't outrun it but it looked relatively young/small so I figured if it was going to attack me I was going to punch it in the mouth but I am first and foremost a dog lover so before he got close enough to lunge at me I turned suddenly to face him and said "WHO'S A GOOD BOY?!?!?!" in that voice you use when you say that to a dog. And he stopped and his eyes got big and he thought about it and then he figured that HE was a good boy and he relaxed and settled down a little bit and he ran with me for about a quarter mile or so prancing along next to me and then turned off and went home (I assume).

I think that is a great idea for a single dog, I would never have thought to do that "good dog" voice. Not sure it would work with a pack, and in the event of a pack of pit bull dogs growling and snarling at me, not sure if I could come up with the "good dog" voice.