Pepper Spray as Dog Repellent

[RAW]

My story is this: Peddled my mountain bike up a 17 mile dirt road and was attacked by two dogs. The first dog came running down the trail from an area where someone had pitched a tent. I think it was a Brittany Spaniel. It nipped at me a few times but never connected, I yelled toward the tent but didn't see anyone. I yelled at the dog and it finally ran off but not before making me expend precious energy I was trying to save for some climbs.

The next dog was a few miles up the road and came out from a trailer that was pulled into an area next to the creek. Black Lab. Just shot out from the trailer and again, nipped at me several times. I yelled at the guys standing around the fire, but I think they were actually enjoying it.

I love dogs, but I don't think they should be chasing every hiker, mountain biker or wild animal in the forest. Keep 'em on a leash if they are the kind of dogs that chase people.

I'm getting some pepper spray and a small, high pressure air horn. Next dog that charges me and nips at me is going to get blasted by the spray and deafened by the horn!

[Stoney Clarke]

Raw,

I was at the Stingers game tonight. They sell a vey nice small oak bat that would probably do the trick as well, maybe drive a 6 penny nail through the end on it for good measure.

SC

[Jason B]

Pepper spray would work very well, bear spay shots even farther. If the animal is not confined to the persons property then i believe it is required by law to be on a leash. That is the law in Orem.

[Lonnie]

Robert,

That's what frame pumps are for.....

L

[stripper]

I think the best thing is to leave to animal alone and use the peper spray,bat,and a fist up the side of the head of the animal owner. rember the dog is only getting away with what his owner has let him.

[jdubya]

Robert,

That's what frame pumps are for.....

L

you still use a frame pump? so old school...

[cardiac]

you still use a frame pump? so old school...
He has to jdub. I'v seen him try to pump up his tire before. He has a hard time getting his head between the spokes.

[FishOn!]

I'm getting some pepper spray and a small, high pressure air horn. Next dog that charges me and nips at me is going to get blasted by the spray and deafened by the horn!

Hah, that is going to be interesting the next time a dog charges you. When the dog returns to camp wimpering with a red face the owner will probably think twice about letting the mutt have free reign. If it has to happen I would hope it happens to those campers that thought it was funny to see their dog harassing you. Now they will see what its like to be harassed. I'd feel bad for the dog, but hey its a means to an end =)

[Lonnie]

Robert,

Also be careful that you don't spray yourself. Just make sure the pup is downwind before you let it fly (don't ask me how I know this...)

L

[Crosby]

Squirt gun full of amonia- makes you feel like Wyatt Earp and it works.

[wildnative]

Good ideas. Thanks. I rode that road all alone. Never saw another biker or even a vehicle the whole time. It was nice.

When I got home that night I switched on the Discovery channel and they were doing a story documentary of the lady mountain biker that got attacked by the mountain lion. She was rescued by some bikers who came up the trail behind her. They advised, never ride alone. Good thing I didn't see that before I went!

[S&P]

If you go with pepper spray get the real deal. Sabre or First Defense makes good O.C. that comes out in a good, non misting stream (up to 13 feet). Dont get that crap from shopko or wally world that comes out in a mist or you'll shed real tears over your poor choice. Also, bear mace works great on dogs, but if you spray their owner, it is a felony charge in the state of Utah because it over 10% strength. Have fun!

[Telefish]

Why not use the airhorn first and the pepper spray as a last defense? Pepper Spray is pretty potent stuff, why injure a dog because his owners are negligent? Likely the airhorn will turn 'em or at least get the owners' attention. Then if the owner does nothing, you should pepper spray the owner. You also run a pretty good risk of pepper spraying yourself in the process.

Did you really feel that you were in danger of being bitten or injured by the dogs? I was once chased and nipped while on a bike on a dirt road in Vermont - scared the crap out of me - it was a big, snarling, growling dog. I had to ride miles out of my way to avoid going back by him. No fun!

On the other hand, someone riding past my neighbor's house was chased by their three annoying, yappy, miserable but harmless Jack Russells who are always out terrorizing the neighborhood. The genious got off the bike and threw rocks at the dogs. He had very bad aim and instead threw the rocks over the fence and into my yard, almost hitting my little boy. The miserable little yappers went on to bark another day but the guy on the bike almost got ripped apart by my hubby. I hope it wasn't you.

[Cary]

Pepper Spray is pretty potent stuff, why injure a dog because his owners are negligent?

Because the dog may intend to bite. Dog bites hurt. If it was me, I'd spray the dog first and question his intentions later. If my kids were there, the dog would likely be dead. If more bikers/ pedestrians, ect took this approach, I'd suspect after one or two encounters, the dog would quit this behavior. This trainig supplied free of charge to the A-Hole owner.

I love dogs, but refuse to take a chance on an aggressive animal no matter how cute and cuddly it might be under other circumstances.

[Telefish]

I still contend that the air horn would be just as effective and much less dangerous to all involved.

[FlySmiley]

why risk getting pepper in your eyes when you could just taze the disobedient dog. and if the owner gets out of hand let him have it too.

there is no excuse for an out of control dog or owner.

[Lonnie]

The other solution is just to ride REALLY fast!!!!

L

[wildnative]

They were charging and nipping pretty good at my legs. I've had other dogs chase me around the neighborhood and I can tell by the growl and posture which ones are just curious and which ones intend harm.

I actually went past one other camp that had two dogs and when I saw them I tensed up waiting for a charge but these dogs just watched as I peddled by.

I think some dog owners train their dogs to be aggressive. I don't think it is necessarily part of any breed per say. I may be wrong, I'm no dog expert. Maybe some dogs have an instinct for a chase?

After seeing the story on the mountain lion attack, I want to be more prepared. Maybe a 9mm with a bike clip is in order? Long 6" knife blade with bike attachment?

I think I'll try the pressurized air horn on the dogs. Isn't that what mail carriers are using now?

Anyway, to make this fly fishing related. . . sure is nice to peddle into some small creeks away from the crowds.

Green Jester. . . I would imagine pepper spray would work on any JERK!

No stop signs where I was. I agree though that some cyclists think they can slide around traffic rules.

Lonnie. . . I was peddling real fast. I think I hit 6 miles per hour on the uphills!

[Fred]

RAW,

Those dogs were not trained very well.

If it was my dog, he would have chewed on of your legs off.

Hope that helps.

[Lonnie]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but last night up on Wasatch Blvd, I was making my way up Skyline Drive, and two cyclists ran the stop sign RIGHT IN FRONT of me. The first BARELY got out of the way, and the second came to a screeching halt and flipped me off and gave me a choice word. In response, I slammed on my brakes and my roommates bailed out of the jeep and gave the guys words right back to him. Now, he's flippin me off because HE broke the law? And we have laws protecting these idiots?
I guess if a cyclist is willing to run a stop sign or a stoplight, then they are willing to accept the possibility and consequence of being hit. No punches were thrown last night, and the cyclist pedaled away fearing for his life.
As a resident of a canyon, I can tell you that cyclists break all the rules that cars do: Speeding, running red lights and stop signs, and pairing up side by side on the roads. For residents of the canyons, cyclists are a huge pain in the ass. Would pepper spray work well on a cyclist?


Jester,

I'm not going to condone running stop signs or red lights, but spend a few hours in traffic on a bike and I bet you'll change your tune.

Hell yes we have and there should be laws protecting cyclists. It's simply the laws of physics. I've had too many close calls with BIG ASS SUV's. Let me tell you, it scares the $hit out of you too. Most are idiot soccer moms idly chatting on cell phones with four crying rug rats in the back seat. When you ride up to them at 30 to let them know they just about hit you, it kinda freaks them out. (See stereotypes go both ways....)

On a serious note, please remember that cyclist DO have the same right as cars. They have the RIGHT to the ENTIRE lane if they need it. Most of the time we will ride on the shoulder to stay out of the way, but the simple fact is that there are LOTS of hazards on the side of the roads and frequently I have to make sudden maneuvers to avoid these objects. As the overtaking vehicle, it is YOUR responsibility to give enough room to avoid US if we have to make such a maneuver. Is killing or maiming a cyclist for life worth a few extra seconds on the road? Hell no!!

I'll shut up now before mike has to have a talk with me.....

L

[FlySmiley]

I think there are elitists in all groups of people not just the fly fishers. I was in Oceanside Ca. about a month ago and there was a stop sign visible from our condo window and I would watch the groups of cyclists in their team jerseys blow the sign time and time again. They would even yell at cars that got in their way when the stop was a 4 way and they were the ones blowing the sign.

My point is that there are people like that in all groups.
The dog owner that for some reason does not have to leash his dog.
The cyclist that doesnt have to follow the rules.
The ffer that thinks they own the river.
The little lady that drives a 26 passenger SUV that is always in your way.

Pepper spray would do the trick on all of them.

[Telefish]

I know there are far more stupid drivers on the road than stupid cyclists, but I agree that there are some cyclists who contribute to giving all of them a bad name. Riding three abreast on a busy street and running red lights are two of my pet peeves.

It is also a shame that there are so many irresponsible dog owners out there. There is absolutely no excuse for letting an aggressive dog run loose - ever! I had a black lab that was sweet as could be - except with small yappy dogs - those he like to pick up and shake. We kept him in our fenced yard and NEVER let him off leash, no matter how small the liklihood of encountering a small dog. He had a long, happy life and was none the worse for being leashed, fenced or tied at all times. Now we have two very friendly dogs - neither has ever showed any aggression towards humans or other dogs. Regardless, we still keep them tied or leashed when we are camping. I find it much more restful to always know where my dogs are. I do, however, fish with my Great Dane off leash. He's an awesome fishing companion, but anyone venturing too close to us on the river runs the risk of being leaned on.

[royalwulff]

If your dogs tries to bite me, I try to kick it. If your dog bites me, I go get my shotgun and we have a serious hunting accident along side the road, and that is a fact Jack. And when I ride my bike, I break all the traffic laws I can, it is my revolt against the administration!!

[Stoney Clarke]

The first BARELY got out of the way, and the second came to a screeching halt and flipped me off and gave me a choice word.
Mr. Green Jeans it was probably someone from the site who enjoys reading your posts.

SC

[Doug S.]

And this is all related to fishing how ??

[RAW]

And this is all related to fishing how ??

Well, here I was peddling my bike into a semi remote creek. Looking for some out of the way water to cast a FLY into with a FLY ROD.

Fishing is more than the act, Doug, it's the total adventure. My adventure trying to get to the creek involved a couple of dogs.

Sorry this post has bugged you. I've actually learned a few things that may help me on my next adventure to the creek. And, I can tell from the responses who I would enjoy fly fishing with and who I wouldn't!

[FishOn!]

After seeing the story on the mountain lion attack, I want to be more prepared. Maybe a 9mm with a bike clip is in order? Long 6" knife blade with bike attachment?


Would a 9mm be enough for a mountain lion? Yeah, I guess it would...some of those cats can get pretty dang big though. I think I would rather crack a few shots off at the beast rather than have to come in close enough range to put a knife in him. Then again, if he is on you then I think either tool would be just as effective as the other at that point. I have read a story where a mountain lion stalked a hunter for awhile even after he threw rocks at it, etc. I saw another story on TV where a woman park ranger was stalked for a long time by a cat but luckily she was able to radio in and get assistance before the cat overcame her. It seems they can be quite determined even if they are detected. Anyone ever seen mountain lions while out fishing?? If so, what locations. I am not sure, but I believe I saw one while fishing the LP. I didn't get a great view of it but I saw some sort of animal on all fours off in the distance quickly scamper up a hillside.

[Telefish]

Mountain Lions scare me. I found big cat tracks in the snow at Rock Cliffs in March - it was sort of a freaky experience. I had parked near the entrance and walked the dogs down to the boat ramp and back - all the while I had an eerie feeling that I was being watched. There were some noisy crows circling something dead up in the rocks. I left the dogs in the truck and went off to fish the river - still couldn't shake that feeling of being watched - hair up on the back of my neck, constantly wanting to look behind me. After a while I gave up and headed back to the truck. As I was walking back across the crusty snow I came across two sets of very large cat tracks in the recrystalized snow on top of the crust. I can't say that the kitty was there while I was fishing, but the tracks were very clear and fresh looking.

RAW, I believe we are neighbors. People have said that there's a lion on the hill above us - I think that Steve (the guy who had the llamas in his yard a few years back) has seen them with his spotting scope in previous years.

[lone Palm Rods]

I like carring a rolled Sunday version of the Trib in my back pocket at all times. Plus it doubles as fire starter and tp in a pinch. Not to mention I found it works well for smacking rafters on the nose when they drift past to close.

Oh, I can see it now. all fisherman carrying pepper spray.

that is just GREAT ! ! !

I'd like to hear the dogs version of this story.

[sb5330]

Your basic 9mm ball would not work. The physics of the round(bullit) tend to make the ball (round) zing right through the body of the animal. 9mm rounds are light and they travel fast, thus creating alot of inertia which the body mass doesnt absorb, thus the round zings through. If need be get hollow point or some other round that would spread out on impact. The spreading out of the round makes it so the body of the animal absorb the inertia, throwing the animal down.
Cougs are pretty tough and who knows what adrennaline does to the cat. Wouldnt want to be there to test it out. I would suggest a .45 caliber which travels slower and the round is bigger, meaning more whump.
FYI a caliber = 1 inch so the round is almost a half inch across (diameter)so you can imagine the mass vs. a 9 mm or .9 of a centimeter.
Also dont show fear and act big.
BYU sucks. Go Utes. NCAA sucks too.


[QUOTE=FishOn!]Would a 9mm be enough for a mountain lion? Yeah, I guess it would...some of those cats can get pretty dang big though. I think I would rather crack a few shots off at the beast rather than have to come in close enough range to put a knife in him.

[wildnative]

Lone Palm. Dogs version: Bark, bark, ruff, ruff, bark, growl, growl, bark!!!

Satisfied? I'll add you to my list of people I wouldn't want to fish with.

[FlySmiley]

I feel for the dog also, the poor thing has a dip sh!! for an owner.

[Jeff Camomile]

My story is this: Peddled my mountain bike up a 17 mile dirt road and was attacked by two dogs. The first dog came running down the trail from an area where someone had pitched a tent. I think it was a Brittany Spaniel. It nipped at me a few times but never connected, I yelled toward the tent but didn't see anyone. I yelled at the dog and it finally ran off but not before making me expend precious energy I was trying to save for some climbs.

The next dog was a few miles up the road and came out from a trailer that was pulled into an area next to the creek. Black Lab. Just shot out from the trailer and again, nipped at me several times. I yelled at the guys standing around the fire, but I think they were actually enjoying it.

I love dogs, but I don't think they should be chasing every hiker, mountain biker or wild animal in the forest. Keep 'em on a leash if they are the kind of dogs that chase people.

I'm getting some pepper spray and a small, high pressure air horn. Next dog that charges me and nips at me is going to get blasted by the spray and deafened by the horn!


Good post, RAW. I get so sick of incompetent dog owners that I could scream. While I love dogs, I hate bad owners, and fortunately, not all owners are bad - most are good, but the few that ruin it for everybody else really irritate me. I used to be a mail carrier for the Post Office years ago. Believe me, I know all about pepper spray as it literally saved my life a few times. I was attacked by a large German Shephard when I was a kid delivering newspapers. That dog floored me to the ground and did some good damage. The dog was put to sleep, and the owner tried to make it my fault and threatened to sue my parents (the police officer straightened him out.) Today, I do a lot of walking and jogging in my neighborhood and I still cannot avoid somebody's stray dog that wants to bite. When I let my displeasure off to the owner, it is always "my fault" for walking where the owner thinks its dog should be, even when it is a block down the street away from the owner's property. Recently, I had a dog literally hanging onto my arm with his mouth - and, yes, it was my fault according to his owner, even though the walkway was over 2 blocks from the owners home.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why there are so many, many, irrespsonsible dog owners. It's too bad, because the cuddly dogs are great. It's the bad owners that hurt people and, unfortunately, the dog also, as that big German Shepherd had to be killed because of his bad owner.

If you take your dog fishing, please, please, be responsible with it. I have never had a bad encounter with somebody's dog while fishing, and hopefully it will stay that way.

[Lonnie]

If you take your dog fishing, please, please, be responsible with it. I have never had a bad encounter with somebody's dog while fishing, and hopefully it will stay that way.

Dave and I did last year. The dog wasn't mean, just spastic and not under his owners control.

With that being said, I think I'm going to teach my rat terrier to ride on the back of my pontoon. I've got to get her a doggie PFD first....

L

[royalwulff]

With that being said, I think I'm going to teach my rat terrier to ride on the back of my pontoon. I've got to get her a doggie PFD first....

L


Lonnie, that is funny. At the last salmon fly collection deal on the Blacksmith fork river Ron Goede had his rat terrier there and there were 4 or 5 other dogs, all much bigger. They were all kinda aggressive with each other but after watching that dog, I would have put my money on it. He was not scared of any of them and would let them know it, funniest thing I saw in a long time.

[Lonnie]

Lonnie, that is funny. At the last salmon fly collection deal on the Blacksmith fork river Ron Goede had his rat terrier there and there were 4 or 5 other dogs, all much bigger. They were all kinda aggressive with each other but after watching that dog, I would have put my money on it. He was not scared of any of them and would let them know it, funniest thing I saw in a long time.

We've had "Mango" just over a year. She's still very much a puppy with TONS of energy. What amazes me about this dog is 1) her speed 2) her jaw strength. She's REALLY fast. I drag her around the neighborhood on my cruiser bike (she's on a leash) and she has no trouble keeping up with me. She pulled me down the street on my road bike at 13 mph a while back. Oh yes, she's a whopping 15 lbs. As for her bite, one of her nicknames is "mangle" for the hurt she puts on rawhide bones, squeaky toys and the occasional vinyl floor....

L

[cardiac]

Lone Palm. Dogs version: Bark, bark, ruff, ruff, bark, growl, growl, bark!!!

Satisfied? I'll add you to my list of people I wouldn't want to fish with.
I'm not sure what you mean by that, but you ought to ask LP who goes fishing with him all the time.

[tightline]

Everyone needs to chill on this one. We know that many of the dog owners are not responsible. Sometimes we do need to take things in our own hands for the sake of the dogs and the public. I fish with my dog all the time and rarely have a leash even with me. I purposely have taken her through many situations with a shock collar on and no leash just to see her reaction. She is great. She has never showed an aggression towards any animal or person. I have never had to push the button in any public type situation. If I was on the river and she ran up to one of you and got the old pepper spray. I would not have a problem with that at all. Even though she would never hurt a soul. Now if you were walking right by me on a trail and she was in full control and happened to look up at you in passing and you sprayed her out of paranoia. I'd have to kick your A$$.

If the owner will not control the dog it needs to be taught somehow. I had a neighbors dog that $hit on my lawn everyday. I used a paintball gun on it. The dog learned that it isn't fun getting shot with a paintball gun and the owner knew everytime I caught there dog doing it's deal on my lawn. It worked wonderfully and problem is solved.

[Lonnie]

He was not scared of any of them and would let them know it, funniest thing I saw in a long time.

If the owner will not control the dog it needs to be taught somehow. I had a neighbors dog that $hit on my lawn everyday. I used a paintball gun on it. The dog learned that it isn't fun getting shot with a paintball gun and the owner knew everytime I caught there dog doing it's deal on my lawn. It worked wonderfully and problem is solved.

I know about this too. Except it's my neighbors Akita. She loves to poop in my yard. Its great fun to have my 15lb rat terrier run off this 100 lb akita. I should take my pooper scooper and start leaving her deposits on their front porch.... ;)

Seems like to me this thread is more about irresponsible owners that viscious dogs. How do we train them????

L