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Dog Mace

5K views 23 replies 21 participants last post by  Marty01 
#1 ·
Okay, I've had it with aggressive dogs! Last night I had to cut an awesome ride short because a pack of 5 or 6 dogs were in the road about a quarter mile out... I stopped and watched to see if they were going to move along, but they just started running towards me... I turned my bike around and headed back the way I came (albeit, at a very brisk pace). At this time, two other dogs hop out of nowhere (I was WTFing and whatnot at this point) and are to my left and right. They kept pace for a bit and then backed off.

I don't know what's going on, but last night it seemed like crazy dogs were everywhere and for the first time, I actually got a little scared on my ride. I could legally pack a gun, but am not really cool with the the idea of killing a dog so my next option would be some kind of "Dog Mace" which I did happen to find after a simple Google search. But I'm curious if anyone has used anything like this successfully? I'd like to hear it.

I'm sure if I were packing something, I still would not have continued on towards those dogs in the road, but I pondered the thought of being a minute or two back and those dogs on the side of the road hidden out of view. It could have been very bad and I had nothing to defend myself with. Ugh.

Okay, so anyone used "Dog Mace" or something similar? Opinions, Advice?
 
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#3 · (Edited)
bear spray.

better range, stronger.

well, compared to "regular" mace. Compared to Coolio's suggestion, it might come up short. The 1911 has nice range and definitely more stopping power. Tends to be a permanent solution too.
 
#4 ·
If you live in the country, dogs running in packs like that cause problems. I know farmers who have had animals attacked and killed by packs of dogs. A neighbor with about 30 goats had about 5 goats killed and every other animal had a bite taken out of them by a pack of dogs one night. I guess it was the dogs idea of something to do. Maybe you should contact animal control and let them know where you saw them, they may already be looking for them.
 
#5 ·
JustTooBig said:
bear spray.

better range, stronger.

well, compared to "regular" mace. Compared to Coolio's suggestion, it might come up short. The 1911 has nice range and definitely more stopping power. Tends to be a permanent solution too.
You probably shouldn't be packing if it takes a 1911 for you to stop a dog :blush2:
 
#6 ·
MaddSkillz said:
I don't know what's going on, but last night it seemed like crazy dogs were everywhere and for the first time, I actually got a little scared on my ride.
They're mad and want to take back their country! But seriously...When a dog comes running I know I have to start cranking b/c they is fast! I have to try the water bottle squirt thing.
 
#7 ·
If I pack a gun, it would be one of my smaller ones like the Ruger LCP. But honestly, I just want to make their lives miserable for making mine the same, if but for just a moment. :)

Kimber makes some kind of projectile pepper spray but it's only a couple of shots and it's like $49. That doesn't interest me.

This is the best option I've found so far.
 
#8 ·
Just buy Halt at a bike shop. Its about $7 and sprays a stream about 10-12 feet. I have never had a dog continue chasing or threatening me after I hit them in the head with it. And like mentioned earlier - call Animal Control and report the dogs. Even if they dont bite you but cause you to crash or damage your bike or property its good to have a complaint on record.
 
#9 ·
nismo73 said:
They're mad and want to take back their country! But seriously...When a dog comes running I know I have to start cranking b/c they is fast! I have to try the water bottle squirt thing.
There are very, very few dogs that won't stop once they're sprayed in the face with a water bottle. The funny part, there are some dogs that learn... there's a dog somewhere north of town that will run out, but when he sees the riders pull out water bottles, he stops cold.

I carry water bottles and a Park PMP-12 frame pump. I've only used the pump and/or my feet a few times, the rest of the time I've used water.

The gun is a bit over the top. There are a huge amount of dogs around us that just want to run alongside you - they'll run on the side of the road, in the ditch, etc perfectly next to you, and never come any closer. I know that if I had a gun, I'd have shot at least a few of those dogs by now... and I'd feel like a bad person, because they really weren't harming anybody, and weren't going to.
 
#10 ·
bill105 said:
Just buy Halt at a bike shop. Its about $7 and sprays a stream about 10-12 feet. I have never had a dog continue chasing or threatening me after I hit them in the head with it. And like mentioned earlier - call Animal Control and report the dogs. Even if they dont bite you but cause you to crash or damage your bike or property its good to have a complaint on record.
How have you ever managed to hit one? I tried spraying that stuff at 12mph, and the wind wreaked havoc on me. I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.
 
#11 ·
bill105 said:
Just buy Halt at a bike shop. Its about $7 and sprays a stream about 10-12 feet. I have never had a dog continue chasing or threatening me after I hit them in the head with it. And like mentioned earlier - call Animal Control and report the dogs. Even if they dont bite you but cause you to crash or damage your bike or property its good to have a complaint on record.
Looks good, can you give some quick details?

How big is the can? The website says 1.5 oz so I assume it fits in a jersey pocket.

How easy is it to fire with one hand?

How likely is it to go off when I don't want it to?
 
#15 ·
I carry a UDAP Jogger Fogger, 2 million scoville heat units, 10 foot fog spray. I see from their website they now have one with 3 million scoville heat units and a 10 foot cone spray. When backpacking or hiking in the mountains here(south central Montana near Yellowstone) I carry their bear spray in a chest holster. The big cans of bear spray are 3.3 million scoville units so their new one is almost as hot as the bear spray. The other company that makes bear spray is Counter Assault and they also make smaller self defense units like the one I carry. A dog sprayed with bear spray will remember it for a very long time.
 
#18 ·
Brad the Bold said:
Looks good, can you give some quick details?

How big is the can? The website says 1.5 oz so I assume it fits in a jersey pocket.

How easy is it to fire with one hand?

How likely is it to go off when I don't want it to?
This photo should give you an idea how large the canister is, compared to a ParkTB-2 multi-tool. It weighs less than the multi-tool. It's very easy to fire with one hand-your fingers wrap around the indentations on the front of the device just like the notches on a steering wheel. You thumb flips up the spring loaded top and depresses the red button you can see in the photo. Yeah; I wish the spring loaded flip top had an extra safety mechanism, but that might slow down the ability to deploy it. That model in the photo is for personal protection. The model on the left is a lower-tiered mace device.

<img src="https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/4168148064_76acd516fd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Two Models of Mace Devices" /></a>
 
#20 ·
Back when I was racing, a frame pump to the dog's nose worked pretty good. Never used mace. Got chased for the first time in a long long time the other day. It was a little short legged guy. I had a pretty good pace going and kept him just behind my crank but far enough away that he couldn't bite. We had a pretty good conversation going. He bow wowed, I bow wowed back. After a long city block I could tell he was getting tired. His breathing was labored and he couldn't bow wow anymore. So I said "so long little buddy".
 
#21 ·
A little off the subject but-

Read This
 
#23 ·
I use pepper spray. You don't have to be a marksman with it, remember a dog has a keen sense of smell, just a little bit in their direction and they come to a halt. I live in a very rural area and deal with this often and the pepper has been very effective. In most cases if a repeat offender/same dog sees me they go the other direction.
 
#24 ·
why doesnt anyone think of a starter pistol to fire in the air to scare the dog??? or a .22 cal handgun to do the same except if you NEED to fire AT the dog..your more likely to stop it

but seriously.. a pack of dogs isnt like your aunt`s poodle.. they are huting most likely... I`d wager a shot in the air from most anything would scare them off.. even if its just a starter pistol.. dogs dont know the diff.. they just hear BANG!! and move on out
 
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