PetSafe SprayShield Animal Deterrent with Clip, Citronella Spray up to 12 ft, Protect Yourself and Your Pets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MIP6X06/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5lDFBb96QC1JZ
You should carry that every time you are out walking client dogs IMO. I carry it on hikes, but I know a lot of people that carry it 24/7. Pretty effective at stopping a charging dog, and it won’t have any lasting damage (like a gun) or risk hurting yourself (like mace) so you won’t be hesitant to pull the trigger.
Citronella Spray!!
This is made specifically for dogs. I have walk my horse on trails near our barn and after a dog chased us 2x in a row (not supposed to be off leash but fucking people) I got some of this & I carry it with me now.
To be fair, that dude’s dog is also a victim of him being an irresponsible pet parent, by not leashing him/her in a children’s park/leashed area and putting the dog and child at risk.
I was petsitting for a friend who had a foster dog, and that dog was barking aggressively and bit the sh*t out of my calf muscle. I could barely get in the house to feed the dogs, and the dog could sense my fear. I used this product on him once and he was the most submissive, well-behaved dog after that. Told my friend about the experience (and the harmless/effective product) and he was a total dick about it. Suffice it to say he’s no longer my friend.
Sorry for your kid, u/RedfieldStandard, and I’m sorry for the dog too. The pet parent sucks.
Dog trainer here and I recommend everyone carry a small bottle of citronela spray as a deterrent. Squirt them right in the face if you can. Air horns also work well. Sure you can try throwing treats or something at them, but I have no patience for that. When it comes to off leash dogs I don't fuck around and take immediate action.
Use your environment, too. Hide behind a home or literally stick your dog in a garbage bin. I've seen it save lives. Just be careful picking up your small dog around bigger dogs. Fast moving small fluffy objects might cause prey drive to kick in.
And just because these were pitbulls doesn't mean it can't happen with other breeds. Even small dogs are capable of nasty bites
People here open their front doors and let the dogs out "to do their business". It's a small town / country mindset. Nothing you can do about. Bring something with you for protection. I recommend citronella spray.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MIP6X06/ref=ox\_sc\_act\_title\_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
PetSafe SprayShield Animal Deterrent - Citronella Dog Repellent Spray – Ranges up to 10 ft - 2.4 oz / 71 mL - Protect Yourself and Your Pets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MIP6X06/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_N0QBBKTXXES8HA9ZTKY1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Best thing to carry with idiot owners around so much now. This is dog "mace" it's a nasal irritant. It's used in many doggy daycares to break up aggressive behavior. Doesnt injury the animal at all. Just screws with everyone's noses.
You should immediately be on alert anytime an off leash dog approaches yours. Id say the moment the dog seems like he may attack, that’s when anything goes. Sometimes you only have seconds to react.
You could also carry an animal deterrent like citronella
I have PetSafe Citronella Spray and I've had to use it a few times. So far, I don't think that any of it has actually touched the other dogs as I tend to react a bit too quickly, but just the sound and sight of it spraying towards them has deterred the dogs by either making them stop approaching or running away.
As for other ideas, you can try other sprays like bear/coyote spray or mace (if it's legal in your area), sound items like air horns and whistles, or the good old fashion stuff like carrying some rocks to throw at the other dog or a large stick, baton, baseball bat, etc. that you can use with one hand to swing at and/or hit them if needed.
Start taking video of incidents - religiously. Have your phone on you and ready to record every time you go out. This is simply to cover your ass.
Buy some of these. Take one outside and practice using it without your dog around so you're not fumbling around with it if you ever need to actually use it in an emergency situation. Carry one with you on every walk and don't be afraid to use it.
If it's for soi dogs, you might wanna order one of these:
It's citrus based and is not as harmful to dogs and humans as pepper stray but works as a deterrent. But it may still be perceived as being pepper spray to an average cop.
You might also try carrying spray shield which can help deter dogs if the whistle doesn’t
Citronella spray Amazon link
It’s a deterrent for attacking animals 👍🏾
I carry a can of this when hiking and have been considering taking it on walks in town due to off-leash dogs. It’s citronella and is harmless but dogs really hate the smell of it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MIP6X06
At large dogs are illegal, so keep calling McKamey and the police. You need to have a written record. McKamey has to files reports. You can do so from inside your home anonymously when you see them running loose.
Carry this and spray them each time when outside. Test spray it first: It doesn't have great range, and you want to account for the wind. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MIP6X06/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I carry citronella spray and a self-defense keychain now whenever I walk my dog after being attacked by a loose pitbull.
The spray is not 100% safe to use on dogs, but it's not as harmful as mace or pepper spray-- is intended to startle a charging dog. And the keychain is a last resort in case a dog locks down on my dog's neck and will not let go (again). I also recognize that this would be very dangerous for me to use, but anything is safer than what I did last time it happened.
First things first: know the laws. Check your local city and state laws about leashing and go ahead and save animal control's phone number and email. Take videos of the dogs behavior and take pictures if the dog bites you, even if it doesn't break skin.
Report it to both animal control and your landlord every time it happens. Include the pictures and videos. Make sure you know what the definition of a "Dangerous Dog" is in your area (in mine, the animal control handbook defines it as (1) a dog that makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes
bodily injury to the person and that occurs outside of a secure
enclosure intended to prevent the dog’s escape or release; or
(2) a dog that commits unprovoked acts in a place other than a secure
enclosure and the acts cause a reasonable person to believe that the
dog will attack and cause bodily injury to that person) and if the dogs behavior fits that definition, make sure you use that exact phrase in your report to animal control, ie "I am calling to report a dangerous dog at (address) who is loose and behaving in an agressive manner."
You may also need to check if reporting to the police would be applicable, as in some areas, failing to keep a dangerous dog in a secure area (usually defined as a fenced enclosure or a home) or negligently allowing a dog that is not previously known to the local authority to be dangerous to attack someone can be a criminal offense (it's a class C misdemeanor where I am).
Aside from the legal parts: carry an umbrella, walking stick, large bag/purse, or some other object that you can use to create a physical barrier between you and the dog or defend yourself if needed. Clap, stomp, or shriek or even use an air horn at the dog if it approaches, since dogs are often deterred by loud sudden noise (this is a tactic often used to break up dog fights, and is the least physically involved deterrent you can use). Others have recommended pepper spray, but you're better off with a citronella spray (like this one) because it's not going to harm you as badly if it gets blown back on you and it generally sprays farther than pepper spray will, giving you a bigger distance between yourself and the dog.
Reports to animal control or police are anonymous. Usually complaints to a landlord or management are kept anonymous as well. Yelling at your neighbor is not and is also considered a domestic dispute that can get the police called on you. Arguing with your neighbor, sending them texts, and even just giving them your cell number when they are that unreasonable is a bad idea. It's a good way to end up with harassment issues and having to get a restraining order and/or change your phone number if things go wrong.
You can get milder sprays like the type of compounds used in antibark collars. Often citronella based. https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-SprayShield-Deterrent-Citronella-Yourself/dp/B00MIP6X06/
Sound has been the usual go to when wanting to deter dogs without harming them any. There are modified versions of the good old foghorn or airhorns people have commonly carried for decades to deter loose dogs that make it easier to carry and use quickly as a deterrent. Your own dog will end up hearing noise options as well though, which can do bad things to a new rescue or sensitive dogs. It would depend on how your dog responds. Blowing a loud dog or referee whistle before telling a dog to "NO! Go AWAY!" can be equally effective. https://www.amazon.com/SAFETY-SPORT-DOG-HORN-XL/dp/B07LDH4Y35
There are also both audible whistle and ultrasonic remotes now that you don't have to blow into and they can have a narrower direction they send the sound for targeting a specific dog. If your dog is not in the path it may only get some residual sound instead of the full volume and the ultrasonic versions don't disturb any people. No one even has to know you are carrying some of the small, palm sized ones. Aside from the fact using some of the stronger brands or those with multiple settings on high in an apartment or condo building has occasionally caused people to upset every dog in the building and started some barking. I mostly use one that has only a 16' range and narrow direction to avoid strongly affecting every dog around me.
There are some cans that only make a hissing sound like a cat instead of using loud noises or sentry combines a mild spray and the hissing sound. https://www.amazon.com/Sentry-Stop-Behavior-Correction-Spray/dp/B07RJ6XFY1
There's also the good old cheap solution of making a shaker can. Fill a noisy container, usually metal like soda cans, with things that make a bunch of noise when shaken such as coins, screws, etc.... Shake can hard and yell at dog to stay away. It doesn't carry as far as whistles but it's loud enough to startle a lot of dogs. Like other noise makers without a specific direction it risks scaring your dog if it's sensitive to it. Many realize their human is only correcting the other dog instead of them and aren't bothered by any of these options but for some only the spray options will work to avoid scaring them as well.
My GSDs are both quite reactive - they bark and the puppy will occasionally lunge. It's a combination of "hey! Let's be friends!" Or stranger danger. We're working on it, I've been taking them to trainers, watching videos, etc. It's embarrassing when it happens. I say this because I would be much less likely to talk to you if you asked if I was training my dogs - it seems too much like criticism and it's already a frustrating situation. I think it would be reasonable to say "Hey, your dog makes me uncomfortable when he shows up at my house uninvited and when he lunges at me." If my neighbor said that, i would walk my dogs in a different direction and at different times.
The dog getting out... That sucks. I wouldn't say anything unless the dog is out often. My dogs have gotten out twice even though I try hard to keep them in. My older GSD is able to jump a 6 ft fence from a sitting position. My younger one is fast and slippery. If my dogs were out more often than I would expect my neighbors to address it.
If you're worried about your kids getting hurt, buy them this. citronella spray . My dogs probably wouldn't chase a kid, but they will bark at strangers. And my little one is afraid of children. My dogs sense people's energy and react in kind. I'd instruct them not to pet strange dogs and use the spray if needed. It is embarrassing, frustrating and I'm trying hard to train the reactivity out. I'm going to assume she is, too. Say something kindly and as non-judgmentally as possible. It's reasonable to be uncomfortable around dogs and I think all GSD owners are aware that they can cause significant damage. No dog bites until it bites. Owners need to be mindful of this.
In the meantime, citronella spray is what you're looking for my friend :) https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-SprayShield-Deterrent-Citronella-Yourself/dp/B00MIP6X06/
You can carry dog spray if you're really worried
NAH
It's weird to say that, considering how heated things got... but no assholes here... you did your best under stress, and it's super easy to second guess what you did later, when there's time, and he's safe, and all of that.
While I understand and appreciate his stress on learning that you separated your pack, so to speak, when in danger, and his feeling that you weren't there to defend your daughter, the reality is that the fence did a much better job than you probably could have, considering how a fence stands up to dog bites v. how a person does.
Everybody is ok, you, them, and even him... so, nows a good time to be thankful for a happy end. This isn't necessarily something that one would expect to come up so often that you should plan out what to do next time, or really need to work through what happened, probably. If you do life in a neighborhood where random dogs do come (I see around 10 a year where I live), I would change that advice, and recommend that you do have a plan, that he has a plan, and that you carry Citronella spray WITH A CLIP OR IN A HOLSTER (too many people think they're gonna rifle through their pockets or fumble around their purse for it, and there just wont be time)... I keep https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-SprayShield-Deterrent-Citronella-Yourself/dp/B00MIP6X06/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2ZP99M4VQIW41&dchild=1&keywords=citronella+spray+dogs&qid=1598574017&sprefix=citrronella+spray%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-2 on me whenever I'm on a walk with my doggos, and it does a great job of stopping attacks immediately, but it is not painful or dangerous to use around kids like OC/pepper spray can be.
I don’t know what to tell you about the other stuff, but you could start carrying citronella spray like this to use on her dog if he tries to engage again. It’s harmless and non-toxic; just sufficiently annoying to be an effective deterrent.
Trying out a product similar to this will get the owner's attention: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00MIP6X06/?coliid=I329OIEFOFLYLF&colid=1L3GZV100Y2GA&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it