Alison03

I bought the Spray Shield from Animalcare Australia, I didn't make it myself. It's the only spray dog deterrent that's legal in NSW, its totally harmless, I've tried it on my own dog with no after affects. It only has shock value on a dog as they don't care for the smell or the spraying sound, it says on the can it won't stop a high level aggressive dog but as it's the only defense that's allowed in NSW I'm using it because Gods knows we aren't allowed to defend ourselves against other people's aggressive dogs with anything else. The white vinegar was a suggestion from an animal trainer on another thread, it's stings apparently but does not cause any damage.

Hi Kirty, I've tried the big stick too, the charging dog just avoids it. I'm using a dog deterrent spray called Spray Shield, it's a citronella spray, it's harmless but has shock value to an approaching dog, most of the time the owner of the dog isn't aware you've done anything, I spray it in front of the dog and the smell of it and the splat noise it makes surprises them, and they go back the way they came a bit faster. Not sure if it would work on the truly aggressive but it works on the excitable chargers. Some of the dogs just stop and stare, I just stand still, my dog is bomb proof and generally copies what I do, eventually the dog moves away. Someone on another thread suggested white vinegar in a small spray bottle. We were attacked once, it's taken me nearly 12 months to start walking my dog again, it's the Spray Shield that's given me the courage. Hope you find something that works for you too. Good luck. ????

I know what you mean Robbi, It's unfortunate we have to get all worked up when we are supposed to be having a relaxing walk with our dogs, my dog Bonny just stands next to me while I'm raving, she doesn't bark she just tries to avoid the advancing dog . Without exception the person with the off leash dog is defensive and abusive. I start off politely if a bit jerky as I try to side step the missile dog but I end up getting pissed off. I hate the way the wrong doer makes me look like the nutcase. If I see someone with a loose dog in the public park that leaves us alone, I say nothing, good on them for having a stable dog.

Trudy, I completely understand, I have come home from walks thinking maybe I do need therapy Why is it that when you ask people to put their dogs on leash( In an area they are meant to be leashed any way) does it end up a very stressful situation, never have I had someone put their dog on a leash without being rude or abusive. I always initially ask politely but have been known to end up yelling like a banshee when situations require it, suprisingly the times that I have ended up yelling at someone my dogs have behaved impeccably!

Trudy, I completely understand, I have come home from walks thinking maybe I do need therapy Why is it that when you ask people to put their dogs on leash( In an area they are meant to be leashed any way) does it end up a very stressful situation, never have I had someone put their dog on a leash without being rude or abusive. I always initially ask politely but have been known to end up yelling like a banshee when situations require it, suprisingly the times that I have ended up yelling at someone my dogs have behaved impeccably!

I can empathize with the big dog grabbing the puppy it's a horrible memory to have. I'm sure your Mum is still afraid to take a dog to the park, I'm the same. I get so angry when I hear stories like this especially when the bastards get away with it. ????

That really is very sad, how awful for everyone. And worse for them to just get away with it! There's one nasty Kelpie at our park, the owner uses the 'oh he doesn't like dogs younger or smaller than him' which is particularly worrisome when he has a pup Gus's age too, and I've seen the dog go for the pup a few times and everyone knows the dog by name and warns anyone walking that way they happen to pass that 'X is over that way' most of the time these days he's muzzled, but at very least he's leashed, but he's an awful dog who just breaks off his leash when need be. Everyone steers clear of him, he's an accident waiting to happen. There's always one, I just really wish they would play ball elsewhere.

I sometimes wonder if I'm over sensitive about the dog attack we had, not long ago in a public park an off leash cattle dog charged us, I picked my dog up and screamed at the owner, she shouted back her dog was friendly and there was no need to get nasty. I told her my dog had nearly been killed by a charging dog and she said "You should get therapy then". I shouted back that her dog should be on a leash.

Not a hang up at all - only sensible IMO. Plenty of small dog owners agree with you. :) So do plenty of big dog owners. I avoid off lead play with littlies. It doesn't need an aggressive incident for damage to occur with a big size difference.

I just did a disappearing post, very annoying. ???? I think off lead parks are enter at your own risk places, there is probably signs that say that I'm guessing. So if an incident occurs there is not much that can be done about Sorry to hear about your Mums dog Kelpie, she must have been devastated. When I go on the off lead beach, if I see a leashed dog I assume it's either one of those dogs that doesn't come back or it has an uncertain temperament so I steer my dog away from it, although she's fairly good at picking a trouble maker. I don't like those extender leashes either, they are misused and not easy to reel in. There is always one person who spoils it for everyone else. ????

I avoid the fenced off dog parks too Ruby, because (no offense big dog owners) I'm not happy about mixing my little dog with large dogs that are off leash in an enclosed area, it's my hang up I know I may get over it one day. I found a dog beach in Port Macquarie, where there is a section for small dogs, I holiday there a few times a year so thats the only time Bonny gets her chance to be off leash with other dogs of a similar size to her. If my husband is with me, I have been to a different dog beach with her and not had an incident, Bonny shoots back to us if she feels threatened at all, she seems to be able to pick the less than friendly dogs. If her tail starts to drop (she's a Shihtzu and has a high tail that curls on her back) down low, I know she has trust issues with the dog nearest to her. She'll slowly walk away back to us, I watch the dog she's marked as unstable and sure enough it will have a go at another dog. In public parks I absolutely expect to be able to walk my dog on leash without being harassed by off leash dogs, no matter how "friendly" they are.

Agree with Trudy. I don't do those fenced offlead dog parks, but I do shared parks with people and dogs. If my dog is onlead and your offlead dog bounds up to mine in one of these parks, I will be one of those people up in arms about it. I have every right to be there, too, and not be harassed!

After the dog attack I was afraid to walk my dog for nearly 12 months, I researched the ultrasonic devices and got one called a Dazer, to be honest I'm not sure if it really works or not, my dog couldn't have cared less about it when I tried it on her. I used it on dogs that were throwing themselves at fences when we walked passed, it didn't seem to have much affect on them either, whereas the spray has an immediate reaction. I'd be interested to know if anyone has had any good experiences with the ultrasonic devices.

Hmmm that's a good question. I have also been berated by owners with their dogs off leash, while mine has been leashed because I've asked them nicely to get control of their dog. Nobody as violent as the person you came in contact with, sounds like his dog has been attacked too, as he overreacted somewhat, the presence of the girlfriend may have encouraged his gorilla display. When my dog was attacked by two large off leash dogs, it happened very quickly and silently, they just ran fast at us, one went around the back of me and grabbed her, (she was on leash) the other came around the front to get hold of her too, it all happened in a split second, I went absolutely crazy with my open golf umbrella which made the second dog back off, the one with my dog in its mouth had started to shake my dog who was yelping horribly, I clobbered like a maniac, it dropped her. A large dog can kill a small dog in seconds, they just shake and crunch down and they are dead. Knowing how I reacted with that attack I know I'd react with blind anger if it happened again, I'd spray them, kick them, stamp on them, whatever it took to release her. If they killed her I'd persue the owners through the courts. So I guess my answer is I'd spray the dog if it got aggressively close and the man too if necessary. While he was wondering if he'd been sprayed with something highly toxic I'd make my escape. Saying "I'd wash that of your face before it takes affect", might send him looking for a tap. ???????? You may be asking the wrong person as I'm a little damaged by my experience, if folk think I'm nuts that works for me too, especially if it makes them leash their dogs when they see me coming, if another dog wants to ruin my day by attacking my dog, and if the owner won't deflect it's dog I will try my best to do it myself and bugger the consequences. I have been approached at speed by off leash dogs on my walks, spraying the Spray Shield on the floor in front of them has stopped them so far, (it has a strong citronella smell) their owners who are usually on their phones or lying on the grass sunning themselves aren't aware of the spray at all. Even if I had to spray a dog in the face (it's totally harmless) the strong smell may lead the owner to think their dogs has found something odd to chew on. By the way a dog that is going to attack does not bark, it's hunting, it moves fast and its silent. A dog that is curious and wants to be friends will approach and stop a few meters away, they sniff and walk up slowly (not in a stalking manner) always ready to move away if they sense they are not welcome. I'm more than happy to accommodate those dogs. However I always have the spray ready.

No you weren't harsh, just stating a point, we seem to be on the same page. ???? We want all dog owners to be considerate of each other but we don't want to be unreasonable about it. ???? I walked passed several large breed dogs with their owners today, very well behaved dogs, then I came across a small breed dog like mine that went bonkers when it saw us. Honestly smaller dogs are much more easier to handle, I can't understand why the owner wouldn't take the time to correct the behaviour. ????

Sorry Steph I wasn't clear about what I meant, I was just taking about an ordinary people park not a off leash dog park. Of course in a dog park everyone must mix together, no point in going to one of those and expecting to be in your own bubble of personal space. I've only ever been to an off leash beach for small dogs, I've never had a problem, my little girl is easy going and mixes well. She's even good with tiny puppies. ???? I meant dog owners in an ordinary park letting their dogs off leash, I come across that regularly, some dogs are ok but others seem to take a dislike to my easy going well behaved little dog. I often wonder if she was more agressive would that put them off menacing her or would it make matters worse? ????.

Thanks Mita the white vinegar will be a good alternative if I can't get hold of any Spray Shield. I got it online from Animalcare by the way. I spray on the ground if the dog isn't too worked up, it puts a lot of them off the idea of coming up to us, the Border Collie is the only one I was really worried about because it was moving fast until I sprayed. I know I'll be in trouble with a truly aggressive dog Megan and trust me I'd empty the can on it. ???? Funnily enough the Border Collie doesn't fly out of his garden when we walk passed now. He doesn't even bark. My little dog walks well and is non reactive but after a confrontation she is not happy and wants to go home. She had a bad experience that she hasn't forgotten.

I'm going to start by spraying it on the ground in front of them, it hits with a splat which makes them naturally move backwards, the spray to the face is my last resort. It sprays quite a distance too so you don't have to be very close to the dog. It's totally harmless, I've used it on my dog when she wouldn't stop barking at the new chickens next door, it stopped her barking for a while and she shook herself a bit but that's it. Like you say if it works. ???? I think it will have shock value for certain types of dogs but not sure about the truly focussed ones. I think dog pepper spray would be very useful, but firstly it's not legal here and secondly it could blow back on me. This stuff is unpleasant ( had a bit of blow back) but not terrible. ????

After being attacked by two large dogs last year, I didn't walk my little dog for months. We both missed our walks but mentally I couldn't bring myself to do it. Once the flash backs had subsided I started researching a dog deterrent that would make be feel a bit safer, I discovered that dog pepper spray is illegal in NSW, the only other spray thats legal is called "Spray Shield" it's a citronella spray harmless to dogs but it comes out of the can with some force, so a bit of shock value and they don't like the smell. I've used it once on a Border Collie that charged out of its garden, I actually sprayed it on the ground in front of the dog, it turned and ran. Not sure how well it would work on two dogs. Has anyone had any experience of this spray or anything like it?

Absolutely agree Sky, it's annoys me how an owner can sit on the grass in the park and let their dog wander where it pleases, rushing whatever dog it sees and then have the cheek to berate anyone with a dog on a lead that objects to be harassed by their free range quite often not so friendly dog. ????