I should put a disclaimer here: Everything I've said in this thread is a result of personal experience, including being attacked a few times by dogs. It should not be construed as professional advice, just food for thought. Do your research, and make sound decisions NOT based on something you read on a message board. Should go without saying, but I don't want to misrepresent myself here. =)

"...Malanois..."

Ah, the devil dog. The CHP loves them. I know of one male that flattened a tire on a 12 passenger van with one bite. They can hurt you. A lot...

I'd say that using anything that doesn't have one of your body parts under it as a shield is a good call. =)



Have you considered your footwear in this equation? Some steel toed boots can do a lot do dissuade the under-committed type of dog who's just trying to run you off. Dog ribs are about as sensitive as yours or mine. So can yelling basic commands, like "STOP!" "SIT!" and "DOWN!" as if you're the owner.



Think about what you'll be carrying, and who you will be traveling with. Your hands should be free and your arms should have good freedom of movement. If you're traveling with a wife or child, then you need to factor them into the equation, as well. Most importantly, you need to train them not to run, which makes them a target.

A can of bear spray on a hip or pack strap is probably a good call. It's legal most anywhere, and if you practice, you can hit a target without unholstering it. Most manufacturers will provide practice cartridges for you to safely practice with. A preemptive strike with pepper spray is a heck of a lot safer for the animal and your conscience should you wonder later if it was necessary.

My personal preference would be pepper spray backed up by a large bore handgun, preferably a .45 auto, loaded with good defensive ammo.

Pepper spray or a gun, the gun being the safer bet as even if it’s attacking and could overcome the spray, it’s a lot harder to overcome several bullets or shotgun round.


A shotgun would be great but I think a 22 (10 shot Ruger) will work with a Dog. I know a 22-250 works.

What impressed me is that this female was about half the size of the rest of our dogs. I never volunteered to help our trainers with those beasts. She was very well-mannered, but the patrol/attack dogs were somewhat psychotic.

Would you use a .22LR as your primary defense against a human attacker?

Ah, a farm dog might chase you but a pack of feral dogs would eat you. So, I speak in relative terms. I don't generally worry about farm dogs. However, wild dogs, coys, and abandoned pets are another thing entirely.

Comparing a .22 to a .22-250 is apples to nukes...

I would feel very comfortable with a 10-22 with a 25-round clip or even a Mark 2 with 10 rounds.

I know everyone thinks they are great shots, but I am fairly good at shooting, I do a lot of it. I feel 10 22-rounds would stop a dog. The one time I did shoot a dog that came at me, I got it on the first (and only shot) in the head with a 22-250 fired from my hip as I was walking back to my van after woodchuck hunting. I was walking along a railroad track (magazine on the gun loaded with the bolt open) and the dog broke through the brush 20 feet away and growled and started for me, I stopped and backed away slow. It kept coming. I worked the bolt and fired from the hip.

I think I could stop a person with a 22 that broke into my home.

My point with the 22-250 was not the power, it is about bullet placement. I feel very confident of my bullet placement ability.


I know people that upon occasion take a deer down with a 22 lr by shooting it in the head (Not me as I don’t hunt deer.)
Don't underestimate a 22 because it looks small.

I work at my friends gun shop part time am around a lot of gun people.