I've used pepper spray on dogs a couple times, and it renders them literally senseless. They can't see or smell, and so their hearing betrays them, and they perceive any counter aggressive noise as a huge threat and will retreat away from it.

I am sure there are some animals that have such a disposition that they will try and press the attack no matter what, and will not avert after being previously exposed to such a deterrent. However they are will do so at a distinct disadvantage, and should be easy to defeat under such conditions.

The last time I sprayed a dog in the face, his eyelids clamped shut almost immediately, and he was unable to see for a solid 5 minutes because he could not open them.

Benjammin: Good post. Solid practical experience ... and it gets the point across. Pepper spray should be fine for most situations involving aggressive dogs. It should not be necessary for people to even contemplate exotic solutions like lasers, and in any case lasers are far too pin-point to be effective in a high-stress situation with an attacking dog.

Susan: Get a chunk of meat. Load it with some sleeping pills, and put it in your chicken coop. When the invading dogs flake out ... you can decide what you want to do with them.

Pete

Susan-

I am a dog lover, but also am pretty territorial when it comes to
the safety of my own family and animals.

After initial attempts at talking to the owner,
I have been known to lure a problem dog into my basement with a
hot dog and call the dog catcher. In our area the fines escalate
each time a dog is caught loose.

Even the rude doctor down the street got tired of
paying $450 a pop to get her dog back and stopped letting it run
amuck when she wasn't home.

If the animals are being mistreated anyway, you could always load
them in your truck and take them to animal control in another town.
Say they were strays and let them, find a better home for them.

Dogs, I love them, and I hate them.
Pretty strange when I think about it.

Somebody mentioned dogs trying to circle and I have had that happen when hiking. Some dogs don't recognize you as human if you have a pack on.
One of the times a pack of three snarling mutts turned into tail wagging sucks as soon as I dropped my pack.
Another time a tail wagger came out of the end of some farmer's driveway and tried to get me to pet it, and then tried to bite my leg.
The worst I find are the times when a small yippy yappy mutt comes out with one or two bigger dogs.

For years pepper spray was illegal here and was counted as a weapon. Then the posties started carrying it as defence against dogs. After that it became a defence against bears too.

Benjamin is right about pepper spray.
Blast is right about carrying a stave as a walking stick.

No, No Sue, you don't get to shoot the owners, no matter how tempting it is.

"No, No Sue, you don't get to shoot the owners, no matter how tempting it is."

Well, 'ell! as my grandfather used to say.

They do have an escalating fee for returning dogs to their owners, but the problem is getting him there. He weighs well over 100 lbs, panics on a leash, and I don't have anything large enough or secure enough to transport him 25 miles. I doubt that Animal Services will pick him up again.

We shall see. I have my paint by the back door.

Sue

A friend was coming by yesterday to borrow up my bike trainer. DW had to leave and called to tell him it would be by the front door. He said he would feel bad if it was stolen.

DW said she would put it behind the back gate. He asked if we still have our lab. DW said, "yes we do."

He asked if the lab bites. Our dog has never bitten a soul and is quite loving. But she pauses for several seconds and responds, "He has teeth."

Trainers in my back seat, having coffee with friend today.

Good answer, properly motivated they all bite.

Sue, you need to make lemon-aid with those lemons. Work with that dog so that he guards your chickens rather than attacking them.

The only thing my last chicken needs protection from is him.

Sue

Unless they were from a long line of wild dogs, is that even possible? Apparently dogs are masters of interpreting human expression, the only animals that understand what it means when humans point at something, etc. Anyway, not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet, but most of the postal workers here carry dog treats as well as pepper spray. Sometimes a tasty treat can be a very effecitve tool in altering a dogs behavior.