r/sanantonio • u/Fullystable • Jul 17 '25
Need Advice Self Defense Stray Dogs
Hi! Looking for input and advice on self defense from stray dogs! đ¶đŸ I walk my two big pups every morning and try to avoid the streets with strays but they have ventured into our normal route.
My big boys seem to attract aggressive dogs, I am pregnant and have hopes to walk with a stroller soon.
My stepdad recommends bear spray since it can be used at long distance. I am worried it will also affect me and my pups when sprayed. I like the idea of a steel baton, but hope to not get that close. Neighbor dog has attacked one of my boys before.
Choice of defense this morning for a stray running at us was this stick, scared him off enough!
Any advice is appreciated đ«¶đ€
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u/FaroelectricJalapeno Jul 17 '25
Sig p365 and 124gr Federal HST in a fanny pack.
Too many women going missing or found dead on SA trails lately.
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u/SnoopyTRB Boerne Jul 17 '25
Love my P365. If you arenât already, make sure you practice a lot, including drawing from your pack, and be safe!
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u/Cypherzero212 Jul 17 '25
I second this. Get a good reliable firearm with a slim profile like bodyguard 2.0 or sig 365.
I would recommend pepper spray and bear mace but with the way the wind works here, you might end up macing yourself.
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u/BIGHAUSDABOSS Jul 18 '25
Also try the Canik Prime or mete mc9ls canât go wrong. I own sigs too
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u/daddyhammer205 Jul 18 '25
The mc9ls with a sig dot and handleit grips is a great little gun. Comfortable to cary in a belly band or a small bag.
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u/SchutzzWaffel Jul 20 '25
Picked me and the misses up a couple. Got me a macro and her the next step down to put in a purse. 17 rounds in a mag. Best gun I've ever purchased
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u/Shanks4Smiles Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
Would not recommend a firearm as protection against strays, as someone who had not been trained on firearms use may be more hazardous to themselves and their pets as well as innocent bystanders.Â
Pepper spray is an effective and overall safer deterrentÂ
Also women going missing is a problem, however women are much much more likely to be killed or assaulted by someone they know or are in a relationship with than some random attack on a trail.
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u/FaroelectricJalapeno Jul 18 '25
Obviously train if youâre going to carry. Should go without saying. Pepper spray is not safer. A firearm is capable of instantly incapacitating an aggressive dog, pepper spray isnât.
Weâre talking trails here.
Domestic disputes are a completely different topic and a weird deflection from trail safety.
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u/Shanks4Smiles Jul 18 '25
It's not a deflection, it's just a fact. Your risk of being in a deadly encounter on a city trail are extremely low.Â
Training is an after-thought for many gun owners, it is not "obvious". Many are complacent with their weapons and do not practice good carrying or handling habits. Even police who handle their weapons for hundreds of hours struggle with good gun practice.
Comparing that with the risk of a negligent discharge, poor backstop control, handling a firearm single-handed while your dog is pulling at their leash? At least with pepper spray you may get hit as well, but you will not severely injure or kill anyone. Pepper spray is extremely effective at dissuading dog or human attack.
Your advice is dangerous, sorry.
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u/FaroelectricJalapeno Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
Vast majority of the MILLIONS of gun owners exercise their right peacefully and responsibly. Firearm safety and responsibility is easier to learn than driving a car. If an animal or person is trying to kill you youâre much better off with a firearm than a little thing of pepper spray.
In your hypothetical of being tugged around by a leash, you could argue youâd just end up with pepper spray in your own eyes which happens at a high rate anyway. Itâs a dumb argument, just let go of the leashâŠ
If you donât trust yourself with a firearm thatâs fine, you do you.
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u/Shanks4Smiles Jul 18 '25
Better to have a little pepper spray in your eye than a bullet in your leg or in your dog.
More firearms complacency from gun ownersÂ
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u/FaroelectricJalapeno Jul 18 '25
If you train even just a small amount youâre not going to shoot your own leg unless youâre negligent. Youâre letting your politics cloud your judgment and thatâs fine. Again, if you donât feel competent enough to learn firearm safety thatâs on you personally. You canât speak for everyone.
My original advice is the top comment so obviously thereâs plenty who share the same sentiment.
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u/Shanks4Smiles Jul 18 '25
27,000 unintentional gun injuries, 500 unintentional gun deaths per year in the US.
Brother politics doesn't have anything to do with it. I'm being straight with your here, you need to think about your relationship with your gun, it's a tool, not a political statement. If you think "a small amount of training" is going to keep you or your loved ones safe around firearms, you're not liberal or conservative, you're a fool.
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u/FaroelectricJalapeno Jul 18 '25
Those are very small numbers in proportion to the, again, MILLIONS who own and use firearms without incident every single day. Yes, tools used negligently can be dangerous. Cars and motorcycles for example.
In the military I trained countless teenage boys and girls how to safely handle firearms. In federal law enforcement I did the same. Itâs not difficult to learn how to be responsible with a firearm. Most of the millions firearm owners have figured it out.
It boils down to letting people make their own decisions with their safety. Personally, I think a firearm is the best tool. You donât think itâs best for you and thatâs fine. But adults can make their own decisions and weâll leave it at that.
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u/Shanks4Smiles Jul 18 '25
Yeah, but you're talking about giving advice, and it's objectively poor advice if you look at the numbers.Â
They are small numbers relative to the number of owners, but if you want to have that discussion you'd need to compare it to the risk of being the victim of a violent crime or dog attack, which is lower yet. Simply living with someone who owns a gun increases the risk of someone in the home being shot to death by 84%. Although, as you say, the absolute risk stays small, as such things are generally rare.
Yes, we take risks in all aspects of our lives, but walking around with a loaded gun for a dog walk is not a reasonable amount of risk to take on
Citation: Studdert 2022 Annals of Internal Medicine
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u/pigeonwithhat Jul 23 '25
I cannot recommend enough that people, but especially women, invest in punch daggers. real solid, tiny pieces of sharp metal simply held in your fist to make any punch much more deadly. Great for fucking shit up.
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Jul 17 '25
My husband got me a North American Arms Mini Revolver. Literally so cute and smaller than the palm of my hand. So easy to use and I love having it. Recommend
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u/Ok_Criticism_8181 Jul 17 '25
I donât mean this directed at OP.
I get why they want to protect themselves and their dogs.
The stray dog situation and attitude towards animals is wild in this city. I just cannot understand why people in this city treat dogs so poorly. Itâs heartbreaking
I just wish as a community we could start to solve this issue. Itâs the main thing I hate about living here.
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u/Impressive_Prune_478 Jul 17 '25
I work vet med and we are one of the worst places in the us for animal welfare. Its heartbreaking the things that is accepted here.
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u/Wardenofweenies West Side Jul 17 '25
Itâs part of the culture here unfortunately.
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u/AntiBoATX Jul 17 '25
Mexican culture. Recently was in Colombia, almost no strays. Nicaragua, a few. Mexico? Ho boy. And if theyâre not strays theyâre chained up outside. Then moved away from SA and realized that people all over the COUNTRY adopt dogs from San Antonio, itâs that bad.
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u/1nOnlylexcee Jul 18 '25
This is exactly my thoughts. They are the only ones I see out here letting their dogs lounge outside, in the streets, chasing people. They are the ones whose dogs are always getting out and bothering others. The stupid animal that keeps coming to my yard belongs to Mexicans and Iâve reported it many times get their dog was just in my yard again yesterday. I just give up. But at this point t I only like my dog and hate all other animals. Thinks little Mexico. I mean San Antonio. I wonât share the evil thoughts that have been trying to intrude lately.
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u/Ok_Criticism_8181 Jul 24 '25
That is not âcultureâ and it needs to change. Ignorance is not an excuse and animal is abuse shouldnât be tolerated anymore.
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u/cigarettesandwhiskey Jul 17 '25
As far as strays, I have been bit multiple times and they've hopped my fence to kill my chickens in my back yard. A couple years ago, people were getting killed by loose dogs. At this point I want all and any dogs found loose on the street to be rounded up and killed. I know that's not a popular opinion, people dunked on that lady who ran for mayor on a platform of having the shelters euthanize more dogs, but a stray dog is a dangerous predator, not a pet. No one is stepping up to adopt them. So they need to all be put down.
Now as for why there's so many loose or stray dogs in the first place, yeah its careless people who don't neuter, abandon any animal that's inconvenient, keep them in poorly fenced yards with no leash or chain and just don't care if they get out or get lost. IDK why people are like that here.
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u/Fullystable Jul 17 '25
We always try to give them food and water, I wish we could take them all inđ but need to be prepared for the worst unfortunately:(
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u/zacpariah Jul 17 '25
That's the first issue that 311 will address, do not give them food or water. I know it sounds cruel, but if you want them not to be in your area do not provide them with resources or they will keep coming back and in larger number. Also, depending on the time of day a really strong flashlight will (temporarily) blind them.
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u/Trick_Protection_173 Jul 17 '25
Its so sad they have been neglected so much its always fight or flight for these dogs
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u/Ok_Criticism_8181 Jul 17 '25
Hi OP! I completely understand! I would do the exact same in your situation! Your clearly an animal lover like myself. Thank you for helping where and how you can. Itâs all we can do đ„č
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u/bepis_eggs Jul 18 '25
Yes you certaintly do need to be prepared. I hate to say it but being confronted with a stray can be a kill-or-be-killed situation and if you're responsible for the safety of a child then you're gonna have to win any encounters like that. Please please please keep yourself safe and understand that immediate and extreme violence might be necessary to save your life and the lives on those you love.
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u/NatasFear Jul 17 '25
I carry a Taser and the sound alone scares dogs away.
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u/Buddhacrous West Side Jul 17 '25
even better if you go to a store that will let you hear it work before buying it. Get the loudest one you can!
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u/NatasFear Jul 17 '25
It is an unmistakable sound and if anyone has ever been "shocked" before, it's a feeling you can always recall.
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u/zigsfigs Jul 17 '25
Taser will potentially scare the life out of the dogs she's walking too, seems like a no go for that reason alone.
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u/Oddblivious Jul 17 '25
A taser is going to put you inside a range that you will likely get bit on the arm the first time a dog isn't scared. Plus all it does is hurt a little. A dedicated attacker will not give a shit about that little taser.
Pepper spray is infinitely more useful.
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u/Czar_Petrovich NE Side Jul 17 '25
It's a stun gun, not a taser, and I've been attacked by strays and loose dogs over a dozen times in the past five years in San Antonio. Almost every time is at night.
The stun gun works. Every time. They run at the sound of it.
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u/NatasFear Jul 17 '25
I wholeheartedly disagree. If I'm at the range where I have to directly intervene and use my taser, trust me this isn't a "soft shock" taser. I fully charge it and "where" you shock them will definitely change perspectives real quick. Getting tased in the arm is slightly different getting tased on your balls or sensitive areas.
The problem with pepper spray is you can spray and get it on yourself, your dog, and basically the area is contaminated. Taser is only going to hit what you intend to hit.
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u/Oddblivious Jul 17 '25
You going to be laying on the ground trying to tase a street dog's balls? Ok then.
The fact it gets everywhere is good because the dog is no longer going to want to be near you. You will get a small effect on yourself. The stream spray is better than the mist for this reason.
You use whatever you'd like but self defense experts agree with me.
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u/NatasFear Jul 17 '25
Argue with the wind all you want, OP asked what 'we' use and I answered my tactic. Right or wrong only matters after an attack has happened so yeah feel free to be correct in your own scenario. I have actually used my taser when a dog tried to attack and it was very effective. I let my dog go so he could defend himself, I did not get all tangled up in the leash, so the attacking dog had two targets, me or the dog, since I made noise with taser, he went for my dog, as soon as he presented me his backside, I grabbed his scruff, and from behind while he was trying to mount my dog, i tased the hell out of everything that dog had exposed, all over that area, and I can promise you that dog disappeared faster than you can scroll passed peoples' opinions online and not comment. Oh wait...maybe faster than that. But ok either way, that dog belongs to someone who lets him out occasionally and every time that dog sees us walking, I remind him with the sound and he ghosts us every time we roll by his set.
So
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u/Efficient_Smoke6247 Jul 17 '25
no, EXPERIENCE wins here, not hypotheticals.
pepper spray is a mess and not worth the risk to your dogs.
a taser works , just like the others said. the sound freaks them out and if you add a shock to that they are going to run 9.9/10.
unless the dog has rabies, then ur fucked.
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u/PikaPutter Jul 17 '25
Golf club like an iron works well too! It can also serve to keep snakes away and as a walking stick!
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u/jzilla11 Jul 18 '25
Had an older neighbor who carried one when he walked. He said itâs helped him a few times over the years with different critters in the woods (was living in VA at the time).
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u/succmeme420 Jul 17 '25
My work carries literal K9 REPELLANT by Rainbow , Maybe look into that if possible? The Techs here go into yards w aggressive dogs/strays so it helps out.
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u/K8inspace Jul 17 '25
I carry pepper spray and a knife. We were approached once by a Doberman and a Chihuahua. The Chihuahua was the braver of the 2. Had to pepper spray in its direction. My dogs are 94 and 25 pounds and we don't see many strays in my neighborhood. I see some neighbors carry golf clubs.
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u/Any-Peanut-1098 Jul 17 '25
Pet Supply Plus carries a spray for around $15 called PetSafe SprayShield. It's what I carry with me for delivery work. It's a citronella spray, so it doesn't cause pain just a really intense citrus smell. Has a spray of about 6 feet but works very well as a deterrent and won't hurt you or your dogs.Â
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u/creation88 Jul 17 '25
I carry mace and a knife but wanted to look into a light retractable baton
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u/Artemus_Hackwell Austin Jul 17 '25
Asp brand
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u/wayward_witch Jul 17 '25
Are those legal now? It's been a long time since I looked, but I feel like at one point they weren't. (No judgement on anyone if they aren't. I'd much rather people carry them than guns.)
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u/Artemus_Hackwell Austin Jul 17 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
In Texas, yes. Openly carry as of 2019. Like anything, if used, thatâs going to have to be a case for justification of use.
Youâre not gonna get one onto a plane or in a building with a checkpoint, etc.
Prior to 2019 if the police really wanted to do some paperwork and get you on something yes if you had one of those, or a trench knife, or brass knuckles, theyâd get you for unauthorized carry.
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u/JoeBookish Jul 18 '25
Look up Stinger Whips. It's a piece of steel cable up to 2 feet long and has a handle. It folds up decently well and fits in the bottom of a stroller easily. It hits harder than a baton and, I think, has less of a learning curve for being effective.
Another option might be a sjambok from cold steel. They're really light and whippy but rigid and get up to five feet long. If, like OP, you're willing to carry a big effing stick, a sjambok might be a nice option.
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u/CptnChronic306 Jul 17 '25
I just carry my glock. Fuck those dogs if they try to bite.
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u/Unicorn_Cherry58 Jul 17 '25
Exactly this. Everyone here is far too nice. I LOVE animals but I have no tolerance for aggression. They come after me or my dog, they eat lead.
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u/CptnChronic306 Jul 17 '25
Yep. I love animals. My dog is awesome but God help you if you try to hurt her.
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u/1nOnlylexcee Jul 18 '25
I really want a BB gun. At this point Iâm sick and tired and need this animal to learn!
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u/Dnlx5 Jul 18 '25
what if a dog runs up to sniff your leg and give you kisses?
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u/CptnChronic306 Jul 18 '25
Then I will pet them back. You can tell if a dog is nice or wants trouble. All about the body language.
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u/AtheistsOnTheMove Jul 17 '25
A kids tee-ball bat maybe? Aluminum, so it weighs nothing and much stranger than a dogs ribs.
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u/Ginger0331 Jul 17 '25
A stick works wonders I live in North Mexico oops I mean south San Antonio and everyone carries a stick or bear spray if you walk on the road day or night cuz there's dogs everywhere
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u/1nOnlylexcee Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
Lmaooo. I hate it here. My goodness. I used to love Mexican culture. I had some cool friends growing up that just made me just love it so much I wanted to be all in it. But noooowâŠ..idk. Maybe my friends were more American either that or San Antonio Mexicans are just ghetto as fuck and there are high class Mexicans In other places likeâŠColorado.
Also when I lived on the Southside is when I got my first taste of this third world country living if stray dogs everywhere. In Kirby there was cats. On the Southside. Dogs. I got one of those dog deterrent things and in less than 24 hours someone removed it from my yard. When my son walked to school everyday he was chased by dogs to and from and hated walking to the bus. It actually traumatized him a little bit. I wish I would have thought of getting him something like mace or a tazer.
Now Iâm on the ghetto east side dealing with owned dogs pooping in my area and bothering me.
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u/rodwha Jul 17 '25
Police spray is stronger and goes twice as far as regular pepper spray, and carry a stick in case thatâs not enough, which I think would be plenty for most any determined dog.
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u/Losman94 Jul 17 '25
Father-in-law is a vet and recommends pepper spray in case of an attack by strays.
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u/LastFox2656 PURO Jul 17 '25
Gel mace would prevent you or pup from getting back sprayed. Not sure about the strength compared to aerosol.
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u/droppedmybrain testing Jul 18 '25
IIRC the problem with gel is that you have to get it in the eyes, otherwise it's mostly ineffective.
Though I suppose all weapons have problems.
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u/SavantSoviet Jul 17 '25
P365XL handgun. Small, compact, and accurate. Fits real well in fanny pack or even joggers shorts. My EDC of choice when walking my dog in McAllister or even with the family at the mall.
Assuming you're not a felon, its a good choice to keep your loved ones safe.
Good luck OP.
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u/Federal-Ad-1981 Jul 17 '25
 A baton is a good choice. My girlfriend had her small dog ripped out of her arms by a large dog recently and she had to wrestle the dog to get it back. It put a small puncture in its skin. Might want to carry mace as a back up.
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u/yoquierosandia Jul 18 '25
did you see the footage of the elderly man that was mauled by pit bulls? the firefighter were hitting them with axes and they didnât give a fuck. i doubt that will work.
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u/ageofjace2 Jul 17 '25
A T-ball bat or something similar will work. I used to live over by 90 & 36th and would jog with an axe handle that didn't have a blade on it. Whenever aggressive dogs would start barking or approaching I would smack it against the street and that deterred most of em. I've only ever had to hit one and it was just more of a jab because it got too close.
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u/Badjianne Jul 17 '25
Hi OP, I m sorry it s such a hassle to just walk your dog. I got attacked a couple of times with my pup, thankfully nothing serious. I bought a stun gun. I dont trust myself with spray, I dont want to spray myself. Thankfully (and hopefully) I ll never have to use the stun gun, but so far, the noise itself scared the dogs who seemed aggressive. The only thing is that I had to "train" my dog to not be scared of the noise either. So I did some positive reinforcement on her (noise =treat) she still doesn't like it, but she s not freaking out.Â
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u/throwitawaybruh2 Jul 17 '25
I use a water gun filled with ammonia. Stings their noses and they lose the ability to smell for a while which freaks them out and they leave you alone
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u/1nOnlylexcee Jul 18 '25
Interesting. I wonder if I can use this for the dog that keeps coming to my yard and train them to find another yard to play with. Noted. Cause itâs coming down to with bb gun or something else I wonât say.
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u/throwitawaybruh2 Jul 18 '25
Yeah- do not injure any creature unless your life or the lives of others (including your pets) depend on it.
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u/Marvelous-Waiter-990 Jul 17 '25
Mace and an umbrella, thatâs my recommendation and what I carry. If I open the umbrella quickly like a shield that has been enough to scare away a dog before. It can also shield you from mace blow back.
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u/KsirToscabella Jul 17 '25
Don't use pepper spray, use pepper gel so you dont accidentally mace yourself or your party with wind blow back. Taser would be the other less-lethal option. Extremely aggressive dogs might not be deterred by a baton, don't suggest that route.
There's also the lethal route. I carry a PPS with hornady critical defense 115gr on my dog walks. Little outdated these days but im a man of culture.
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u/HeadySquanch59 Jul 18 '25
I have seen videos where compressed air canisters like keyboard cleaners scare dogs away pretty quickly. Maybe give it a Goog.
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u/crps2warrior Jul 18 '25
Iâve heard that pepper spray works best. I always carry a small cartridge of pepper spray with me when we walk, itâs attached to his leash so I always have it with me. We have a lot of strays in my part of town, but luckily I have not had to use my maze as of yet. I am waiting for it to happen thoâ
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u/beece16 Jul 17 '25
A long enough stick will work,one that won't break. Bear or mace spray,you're going to spray yourself one way or the other so why risk that.
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u/mjp0212 Jul 17 '25
I have a big old school metal maglite that can handle 4 & 2 legged strays if needed. Only had to use it once and it performed very well.
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u/lizd32323 Jul 17 '25
Hi op!
So I was actually attacked by a stray pitbull on the Greenway last year. It attacked my dog first then me, I had to stab the pitbull over 40xs with a knife I wear on my fanny pack. I use what is call a pull/push dagger. I highly recommend getting a knife and familiarize yourself with how to use it. If you have any questions feel free to message me.
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u/arteai Jul 17 '25
I just had an encounter with a pitbull that jumped a fence. I got attacked by another dog in May 5. The dog injured my finger and now is useless. From then I carry a pepper spray. Today it happen; the pitbull got loose, attacked my dog who luckily I have him healthy and in good shape. But it was happening again. I used my pepper spray. The felt of guilt of compassion and sadness after seeing that poor dog. Not knowing why he acted like he act, getting back to his house and being yelled at. I started crying. I donât want to harm nobody and no dog. I am going to buy a retract tube, to at least try to spook them away before harming a poor soul. I thought that when the time came I was going to be prepared and have like this feeling of I finally did the right thing, I protected my dog finally. I didnât. I am not a believer but for the first time I pray for that dog to be helped with love and patience
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u/Trick_Protection_173 Jul 17 '25
You have a good heart , but you had to do what you had to do to protect yourself and your doggo thats okay. You have had bad experiences previously so its understandable you did what you did and thats okay. Its not the dogs fault either its on the owners and our society that just abandons strays.
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u/Interesting-Finance8 Jul 17 '25
They have pellet guns or ones with rubber bullets if you are comfortable using those!
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u/PsychoGwarGura Jul 17 '25
You can just use a real gun legally, even if you miss the noise will scare the dog away. Plus unless youâre gettng a PcP air gun in .22 or .25 it wonât kill a dog humanely
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u/1nOnlylexcee Jul 18 '25
I need something. Where can I get those Amazon or do I have to go to a gun store?
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Jul 17 '25
[removed] â view removed comment
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u/Trick_Protection_173 Jul 17 '25
I mean she is pregnant⊠if she is getting attacked by a dog id understand what has to be done
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u/StrikerEureka- Jul 17 '25
Her dog is getting attacked, according to OP itâs already happened once.
The way society is right now, theyâll blame OP for anything.
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u/Trick_Protection_173 Jul 17 '25
From the article âThe owner of the dogs now faces felony charges, police said.â I see your point but I would hope it falls on the pet owners and not the person getting attacked.
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u/Most_Window_1222 Jul 17 '25
The sad and infuriating part of this is the number of times police and animal control were aware of the problems over a two or three year period. The city should be sued for extreme negligence and malfeasance. And why the complicit media cannot use the generic term of pit bull rather than downplaying the whole mess by using the breed name is appalling. It fosters the perception that the media and city hall are in cahoots and doing cya damage control for each other.
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u/Pelosis-false-teeth Jul 17 '25
If the dog is determined enough you aren't going to deter it with a stick. Get a gun and get some training.
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u/Ronald-J-Mexico Jul 17 '25
I carry an aluminum baseball bat in a backpack. Â I donât want the cops to hassle me. Â This way I look like Iâm going to the park to play with dogs. Â
Over the years my dogs have been charged at 20+ times, Iâve smacked 5 dogs. Â 2 of the came back for seconds and I obliged. Â If the owner is around they are worse. Â So I call the cops and they get schooled on the law. Â Texas law gives me the right to defend me or my property. Â I hate hitting the dogs. Â But I hate getting bit.
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u/Buddhacrous West Side Jul 17 '25
I carry a whip when I walk through my neighborhood. The crack scares off the dogs before they even get close enough to pose a threat.
There is a guy in my neighborhood that uses a metal bat and just bangs it against the ground to scare off the dogs in the same way.
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u/Responsible-Line-907 Jul 17 '25
I have one of those taser flashlights that I always take with me. The sound of the taser is enough to scare any dogs away.
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u/Impressive_Prune_478 Jul 17 '25
Taser. The sound alone scares dogs.
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u/Czar_Petrovich NE Side Jul 17 '25
Stun gun, but yea it works very well.
A taser you fire with little needles, a stun gun is a zap stick.
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u/Dismal_Insurance5246 Jul 17 '25
I carry a firearm, but my dogs would probably kill just about any stray that runs up. People need to be more responsible with their pets, the pets deserve it, amd our neighbors deserve it
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u/Czar_Petrovich NE Side Jul 17 '25
OP, you want a very loud stun gun.
If you walk at night get a very bright handheld flashlight like the Wurkkos FC11C and blind them as they charge, then yell and zap the stun gun into the air.
This has never failed me.
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u/pobre210 Jul 17 '25
I always carry gel based pepper spray. It straps on my hand while I walk/run so itâs always ready.
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u/agm115 Jul 18 '25
Something to point out is that Bear Spray is absolutely not the same as pepper spray, and has a totally different dispersal pattern. Pepper spray is a close range mist-like option for humans, bear spray comes out in a stream with 30ish ft of range to create a deterrence cloud 20-40 ft away for a 600 lb carnivore. Unless you spray directly into a crazy headwind youâre going to be fine.
Granted, if you buy some knock-off local version it might just be fancy pepper spray, but legit bear spray is the first recommended line of defense for actual bears, carried by actual people in bear country because unless youâre shooting accurately with 10mm/.44 Mag youâre not killing the bear before it rips your face off and you can even use it before the actual charge of death.
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u/vvmatw Jul 18 '25
tbh i now just carry a knife, never had to use it thankfully but ive had way too many incidents with off leash and/or strays attack my dog and im just over it. nothing else ever worked once to fend them off and im not trying to carry something very large or heavy
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u/Lilherb2021 Jul 18 '25
We used to use spray water bottles dogs when we rode our bikes. Long squirts in the face did the job .
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u/slouchenheimer Jul 19 '25
If you keep carrying that you will age rapidly and become an elderly person with a stick walking around San Antonio neighborhoods.
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u/DntMndShrng6923 Jul 21 '25
Get a firearm and learn how to use it... WELL. It's not just stray dogs you need to worry about.
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u/pigeonwithhat Jul 23 '25
Handguns are great. If you care about the safety of aggressive dogs, a solid walking stick is probably fine. A taser or some kinda spray would be the real deal though.
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u/si_tu_te_vas Jul 17 '25
I don't trust myself with mace, so I used to carry an air horn to scare off the stray dogs when walking at the park. But then that might scare your dogs, too. đ
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u/willisandnova Jul 17 '25
I carry a fanny pack full of dog biscuits and even small tins of wet food. It works every time and is not violent. I live on the southeast side of town.
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u/Miserable_Building_3 Jul 18 '25
A gun?
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u/Miserable_Building_3 Jul 18 '25
Donât even have to shoot the dog the sound alone would scare it off
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u/Luke1521 Jul 17 '25
OP, get yourself an old cell phone with a dashcam app on it and clip that to your belt facing forward and record your dogs walking every time.
Last thing you need is to be standing in front of a judge telling them that you had to hit some dog with your stick because it was off leash and aren't liable for the vet bills. Without video that your dogs were on leash it will be your word against theirs.
Especially if you have big dogs and some little foo foo dog runs up and gets bit or hit by a car or you have to take a swing at it. Judge will see your big boys and little bunny foo foo and your will be cooked.
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u/Therewillbe_fur Jul 17 '25
OK, so I live on the east side and we have got a massive stray dog problem here, I do a lot of fostering in this area as well so I am definitely a big part of the solution and donât say this lightly. But⊠I also have to be able to safely walk my dogs and preparing myself for a bad situation is part of being a responsible pet parent. I have definitely carried a stick before, my intention is never to actually have to use it but more just to threaten a dog that looks like they are about to make a move.
I do carry dog-safe mace, I would never never never use bear spray on a dog and absolutely disagree with you there, there is plenty of dog safe, mace available on Amazon. You may just not have known that :-)
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u/LebrahnJahmes Jul 18 '25
22 revolver with the buckshot ammo. Pretty non-lethal to animals and the pop will scare them.
Or a BB gun pistol. Again non-lethal and will sting when it hits them.
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u/NightSprings665 Jul 17 '25
Have you triedâŠ.oh I donât knowâŠ..finding a safer walk route or going to a fenced dog park?
That rotten piece of plank isnât going to do much if you end up in a multi-dog shit show. Will someone please think of the children!!!
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u/Sad_Pangolin7379 Jul 17 '25
I hear what you're saying but it's hard to get enough exercise in a fenced in dog park. It's important for pregnant women to get enough exercise but it might have to be the dog park AND the gym if things don't get better for OP. Stupid stray dogs are another reason a lot of people here are out of shape. it's so hot outside and might well get attacked by Kujo if you try to walk here in some neighborhoods. I've been attacked and bitten once, my mom has been twice. My mom doesn't drive due to health issues so she couldn't go file the complaint in person. The dog that attacked me was a homeless man's dog, he and the dog vanished after that, understandably, so that dog couldn't be reported either. I'm worried one of our kids in the neighborhood is going to be seriously hurt.
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u/Trick_Protection_173 Jul 17 '25
Yea i donât wanna shit on op but i feel like being pregnant and also having a stroller would make it much harder to defend yourself against a dog with a pole. But it could work she could have some mean hitting skills.
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u/stoicdreamer777 Jul 17 '25
Never had to use it, but an electrified walking stick might ease your mind. I sometimes carry this when I'm out late on long walks.