Off leash dogs part three: Deterrents to carry.

Part Three: Things to carry to help deter dogs:

Some of the tools or objects you can carry with you on your walks to scare away or at least keep another dog at bay long enough for their owner to call them or catch them

Almost all of these are great tools to use while practicing the drop-stay and protect your dog stance mentioned in the last post.

• Get a ‘Pet Convincer’ to carry with you on walks. A Pet Convincer releases a quick burst of condensed air which makes an off-putting hissing noise and is often enough to deter the approaching dog. Condensed air cans such as the ones used to clean a computer or even spray deodorant can work but they often don’t give quite as dramatic a sound as the Pet Convincer. The added benefit of the Pet Convincer is that it is small enough to fit in a pocket and has a ‘lock’ so you don’t accidentally let air out. The downside is initial outlay of cost, how quickly the cannisters run out and the fact that is less convenient than other condensed air cans you may already have around the house.

  The initial purchase is a little pricey – generally retailing for $100-140 but it is reusable with replacement cannisters being relatively cheap. There are a few places you can get them online and I have seen them at Mega Pet Warehouse before. The cannisters themselves are cheap to replace though – Varying between $1.50-$4.00.

  It’s worth spending the money on a proper branded one if you want to go this route, otherwise a bottle of condensed air from a computer shop would be a better bet than a cheaper version which suggests it does the same thing. It most likely will have lower air pressure and still be more expensive than the computer cleaning air you can get from an office supply store.

  The Pet Convincer is designed to startle the other dog or scare them away but it will not harm them in any way. Don’t get mixed up between this and similarly named products which are NOT refillable.

  See the small attached clip of my Pet Convincer at work. The first time I try and press it you can see the lock stops it from activating to prevent unwanted use in your pocket.

• Carry a pop-up umbrella. For best results you want a compact umbrella which extends the length of the handle as well as opening at the push of a button. Carry this with the tie around the top undone and all you will need to do will be push a button while aiming it towards an oncoming dog. This can startle an approaching dog to stop, leave or at least hesitate long enough for the owner to catch them or you to move to safety. It can even work while attached to you by a carabiner or similar if you attach it in the right place, so you won’t need to undo it entirely to use it (saving precious moments!).

  This is a good option to pair with a “middle” position for your dog (between your legs) so you can use the umbrella to shield your dog on all sides if the approaching dog keeps coming closer.

  You want this to be something you handle easily with one hand on the umbrella – not too heavy for you or stiff – as you will need your other hand on your dog’s leash.

• Carry a plastic jar or bottle of rocks / pebbles which makes a loud noise when thrown towards the feet of the approaching dog. Not my favourite option as it can be heavy to carry and if your throw is not accurate enough you have lost your deterrent. You also want decent aim because you do not want to hit the other dog. Don’t pack the bottle full or the noise will be dampened.

• If you take treats on your walk, grab a big handful and toss them towards the approaching dog. Your own dog will need to know not to lunge towards these treats because sudden movement from them can encourage the other dog to leave the distraction and keep approaching. A solid ‘middle’, ‘drop’ or ‘leave it’ works well here. While I dislike doing this due to the risk of allergy danger for the other dog, you need to prioritise protecting your dog in this situation.

  If you can maintain your balance, stand on your dog’s leash even while they are in their obedience position to add double security with this one.

• Citronella spray (like Sprayshield animal deterrent). Pocket sized and can be sprayed at the dog approaching. This can be helpful for particularly persistent dogs as it is unpleasant, not just startling. It is also not toxic so even if it catches in the wind and sprays back on you a bit it will not hurt you or your dog. This relies on not having gusty winds so is also not my first choice but it can be effective where a dog doesn’t care about the sound of the condensed air.

• You can use an Air horn similarly to the above. The loud noise can be unpleasant and frightening enough to scare an approaching dog away.

For all of these items you will want to condition your dog to them before ever taking them out on a walk so they are used to the noise or movement. We absolutely don’t want to frighten your own dog, especially if they are already nervous around other dogs. It’s best if they basically think ‘ah, that thing you do sometimes, weirdo’.

At the end of the day we want both you and your dog to stay safe!

Here you can see the Pet Convincer in the locked position and then the burst of condensed air once the lock is turned off.