How to Scare Dogs Away While Walking Your Dog: 7 Helpful Tips
By Hanh Duong
Updated on
Sometimes, while you are out and about with your dog—or even just by yourself—another dog may approach you in a hostile or dangerous way. Many questions may pop up in your mind. Do they want to play with your pet, or are they defending their territory? Is the dog friendly, or will they attack? Where are their owners? Are they stray, or have they escaped from their home somewhere nearby?
It may be risky and certainly nerve-wracking to go through this. This scenario occurs more often than it should and may be problematic, especially if your dog has had negative encounters with off-leash dogs before or you have a canine who needs its own space. However, I have suggested some tips below to help you stay safe when walking with your beloved animal.
The 7 Tips on How to Scare Dogs Away While Walking Your Dog
1. Don’t Run
Some breeds of dogs are even faster than Olympic sprinters, so you cannot outrun these animals. Stand still and then slowly withdraw. Or you can keep your pace constant and gradually move out of the dog’s territory. But don’t try and run.
Try to put a bench, tree, post, or other barrier between you and the canine if at all possible. Calm them down by speaking softly and peacefully.
2. Air Horn or Whistle
Due to their keen hearing, dogs will be startled by loud noises and high-pitched sounds when they approach you while you are walking. Even just for a short time, an air horn or whistle can distract the dog enough to allow you to walk in another direction.
You should purchase a loud whistle that can startle canines, and most of them will run away from you when you blow it. They may also be startled by a traditional one. For your convenience, it’s best to attach it to your backpack’s shoulder strap or wear it on a cord around your neck. This will help you react quickly to sound the alarm against unexpected threats.
The downside of air horns is that your dog can become just as scared as the others because of the sound. If you want to use this strategy, you should first train your pet to be less sensitive to the sounds.
3. Make Yourself Bigger
Another idea is to make yourself look as big as possible if the dog keeps coming at you while you. They might feel intimidated and think twice about approaching you. Straighten your posture, extend your arms over your head, and, if you’re wearing a coat, open it up. Shout in a deep and loud voice, “Go away!” or “No!” if the dog is still coming.
4. Walking Stick
If you swing it, a large stick, a cane, or an umbrella can become a deterrent for stray canines. Here, the goal is to prevent the dog’s access; harming the animal is not our intention. Another method that some individuals have found to be highly successful is the abrupt burst of a push-button umbrella.
As a last resort, you can employ it to defend yourself if they don’t leave. Again, be careful of the possibility of frightening your own pets while using any of these strategies.
5. Repellent Spray
Dog repellent, commonly made with citronella, can be found in many local pet stores. Some of these sprays have a 10-foot range and are not harmful to dogs. However, these products are not 100% effective if you encounter an aggressive canine.
6. Act Like You’re Picking up a Rock
Pretend you’re picking up a rock or brick from the ground to make yourself look more dominant and possibly scare the dog. This gives that animal the impression that you are about to throw something, which may cause them to back off.
7. Pepper Spray
No one wants to hurt a dog, but if you are in danger, you need to react quickly and decisively. If local law permits its use, pepper spray can be an effective self-defense tool if attacked by a dog. It may also be helpful if you have a taser, although doing so requires the dog to be quite close. However, before using these options, you must thoroughly research the laws in your area, and these should only be used as a last resort if you’re in real danger.
Tips to Increase Safety When Walking Your Dog
Use a Leash at All Times
If you reside in a large city, there’s a good chance that you must always keep your dog on a leash when they are outside, according to local laws. In addition, if there is a maximum leash length limit in your area (usually 6 feet), try to keep the pet by your side at all times. For your dog’s security and the safety of other walkers, you should follow the rules.
Manage Interactions
It’s crucial to interact openly with other people and pet owners since you can encounter a variety of individuals (and animals) while walking your dog in the city. If your canine sees another pup being walked and wants to say hello, first, check with the other owner to be sure that’s okay. This way, you’re preventing any unpleasant situations that can happen with dogs that are not friendly and do not like to meet strangers.
Use Reflective Gear
It is risky to walk across the city at night. Therefore, it would be wise to spend money on reflective walking accessories and lights for yourself in order to safeguard yourself, your dog, and other pedestrians. There are a variety of reflective and luminous dog leashes and harnesses, as well as LED collars, that can help your pet stand out at night. They are great safety tools for after-dark walks.
Conclusion
No matter whether it’s a loose dog (or an owner who ignores leash laws) or a stray wandering the area, an off-leash canine approaching a leashed pet can be scary.
It is best for you to immediately walk away as quickly as you can. If possible, try to put a visible barrier between you and the other dog, such as a gate, car, hedge, or fence, and avoid going too close to them.
Featured Image Credit by: Aleksey Boyko, Shutterstock
