Do any of you carry pepper spray or a big walking stick when you walk your dog(s).  After reading a recent Nick Russell blog I am concerned that we might occasionally encounter a dog that is overly aggressive.  If you do carry pepper spray, I'd appreciate knowing the brand and where to buy it.

Thank youl.

As a 27 year Utility company worker(15 as a meter reader) I don't care for pepper spray for the pure fact 9 times out of 10 either you miss or the spray ends up in YOUR eyes.The big walking stick is better. Don't use it as a weapon but keep it between you and the dog. Usually they bite the first thing close to them. It's best to give them something to bite and usually after that it will back off.NEVER turn your back and run.

Most hunting & fishing sporting goods stores or gun stores will carry BEAR SPRAY. This is in a larger spray container and will spray quite a distance. I believe it is the same stuff as pepper spray. Cost about $25

I have never had trouble with dogs....it is their owners that I have trouble with. If everyone took care of their pets as they should then you would not have aggressive dogs. It is a shame that when you walk you would have to carry a stick or pepper spray to keep animals from harming you. Joe and Sherri

I never used to carry anything with me walking our dog. Since Katrina, where we encountered some pretty aggressive dogs in parks in the south, I carry pepper spray with me. You do have to know how to use it effectively. There are practice cannisters you can buy online so you can practice shooting it. It is great on people too...but your chance of encountering aggressive people in an RV park are practically nill. I do carry it while working at RV parks, since part of my job is to address "disturbances", and sometimes that can be a little dicey. But even with that, I have never had to deploy the spray. The bigger issue with dogs, in my experience, is stray dogs entering the park. I agree that a stick is probably as good on dogs, and should be used as indicated above - never to strike with. Bear spray is very effective, but is too large to carry with you most of the time.

Every campground we've stayed at has required that all dogs be leashed, unless there is a fenced dog run. We've occasionally run into an aggressive dog, but just walk away from it. I don't see it as a problem.

I once was at a park where almost every RV had 1 to multiple dogs....there was a national dog show and the park was the host rv park and it seems a lot of the show dog owners use RVs to go to the shows. Everyone had their dogs on a leash or in cages. I've only had two occaisions were aggressive dogs bothered me or my dogs. I was able to kick one of the dogs and it ran away, the other latched onto one of my dogs and I was unable to break it lose with a stick or rocks. My dad finally scared it away by firing his 22 rifle. I would say a stick or something that would make a loud noise...like a can with something in that rattles (rocks or coins) in it to shake or throw at the dog. This post reminded me- I had two medium sized dogs and they could be very aggressive depending upon the other dog or animal (cat, possum, raccoon or unfortunately skunk). If the other animal showed the least bit of aggression my dogs would work as a team to get to the other animal. It was like watching a documentary, they would immediately split and get on either side of the animal and take turns striking and distracting so the other could strike... it made me proud to watch. My dogs were always on a leash except when they were in a fenced yard.