Daddy Can We Get A Puppy?

“Oh mommy, daddy can we please get a puppy?” Every year millions of parents hear the plea from their young children-can’t we get a dog? “Everybody else has one why can’t we?” So finally you give you in and get a cute little puppy. Of course the puppy doesn’t stay that way forever-they grow up. I remember a friend of mine gave in to a similar plea and got a pet St. Bernard years ago for his children. Then reality set in! That cute little bundle of fur grew into 170 pound drooling, slobbering ball of fur that shed more than someone with an acute case of dandruff. What fun!

According to the Center for Disease Control better known as the CDC close to 5 million people are bitten by dogs every year with nearly one out of every five requiring medical attention. Of that number almost half are children 5 to 9 years old. According to them, dog bite related injuries is highest for that 5 to 9 year old age group-even higher than for letter carriers.

According to this website that offers Dog Bite Prevention Tips roughly 1,000 people are killed by dog attacks in the U.S. alone annually. Pit bulls attack more people than all other breeds combined.

1. Their number one defensive tip is to use something on you that isn’t really you. A good example is a sweater, sweatshirt, jacket or even a shirt. Let the dog pull it off you or as they say feed it to the dog and then slowly back out of the area. This is especially useful for joggers and runners where there is a danger of you being blindsided.
2. They also suggest that if a dog does attack, that you kick its ribs from underneath as hard as you can with the top of your foot or heel stomp its rear legs to disable the dog.
3. They gave an example of the Doberman who was charging but was still 15 feet away. A potential victim tried screaming and lunging at the dog and apparently scared it away.
4. Or try becoming aggressive and charge back at a dog with a stick in your hand.
5. But if you are knocked down or fall, curl up into a ball facedown and keep your arms wrapped around your ears, face and neck.

The CDC offers some Dog Attack Prevention Tips which include:

• Not approaching an unfamiliar dog.
• Avoiding direct eye contact with the dog.
• Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping eating or caring for puppies.
• Do not pet a dog without allowing it to sniff you first.
• Do not run from a dog.

For the millions of Americans who love to walk, cycle or jog outdoors we offer these two very effective dog repellents.

The first one is the Sabre brand Dog Repellent that can spray up to 15 feet away and contains .67% major capsaicinoids. It has a built-in belt clip for convenient access. It is EPA approved as a dog repellent.

The second one is also from Sabre brand and is especially made for Cyclists. This Dog Repellent contains 1.33% major capsaicinoids and can fire up to 10 feet away in a ballistic stream. This model secures directly onto a bicycle frame with a Velcro strap that allows you immediate access to your pepper spray while riding.

Have you been attacked by a dog? Please share your experience. We want to hear your thoughts.