walking dog at night, part 2

[davemchine]

I recently posted a thread asking what the best flashlight would be for walking a dog at night. http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...for-walking-dog-at-night&highlight=davemchine I'm new to this forum and haven't learned about all of the features high end flashlights can have. Well I'm posting the question again but this time I'm going to add a twist. What is the best flashlight for walking a dog at night and for self defense against dogs.

I'm asking because my wife had a run in with an unrestrained dog while walking our own dog. My mind immediately jumps to an led maglight. Maybe a 3D version so it wouldn't be too cumbersome but would still provide a nice striking tool? What else would be a good consideration? I can say from experience that she will not carry a defensive weapon of any type so it's the flashlight or nothing.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[B42]

I'm not exactly sure what aspect you are asking about, but I walk my dogs all the time with a Trustfire 3x T6 Cree Cheapo (about $30) or my Cree headlamp (both if in the woods). Both are enough to pretty much relatively blind anything coming at you, but that doesnt stop a dog... The Trustfire 3x T6 is a heavy aluminum baton when you have the 3rd battery compartment attached...but are you really looking at striking a dog with it? I'd think a capsacin spray or one of those shock/flashlights in addition to (or instead of in the case of the shock/light) if thats really your primary worry... (less damage to the dog, your wrist, and you arent whacking about with a 3 lithium battery in chain flashlight) but of course I cant recommend you do any of those things in case you get yourself in trouble with it...

 

[atkevin]

Have her take a walking stick. If you are close enough to hit a dog with a torch its close enough to bite you.

 

[Tulip bush]

I thinks it's very rare that you would need it to defend against a dog attack, but if that ever happened to me I wouldn't hesitate to use my fenix tk41 in my defence......nice and solid, runs on 8 AA's. Usually I don't have any hassle when walking my dog at night, but the other night a could hear somebody shouting their dog,,,,to the point where you think oh fcku. I could see the owner waving his light about....which had about a 5 yard beam on it....knocked up the tk to max, wow, soon lit up a massive husky which looked real serious. Anyway my point was that I couldn't really do much about the dog situation, but the tk on full allowed everybody to see what was going on.
Having a light like the tk when walking the dog really does give you much more confidence. You can easily access strobe on it as well. I would also consider the klarus xt11 or possibly a armytek predator which run on just on 18650.

 

[davemchine]

My wife will never, ever, ever, carry something designed as a defensive weapon. She already bought pepper spray for dogs but refuses to carry it even though she bought it herself. There are some things in life we just can't understand or control. Right now she's carrying my lightweight flashlight to walk the dog. I'm thinking if I buy her a maglight, or something similar, at least she would have something of relative heft to rap an offending dog on the head with. So I'm just asking if maglight is the best flashlight/baton or if there is something better out there.

I'll be even more clear. Nobody in our house would ever want to hurt a dog. We have a dog and we love her. Unfortunately some people do not take care of their dogs and they behave badly and sometimes dangerously. I have to do what I can to protect against this.

Thanks again for any suggestions, maglight or other.

 

[TEEJ]

I'm throwing in the thought that all discussions about use of a light as a weapon are banned in this forum, and the this thread will probably get moderated as soon as a mod sees it....and that if the wife will not use pepper spray, she probably won't bonk a dog either....which is harder to do.

Hitting a dog with anything, when under attack, will be difficult enough just from the physical requirements...let alone when adding the desire to not hurt the dog.

IE: She needs a better DOG, or, and escort, etc....or the determination that the other dog(s) are not actually going to attack, and are merely protecting their territory.

 

[Tulip bush]

Tk41...

 

[B42]

I'm throwing in the thought that all discussions about use of a light as a weapon are banned in this forum, and the this thread will probably get moderated as soon as a mod sees it....and that if the wife will not use pepper spray, she probably won't bonk a dog either....which is harder to do.

Hitting a dog with anything, when under attack, will be difficult enough just from the physical requirements...let alone when adding the desire to not hurt the dog.

IE: She needs a better DOG, or, and escort, etc....or the determination that the other dog(s) are not actually going to attack, and are merely protecting their territory.

Exactly what he said above ^ If she doesnt want to use a defensive weapon that injures a dog LESS like pepper spray or a stun light, she's not going to have the will/strength/accuracy and speed to beat a dog with a piece of metal.... I'd look more into convincing her about the defensive items I mentioned than looking into a flashlight as a club.

 

[B42]

I thinks it's very rare that you would need it to defend against a dog attack, but if that ever happened to me I wouldn't hesitate to use my fenix tk41 in my defence......nice and solid, runs on 8 AA's. Usually I don't have any hassle when walking my dog at night, but the other night a could hear somebody shouting their dog,,,,to the point where you think oh fcku. I could see the owner waving his light about....which had about a 5 yard beam on it....knocked up the tk to max, wow, soon lit up a massive husky which looked real serious. Anyway my point was that I couldn't really do much about the dog situation, but the tk on full allowed everybody to see what was going on.
Having a light like the tk when walking the dog really does give you much more confidence. You can easily access strobe on it as well. I would also consider the klarus xt11 or possibly a armytek predator which run on just on 18650.

Since you are here writing about it I'd say that massive Husky was more serious about investigating you than biting you I have two Husky mixes myself, they'll go right up and see whats up, but biting isn't on their mind (unless maybe if someone tried to whack them with a flashlight, dogs sense your intent and unless you were there trying to hurt me or him he wouldn't be out to bite you). Just brings up the point of confidence in dealing with dogs and respecting space are really the most important things you would most likely need in 99.9999% dog encounters. Most dog bites/mauling occur when someone ends up in the dog's territory, its an aggressive dog that's either abused or trained to attack, and the person wont respect the dog's space.

 

[Tulip bush]

The husky was as soft as pudding :twothumbs, on its way to an obedience class......it's just when an owner shouts to the point that this owner did it does make you expect the worse......... I did forget to mention that I wasn't scared for myself in that I might get bitten, just that I thought my old ***** might get a pasting.

 

[dss_777]

The problem to be solved here is not about which light she should be carrying.

 

[Lou Minescence]

In post # 1 the use of a Maglight as a striking tool is discussed. In post # 5 no one in your family wants to hurt a dog. The Mrs. will not carry a defensive tool.
Avoid other dogs and take routes that avoid them. Talk to the other dogs owners or police. A flashlight will offer little protection.

 

[LightCrazy]

I don't have personal experience trying it, but how about a light with a nice bright, easily accessible strobe light? The strobes on my fenix and nitecore lights are very annoying and blinding. Since dogs have better eyes than people, maybe it would bother their eyes even more. You could also get her a loud whistle, like the Fox 40. It is pealess, so it won't freeze up in the winter.

 

[stewdogg]

I agree that a flashlight isn't an effective weapon but at least you can keep some distance with this
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sh...-BANYOU-801-DEFENSIVE-FLASHLIGHT-Cree-XP-E-DX

 

[greenlight]

RE: walking the dog lights.

If you have enough money to buy food for your dog you have enough money to buy a bunch of flashlights to test out for your night-time walks.

 

[B42]

The husky was as soft as pudding :twothumbs, on its way to an obedience class......it's just when an owner shouts to the point that this owner did it does make you expect the worse......... I did forget to mention that I wasn't scared for myself in that I might get bitten, just that I thought my old ***** might get a pasting.

Nice to hear it ended well. Thats actually one of the biggest problems with Huskys: "Oh I'm off leash? RUUUUUUUUUN! Whats that? Ruuuuuuun over there!"

 

[B42]

I don't have personal experience trying it, but how about a light with a nice bright, easily accessible strobe light? The strobes on my fenix and nitecore lights are very annoying and blinding. Since dogs have better eyes than people, maybe it would bother their eyes even more. You could also get her a loud whistle, like the Fox 40. It is pealess, so it won't freeze up in the winter.

Dogs dont have better eyes than people, can't even see all the colors we do, but they have better noses and ears though.

I wouldnt try shining a light to dissuade an aggressive dog, in fact the act of blinding it might make it more aggressive: if its afraid/aggressive and you take out one of its senses it will be more angry/afraid...

 

[Dubois]

If you are worried about the dog, carry an old tennis racquet - good for blocking any lunge, or separating dogs. Mind you, you will get some funny looks.:naughty:

 

[subwoofer]

The best item to carry when walking a dog is a rubber footed walking stick. It gives you distance from the aggressive dog, a distance which means you can keep your dog inside your defensive zone.

It is not an offensive weapon as you have it because 'your foot hurts', and it means you can push the other dog away (with the rubber foot not causing injury), or if the situation escalates, you have a much more effective striking weapon.

Forget getting a light to fend off another dog, you'd need a 12 D-cell mag for that.

That is my personal experience from many years of walking a dog in an area with lots of aggressive dogs allowed off the lead.