| Who knows more about dog attacks that the mailman? Letter carriers have had to deal with aggresive dogs since Claudius Polonius was delivering rolls of parchment to citizens of the Roman Empire. So what do the experts use to repel dog attacks? Well, the U.S. Postal Service has been using Halt! Since 1966. You might say they have been conducting field tests for over thirty years. Halt! Products use Capsaicin, a naturally occurring extract of peppers, which, when sprayed in a dog's face, causes only temporary, but extreme discomfort for the dog.Think of it as attitude re-adjustment. Halt! Stops him in his tracks, giving you time to move out of danger. Halt!'s pressurized spray is accurate up to 10 feet. |
|
 Volume is everything |
| Review Date: August 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Daniel Hoyt, H-Town, USA |
| This product is perfect for bicyclists and walkers through unchecked dog country. It is diluted pepper spray with alot of volume. When you press the top, it squirts a 12 foot beam of brown liquid. You can sustain the beam for several seconds before running out, just in case your aim is off. That's all you need to handle dog country. Some tips: 1. Don't every spray it in the sink to make sure it works; you'll get a nice little backdraft and shed a few tears; 2. Shake well before heading out; 3. Always go for the nose, not the eyes; 4. Always go for the lead dog in a pack--the rest will stop when he goes down; and, 5. If you are a bicyclist, the best rapid response technique is to put a velcro strap on it and just stick it on an unused portion of your handlebars or frame, for easy access. |
Halt doesn't mean squat to a pit bull!
|
| Review Date: July 1, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Kaarin E. Soma, Houston, TX |
Last week I was walking my three German shepherd dogs in my neighborhood. I say I was "walking" them, but really I was in my mobility chair. Each of my dogs were wearing prong collars and had short leashes that combined on a metal ring. A leash from the ring was secured to the bottom of my mobility chair so that if I dropped the leash, the dogs would still be restrained from just taking off.
Well, we were going down the street when two pit bulls came charging at us. One of those dogs was just a follower, but the lead dog was on a mission and would not be deterred by my standing up and hollering at him in a menacing tone. He charged my dogs, who were unable to do much because of being restricted by the leashes. The pit bull couldn't sink his teeth into their necks because each of my dogs wore a heavy prong chain collar and a nylon collar that had all their ID tags on it.
I'm such an animal lover. I hated to hurt the pit bull, but I reached for my can of Halt and shot into the leader's eyes. First time I every used the product. The dog blinked his eyes for 2.5 seconds, and then he was at my dogs again. I kept spraying. Nothing. Knowing full well that it would be terribly dangerous for me to try to pull the pit bull off with my bear hands, I grabbed the pit bull's color and pulled him back real hard and with all my might, anyway. I will protect my dogs whatever the cost.
I was screaming for the neighbors help. Finally someone came out of their house but didn't want to come very close on account the scene: 3 German shepherds, 2 pit bulls, a raging, hysterical woman. I managed a cell phone call to my husband, who was sleeping at home (a few blocks away) and he gook charge.
Did Halt help me? No. I won't buy it again. I really needed the product, and it let me down. By the way, I got some of the product on my hands, which burned a few minutes each time my hands were immersed in water. |
Great product with some caveats
|
| Review Date: April 13, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Bob Horton, Cooleemee, NC United States |
I am an avid cyclist in a rural area and I am regularly chased by aggressive dogs. I have been using Halt for a few years now (I'm on my sixth or seventh can) and this is what I've found: It seems the effectiveness varies widely from one can to the next. When the product works, it works extremely well. I have had chows and pit bulls stop in their tracks and run away to wipe their eyes. I have also soaked dogs in the face to no effect, and it appears the difference is in the individual can itself. I can't say why, that's just my experience.
I have also found it's a good idea to check the range when you get a can as that seems to vary as well, although generally it's sufficient from a new can. From a moving bike, I wouldn't count on more than 4 feet max. Beyond that, targeting is difficult. You have to nail them in the eyes, period. You will need to keep the spray very accessible, and a handlebar clip of some sort would be a great accessory item. I keep mine tucked in my bike shorts leg.
I have found that dogs who get a good dose tend not to chase me again for a good long time, maybe never, but I can't say that they wouldn't chase someone else on a bike. I haven't had to deal with angry owners yet even though I have often sprayed dogs right in front of their 'masters'. I think that explaining the possible liability issues (cyclist falls, car hits dog, car hits cyclist, car wrecks avoiding both) would give them a reason to calm down.
The bottom line is that I never go for a ride without this stuff, once I've verified the effectiveness of a given can. |
Dont Bother With These Products - Here's My Solution
|
| Review Date: March 29, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Vahid M. Lancaster, The Caribbean |
I've tried these products and they don't work. Here's the best solution. I live in a neighborhood with annoying dogs and irresponsible owners. I'm a teacher and I don't have a car - so I have to walk home at night and deal with these 4 legged pests on the street.
So here's my solution when a stupid dog is charging at you.
(1) When the dog begins charging, do not flinch and do not show fear - instead, get angry and stand your ground.
(2) Wait until the idiot dog is about 4 feet away from you.
(3) Charge them with the DOUBLE BLOW.
What's the double blow you might ask? Its a small tin of "powerful insecticide" and a "powerful flashlight". You blind them and mess up their noses at the same time. Do that a few times and the dog would run like hell whenever it sees you.
Now some people may say that this is not humane - but is the dog being humane by trying to tear your face off every time you walk down the street? - Didn't think so!
Also, if the stupid owner of the dog comes charging after you, give him the DOUBLE BLOW treatment also for allowing his dumb dog to run all over the street. Stupid owners - sometime I wonder who owns who! |
Didn't work at all
|
| Review Date: March 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: B. Freasier, Texas |
| Sprayed Halt! right in the face of an attacking dog and it did not even slow the dog down. It bit me like it does at least once a week! Good thing it's a small dog, although it does break the skin and leave bruises on my legs & ankles. I would not want to depend on Halt! to protect against a more dangerous threat! |
|
No video reviews found for this product.
Leave a Reply