Can you realistically fight off a 100+lb dog or are you going to lose?

[Taray787]

Breed and train working German shepherds. No weapons it would be very difficult if not impossible to defeat a properly trained dog over 50ish pounds. Just a big mean dog your chances go up significantly. You are still gonna be injured

 

[Sierra Hunter]

Breed and train working German shepherds. No weapons it would be very difficult if not impossible to defeat a properly trained dog over 50ish pounds. Just a big mean dog your chances go up significantly. You are still gonna be injured

Coming from the working dog world would you rather take the 50 lb Mali who loves it or the real molassers, old neos, boerboels etc?

 

[Mr. October]

How do you think you would do against a 100lb cat?

I'd take dogs any day over one 100 lb. cat. Read the stories about the Indian and Chinese man eating leopards. Or watch your house cat kill a rabbit and picture him 20x his size.

 

[Mr. October]

A bit of a segue....

It shocks me how many people I see that have big uncontrollable dogs. Small women with big dogs they cannot control even on a leash.

Some years ago we had a big loud neighbor who had to have big, loud everything. From his personal car to the dump truck he drove and kept in his driveway his whole life was big and loud except his diminutive, tiny wife. Bear in mind, I live in a suburban development with lots and lots of little kids . . not way out in the country. (Much to my chagrin.) Anyway, dude had to get himself a Neapolitan Mastiff. As a puppy, like most puppies, the dog was friendly enough. But even at 6 months old the wife couldn't begin to keep him under control. The dog quickly became the Beta in the house and constantly challenged to be the alpha and regularly threatened anyone passing by. Again, suburban development with neighbors in close quarters and people walking by on the sidewalk all the time. Big loud dude would trust his flimsy storm door to restrain the dog. More than once it busted it out at passers by only saved by a lunging grab from big loud dude. Inevitably, the dog got hold of someone and nearly killed them. The dog was seized and euthanized the next day and big loud dude found himself on the wrong end of both legal and civil court cases.

I was probably the most fit I've been in my life when that dog lived here and I can say beyond a doubt that there is no way in hell I could have fought that dog off without a weapon. But then . . I ALWAYS have a weapon.

 

[Mr. October]

Interesting thread and, when compared to discussion about other self defense scenarios like people or bears, this is probably a much more likely event for anyone to have to worry about. I think 85% of all animal bites are dog bites.

While I'm not really racing anymore, I did long course triathlon and marathons for many years. My single biggest concern when out training was dogs. Well, on the bike sometime I worried more about road rage drivers who seemed to resent anyone out getting some exercise. But back on topic. I never rode my bike without OC spray and a sidearm. (See note above regarding road rage.) I didn't run with a sidearm but always carried OC spray. Fortunately, I never got caught by a dog on my bike but our bike club had several members get knocked down and mauled by dogs. It is not pretty. I had a couple occasions where I came close but fortunately had non-violent outcomes. I was running a popular river trail near my house one day and a very large white pittie mix came tearing around a bend in the trail running straight at me. I stopped. Put my hand out in a stop sign and said "STAY!". He went from a dead run on to flopping to his back to have his belly rubbed. Phew. A couple minutes later the apologetic owner came down the trail with a leash and broken collar. "There was a squirrel."

On another occasion, I was running along a rural road and a brindle colored pittie tore out of the back yard on a dead run. No barking. No tail wagging. Clearly in defensive mode. Again I stopped and clearly yelled "Stay!". No belly rub this time. But she stopped and stood very defensively not sure what to do. I wasn't about to move. I was concerned for myself but also didn't want her out in the road. We stood at a face-off for a few minutes. Finally I lowered my hand and offered it to her to sniff. As she gave a few tentative sniffs and relaxed a bit, the owner finally came out. She relaxed and I gave her a quick pet and went on my way. I was glad I didn't have to use the OC spray I had in my other hand.

On bother occasions, I'm glad I didn't have to try to fight a dog. Even if I prevailed it would not have been pretty.

 

[Mr. October]

The original topic was about 1 100 lb. dog. It seems most severe and persistent attacks happen when there is a pack. Just recently in Fairmount park in Philadelphia several people were attacked by a roving dog pack. It seems when the pack attacks it is much more malevolent and sustained. I tried to find the video, but there was surveillance camera video just recently of a man being attacked by 4 dogs (all pittie mixes as I recall). He was a pretty fit, strong, younger guy but unarmed and essentially helpless against 4 determined dogs. They didn't kill him but he died later from the sepsis caused by the bites. Watching the video, had he been armed, he would have had several opportunities to draw a weapon and fire it.

 

[Mr. October]

Good video on the best way to defeat a dog.

 

[7mm-08]

The original topic was about 1 100 lb. dog. It seems most severe and persistent attacks happen when there is a pack. Just recently in Fairmount park in Philadelphia several people were attacked by a roving dog pack. It seems when the pack attacks it is much more malevolent and sustained. I tried to find the video, but there was surveillance camera video just recently of a man being attacked by 4 dogs (all pittie mixes as I recall). He was a pretty fit, strong, younger guy but unarmed and essentially helpless against 4 determined dogs. They didn't kill him but he died later from the sepsis caused by the bites. Watching the video, had he been armed, he would have had several opportunities to draw a weapon and fire it.

Two determined 50-pound dogs would kill virtually ANY man.

 

[Fatcamp]

I'd take dogs any day over one 100 lb. cat. Read the stories about the Indian and Chinese man eating leopards. Or watch your house cat kill a rabbit and picture him 20x his size.

I've read most of Corbetts stuff. No chance with a leopard unless it decides to stop.

 

[Wapiti1]

I've read most of Corbetts stuff. No chance with a leopard unless it decides to stop.

Leopard charges are remarkably fast and silent. I was part of a wounded cat follow up in Zambia. Not my cat. It was an experience.

To the original question, IMO, a single dog can be defeated, but you have to keep your feet. If he gets you down, you lose most of your options. Two dogs and you are in major trouble.

Jeremy