I always figured I would have time to assess a situation and then pull something out. Last night showed an instance in which there wouldn't be time. I had no idea it was coming. Honestly LL, even if it was in my hand the dog would have had me. It was that fast. Even if it was in my hand the with lever cocked and ready to go...it was that sudden. One one-thousand, two one-thousand...it was that quick. Christ, by the time I turned my head and focused my sight on it proper, it's head was a foot from my leg.

After I wrote that last sentence I was curious as to how accurate it might be so I went looking for general info on dog attack speed and found this: Sergeant Dennis Tueller of the Salt Lake City Police Department wondered how quickly an attacker with a knife, or other melee weapon, could cover 21 feet (6.4 m), so he timed volunteers as they raced to stab the target. He determined that it could be done in 1.5 seconds. These results were first published as an article in SWAT magazine in 1983 and in a police training video by the same title, "How Close Is Too Close?

So I'm not far off. Also according to online info, an average dog can accelerate faster than any average human. If a human can get to you from 20ft in 1.5 seconds then a damned angry dog is going to be even quicker. Pisses me off to realize that.

I've had more sketchy dog encounters in the last 4 years than I've had my entire life. Makes me wonder why. People are getting more insular in this day and age...more suspicious...Bigotry and fears are back on the rise...plus among certain people big macho dogs are some sort of status symbol perhaps. Socializing animals isn't as important as having a proxy swagger so to speak. A combination of a few things maybe...leading to an animal possibly being influenced negatively by certain owners personality/behaviors.

Extra vigilance I guess is key. Quicker access to a deterrent. I will now use a lightly twisted piece of wire and dangle the spray from a belt loop so pocket fumbling won't be involved. I can just pull it easily off the loop. I won't carry the spray in hand yet because I don't want the feeling of being paranoid. Stupid pride maybe. If I can see a problem ahead even in a 10 second time-frame then I might have the time to prepare somewhat. In an attack like last night's however, one would have no chance. At least initially.

I'm blabberin' too much...thanks for the thoughts and suggestion LL. I WILL be looking for a way to better deploy that spray. As well I've downloaded a few sites on dog attack tips/advice/defense etc.

Really...a Rott/Corso cross....in a residential family neighbourhood with mostly modest 3 bedroom homes and properties. Teddy bear my ***.