Weapon against dog attacks

In America, some states more than others, using a bb pistol on the street can get you shot...

edc a spydie civilian and matriarch w/ emerson wave
but often leave the house with bear spray + pepper spray
bear spray is quite light and small, around the size of a can of red bull btw

I’ve also have used a blow pipe. I used a CS 4’ pipe doubling it as a walking stick. But that was mainly a disguise because if I needed it as such and applied much lateral pressure I’m sure it would have collapsed. When CS came out with their magnum I dropped the old one like a hot potato. That one was quite durable and works well as a walking stick, mostly for feeling my way at night avoiding holes. For dogs when walking down the mountain at night I used homemade darts from 3” nails that I had modified by replacing the manufacturer’s point with a long slender sloping polished convex one. I designed them not to kill but inflect pain. I preferred those to its little brother a 2½” nail. Got to use it one night. There was a pack of three dogs all laying until I passed. Then one got up and came from behind. When I turned around he stopped and called to his buddies, one of which got up but stayed in place as though to follow the events before deciding which way to go. As for the threatening dog, I removed my muzzle and breech covers, the dart was preloaded. He stood there in a threatening manner but came no closer. No doubt he would have if a turned my back. I let fly at 15’, about maximum range that I’d considered when practicing. It was too dark to spot the shot but the dog ran in two circles making no noise stopping to face my again. But the fight in him had gone, didn’t even come back when I turned my back. I used its big brother, a 2 m pipe that I made, on many a trash raiding dog using stun darts. That pipe seemed like a Cadillac when compared to the CS, but the 4' CS is much handier. But the government has taken action and those feral dogs no longer exist, at least not in my parts. I still hear occasionaly on the news someone getting attacked but that has been reduced. I think what I mostly hear now are from domestic dogs getting out of control.

Reading this thread what I’m seeing is mostly from people theorizing on what they might use in the event. I’ve been there and done that and no dog has gotten a piece of me, yet. I’ve used a variety of weapons on dogs and pieces of me are missing but not by any dog.

Happily I too can legally carry a concealed handgun... usually a HK VP9sk but I would hate to have to use it on a dog left uncontrolled by an irresponsible, stupid owner. 

Guard dogs are the worst by far. they have been brutalised by their owners, beaten, chained up, left in the sun, etc. When they get loose they have no residual love for anything. Regular dogs in Latin America have been trained, or maybe you could just call it street savvy. You just have to bend down and pick up a rock and they will turn tail and run. No rocks? Just bend down and pick up an imaginary rock. Street dogs are not sticklers for details.

Slightly funny, if you ask me, but it works. But at the same time, those dogs won't put up enough of a problem to worth the work of getting the rock.
I carry a pocket knife and a 2 foot, 1 inch dowel when I walk. I want to replace it with something a bit heavier. Oak, maybe. I like the Idea of a small, light stick. I've never had to use it yet, but I've gotten close a few times.

For 2 foot length, maybe ratan. Light, but fast and stings like the dickens. For a more traditional walking stick, maybe a Japanese white oak jo?

Living in Centro America I’ve become well experienced with dog attacks. I carried a 5’ and a 5½’ bo and am not going to advise against a staff, but in the end I decided that wasn’t for me. But everyone’s case is different. My staffs were of rattan and oak. I preferred the oak. You will need a rubber tip such as on a cane or crutch at one end if you come in contact pavement such as a sidewalk and street as they will soon destroy an unprotected tip. Besides the clak, clak, clak of the unprotected tip drove me up the wall. On the downside I found carrying a staff on a bus and worse yet a taxi was not the most comfortable. A 36/37” cane works fine for me. One designed for the job and not the common drug store variety. I’ve beaten dogs away with them and after learning more how to persuade a dog to reconsider before actually attacking. I’ve also fought off dogs with a sword cane. An umbrella is also great. By pointing at the dog and opening and closing it rapidly will work great. Advancing and being vocal at the same time won’t hurt either. I carried a small one that fitted into my back pack, and still do for the rain. For a while I carried throwing stars then decided if I can’t hit with a rock, what would be my chances with those other using a 3 bladed one in my hand after attacked? I see many people suggest tear gas. I carried for a while, more for people than dogs though, but stopped. I carried that made by CS, but since another company has bought the rights. It would be effective but what the arm chair experts don’t realize; water weakens the effects which is not good during rainy season. I think most know about the wind factor but don’t realize even after spraying and the air appears clear there is a residual effect still there that’s best not to get involved in. I noticed that during Lynn Thompson’s demos involving a person that he continually back away from his aggressor, not the thing to do in a dog attack. I thought at first it was to give the gas time to take effect, maybe so, but at the same time he was avoiding the residual effect.

Company called Guard Dog Security makes a combination stun gun/flashlight/baton. (I'm not affliated with the company or it's products in any way. I just think it looks cool.)

guarddog-security.com/products/titan-stun-gun