need a knife i can run with

You guys are all crazy. A knife is nothing more than half a pair of scissors. IF YOU SHOULDN'T RUN WITH SCISSORS WHY IS RUNNING WITH HALF A PAIR OK?!?!

http://media.photobucket.com/image/running%20with%20scissors/kookylove/th_running-with-scissors.jpg

it's amazing how quickly it becomes apparent that the letsrun message board is full of morons...i'm not going to be running with it in my hand! it's difficult to stab yourself with a freakin' knife when it has a sheath, and the sheath is attached to your waistband.

thanks to the poster that suggested the gerber guardian back up...looks like a good option and not much heft to it (3 oz.)

willing to bet that no matter the circumstances if you stab a dog you are going to look more like michael vick than you are a person in self defense. THe knife indicates you wish to kill dogs, whereas pepper sprays indicates self defense.

Furthermore, I seriously question your intentions in carrying a knife. It sounds a lot more like you are seeking out a situation in which to use a knife rather than seeking situations where you can avoid it.

Either way, carrying a knife is nothing but asking for trouble.

i'm not chasing after dogs trying to kill them...there's a big difference between organized dogfighting (vick) and self-defense...i'm running on public property (roads, sidewalks, park lands, etc.)...if a dog chases, it's my right to defend myself by any means necessary...a knife works every time and there is no safety like on a pepper spray cannister...

wouldn't be an issue if humans exercised control over their animals and caged/leashed their aggressive dogs...further more, i don't care about the PC fallout of whether or not i should have defended myself from an animal with a knife or not because a) hopefully it'll never come to that and b) i'll come out of the situation in much better shape than if i hadn't had a knife to defend myself.

I love this post!

I asked my mom, she said to run with scissors instead.

Knife?

Can't you pick up a rock? I have thrown rocks into the face of many a hound over the years as they closed in. Every one turned and ran. I only was bitten twice, once when the owner was walking the dog, and the dog suddenly jumped up and got my arm,which was fortunately inside of double sweats. The other was when a dog jumped out from behind a shrub line and got me from behind without warning. Tore the heck out of my long underwear (before we had tights.) Both were in the 70s. I have lived in the country for 25 years and had no bitings since.

some dogs are immune to pepper spray. many pit bulls are, in particular.

A knife will do you no good, you do not want to be that close to an attacking dog.

I used to run on back country roads where there were no leash laws and many houses had multiple dogs.

I had to start changing my training routes until I found the solution to my problem.

Get yourself a belt with a nice brass buckle on it. Wrap it around your fist with the buckle on the outside and go for your run.

When a dog attacks you drop the belt and start whipping it around.

Most dogs will stop immediately, however if the dog keeps coming at you, whack the dog on the head with the buckle and it will most likely turn and run.

I never got bit, and I actually knocked two dogs out. I really didn't want to, but it is better than getting bit and miss training because of an inconsiderate dog owner.

99.99% of the time, this guy will run out, finish his loop, and come back. He is not going to be baiting dogs into chasing him so he can kill them. He won't be suddenly changing his route into gang territory because he is a tough guy. What is the matter with you people. Asking for trouble? It will be hidden.

There was a governor that killed a fox with a gun when he was out for a jog. That would probably give mOst of you heart attacks. And you're the healthiest of Our society.

I personally recommend the pepper spray or a gun. Look into getting your concealed carry permit if your state allows.

Particularly when they've been taking drugs.

.......

jesus harold, are you people serious? Run with a GUN?! I got bit 2 years ago and tried running with a can of pepper spray for a week and it was awful. I hate strapping crap to me when I'm on a run, and if I can't imagine trying to deal with a knife.

Try it for a few days and I bet a hundred dollars you'll stop wearing it. Other people are right... unless you're in a really bad area, dog attacks are relatively rare. You figure out areas to avoid and plan routes around "that house".

I can respect this. I am not sure of the legalities, but I always thought a taser would be good to carry for use against dogs. I would imagine after a good tasing they could probably just whimper back to their house, and they wouldn't have too much damage.

I was running the other day down some country road in the middle of nowhere in Michigan,and all of a sudden this crazy-farm-dog-mut just came charging at my with this look of pure menace in his ugly face; just bearing down, looking for troubel. I thought he was gonna tear me up, let me tell you. So I did what any smart person would do. I stopped dead in my tracks, squared up straight with the beast, and then just Jedi-rebuked him, straight up. One arm extended, I said, "Stop. Go Away," just totally calm. He stopped, stared at me for a couple of seconds,and I looked him straight in his eyes without so much as a twitch of fear, and then he trotted back to his place of residency and I was on my way.

No knife necessary. However, I did used to run with a little shank that I whittled when I would run at night in downtown Chicago, but that wasn't for dogs.

I really don't think a knife would be good against a dog. Unless you're an expert knife fighter (you aren't) you'll probably get seriously hurt trying to knife the dog and won't do much damage.

Knives for self defense are usually just a bad idea. Killing or seriously hurting an attacker is much harder than you would think .

This same thing happened to me after getting bit. Except it was in the middle of suburbia, and instead of the Jedi rebuke, I put my arms above my head and ran at the dog like a crazy man while yelling my ass off. Got some looks, but it worked.

I have thought about running with a weapon... but I know I would just end up killing the asshole dog owner after he got all pissed that I don't like asshole dogs.

I've always imagined that if I was being attacked in a really threatening way by a dog I would just kick it hard in the face. It seems like a foolproof plan to me. It allows you to keep our distance from the dog, and there's really not much that can go wrong. Either a) you mistime it, but I think that would be pretty hard or b) you don't kick him hard enough and are forced to maybe kick it again. This plan is the main reason I'm not a barefoot runner; shoes are vital in my self defence plan against dogs.

Cool story: So I'm on an 8 miler, two loops of 4 miles. I'm about half a mile into the second loop, running on the right side of the road. I see a ~40 pound dog, running loose, on the other side of the road, running towards my direction. I think "oh shit, please don't make me deal with this".

I do the usual slow down, don't make eye contact routine to reduce the chances of it chasing. Well it didn't work, because in a few seconds that little f***** is crossing the road, running towards me. I get a glimpse into his eyes, this guy is bat sh*t crazy, and he's going for the kill, he ain't messing around. I'm his prey, and he wants to eat. He's charging at me full speed now, running about perpendicular to me (he was on the other side of the road). I size him up and then I have an epiphany. "Hey, I can take this guy." I bolt down the street as fast as I possibly can, my body pumping loads of C9H13NO3 (adrenaline) into my blood stream. I think to myslef "f***, if I don't run fast enough, that won't be a fun experience". Sure enough, after about 100 meters, I look back and see that he has given up (we topped out at about the same speed, but apparently I was more able to maintain speed). Ahh, victory.

been there Done That wrote:

A knife is the best protection against charging dogs. Here's how you use it:

1. Stop running and face the dog.

2. Rip off your shirt or jacket and wrap it around your weak arm, letting some of the material dangle.

3. Pull out your knife and pop the blade open.

4. Hold out your arm with the shirt around it as bait. A dog will always try and bite the most convenient appendage.

5. When the dog bites into the shirt, pull your arm up to expose the dogs throat.

6. One quick slice of the dogs throat will open up his jugular.

7. The dog will bleed out in a matter of seconds.

8. Don't wait around to answer annoying questions from the owner and or the police. They will try and make you look like the bad guy.

Great idea dumb ass. Somewhere along abouts step 2 in your list the dog is on you and you are sitting there trying to take your shirt off? Dumb ass. Dog says "hey thanks dumb ass for taking off your shirt so I could attack your legs while you had your hands are occupied occupied". Or maybe you will ask the dog to stop while you prepare your elaborate self defense? Idiots.

Pepper Spray

Pros:

Longer Range

Broader area of damage

Easier to hit target

Quick to deploy accurately

Requires no skill

Cons:

Won't kill the dog

Kinfe

Pros:

If you hit the dog just right it will kill it

Cons:

The dog has to be right on you to use it

Requires actual skill to know where to stab (all the while jaws are snapping)

Can do some real serious damage to yourself with out even hurting dog

Easy to miss target

If you really need protection against a dog the best way to do it is pepper spray, and then and only then, once you have sprayed out the pepper spray, if the dog is still coming (they won't be) then pull out a knife.

You must be quite an expert with the belt! Any pit bulls? What if the dog gets inside the range of the buckle?