# Cheapest protective gear to wear to protect against vicious dog? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879 "2016-05-16T00:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/21 "2016-05-16T14:51:10Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > Don’t they give you a dog-noose? Once you grab a dog by the neck and lift it off its front feet it’s pretty much helpless. > Anyway, if you want cheapest: go buy some hot dogs. Unless it’s a psychologically disturbed dog or a trained attack dog, sitting near it and tossing bits of hot dogs at it will almost certainly allow you to capture it without harm to yourself or others. Assuming that is your goal. Sure, it will be helpless if all goes well. Sometimes all doesn’t go well. Even if does, it still must be transported. Surely you recognize bites do happen on occasion? Hot dogs might work. But lets say you enter a yard and a large german shepherd who has already bitten multiple people immediately rushes you from behind the trailer, closing the distance in a split second. It would be nice to have something a little more protective than an oscar mayer. ---
**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/22 "2016-05-16T14:52:48Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Wow. [Bite suits aren’t cheap!](http://www.rayallen.com/training-bite-suits) > > If dealing with an angry dog the best (relatively) cheap solution would be [2 layers of this stuff](http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/mens-fire-hose-work-pants-92204.aspx) > > [or maybe motorcycle gear](http://www.compacc.com/p/fieldsheer-adventure-tour-pants?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=paid_search_google_pla&gclid=CMOHgfP23cwCFclkhgodURoKgQ) > > I have to ask though if it’s to the point you are physically attached aren’t you allowed to carry a gun? If a dog is after you to the point you are getting chewed on isn’t it time to shoot it? It might be. But I don’t have a gun and I wouldn’t shoot a dog that hadn’t bitten me badly. And I’d rather not get to that point. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/23 "2016-05-16T15:07:05Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > In an episode of Mythbusters\* they found that a denim jacket and pants sprayed with truck bed liner were rather effective against the bite of a trained attack dog. Not sure how well they’d work against something that’s biting to harm rather than grab/hold. Damn, that sounds like a good - and inexpensive, solution. Other than that, I’d look for some used leather gauntlets - like the welding gloves mentioned above. But you’ll want to retain some fine manipulative ability. And some chaps like tree trimmers use. Leather good, kevlar better. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/24 "2016-05-16T15:47:17Z")
> [@misterW](#): > > Very small town. Virtually nothing is provided. Are you part of the VFD? Binker gear would give some protection. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/25 "2016-05-16T17:16:36Z")
Is Kevlar really the thing, though? Won’t dog teeth go through it? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/26 "2016-05-16T17:30:40Z")
I suggest a sturdy tactical glove and a chainmail or leather vambrace for your left arm. When the dog attacks, use that arm to block, allowing the dog to bite. And a cup… just in case. They also make kevlar reinforced jeans (for motorcyles), you can sometimes find them relatively cheap on eBay (where you can find those other things, too). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/27 "2016-05-16T17:54:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I suggest a sturdy tactical glove and a chainmail or leather vambrace for your left arm. > > **When the dog attacks, use that arm to block, allowing the dog to bite**. Would a [hockey goalie’s blocking pad](http://668d3eaa831be4d52f0d515f.ingoalmagazine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Domenik-Hasek-Buffalo.png) (see right arm) be something worthwhile for this purpose? ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/28 "2016-05-16T18:17:57Z")
My first thought was basic leather armor. My forearm armor pieces are 14lb leather with 3mm thick aluminum plates riveted to the outside faces. the plates are hammered into a curve to follow the outside face, I seriously doubt even a pretty big dog would be able to get serious purchase and or defeat the truss effect of the curved metal supported by heavy leather. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/29 "2016-05-16T19:43:57Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Is Kevlar really the thing, though? Won’t dog teeth go through it? Kevlar has massive tensile strength but is not so great against sharp force and crushing. A kevlar jacket might be difficult for dog teeth to pierce but a good sized dog can break forearm bones with raw bite strength. It would definitely help against them ripping a chunk out of you. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/30 "2016-05-16T19:50:49Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Is Kevlar really the thing, though? Won’t dog teeth go through it? I would lean towards heavy leather as its better at distribution of broader impact and will create resistance to crushing via trussing effects. It can also be hardened via several processes which would help even more. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/31 "2016-05-16T20:47:05Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Would a [hockey goalie’s blocking pad](http://668d3eaa831be4d52f0d515f.ingoalmagazine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Domenik-Hasek-Buffalo.png) (see right arm) be something worthwhile for this purpose? Bit too large, but yes. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/32 "2016-05-16T22:26:05Z")
[Search "bite suit " on ebay.](http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313.TR4.TRC1.A0.H0.Xbite+suit+.TRS0&_nkw=bite+suit+&_sacat=0) Lots of used bite suit sets and pieces available for much lower cost than new. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/33 "2016-05-16T23:30:47Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [Search "bite suit " on ebay.](http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313.TR4.TRC1.A0.H0.Xbite+suit+.TRS0&_nkw=bite+suit+&_sacat=0) Lots of used bite suit sets and pieces available for much lower cost than new. “Minor cosmetic damage–numerous small holes” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/34 "2016-05-17T02:50:44Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > In an episode of Mythbusters\* they found that a denim jacket and pants sprayed with truck bed liner were rather effective against the bite of a trained attack dog. Not sure how well they’d work against something that’s biting to harm rather than grab/hold. A [Youtube](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Pty4NmVyI) link. The garment looks completely inflexible so some improvisation would be in order. Paint the stuff on in stripes? Leave the joints uncoated? More impressive clip: [Bed liner used to reenforce walls against C4 explosive](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3JOXrpCLCJg). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/35 "2016-05-17T16:03:21Z")
In animal control, I wouldn’t be worried about just dogs. Depending on where you are, there might be any number of angry critters you’ll be confronted with, up to and including alligators. I don’t own a gun, but if I had your job I would get one. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879/36 "2016-05-18T04:45:05Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > In animal control, I wouldn’t be worried about just dogs. Depending on where you are, there might be any number of angry critters you’ll be confronted with, up to and including alligators. > > I don’t own a gun, but if I had your job I would get one. I have to echo this, I don’t own a gun but if my day job included potentially dealing with angry pit bulls, mastiffs, feral pack dogs or even rabid cats and raccoons I think I would have more backup than just my snare and being confident. An angry dog or wild animal can tear you up if you make a mis-step. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-protective-gear-to-wear-to-protect-against-vicious-dog/754879.md?page=1)