I like to jog in my neighborhood. Problem is, I often run into loose dogs and I’m afraid of being mauled. Rather than carry a baseball bat with me wherever I go, I’m thinking about buying an ultrasonic dog repeller from a catalog for $19.95. It’s a small electronic device that looks like a TV remote control. According to the description, if you point it at a dog and press the button, it will emit a high-frequency sound that will aggravate the dog’s sensitive ears and cause him to run away. It’s supposed to be completely inaudible to humans. Does anybody have experience with this product? How well does it work?
My neighbor growing up had one of those things. He used it to torture the neighborhood dogs. He would point it at them through the fence and press a button to send them diving to shelter their ears. So, yes they work. (I never saw it used on a pissed-off, charging pit bull though, YMMV)
however, they aren’t realy inaudable to everyone, I could always hear the damn thing and let me tell you it was irritating. It’s similar in sound to the whine that some TVs and electronics put out, only much louder. (if you can’t hear most electronics whine, you probably won’t hear the dog-zapper thing either)
experience?-------yes
Does it work?-----on some dogs yes!
The local TV news did a “Fame or Shame”* test on one. They have “typical” people try out a product and see what they think. In this case, they gave it to a mailman. It worked on some dogs, but others ignored it. It got a “shame”.
All I could think of when I saw the thread title was:
“Wow, incitatus has a problem with ultrasonic dogs, that must be rough.”
Yes it works, but to varying degrees.
The neighbor’s Chihuahua behind a fence? “Tortures” them and sends them running.
A growling, foaming pit bull charging you with death in it’s eyes? That little toy will just piss it off further.
There are other, much more capable canine repellents such as pepper spray. They are also much more harmful to the dog; do not misuse.
(And please don’t let this disintegrate into a cruelty to animals debate. I’m not advocating peppering the neighbor’s Chihuahua behind the fence, I’m advocating my wife peppering the pit bull before it mauls her.)
In fact, if you anticipate encountering a dog you need to repel, you might consider A) changing your jogging route (and/or suing the dog’s owner), or B) jogging with a baseball bat (as unrealistic as that may seem).
At least some dogs will recognize the big stick as a deterrent, and it will be much more useful for those that don’t.