Dog Community

attaching lights to your dog - warning

Posted : 1/26/2007 3:41:31 AM

I bought a product called Puplight for my dogs birthday a couple days ago in the local petco. We went to the huge local park right after to try it out. We didn't make it 30 feet into our walk when we were attacked by two nasty dogs. My mother (in her early 70's) was knocked over & landed on cement with a crack on her head then hip. While waiting for the ambulance two more aggressive unleashed (park is covered with leash law signs too) dogs came out of the darkness & attacked us. This is a great idea, but not so great in reality. This thing attracts every aggressive dog in sight of it. If you've thought about this save your money & use a flashlight that you carry yourself (& can turn off in a hurry)! Don't attach anything that lights or blinks to your dog! We were only there 30 seconds & four dogs came at us, I can only imagine what it would have been like to walk around the whole place if my mum hadn't been hurt. I just wanted to put the warning out there. It's a great idea, I really liked it - but evidently so do obnoxious dogs...
Just want everyone to stay safe!!

spiritdogs

Posted : 1/26/2007 8:31:27 AM

What an unfortunate experience. People use the blinkers here, becasue we are in an area with no sidewalks, but they also observe the leash laws for the most part. What got your dog attacked was not the light, per se, it was the ignorant people who let their dogs off leash to do whatever they want. [:@]
Hope your mom is OK.

mudpuppy

Posted : 1/26/2007 10:29:22 AM

wow that's horrible. I use lighted collars and have never had a similar experience.

Shohin

Posted : 1/26/2007 12:40:32 PM

I was going to say the same thing . . . . its not the light that did it. Its the other dogs and irresponsible owners.

I do hope your mother is okay though! That must have been a scary experience for the two of you!

lisa baker

Posted : 1/27/2007 1:38:54 AM

Oh, I do agree that if they owners of the dogs were following the leash law this never would have happened in the first place. We have a lot of problems with dogs like this (or should I say owners of dogs like this) but darkness, in my own experience, reduces attacks. It was the collar light that caused so many dogs to attack us in such a short period of time. I've used reflective material on my dogs for years & that doesn't even have the same effect this light did. I only wanted to prevent a similar thing happening to all of you. Prevention is better than cure.

My mother is one very tough & lucky woman. I told her she has some hefty angels watching out for her, as she walked away with very minor injuries considering.

The more I think about it (the light) the more what happned makes sense, even bottom dwelling ocean fish use lights to attract their prey. This is one of those live & learn things.