Be Prepared: Using an Air Horn to Protect You and Your Dog
We hope you never face a situation where an off-leash dog threatens you and your pet, but what would you do if it happened? Or what about wildlife—are you nervous about being outside with your dog at night? Knowledge, awareness, and preparedness are essential.
Let’s start with some basics for either situation. Being aware of your surroundings and staying "on guard" is the first step. Don’t confuse this with being anxious or expecting something to go wrong. Our dogs pick up on our feelings, and this negative anticipation can make every walk stressful. Instead, think of it as being the calm, kind, and confident leader your dog needs. In today's world it's easy to get distracted and be looking at your phone while you're walking, but I challenge you to make your walks more mindful. Not only is this safer and can buy you more time in a dangerous situation, but it will grow your connection with your dog to be intentional on your walks.
For an off-leash dog attack the biggest key is creating space—put distance between you, your dog, and the approaching dog. Immediately put your dog behind you. It’s not fair or safe to rely on your dog to protect you. Their signals won’t deescalate the situation. Some dogs may respond to a loud command and stop. Stand tall and shout commands like “No!” or “Sit!” that the dog might recognize. If they stop or back off, that’s a good sign they’re not committed to an attack. Avoid locking eyes, that can be perceived as threatening or challenging, but stay aware of their movements.
If that’s not enough to slow them down, having an air horn ready is crucial—this is why it’s included in our sling for easy access. When seconds matter, the loud blast of an air horn can stop a dog in its tracks, snapping them out of the “red zone” of aggression. This gives you the time and space to get to safety. If you're in a neighborhood, it will also draw attention from others who can help.
The air horn will likely scare not just the attacking dog, but your dog too. It’s not ideal for their ears, but it's FAR better than the alternative of breaking up a fight or trying to get an aggressive dog off of you or your pup. The goal is to create enough space to prevent the situation from escalating into something worse.
The air horn isn’t just for unwanted dog encounters—it’s also a proven tool for deterring wildlife like coyotes. According to Oakland County’s wildlife recommendations, making loud noises helps keep animals like coyotes uncomfortable and away from residential areas. Using noises and specifically taking steps to make wildlife not comfortable to come into your area or up to people is called hazing. Hazing is considered a safe ways to keep coyotes wild and away from your neighborhood. Never turn and run if you encounter one. Instead, make loud noises and move slightly toward them—and never approach a coyote den, as they may defend their pups like any protective dog would. I personally use the air horn to drive coyotes away until they’ve completely left the area.
Using tools like air horns for hazing is powerful. Blasting it, along with yelling, will startle a coyote and send it away. Repeated hazing helps reinforce their wariness of humans. It’s crucial to keep them wild and cautious, which is key to safely living alongside them. If you choose to haze with an air horn, be sure to let your neighbors know again it's LOUD—this is a practice we follow at Bed and BARKfest to keep everyone safe.
Understanding coyote behavior can help protect you and your pets. For more tips on hazing and coexisting with coyotes, check out Oakland County’s Post on Coyotes.
By including an air horn in our must-have sling and knowing how to use it properly, we’re helping dog parents everywhere prepare for unexpected situations. You can feel confident knowing you have the right tools to protect yourself and your dog. Get yours today!
