Discussion: candid camera

take photos of the dog. If you don't have one of those new-fangled phones, then just pretend. If the dog onwer knows that the dog shouldn't be there, then he will take off. Oh, and make sure you have at least one other human witness... just in case he decides to relieve you of your camera instead.

As an ex-hockey player, I remember often doing intervals with hockey stick in hand. It was part of the drill. No point practicing sprinting with empty hands in that sport. I found that running with a hockey stick was good for educating dogs. I can lend you my old stick.

I have a pile of sticks at each end of a road I do often. Just holding a large stick for the 500m length of the road keeps the little bastard of an ankle-biter away (and yes, it BITES - on a public road).

I think the owner was in more need of education than the dogs (although a hockey stick may well have been of use for that purpose too).

I showed some forbearance in not making that suggestion. WhenI lived in Mitcham there was a particulalry sneaky little dog that would lay in wait and then get you from behind as you passed 'his' hedge. Then he would be off before you could get the hockey stick onto him. One time walking to the station he ripped my work pants. I ran home, grabbed the hockey stick and then pounded on the owners door. It may have needed some repairs after that. The owner didn't answer the door despite my loud comments about what he should do with his dog. Strangely, after that I never was bitten again. So yes, education with a hockey stick can work. As for running up the street in pursuit with an ice-axe, well even I acknowledge no that was going too far. I should have changed out of my pyjamas first.

The pyjamas weren't the problem, it was the bunny slippers...(sorry guys, first laugh of the week, and I needed it)