I have carried Halt for about two years, and have used it twice. The first dog actually was snapping at my heel, I could hear his teeth snap together! The second was not quite as threatening, but there was oncoming traffic, and the incident needed to end quickly. In both cases, the dog just ran off quietly, there was no apparent trauma, but it DID quit chasing immediately. They both live on a route that I have ridden many times since, and neither has ever chased me again. One did run up to the road once, but I drew the Halt on him and he turned back and left.

As a dog owner and lover, I believe that pets should be restrained and trained for their own safety. Also, I would never spray a dog unless he came onto the pavement that I'm riding on. Once on the road, he isn't protecting his turf, he's invading mine. In the rural area where I live, we have a saying, " House dog, house dog. Yard dog, yard dog. Road dog,....dead dog." , because any animal that chases cars, trucks, tractors, or bikes on local roads doesn't survive very long. In the absence of its owner training or restraining it, I feel like a little Halt is a good lesson learned.

just my humble opinion.....