Dogs can recognise their owner by their voice alone study shows
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
A study by Direct Line group in 2017 estimated that 64,000 dogs are killed annually and over 44,000 suffered severe injuries due to dog-on-dog aggression. However, inventor Peter Antonio, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, believes he’s found the solution.
A builder and private kickboxer tutor, Mr Antonio says he has done a few inventions in his time, including the “odourbuster”, which was featured on Dragon’s Den.
However, his latest invention is the first in the world of its kind, he claims.
He told Express.co.uk: “Dogfender is a defence system for our pets. It defends the dog’s most vulnerable area – its throat. Once an attacking dog has your dog by the neck, and it sinks its teeth in, it’s not got much of a chance – but having a Dogfender will eliminate that instantly.”
Users of the invention are equipped with a remote control that allows them to activate the collar if they feel their dog is under threat. Once activated, the collar will emit a short static shock if sudden pressure is applied.
Mr Antonio assured Express.co.uk the shock is enough to surprise an attacking dog, but not enough to cause it any actual harm.
He said: “It’s a 1.7 volt battery, and the shock really is no worse than you can get from when you take a static-y jumper off.”
The shock is not emitted from just brushing up against the collar – only if a sudden force is applied. After a short time, the collar will go back into standby mode, in case the owner forgets to turn it back off.
Mr Antonio’s venture into dog defence began three years ago on an otherwise normal Sunday afternoon, walking his dog Murphy, when an unfamiliar dog “viciously and brutally” attacked his pet.
“Murphy was lifeless on the floor. He was covered in blood. We took him to the vet and he was in a very bad way. I sat by him for four or five days.
“I was so angry, and that’s when I decided that this would never happen again.”
Mr Antonio took to his shed and using a few “bits and pieces” of electronics and wiring he had, he created what would become the first prototype of the Dogfender.
He said: “Six months later, Murphy had recovered, thank God, but he was still showing signs of trauma. Eventually, he found the courage to go out, but, unbelievably, he was attacked again.
This time, however, was different. Mr Antonio said: “I panicked at first, but then I remembered the collar. I pressed the button. When the dog went to bite Murphy, he suddenly screeched and ran off.
“Murphy was just looking at me like, what just happened? And then I thought, my God, this actually just saved my dog’s life.”
Three years later, and Mr Antonio has refined his invention and had tested by professional dog walkers. He said he was in talks with American police for their dogs, and plans for the collar to become commercially available by April.
Safoora Mian-Cudmore, from Bristol, told Express.co.uk that her whippet Kenzo was attacked by two “terrifying” greyhounds in a park.
She added that she was “shocked” at how little was being done to tackle violent dogs, and that it seemed to happen to “an awful lot of dog owners”.
Ms Mian-Cudmore said that she would certainly want to try out Mr Antonio’s invention, as she felt “helpless” to respond.
Polly from Islington added that her poodle Hattie had been attacked on multiple occasions and said that she would “happily” give the invention a try.
