Taking out a dog

[tubular031]

A few nights ago my girl and I were out walking our dog around the neighborhood. My dog is a little 20lb corgi. We are just walking around minding our own business and here comes a rather big lab type dog running to get to us. I quickly pull my dog back and put my hand on my gun. I did not draw but was ready to if I needed. Thankfully the dog was very friendly and just wanted to say hi to us. This got me thinking, what if the dog attacked us? Would that be a case to pull and shoot? I know Rick Perry got off on his coyote shooting but he is higher on the food chain than us little “common “ people.

[dicion]

A few nights ago my girl and I were out walking our dog around the neighborhood. My dog is a little 20lb corgi. We are just walking around minding our own business and here comes a rather big lab type dog running to get to us. I quickly pull my dog back and put my hand on my gun. I did not draw but was ready to if I needed. Thankfully the dog was very friendly and just wanted to say hi to us. This got me thinking, what if the dog attacked us? Would that be a case to pull and shoot? I know Rick Perry got off on his coyote shooting but he is higher on the food chain than us little “common “ people.

First off, This is all my opinion.

This has been debated before on here, but I believe the general consensus was, if the dog was potentially going to attack, and was reasonably considered to be able to cause injury, then you are well within your rights to defend yourself from it. I say 'injury' because you don't know if a dog has rabies, or is trained as an attack dog, or has flesh eating bacteria in it's mouth. A small bite could be just as fatal as a large bite. So it doesn't have to be able to cause 'serious' or 'fatal' injury.

Now use common sense, if a dachshund wobbles up to you, and starts yipping at you incessantly... I wouldn't consider that 'potentially going to attack', but if the same dachshund charges you, teeth bared, and lunges for your ankles... I'd consider it valid to shoot.

Lots of places have leash laws, and being off of a leash is more justification for your side of the story if you do have to shoot one.

Now, be prepared for a VERY not happy owner, if you do shoot their dog. I believe there was a story about someone shooting a dog, and so it's owner pulled a gun and shot the guy defending himself for it mentioned somewhere.

[CaptWoodrow10]

You might consider carrying pepper spray for this very reason. Hitting a relatively small rapidly moving object can be pretty difficult given the surge of adrenaline you will probably be experiencing, and I would wager a good pepper spay would be extremely effective on dogs.

[Purplehood]

You might consider carrying pepper spray for this very reason. Hitting a relatively small rapidly moving object can be pretty difficult given the surge of adrenaline you will probably be experiencing, and I would wager a good pepper spay would be extremely effective on dogs.

I fully agree.

You prepare for going shopping, eating-out and all the daily things that go on in your life by checking your wallet, your keys, your CHL and your concealed firearm.
Why not prepare for walking the dog by also carrying Pepper-spray? If it proves ineffective and the animal does truly prove a threat after using it, you can always argue that you tried to use the non-lethal alternative. Usually the spray will work.

P.S. I was a mailman for a year or so...

[tubular031]

This dog was a rather big dog. maybe 75 pounds or so. Standing next to it its head went to my mid section. So as it was running up to me I was pretty scared. Once it got to us I realized it was just a big goofy dog looking to play.

Yes if a little foot ball sized dog came to me I would not be verry scared since I can easly punt it or hold it back.

Good point on the upset owner. Did not think of that.

I was once in the middle of a dog fight. 2 40 ish pound dogs and they owned me. I tried to break them up (NOT smart..) and the 2 of them over powered me and tossed me like i was nothing. Any dog that is 40 ish plus pounds is much stonger than you would think.

Maybe I need to add some pepper spray to my EDC package. I got so many things and my girl is always making fun of me because I carry lots of things.

[E.Marquez]

If attacked, two or four legged critter and you are in fear for your safety, cannot deescalate though less then lethal means, I believe lethal force is authorized.
The local sheriff’s office agrees with me..... I had to shoot a loose, aggressive dog a few weeks ago.

My dogs are as much of my life as my kids and wife... I have a harder time shooting a dog then a person.., but 2 or 4 legs,, you come at me or the family with a malicious intent... shot you are gona get.

As pointed out... if an ankle biter "attacked" I’d punt the thing before shooting it.. partly as I don’t want to shoot my own foot trying to hit a fast moving 3 pound tea cup poodle, partly because I do not personally fear for my life at the damage a dog like that could generally inflect That said.. if I saw signs of a sick 3 pound poodle coming at me... ya,, I'd shoot rather than punt..

[Tass]

Hot button issue for me. A number of people in my subdivision do not keep their dogs confined to their own yards. My female corgi has been attacked while she was on leash. The first 2 times were by a female (intact) husky mix. This dog was dog-aggressive and actively stalked other dogs. She actually circled back around some cars to attack my dog from behind. My dog is a performance dog and is 28 lbs of solid muscle. She held her ground and I was able to break it up enough to pick her up and take her home.

More recently, another neighbor with 3 small, yappy dogs didn't think they needed to be on leash while they were loose in his open garage. The 8 lb. pomeranian/long hair chihuahua-ish looking dog came bolting out of the garage as we approached the house (we were on the sidewalk). (After the previous attacks I am always looking out for trouble.) I saw the yellow blur and just picked my dog up (granted, she's a load...), but I told the guy to get his dog. He just looked at me with his dog trying to climb my leg (I'd have punted it across the street, but his 5 year old was in the garage also). Finally after several demands that he get his dog off me I threatened him that I would put my dog down (she was spitting mad) and since she's on leash, anything that happened would be entirely his responsibility. He finally got his dog.

Thanks to these two families, I now have a highly reactive dog (I also have a hot-shot ).

Tass

[mbw]

I am one of the older bunch and I walk my dog every day, generally around soccer and baseball fields. I have a Pit that weighs 85lbs and you would not believe what he is capable of doing to another dog. I go to great lengths to avoid any dog fights for that reason. That is a very small part of my background, now to answer your questions-

1. Always be aware of your surroundings. Do not let anyone or any dog sneak up on you.
2. If threatened, your dog is small enough to pick up.
3. Pepper spray may work on curious dogs; it will probably not work on a dog intent on attack of either you or your dog.
4. Carry a “Stray Dog Discouragement Device”. I carry a 2” diameter ash pole that is about 8’ long. I can and have, deterred any dog including the 100lb Lab that runs loose in our neighborhood.

No kidding, I cannot imagine any situation where I would try to shoot 1 dog attacking either myself or my dog. Multiple animals attacking a helpless individual are a different story entirely.

[BoogieDad]

I don't recommend taking out a dog. I've done it a couple of times when I was younger. It's all good until you wake up with it in the morning

[The Annoyed Man]

I've always been more worried about what my dog is going to do to the other dog. As for myself, I'll shoot an attacking dog if I have to, but I'd rather avoid it if possible.

[glbedd53]

I would have no problem with it in the morning if it was the right breed of dog. When I was in high school my mother was walking our little mutt and an out of control German Shep ran up and chomped down on him and killed him right there. The owner was good about it but it still shouldn't have been allowed to happen. I became a regular on that road after that hoping to get a chance to run him over but it never happened. Certain breeds should never be allowed to run loose because they are just aggressive breeds, and no, it doesn't matter how they're raised. The only reservation I would have about shooting is the worry about where that bullet goes after it hits or misses the dog.

[JNMAR]

I don't recommend taking out a dog. I've done it a couple of times when I was younger. It's all good until you wake up with it in the morning

Cheap date, huh?

[glbedd53]

That's when you need that serrated blade.

[lonewolf]

Years ago, when I lived out in the boonies with the ex and three babies/toddlers, we had a huge problem with packs of roaming, virtually feral dogs. I contacted animal control (county) and the sheriff's department and was told I was perfectly within my rights to shoot them if they came on my property and behaved in a harassing/menacing manner. The sheriff's department did add that as a courtesy, if I happened to think about it, to please give them a call in case someone else called in about gunfire.......

I never had to shoot one, as they were actually pretty smart. Have to be smart to survive......I had one of those super duper wrist rocket slingshots and a bucket of 1/2" ball bearings. Hit a dog in the slats with one of those and he knows to stay away. You know its a good hit when you hear the "Thunk" and then the loud yelp. Yep, smart dogs. They made a wide path around my place.

In case anyone is wondering, yes I like dogs. Good companions and friends. Just don't much care for packs of feral dogs roaming my property chasing my steer and not making it safe for the children to be outside.

[glbedd53]

I like dogs too and have owned many. But there is a difference between a dog that's a friend and companion and dog breeds that are well known to be unstable and aggressive and often attack people, especially kids and other animals. I have a 2 year old grandaughter that we take out in the yard and it wouldn't bother me in the least to let the air out of a Pit, or a Rott or a Doberman if I thought it was a threat, especially on my property. I live in a good neighborhood and we don't have many problems but there are a couple of girls that walk a pitbull on a leash, and if I ever see it off that leash there is gonna be a problem.