Yesterday a neighbor's 80-100lb American Bulldog got out of their yard and attacked my son and small dog.
My wife and 2.5yo son were outside playing in the front yard and this dog came out of nowhere and knocked him over. Fortunately he happened to be wearing his bike helmet so he did not hurt his head. The dog was on top of my son and my wife ripped him off of him, my son did not get bit (I think because of his helmet again). That's when our 15lb dog jumped in to defend and the other dog got him by the neck.
I was working at the table and ran outside as soon as I heard her scream. He had my dog by the throat and would not let go. I managed to choke him enough to get him to release and got him into my garage.
I did not have time to stop by my bedroom to get my pistol out of the quick-access safe and I stopped carrying at home years ago.
My son and wife and I all ended up with minor bumps and scrapes but my dog was pretty badly hurt, he got immediate vet treatment and is doing fine.
This incident was really eye-opening and while I was holding this dog I wished I had a gun but realized that if I had taken the time to go to my bedroom to get one my dog could have been already bleeding out.
I have thought about sticking a quick-access safe on the table right next to our front door but my wife was never into the idea and it didn't seem necessary. We both now agree that it is necessary.
So that being said, what would you put in the safe for large dog and potential human threats?
Long guns are out because I need something one-handed.
I am thinking about a Shield 45, then I also have another CCW option.
Good thinking.My concern about using a gun in this situation is that a dog in a fight can move so quickly that you could miss from 2 feet away. Or, as you try to aim at a quickly moving dog you might accidentally point the gun toward another person.
All of that is true in many places, and some of it is true everywhere.I live in a small town. Discharging a firearm within city limits is highly restricted. Even if restrictions are met I am responsible for ALL collateral damage
Same here.I am armed every time I go outside (CCW). That is my last not my first resort.
I think that anything you do that hurts it but doesn't result in instant death (including knifing it) could cause the dog to bite down. To be clear, I'm not arguing for using a firearm in the situation, just pointing out that I don't think there's anything that's going to be a sure solution that has no chance of causing the attacking dog to bite down harder unless it kills the animal instantly. In fact, even if it does instantly, unless it's a no-reflex kill, there's still the chance of a reflexive/paroxysmal bite-down as the dog dies.I also don't advise the use of a bat or golf club as this might cause the attacking dog to bite harder on your dog, possibly puncturing something vital.
How often do dog packs bring down livestock? I had large stray dogs follow and barking at me before, so I'm getting pepper spray.
I truly question any and all who state the gun to be "the" solution.Op-Sorry to hear about your trouble.
Any gun will work fine on dogs. If that's not an option, my best advice is that dogs have vulnerable necks and backs .
So do I!I truly question any and all who state the gun to be "the" solution.
And how about the one that misses?Where is that OVERPENETRATING BULLET GOING ?.
That does seem to be the case.Little thought put into the belief that a "bullet" is the solution to this issue.
Wouldn't you think that depends on the specific situation ?I truly question any and all who state the gun to be "the" solution.
Well, I guess there would be countless variables involved with the answer to that question . I would recommend if someone was loaded specifically for canine defense a proper projectile be selected. 44 magnum probably would be a poor choice. Although in my opinion overpenetration is blown way out of proportion , I've asked before if anyone could produce information with regards to civilian shootings where a projectile overpenetrated (not missed) the target and harmed a bystander- I've yet to get a relevant response .Where is that OVERPENETRATING BULLET GOING ?.
And some underpenetrate , that's just how things go. Gel isn't intended to be a simulated flesh and bone body, simply a consistent media to measure performance of one cartridge to another. You can push your finger right up to the knuckle in gel without much trouble- you'd have to be the witch doctor from Indiana Jones to do that on a living critter.And if you watch any 'gel' video's ,you will see that most any round WILL over penetrate !.
I suppose the police that shoot dogs may disagree.Little thought put into the belief that a "bullet" is the solution to this issue
I'm sure it would work fine. But so would just about anything with some mass to it.Best weapon / tool I ever saw deployed was a framers hammer to the head of a pit bull that was latched onto a BIG dog.
That I agree with.I truly question any and all who state the gun to be "the" solution.
Having shot plenty of animals, ranging anywhere from 1 to 2000+ lbs, in the head at point blank range, I can attest that a bullet to the head, at the correct angle, regardless of caliber, will rarely over-penetrate. Now, if the angle is wrong, or if it misses (obviously), then we have a problem, but saying it "WILL" over-penetrate is not an accurate statement.Where is that OVERPENETRATING BULLET GOING ?.
And if you watch any 'gel' video's ,you will see that most any round WILL over penetrate !.
Here are some better ideas that will not create a risk of shooting someone or being charged with the serious crime of public endangerment:So after having given this much thought and reading everyone's responses I think the solution is just to have my j-frame on me whenever we're out of the house and readily accessible inside
Here are some better ideas that will not create a risk of shooting someone or being charged with the serious crime of public endangerment:
https://www.wikihow.com/Protect-Yourself-from-Dogs-While-Walking
I carry a gun, but I sure don't want to have to use it.
I see this statement a lot on this forum. I'm curious about it and what is actually meant by it (specifically as it relates to your OP). When you say "last resort", do you mean that, in the specific scenario you described in the OP, you'd try other things first? What would they be? I can tell you that if I experienced the same thing as you, in my neighborhood, meaning a larger dog had attacked my kid, my wife had kicked the dog off (and both wife and kid were out of the way at that point) and the dog then had my dog by the throat, a gun would be my very first resort, not the last. Trying other things, in that scenario, seems like a waste of time.As in all scenarios, the gun would be my last resort.
So after having given this much thought and reading everyone's responses I think the solution is just to have my j-frame on me whenever we're out of the house and readily accessible inside.
I had stopped carrying when we walked the dog around the neighborhood bc the chances of me getting mugged in my neighborhood are insanely low,
I see this statement a lot on this forum. I'm curious about it and what is actually meant by it (specifically as it relates to your OP). When you say "last resort", do you mean that, in the specific scenario you described in the OP, you'd try other things first? What would they be? I can tell you that if I experienced the same thing as you, in my neighborhood, meaning a larger dog had attacked my kid, my wife had kicked the dog off (and both wife and kid were out of the way at that point) and the dog then had my dog by the throat, a gun would be my very first resort, not the last. Trying other things, in that scenario, seems like a waste of time.