Had to pepper spray 3 dogs today

[Jim March]

Sir Galahad,

I'm not saying you shouldn't defend yourself, or that you HAVE to "read the dog's mind".

That said, if a dog is bounding up to you purely because he's playful and friendly, it's a damned shame if somebody mistakes that for aggression and kills the poor thing.

I've watched a lot of videos of dog attacks, I've played with a LOT of dogs in parks and such plus owned several myself as a kid, and I've never seen a dog get aggressive from a tongue-out expression. If a dog is worried, or puzzles, or anything similar, he retracts the tongue. In other words, I'm not saying "no tongue means he's going to bite" - not hardly. What I'm saying is, if the tongue is flopping around loose, he has zero aggressive intent, at least at that moment. If he gets the idea you're a threat, the tongue will get sucked in. If he's puzzled by your behavior, the tongue will come in. Doesn't necessarily mean he'll bite.

Some of the data I'm working from comes from watching dogs approach my ferrets. ALL were at a minimum puzzled by them, and hence no tongue. Dozens of times, they realized the ferts were playful and would bound around with 'em...and every single time, out came that doggy tongue.

Ferret body language is quite different from dogs. VERY different. The only real similarity is the "play bow" stance, but it's close enough that (most)dogs understand it when they see it, hence rather hilarious play sessions sometimes happen even when the dog has never seen a skinnykitty before.

 

[brownie0486]

Out walking my Akita [ now gone to doggie heaven two weeks ago at 12 1/2 yrs old ] one night for her late night relief.

On leash, on the sidewalk. Dog visiting the neighbors house [ wifes daughter and husband were on the lawn in plain view ] rushes me and mine.

I tight leash her to my thigh for control as she wants to protect me from the onrushing dog. The mutt was threatening/menacing real good running in circles around us looking for an opening.

I yelled to the owners to get their dog back onto the property. They both stand there and do nothing. I yell again that if they don't grab the bitch I'll kill it.

The guy says something like "oh ya, I don't think so".

I pull the 380 NAA from the front pocket and point it at the dog, all the time circling to keep the dog in front of us. My Akita is doing what I want her to do and thats nothing while tight leashed [ daddy's got control here ]. We were dancing pretty quick at this time.

The guy sees the 380 and says I better not shoot his dog. He moves in and takes the dog back to the yard by the collar. I put the 380 back into my pocket. He says he's calling the police. I tell him go right ahead.

I finishe the walk with mine, which took us back by the house on the oposite side of the street from their property.

Cops show up as I'm getting to my house. They talk to the neighbors and then over to my driveway. Want to know what happened.

I simply stated that their dog was menacing me and mine and the owner refused to getr it under control with a few warnings. Then the part about the piece coming out. They laughed and and went back to the neighbors for more discussion.

I know what they told them in so many words or less [ the cops know who I am and the background ]. Neighbor called the wife the next day and bitched to her.

Got home, heard about the call, got the PD back to my house and over to the neighbors with the cruiser and an officer. Told the lady file all the complaints she wants to. The next time her daughter visits and the dog rushes me I'll kill it immediately. Cop tells her the dog is supposed to be leashed and I'm within my rights if endangered by the dog.

Never saw the daughter or the dog there again next door. They were terrified I was pointing the muzzle in the dogs face. Don't think they expected when I said I would kill it that I actually had something that would get the job done PDQ.

My Akita was 95 pounds, solid as a rock, but I would not let her ever fight others dogs for fear she could be injured and then I'd get real angry. She wanted to go but was not allowed to. She knew what the short leash meant to us [ I have the control and would protect her ].


Brownie

 

[coldshot03/04]

My dogs get sprayed by the meter man every month.

 

[TheeBadOne]

Good job/outcome brownie. Sometimes you wonder if there shouldn't be some kind of standard in order to own a pet...

 

[brownie0486]

TheeBadOne:

The owner/visitor [ son in law to owner of house ] was smiling the whole time while he was letting me do the "dance" with mine on the walkway.

He wasn't smiling when he saw I was ready to end his relationship with the poor dog PDQ. Moved right on out to the walkway and grabbed the beast under protest about the gun pointing at his dogs head.

This probably could not have happened as it did if mine wasn't such a "lady" when on the short leash. Hard to control a big dog with one hand and deal with anothers dog and the gun at the same time unless mine was being "good" about the whole affair.

Thanks for the comments.

Brownie

 

[JShirley]

Brownie,

Sorry 'bout losing your baby. Glad to hear you had so many good years, though.

John

 

[TamThompson]

I have to wonder how many idiot's final words are something like "Go ahead, SHOOT me!" said in a very taunting tone because they think you won't/can't do it. Or maybe it's the last thing some dogs hear, just because they're unfortunate enough to have an irresponsible jerk of an owner.

 

[Iain]

To my mind owning a dog is a terrific responsibility, we take our responibility with the dog very seriously. Far too many people around where we live don't. We used to have a pet rabbit that was killed by my drug dealing (now in prison) neighbours dogs after they broke into our garden at night.

What did they say to us to apologise? ''We'll get you another rabbit.'' Which summed up their attitude to animals in one sentence.

 

[brownie0486]

John :

I've had many dogs in the 50+ yrs I've been around, many well trained and others just naturally protective in the home.

The Akita [ named Akasha ] that I just put down was of the latter. She was so subtle about protecting momma around strangers when dad wasn't around people never noticed her body language as "watching" them.

She was a good old girl who gave everything we could ever want in a dog and now rests on my fireplace mantel in a custom urn, she goes where we go from now to eternity.

In the earlier related instance, if the dog was aggressing on me alone the gun would not have been needed. I was actually protecting my best friend from any harm.

I owed her so much over the 12 years, it was the least I could do.

Thanks for the thoughts, much appreciated sir.

Brownie

 

[Iain]

Brownie -

I also would like to add my sympathies that such an obviously loved dog passed on.

I love my dog for many of the same reasons you loved yours. Not sure how I am ever going to replace the boy.

Iain.

 

[brownie0486]

Iain:

Thanks for the thoughts. She was the daughter we never had.

I once had a man threaten the wife and dog while walking.

After I approached him, his first comment was " I didn't threaten your wife". I replied he could threaten her all he wanted but if he ever touched the dog he'd be cold forever.

Mess with the wife, maybe.
Mess with the dog, ya get what ya get and it won't be pretty.

Luckily the wife understood my meaning.

Brownie

 

[Jim March]

Brownie: the only thing I'd have done different would be to draw and fire in one smooth stroke. The first indication that fool would have had that I was armed with a gun would be when he heard the shot, and it would have gone right into that dog's brainpan.

Not only would I have gotten out of it in one piece, so would whoever gets chewed by that thing eventually .

 

[Sir Galahad]

Jim, it's like this. I don't want to read a dog's mind. I shouldn't have to. I don't like dogs ever since being attacked by the one I killed. I especially don't like people thinking I want to play with their dog. It's at times like that I'd love to have a pet cougar completely NOT de-fanged or de-clawed and say, "Here, let MY pet play with YOU!" I resent people who think I am entertainment for their pets or children. As far as I'm concerned, a person with an unleashed dog already doesn't care about the health and safety of his animal. Unleashed dogs kill native animals off the hiking trails here and the owners think it's funny. "Oh, look how Bounder is playing with that baby rabbit!" What utter BS!!!! My birds don't go around demanding total strangers play with them or biting strangers or crapping in someone else's yard. So what makes a dog owner think he has that right to force that on me? I won't second guess my observation on a dog I feel threatens me. I've seen bad dog bites and that's not happening to me. Owner gets one warning about his dog and that's it.

 

[Psssniper]

well ......I would have shot them all

You're more humane than I

 

[Sir Galahad]

"I say we drink the wine, eat the dogs, and use the papers for musket wadding!" "Eat the dogs?!" "Mmmm..a dog is a fine meal."

 

[brownie0486]

Jim,

Being a dog person I try to give them as much of a break as possible. I wasn't of the impression the dog wanted me, but it wanted my dog for sure. First and only thought was to protect my dog, my safety being second at that time to my baby.

The owner, well, he could have taken one much quicker if it wasn't against the law to kill a$$holes.

Know it was taking a chance not putting it down immediately and as well, letting the guy know I had a piece could have been messy if he had his own weapon [ gun ].

Took those risks without thinking much about it. Had a lot going on between controling mine, watching the other dog and keeping the owner in sight.

I suppose in the final analysis I was lucky in a few different ways. Luck has played a major part in my life, hope it never runs out.

Brownie

 

[JShirley]

Hm. Jumped a fence quick, fast, and in a hurry years ago, when it seemed a large dog was about to get rough with my 5 mo old American Eskimo. After I jumped the fence I realized it was a really large dog.



John

 

[tex_n_cal]

part-time job in college delivering pizzas...the lady of the house invites me in, I put the pizza on the dining table, she pays me and tips me, I thank her, turn around and step on the front foot of a black Great Dane, who had silently walked up behind me.

Dog and I both jump backwards about 30 feet. Lady says it's okay, dog sheepishly walks up and allows her giant self to be petted.

It's rather startling turning and meeting a black Great Dane.

 

[dance varmint]

I carry OC religiously when biking, and I've used it mulitiple times on some rides with great effect. One day my 2 oz can ran out on me, so carry a reload. I have a 4 oz can attached with self-adhesive velcro to the top tube. I hope the dog owners take note as I ride by.