Long post on dogs, guns and defense.

[coonan357]

when I got my male rott 12 years ago the intention was a dog to keep the wife company and a security companion , when I got the female several weeks later . the intentions where as a pet to keep the other company , the male rot went to obiedence school and training and the female went thru obediene only . needless to say they where my best freinds I ever had as at the time I was living in a "bad section " of town .I never once had to ask them to defend my property they felt it was theres to begin with . when i got divorced from my wife I gave her custody of the dogs but not the command words . when I heard the female passed I was heartbroken as this dog bonded to me .I was more hurt later when I found out my ex let the dog suffer from her cancer than put her down . the male he earned my keep in my book as the person she left me for was abussive and one day tried to take a swing at her in the presece of him . needless to say the idiot wound up with a broken arm and some bite marks . they tried to put the dog down but she put a stop to it (by pressing assualt charges ) and the neighbors where basically witnesses as to what went on . (they had several calls already for DB) but the furballs action made her finally realize why I did what I did with him in training . I admit now that these two where kind of like kids , spoiled in a way but I knew that if it came down to giving up there lives for mine it would happen . I miss them both dearly the male passed away not to long ago from old age , at least she had the decency to have him cremated and she has his ashes as a reminder of what he did . I didn't look at my dog as a tool I looked at it as a freind one I will dearly miss . the one joke after the BF incident was I asked if he had his shots and she said yes , I said good because I wouldn't want bear to catch anything from this scumbag .

And may I add it may have cost me several thousand dollars to take care of themover the period of time I had them , and the cost of buying a purebred Rot is not cheap yet alone two of them plus the cost of training . I will never look back at that as they where priceless as companions and guardians .

 

[c_yeager]

I like dogs too.

They are *NOT* members of my family.

I am willing to kill and die for members of my family. If push came to shove i would butcher my dog to feed myself. I would *NOT* commit that act with a member of my family. Seriously, if you place the value of an animal anywhere NEAR that of a member of your family you need to reevaluate either your feelings towards the animal or to your kin.

 

[dpesec]

Well, being single and with no family, my animals are my family. Even my German Shorthair, as much of a klutz and pain as he can be. We was rescued from a local maximun security prison.
My parrots, well they'll out live me so there's a trust fund in my will for their care.

Would I use force to defend them, you bet, why because if somebody is threatening them, he or she is someplace they don't belong an therefore are threatening me.

 

[MikeIsaj]

Origional post, well said. We can argue wether dogs are pets or family, it doesn't matter. The point is they need care and maintenance to be good at what they do.

I have a Black Lab who actually lay asleep in the living room while our van was stolen out of the driveway. Never made a peep. She is totally worthless as anything other than a companion but, I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Also have a German Shepherd in the house. He's a big boy and almost too defensive of his home and family. At 14 months he's still learning how to regulate his efforts. Not everyone should be eaten because they are within six feet of my 13yo daughter.

Point is they earn their keep by making me comfortable at night and providing unconditional affection.

 

[Hardware]

Good dog stories in this thread and +1 to everyone for keeping it civil.

A couple of good dog stories here;

A friend of mind has three young kids and two border collies. When the kids are out playing in the fenced yard the border collies work cooperatively to keep them herded into the play area of the yard. Those are smart dogs, and have a working drive WAY too high for most folks.

Another friend of mine has a standard poodle and a standard schnauzer for family pets. They are great dogs, super friendly and not at all what you would expect a defensive dog to look like. His 14 year old daughter was taking out the trash one night while he was working late with me on a project. She was accosted by a strange man. Both dogs climbed a six foot stockade fence and came tearing down the driveway at her scream. He was real easy for the police to pick up. Seems the scraps of denim left in the driveway matched his shredded pants when they found him in the ER.

Last one, my father in law had a dog named Bear. Golden Retriever and St. Bernard cross. Well named, huge dog. My FIL was getting around on hand canes coming out of Wally world one night when he was accosted by two guys demanding cash as he was getting into his car. My FIL pulled a lead filled nightstick out of his car and broke the first guy's arm. The second guy slugged him and knocked him to the ground and started kicking him. He called for Bear who was sleeping in the back seat. Bear went through the driver's side rear window, the window was down partway and Bear shattered the rest going through. The bad guys decided to do Jesse Owens impersonations but bad guy number 2 wasn't fast enough and Bear bit him where the leg meets the butt and avulsed a huge chunk of flesh as well as opening up an arterial bleeder. Needless to say both of them were found and arrested at the ER.

Get a dog, treat it well and even if you never train it to defend chances are it will give it's all defending you.

Mark Twain said that you can take a starving dog from the street, feed it and make it prosperous and that dog will never bite you. And that is the principle difference between men and dogs.

 

[Ryder]

Interesting post. I'll have to read the rest of the thread later though. Felt a little defensive about your comments. Suppose it is because I mentioned my 140 pound dog enjoying uninvited company?

In short. She is very trim for a Neopolitan Mastiff. These dogs have to be taught nothing about attacking people. They were bred by the Romans as war dogs. She has very good instincts.

Edit - spelling, as usual I didn't have time to proofread when I was posting

I'd also add in way of clarification that not all Neos are as spoiled with attention and love as mine. There are people attempting to train them as attack dogs and I'd not trust one of those. The Neo is a guard dog and I can see how people trying to make them into something they aren't would confuse them. Hmm, I think that's what you were trying to say although I don't view my dog as a defensive tool, she just is.