My wife, our infant, and two charging pitbulls

[trapperjohn]

I post this partly as a rant, and partly for advice.
My wife, baby (12 months) and I live in a very rural area. the other day, when I was at work, My wife wanted some exercise, and needed some groceries. Being nice out, she decided to run to the general store about 1.5 miles up the road from us. My wife put our daughter in a jogger, which amounts to a 3 wheel all terrain stroller, straps on her .45 caliber STI ranger ( 6 shots) and proceeds to jog up to the general store.
the general store is located in what cant rerally even be considered a town, but rather a collection of maybe a dozen houses. As she passes one of the houses 2 pit bull mixes charge her snarling and showing teeth. Sarah (my wife) takes a stance and gets a grip on her 45. For some reason the dogs stop about 3 yards out and roll over on to their backs. I do not know if it was because she took a stance and established dominance somehow or what. Regardless, she was able to make it without 'incident'.
the next day we ran into a nieghbor and mentioned the dogs. His response was that they are bad dogs, that originally their were 3 of them and he had shot one just the other day. He also stated that at least one other person had been bit by them. I asked about the owners and found out that really "nobody" owned them, but that 3 local families kept food out for them. The orignal owner is now in prison. I do now know what he is in for. But all these indicators point to dogs you wouldnt want people to be around.
As it now stands I do not want my wife walking to the store anymore . I do not think she is a match for 2 aggressive dogs armed only with a 6 shot pistol. It irks me greatly that my wife can no longer walk to the store because of a couple of dogs no one is responsible for. I'm sure its a bad idea and will not do so, but i have toyed with the ide of walking to the store myself well armed and shooting them both if they charge me. honestly, I would love to have them wonder onto my property sometime when I am home.

 

[1911 guy]

Do the two step.

Step one, call animal control so you can say your butt is covered. Step two, take a walk to the store with an armed friend. This is your family we're talking about. Besides that, what if the next person to happen by is a kid? Oh, and by the way, shame one people who feed loose strays. Take them in or have the warden come get them.

 

[TallPine]

Amazing what some people consider "very rural" ... and you have a store only 1.5 miles away....?

The nearest store to us is a gas station & convenience store at the intersection of 2 hiways about 17 miles by road from our house. I consider us then to be pretty "rural" but to someone living in the Alaskan bush I suppose we are positively suburban

Back on topic, if it was around here I would just shoot the damn dogs (taking care to either be on my own property or a public right of way). But we have no such thing as "animal control" out here - which means we also rarely have problem dogs because someone shoots them as soon as they look like they might be a problem.

Funny how much better off we are with virtually no govt out here

Oh, and don't take chances - use a 12 guage

 

[halvey]

If you are in a "very rural" area, usually you can just call the Sheriff's dept. They'll tell you what you can do, and you'll probably be suprised.

 

[Kurt_M]

Take a walk with a 12 gauge and a buddy with the same. If anyone aks, you were out bird hunting. Not your fault the dogs attacked.

 

[EmGeeGeorge]

Call animal control-the SPCA, whomever, but don't go looking to shoot the dogs... "Best" case you kill two dogs that may not be vicious, just obnoxious and curios... worst case, you or your buddy start shooting shotguns at each other as you try to hit two dogs... that are mauling you...

 

[Gunpacker]

Man those are smart dogs. They learned what a gun can do when only one of them was shot. Surrendering to a .45 is especially smart.

 

[V4Vendetta]

I was thinking of moving to Alaska. What's it like? Is it really cold? What area is the most deserted? I don't like living around lots of people. Is it expensive?

 

[joab]

Sarah (my wife) takes a stance and gets a grip on her 45. For some reason the dogs stop about 3 yards out and roll over on to their backs. I do not know if it was because she took a stance and established dominance somehow or what.

Here's a thought.
They weren't charging!

They were simply coming in to say hello and displayed classic subservient posture.

If it had been Benji dogs the gun would probably have never even come out

 

[trapperjohn]

Here's a thought.
They weren't charging!

They were simply coming in to say hello and displayed classic subservient posture.

If it had been Benji dogs the gun would probably have never even come out

thanks for your advice
Please note the other sentences from my post

[pit bull mixes charge her snarling and showing teeth/QUOTE]

He also stated that at least one other person had been bit by them

since when is snarling and tooth showing subserviant behavior?

If it had been Benji dogs the gun would probably have never even come out

Do you make it a habit of guessing the intentions of people you know nothing about?

My wife happens to love large dogs and has been around them all of her life. the breed had little, if any to do with her actions. it was behavior, coupled with the ability of the dogs to KILL a small child if they so desired.

 

[Pilgrim]

Sarah (my wife) takes a stance and gets a grip on her 45. For some reason the dogs stop about 3 yards out and roll over on to their backs. I do not know if it was because she took a stance and established dominance somehow or what.

Your wife's aggressive stance is what confused the dogs. They were expecting a display of fear and didn't get one.

Pilgrim

 

[Jeeper]

It is hard if not impossible to tell the intentions of any dog unless you know that dog. One of my dogs shows its teeth and growls when it wants to play. The same exact actions out of my other dog means that it is about to attack. Your wife did the smart thing. A lot of predators dont know what to do when the prey doesnt run. I remember seeing a baby lion not know what to do when the gazelle stopped running.

 

[dakotasin]

i live in a rural area. i had a situation like yours, except it was w/ rott mixes. 12 gauge dumped 2 when they first charged, 22-250 and a coyote call got 1 a week later (because i missed the other), and my f-150 paired w/ my 1911 got the last of 'em about 2 weeks after that. and, i'd do it again, except i wouldn't miss w/ the rifle next time, or i'd be a little quicker w/ the shotgun the first time.

 

[V4Vendetta]

I believe that there are no bad dogs. Just bad owners. Just like there are no bad guns. Just bad folks with guns. My dad a doberman for 12 years & it was as sweet as can be. I had a chow-chow for 6 blessed years until it died earlier this year. I loved that dog like family. It was never mean or even bark unless it saw a deer. I hope that my next dog is that good.

 

[ArmedBear]

If they rolled over on their backs, chances are they wanted affection. Human-aggressive dogs don't suddenly show the canine species' most EXTREME submission gesture. There is no more submissive communication from a dog than to roll onto its back. In canine language, this means "I pose no threat to you. Please don't hurt me!" or it means the dog wants a belly rub, which is affectionate submission.

Their snarling and growling can be a display of excitement. Pitbulls are a breed derived from terriers and bulldogs, hence the breed name "American Pit Bull Terrier". Their gestures can be bulldog-like and their excitement is like a terrier's. Think of a Bulldog's facial expressions and a Jack Russell's energy. They can be hard to "read" because the results are often not what we are used to if we know other dog breeds. They can be VERY socially inept but still sweet. I've been tackled by a big male who knocked me backward, held me down on the floor and wouldn't stop licking my face. If I didn't know the breed pretty well, I'd have been in fear for my life.

I don't blame you for being concerned. However, pitbulls are probably the most misunderstood breed of any dog.

The breed standard absolutely forbids human aggression. A true APBT makes one of the world's worst guard dogs, because the dog will often show affection to anyone, even a burglar. Our APBT even loves the mail man, and strains at her leash, smiling and wagging her tail, wanting to say hi. She is aggressively affectionate, and wants everyone at street fairs to pet her.

Sadly, dirtbag breeders and scum who beat the dogs have raised some dangerous dogs. The dogs are athletic and strong. It is good to be cautious.

It is also important to remember that the Pit Bull is the "Assault Weapon" of the dog world. The press LOVES to throw around "pitbull" to make headlines, no matter how irresponsible.

Here's a good group with information: http://www.badrap.org/rescue/

Contact them with specific questions.

 

[joab]

He also stated that at least one other person had been bit by them

Have you spoken to the other person or do you routinely accept the "I know someone who said" therory of definitive proof

pit bull mixes charge her snarling and showing teeth/

Or possibly just something that was interpreted as snarling and showing teeth. It's very hard for a pit to run without it's big lips flapping and showing teeth

Do you make it a habit of guessing the intentions of people you know nothing about?

The oldest and lamest argument on the net.
What you mean to say is "How dare you not blindly agree with my wife's actions, that I did not witness but have no problem in interpreting"

the breed had little, if any to do with her actions.

Uh Huh

My wife, our infant, and two charging pitbulls

Not two chaging dogs

The fact that the dogs rolled belly up proves without a shadow of a doubt that they were not attacking.

Under no circumstances that I know of would an aggressive dog do this. If the attack was broken off because they had had enough firearms training to recognize the threat of the pistol they would have crept sideways trying to flank her or they would have backed off eyeing her.

Any one that had been around large dogs all their life would know this

If the issue was
"I saw this ghetto looking biker hippy type quickly walking towards me so I pulled my gun and he stopped 3 yards short and got in his mother's car "nobody would be applauding your tacticality

Just my opinion, that's all.
You can unbunch them shorts now

 

[trapperjohn]

Im sorry Joab, I guess I should realize that a dog is a dog, poodle, terrier, pit bull, all the same.

Now that you have been able to determine that these dogs are harmless and only wanted some lovin, why don't you tell us all what a young lady with an infant should do if she sees 2 large canines (standard poodles, or beagles on steroids maybe) running at her, APPARANTLY aggressively?

 

[1911 guy]

Pet psychics

Kinda funny how we're all dog analysts when it's the other guys wife and kid on the receiving end.

My neighbor had a dog that would wag tail and walk in circles when I was outside. Snarled and got his back up at my wife when it thought I wasn't looking. Told the neighbor to tie his dog up. He didn't, so I shot it. Yeah, I like dogs, but like my family better.

 

[EmGeeGeorge]

Call the SPCA or Sheriff or local animal control... If you haven't done this yet, it shows the indication that one is "looking for trouble"... Your wife was lucky. Why tempt fate. Call the authorities. If you are just the type of person who wants to kill an animal, then go ahead, but don't look for justification in "what ifs"...

 

[1911 guy]

Getting a little tired of this.

My short story was written here on THR a while back when the incident with the neighbors dog happened. I talked to the neighbor, I called animal control. They weren't interested because nobody had been bitten yet!? So it can be reasonably said that I was not looking for a reason to shoot the dog. Neither is Trapperjohn, that's why he's looking for advice on how to handle it. Guess qhat? Not all us gun owners are maniacal killers. Some of us just preffer to take care of our families and not let an animal, two or four legged, threaten them.

 

[riverdog]

Taking everything at face value, I also think the dog's canine behavior of rolling onto their back is a good sign they weren't intending to be aggressive. That said, I think your wife did the right thing. Sometimes it's hard to read some dogs which is why your wife's firearm and stance were appropriate.

Walking down the street to bait them and shoot them is probably not appropriate.

 

[ArmedBear]

Im sorry Joab, I guess I should realize that a dog is a dog, poodle, terrier, pit bull, all the same.

Now that you have been able to determine that these dogs are harmless and only wanted some lovin, why don't you tell us all what a young lady with an infant should do if she sees 2 large canines (standard poodles, or beagles on steroids maybe) running at her, APPARANTLY aggressively?

For one thing, carry dog repellent. Then you can use it without hesitation. If the dog isn't really trying to hurt you, then your relationship with your neighbor will be far better than if you shot the dog.

A truly aggressive dog probably won't be deterred by a gunshot wound, BTW.

It would be unwise of anyone to have a gun out on my property. When you're dead, no one will know if you pointed it at me or at the dog. But I don't let my dog run around loose, either.

 

[ArmedBear]

Taking everything at face value, I also think the dog's canine behavior of rolling onto their back is a good sign they weren't intending to be aggressive. That said, I think your wife did the right thing. Sometimes it's hard to read some dogs which is why your wife's firearm and stance were appropriate.

Walking down the street to bait them and shoot them is probably not appropriate.

Unless you want to prove that you're a real man, or something .

 

[EmGeeGeorge]

call the county business office, file a complaint that nothing is being done about these potentially dangerous strays... do the same with the sheriff's office... that way if something happens where you have to respond, you are covered and the city/county/state is liable for what happens... postal workers carry pepper spray too...

 

[1911 guy]

Ladies and Gentlemen, Logic has left the building.

Posted by ArmedBear:
It would be unwise of anyone to have a gun out on my property. When you're dead, no one will know if you pointed it at me or at the dog.

But it's wrong to shoot a dog? 'splain me that one.