so what did I do wrong tacticaly

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J

Just Jim

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So it was time to walk the dog again. I am an old gray haired man so to keep fit I walk two to five miles a day and the dog helps keep the pace so I don’t get lazy. I got my gun and flashlight along with my cell phone and dog treats and headed out. The area I walk in is along a canal next to some railroad tracks. Lots of brush and open field both and the dog loves the water.

So I am in the brushy area and a man and a woman are there along the path. Both were dressed like crap and both had short hair. The man in his twenties had colored his hair a phony blonde. The woman had a lot of metal here and there. They had large beer cans and were obviously drunk or screwed up. It being before 10am it told me they had a problem.

So as I got close they complimented the dog and ask if they could pet him. I had a twenty five foot leash on a reel so I could let him get close but as soon as he did he got very fearful and ran. The fellow was sitting with one foot against a fallen tree like he was ready to spring and the girl kept trying to gain my attention by asking me for beer money and reaching for my dog.

I told them both there was no money for them and kept moving. As the guy started to rise I reached into my pocket and put my hand on my gun. He wasn’t so drunk that he didn’t notice I had a big smile on my face. I guess I just wanted to see his face when he started his attack. He looked down at my pocket and leaned back on his foot.

The woman was still working to get my attention and looked at him wondering ,I guess.
, when he was going to jump me. The dog and I just walked on. So I immediately called the cops on my cell and was put on hold. I walked eight city blocks before I got a human voice telling me they were very busy. I made a report and walked home.

jj
 
I think first a shorter leash for your dog would help, second seeing them earlier and not getting so close. You did well, knowing you are ready to defend yourself, and this body language transmitted to these drunks.
 
I have a chocolate Lab and he is a pup(5 months) though 50 lbs. I use the long leash so he can't jerk me off balance. At 55 and well worn out I need all the help I can get. Why do you think I need a shorter leash?

You are right though I probably shouldn't have gone on past them but untill I got close I couldn't see what they were like. I have the old values and like to be friendly to people. Funny as I was walking my dog would go up to some people even though they had garden tools in their hands and he wasn't afraid. Yet when he just got close to these two he tucked tail and flat ran from them.

The dog was good warning.

jj
 
They do have a sense that seems to know when someone is tense or apprehensive .. When someone walks slow (creeps) or has a certain look, my dog can DEFINITELY pick up that something isn't right and stands at attention.. They make great companions and smarter than most think ..

About your situation.. Could have been or couldn't have been an attack waiting to happen .. You seem very prepared and I think you did the right thing.. I detest when people ask me for money (In this country) and tend to not be as friendly when answering them.. You seemed to have kept your cool! Nice job:)
 
Tactically? *Puts on Certified Mall Ninja ballcap*
Here goes:
1. You brought a dog. Never bring a dog to a gunfight. A polar bear, yes.
2. You were not in camoflauge. You must learn to blend in to your surroundings. My tac team suggests ghillie suits for early morning walks.
3. You were up 'early' - but not early enough. You were up at a tactically unsound hour. Lunchtime is safer. Three AM with NVGs is safest.
4. You did not have a tactical team as backup.
5. You did not have a tactical exit strategy. If these two suddenly opened up on you with MP5s, you would be at a loss.
6. I'm guessing you had no body armor? Major no-no. We shower with our body armor.
7. You did not have your CCW badge.


*takes off Ninja hat*

You made it through okay. Your dog probably sized up the situation right off.
I walked eight city blocks before I got a human voice telling me they were very busy
Click to expand...
That's one way to get your exercise.
Stay safe!
 
I agree that the reel leashes are great. I'm not sure why you would want a shorter one.

Good job on showing self-confidence. I think that a healthy dose of self-confidence is enough to scare off most predators.

+1 on the pocket carry. It's nice to have your hand on the gun without drawing it.
 
Keep listening to that pup of yours, it'll never lie.
Click to expand...

Unless they're telling you they haven't been fed and are very hungry. Then any dog, especially the good dogs, manage to lie like rugs. Quite accomplished at deceit when the want to be, dogs.
 
I always take note of how my dog acts around people. I use the term dog loosely. Kain is a full blooded Artic wolf. No, I'm not joking. He has been a great dog. Very friendly around most people, and he does have great people sense.

To be honest I wouldn't have let them pet my dog. I would have politely refused and ended my walk early. I think you were smart to put your hand on your weapon though. I always try to give myself an advantage if possible.

I do believe that if I found myself in a similar situation, and the two bums becoame aggressive, the situation probably would have ended rather abruptly. Nothing like a 160 lb angry wolf and a .45 to smooth out a hairy situation. You did well in my book though, just might want to consider a different route tomorrow.
 
dogs can tell...

I think my dog might be the exception... he's a west highland terrier who thinks every human on planet earth is someone he should meet, so he can get attention.

I wish he were better at IFF, because he won't back down to any creature in a fight.

If a squirrel or a ground hog invades his territory, watch out!
 
As the guy started to rise I reached into my pocket and put my hand on my gun.
Click to expand...

"This is my rifle and this is my gun...." :evil:

Seriously, this is why I have a S&W Model 640. Hammerless snubby, .38 special, and more importantly, it can be fired from inside your coat pocket without malfunctioning. Ditto for my wife's purse. I've actually practiced point shooting with it from inside the pocket of an old beat up coat that I was going to throw away. (Got me some strange looks at the range, but who cares?) What make and model gun were you carrying?

Just as an aside, I tend not to let random people walk up and pet my dog. I don't often pet strange dogs unless I'm going to have an opportunity to wash my hands before I touch my dogs. There are viral diseases that are transmissible via human hands as the vector.
 
I have a chocolate Lab and he is a pup(5 months) though 50 lbs. I use the long leash so he can't jerk me off balance. At 55 and well worn out I need all the help I can get. Why do you think I need a shorter leash?
Click to expand...
I strongly suggest you get basic obedience training for your dog before he grows much stronger. Your dog should on command return to a 'heel' position and wait patiently for your next command. You should not have to worry about being jerked off balance.

Pilgrim
 
There can be no doubt that dogs, as a first line of defense, are tuned into situations or individuals who may be problematic. My Akita, at 100 Lbs, was very mild mannered, right up until you violated "his" comfort space. Oddly enough, it was just inside the circumference of his leash. Make a furtive move towards me, he'd be introducing himself to you in a heartbeat. He didn't trust strangers, and made his position known. Thankfully, he never had to intervene on any situation we came by, but I know, without a doubt, he would have performed admirably. He lived to age 14, and left quite a void in our lives when he left us. He enriched our lives, and made us better individuals in the process.
CT
 
I strongly suggest you get basic obedience training for your dog before he grows much stronger. Your dog should on command return to a 'heel' position and wait patiently for your next command. You should not have to worry about being jerked off balance.

Pilgrim
Click to expand...

I have been working with a man that trains military and police dogs. He has been watching the progress of my training and is pleased yet he says the puppy in my dog will simmer down before too long and that Sam is one of the smartest dogs he has seen. Sam is a great dog and rarely pulls hard on the leash. It is just I have bad arthritis in my hips and any tug becomes painfull.

My gun:D I carry in a sweat shirt pocket that is made for hands to come in from both sides and I can reach it with either hand. It is a Carhart hooded sweatshirt that keeps an old geezer warm. A Smith Model 442 --38 special with Glazer ammo in it (Lite kick for arthritic hands).

jj
 
my $.02

Is that you handled the situation appropriately - you were aware, and effectively controlled the situation, mostly, I think, by communicating that awareness to the potential criminal. This is what the predatory criminal is looking for in the "interview" phase of the encounter - prey that is unaware and in denial about the reality of the situation.

On the 20 foot lead - my $.015 - not 2 because I am strictly an amateur, but I do have 2 young, moderately well schooled male labs. I agree that, especially if you have a joint problem, they could cause you some real problems. I adopted my older dog, now 4 years, at 11 months and he was a powerful handful - 78 pounds, housebroken (in terms of going to the bathroom outside, not in terms of, say, standing on the coffee table, which he did the first day):eek: . He enthusiastic and cheerful, but not leash, command or don't knock me on my butt trained.

We had an interesting 1st month.:what:

I have taken him through 2 professional courses, as well as working with a professional trainer. I just wanted to comment on the leash issue - I don't like the 20 foot reel leashes, and I know many professional trainers don't either. I work my guys on a maximum 6 foot leash, but for walking they are to stick right next to me. When I "give them the leash" they can go to the end of the 6 feet but I hold the leash by a couple of fingers and they can't pull - if they do, they have to "tighten up" back by me. I never use anything longer - they are either on leash and know they have to respond to how and where I move, or they are off. I am fortunate to be able to hike my boys in a local forest/park hiking and mountain bike area where off leash is allowed and the norm, as well as living in the country where they can frolic around off lead. Even so, walking on leash is key to enforcing and reinforcing the "chain of command" that is so important with dogs. The 20 footer is way too long to teach the dog that they respond to you, not vice versa. When you dog has learned how to walk, you will be able to walk your dog on a leash, while never allowing the dog to walk ahead of you or pull on the leash.

I suggest a good read is Cesar's Way. Yeah, the Dog Whisperer from National Geographic. I loved the book, and it all works for me. I have some torn cartilage that ha flared up in my right knee lately, and I ws really hobbled - even used a cane a bit, but I was able to walk 165 pounds of labrador on leash, because they are under control.
 
I agree with everyone else, you handled the situation fine. I do however have one recommendations.

I always carry pepper spray as well as a gun when I go walking my dog. I usually carry the pepper spray in my right hand. If I needed too, I could drop it and draw my gun, but that isn't really the point. I use the pepper spray in case I run into an overly terrotorial dog... My neighborhood has a lot of pit bulls and dobermans. You could have maced the people too...

Anyway, just a little tidbit.
 
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