So what would you do?

[grubbylabs]

Let me set the scene for you and you can say what you would do, and then I will tell you what I did and why.


You and your brother (or who ever) are wadding down a stream fishing. You observe a two people pull up in a SUV and let 3 dogs out. They lead the dogs to the water. They then let the dogs play in the water while you are slowly fishing down the stream. As you get close closer you notice that one of the dogs becomes aggressive. You try to pass but are not able to due to the aggressive dog continually bluff charging, barking aggressively with the hair on his back is standing up. The dog owners in the mean time are trying to gather up the two other dogs who show no signs of aggression. Going up stream is not a possibility as there is no way out. The stream is also lined with willows blocking other escape routes.

Their are two of you two fishing poles and you are armed with a hand gun.

 

[killchain]

When the dog charges, kill it.

Otherwise, keep an eye on it and let the guys know that their dog is being aggressive.

 

[Straight Shooter]

First it would depend on the breed. I'm not too worried about an aggressive pug.

If the water is deep enough to reach the dog's shoulders the dog is at a serious disadvantage. If there is deeper water move towards it. Simply splashing water in its face may be enough to keep it at bay.

If the dog charges, the rods of the fishing poles can be used as whips or the handle/reel could be used as a bludgeon to fend off the dog until the owner can retrieve it. Two people hitting from opposite positions (monkey in the middle) should be enough to make the dog retreat.

Not much detail to go on but it doesn't seem to me that shooting the dog would be necessary in this scenario.

 

[heron]

I don't see a need for gunplay here, and it could certainly endanger others. Also, might open a case of lawsuits. Just practice your fencing maneuvers with the fishing rod, or pick up a rock from the streambed and let fly. You might also return the threat display at the dog and convince him that you're badder than he is; just be ready to back it up with whatever is handy.

 

[Toasterdon]

Just give a shout to the owners. Most likely, they will take care of the situation w/o further drama, but be ready in case they don't.

The "monkey in the middle" advice is great. Dogs cannot deal with 2 attacks at once.


d

 

[grubbylabs]

Ok so it looks like time for the rest of the story.


My brother and I were wading down a fairly fast moving stream and had only been in the water about 20 yards, it was the only foreseeable entry point aside from where the dogs were. This is the type of stream that you want to move slowly in because of the rocks and speed of water. As we came closer the German Shepard became highly agitated barking and passing the bank, without wagging his tail but rather the hair on his neck and back was upright indicating to me he was not happy we were there. The other two dogs did not care we were there. Both were labs and one was in the water with us. The male owner was busy trying to get the lab in the water out of it while intermittently telling us that the aggressive dog is not going to bite us or any thing, and that he sees the owner in waders all the time. He for some reason was more concerned about getting the non problem dog out of the water. I had a smith and wesson 44 in the front pocket of my waders which I had removed and was holding at my side so that if I stood right the dog owner could not tell I was holding it. My brother and I stood side by side and told the owner that the dog was being aggressive and we wanted him to remove the dog. At one point he noticed the gun and asked what it was for, I pointed at his dog and said "that" meaning his dog. Never at any time did I point my weapon at him or his dog. He again said his dog was not going to bite us, but we were in a position where we could not go any where safely so we stood our ground and waited for the owner to get his dog in his car. I am absolutely certain that if we had tried to continue on up or down stream the dog would have come in the water at us. We did try to back up towards the other side of the stream and the dog became even more aggressive in his charging and barking. We never yelled at the dog owner but remained calm but firm. He eventually got all his dogs in the SUV and left and we continued fishing and had a good time.


So what say you?

I am leaving for the day so I look forward to the advise you all give and hope that it is helpful

Grubby

 

[seventy7-7s]

With the full story I would say that personally I would have; 1) asked the owner to remove the dog. 2)If the dog is not removed and still threatening me, grab a rock or another usable object and use it if you need to. It wont take much in a fast moving current to handle a dog (even if it is a german shepherd). The only time I would draw on a dog is if that were the last means of safety

 

[seventy7-7s]

Now that I have thought about it more, why would you carry a piece into a fast moving current? Not an attack just a question

 

[FightDiary]

Stay whre you are and kindly ask the owners to control the dog or put it back inside the SUV.

 

[Fremmer]

I think I would have told the guy to get the dog out right away, and when that fails, circle back, get up on shore, and walk past the stupid dog and stupid owner. And keep fishing. Sometimes it is easier to back away and walk past the trouble.

 

[Cosmoline]

You did fine. You don't want to just start blasting at the first sign of aggression. Lots of dogs will growl at you.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

stay deep enough that dog has to swim one of those time you have an advastasge over a mutt

 

[Harley Rider 55]

My two pink papered GSDs would take the threat down.

 

[Sam1911]

My two pink papered GSDs would take the threat down.

Somehow I don't think letting your dogs loose to fight the threatening dog is a very tactically -- or socially, or legally -- sound strategy. And would you have brought two GSDs with you while fly fishing a quiet stream? You aren't going to be catching much.

Let's suggest that the "Michael Vick" school of self-defense is out of session, mmmm'k?

 

[kayak-man]

I'd probably yell to the owners that the dog is getting aggressive, and ask if they could intervene. Chances are, that wouldn't work very well, and I'd be standing there, with my hand on my pistol grip, for a long time, until the dog was either controlled or attacked me.

 

[nitetrane98]

Just for the heck of it.... from the dog's POV.

I was out enjoying an afternoon with my humans and and a couple of buddies at a local stream. We were all having a good time when I noticed a couple of strangers in weird clothes with long sticks in their hands wading toward my humans. Something didn't seem quite right so I started barking at them.

I don't know what it is with some humans but I was clearly and distinctly telling them to back off and I'll be damned if they didn't keep coming towards us with their long sticks. Every once in while they'd wave them around like they were going to throw them, but they never did. A lot of good my humans were, instead of coming to back me up they're fiddling around with the stupid labs, like those labs were going help against the stick monsters. I finally made them stop advancing on us. I could tell my human got nervous all of a sudden and we left.

Here we were minding our own business and the stick monsters came wading down the stream to us. We all ended up having to get back in the car and leave. Hope they broke their sticks.
How would you guys have handled it?

 

[grubbylabs]

Sorry but I just don't see where the dogs have any rights nitetrain98.

There was no option to go back we did not have a way out going back with out going right past the dog. The only thing that kept the dog from coming in all the way was the water, he would only come in the water up to a couple inches unless we moved in any direction and then he would come in the water almost up to his chest. I am certain that if we had tried to pass on land I would have had to shoot the dog.

As far as why did I have a gun with me, we were inside the greater Yellowstone ecosystem where bears are almost as thick as skeeters.

 

[Crusader103]

I don't see any major issues. Sounds like you attempted to avoid problems, call the owner's attention, and maintained your firearm in an accessible yet non-threatening manner.

As far as anyone asking why you would have a firearm on you. Heck with the bears, my answer would be for the same reason that I carry one everywhere else. Mainly for the two legged critters that may cause problems, whether I'm enjoying a day of fishing or grocery shopping. Secondly, and more importantly, because I feel like it.

 

[ATBackPackin]

I see nothing wrong. The only thing I may have done differently is keep the gun in my pocket, but probably have had my hand on it. IMO they should have never been there anyway, it is extremely rude to let your dogs swim where people are fishing.

Shawn

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

what atb said i have a black lab husky mix that has dog aggression issues and is very standoffish with some folks. its my responsibility to control her and if she becomes someone elses issue it means i've failed. sadly a dog often suffers from an owners failure

 

[Ithaca37]

Just for the heck of it.... from the dog's POV.

I was out enjoying an afternoon with my humans and and a couple of buddies at a local stream. We were all having a good time when I noticed a couple of strangers in weird clothes with long sticks in their hands wading toward my humans. Something didn't seem quite right so I started barking at them.

I don't know what it is with some humans but I was clearly and distinctly telling them to back off and I'll be damned if they didn't keep coming towards us with their long sticks. Every once in while they'd wave them around like they were going to throw them, but they never did. A lot of good my humans were, instead of coming to back me up they're fiddling around with the stupid labs, like those labs were going help against the stick monsters. I finally made them stop advancing on us. I could tell my human got nervous all of a sudden and we left.

Here we were minding our own business and the stick monsters came wading down the stream to us. We all ended up having to get back in the car and leave. Hope they broke their sticks.
How would you guys have handled it?

Maybe we should analyze all situations from the rapist, murderer, or thief's point of view?

 

[nitetrane98]

Sorry but I just don't see where the dogs have any rights nitetrain98.

What part of from a dog's POV (point of view) did you miss? Argue with the dog, not me. I was trying to make light of the situation a little bit. I don't recall saying I thought dogs had rights. Since you want to be offended by it, try this. I think you overreacted because you are afraid of German Shepherd Dogs particularly and any dog that barks in general.

Maybe we should analyze all situations from the rapist, murderer, or thief's point of view?

You have got to be kidding me.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

Maybe we should analyze all situations from the rapist, murderer, or thief's point of view?

don't you? i try to figure whats makes the opposition tick to better defend myself

 

[Ithaca37]

I think you overreacted because you are afraid of German Shepherd Dogs particularly and any dog that barks in general.

People like you do not appreciate the nature of aggressive dogs. German shepherds are not nice dogs. There is a reason they are guard, police and military dogs. Many dogs are great with their family and people they know, but are aggressive toward strangers. Just because your stupid dog doesn't try to rip your face off doesn't mean it won't do that to a stranger. Keep your damn dog on a leash and stuff like this won't happen.

 

[grubbylabs]

Well sorry for the confusion nitetrane. I do not fear German sheperds more than any other dog but rather the attitude of the dog is what causes alarm.