Why I will not hesitate to shoot a charging dog

[roo_ster]

A question was posed as just where would one shoot a dog?

Well, charging poochies give a tough target: moves quick & if it is charging YOU, a relatively small target, relative to a broadside shot:

Here's a GSD (I think)

A couple of other poochies:

Big ol' fluffy dog:

Chihuahua & Irish Wolfhound:

It looks like the only options are chest, head, and maybe upper neck/spine.

I'm thinking I would aim for the center of the furball headed toward me and keep shooting. If I made a non-mortal hit, maybe the dog would shy away or slow down, making it an easier target, being slower or broadsides to me.

I certainly would keep shooting until the dog is incapacitated. I would not be content with merely wounding an attacking dog. I would want on-the-ground, non-threatening, out-of-the-fight incapacitation. They don't watch movies (much) and don't know that they are supposed to be blown back and dying from a peripheral shot.

If they were broadside or oblique to the shooter, charging someone else, a round in the shoulder/boiler room like you would a game animal seems best. Again, keep shooting until incapacitation seems like the ticket.

HTH.

 

[Harley Quinn]

I believe you have to give the dog the same as a human, a chance.
Don't shoot them unless they are truly a danger. Not just because they are running at you

So if you have the gun, you are going to be hurt I'd say if what I feel is right.
To shoot them and not have a wound would be grounds for a law suit, you would lose I am thinking.

I feel a good heavy stick is very good protection, against maybe one, but two or more, you are going to have to be very athletic to beat them without being hurt very badly, I'd think.

Especially a powerful "tenacious" guard dog type.

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/semencicpit.html

 

[marley]

A dog running towards them is not a deadly threat. Pointing a gun at me is. My right at that point is the same as anyone else to safety. Shooting in my direction is not safe to me. Read the rest of my post before you quote out of context. Thanks. Patrick


remember I said think. I do. Everyone else should too.

 

[BRASSM]

My Dealing with Westminster Animal Control

Today this twentieth of September I finally met with a rep from Westminster Animal Control. It was basically a waste of time. I did submit my complaint detailing the incident with the two PitBulls, and informed that had I discharged my weapon I would have been arrested. OK That I understand, but i really don't like the idea of being mauled. Then she told me that the residence on my report had no PitBulls, surprise. She was quite adimate against the use of a firearm and advised that I carry Pepper Spray. I think I have enough to worry about without adding something else. I don't have much faith in Pepper Spray. This just reinforced my opinion that dealing with the City of Westminster, Colorado is just another excercise in futility.:banghead:

 

[JamisJockey]

I've got a beautiful picture of my lily white ass. Its got a large gash on the right cheek. why? Because I was bit by a charging dog.
I, too, will shoot a charging dog without hesitation.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Dogs chase their prey, that's what they do as singles or in packs, they chase.

Do not run away unless you know you only have a step or two to safety... or... do not run away.

I have bluffed a single dog more than once from horseback or bicycle or even on my own two feet by not turning my back on it. This really helps if your horse won't take crap from a dogs. Iron shod feet are wicked but a horses' natural instinct is to run away. A dogs' instinct is to chase.

In a pack that isn't going to work. Punch holes in the leader if you can.

 

[Glockafella]

dont shot my dog please...he loves u


I have shot a dog...but that was to protect my cattle...a houndodg was chasing them and biting them causing them to run into or over a barbedwire fence. One shot with a .270 and I felt like crap from a couple weeks for doing it. Never had anymore trouble the cattle getting out after that

 

[JamisJockey]

After reading some of the many posts on here.....
Just for clarification.....a charging aggressive dog is different from a curious or playful advance.

 

[meef]

I've got a beautiful picture of my lily white ass. Its got a large gash on the right cheek. why? Because I was bit by a charging dog.
I, too, will shoot a charging dog without hesitation.

Hmmm...... from the juicy description of where you got bit, it seems to me like you'd have a difficult time making an accurate shot if that's your defense posture?

"Hey Scoobie-Doo, bite my butt."

::woof..??::

::shrug::

"Ralright".

::chomp!..::

 

[JamisJockey]

Funny, but the dog actually attacked me as I was attempting to dismount my bicycle, in a bid to put the bike between me and the dog.

 

[Odd Job]

Yep, and you got a bite in the rear just like me. But I got mine from a dog that posed no threat to me (or appeared not to).
What sort of dog bit you?

 

[Officers'Wife]

HI Glockfella,

When the thought bothers you just remind yourself of of the vet bills and the possibility of having to put a cow down from being hurt too bad.

Or put it in this perspective... Which is more important to you in the grand scheme of things? The cattle you have a professional interest in protecting or the good will of a neighbor that is irresponsible enough to allow his dog to run loose?

Selena

 

[shadowalker]

I love dogs, particularly GSD and wolf dogs and have owned them my entire life but that doesn't influence my ability to end a threat one poses to myself or my family.

I carry OC and a Sig P229 40 S&W, my OC is effective to 15 feet max, and can take 30 seconds to disable a human, the average human can cover more than 21 feet in 1.5 seconds, dogs can move at least twice as fast, if OC doesn't work you are going to have a dog attached to you while trying to draw. Even if OC works four times faster on a dog thats still 15 seconds, they can do a LOT of damage very quickly.

I may use OC as a deterrent against a marginal dog that is not actively attacking, in the case of an active or imminent attack I'm going with the 40 S&W.

Dogs are very hardy animals, like bears they don't know what a gun is or that they should drop dead when they are shot, be prepared to need to fire more than once.

If you have the opportunity a kneeling shot has the potential to be more effective than a standing shot, their heads can deflect bullets if shots aren't properly placed so just like two legged threats center mass is probably best unless you have a good electrical shot.

Of course the problem with a kneeling shot is that it puts your throat in more convenient position for the attacking dog.

 

[springmom]

Of course the problem with a kneeling shot is that it puts your throat in more convenient position for the attacking dog.

Yup. One of my few natural advantages is that I'm at least three feet taller than the dog when the dog has all four paws on the ground. Think I'll keep that advantage and stay on my feet. Shooting downward into the dogs COM from above is an option, however.

Springmom