The neighbor has got some problems

[M44ME]

I disagree also, 150 pound rott......so youre saying that a 140 pound great dane won't jack you up to the point of not bieng able to properly defend yourself or the public you are sworn to defend? Let alone a 50 pound dalmation ( which by the way are far more human agressive than pits ) I would hope that your police training had atleast a little bit of focus on not setting yourself up for an asshanding....I mean really, if you can't make proper judgements for protecting yourself from a viable threat ,and, I also hope you were trained in recognizing possible threats.....how pray tell, do you propose to protect my young daughter and wife from anything other than a ......wait for it....... 150 pound rott.

[Patrick Aherne]

I disagree also, 150 pound rott......so youre saying that a 140 pound great dane won't jack you up to the point of not bieng able to properly defend yourself or the public you are sworn to defend? Let alone a 50 pound dalmation ( which by the way are far more human agressive than pits ) I would hope that your police training had atleast a little bit of focus on not setting yourself up for an asshanding....I mean really, if you can't make proper judgements for protecting yourself from a viable threat ,and, I also hope you were trained in recognizing possible threats.....how pray tell, do you propose to protect my young daughter and wife from anything other than a ......wait for it....... 150 pound rott.

Please don't put words in my mouth. My point, is that unless you are facing a large, human-sized dog, you can fight them and win, even if you don't have a gun. What's important to remember is not to do anything that activates their prey drive, like screaming and running away. It seems like every year or two we read a story about a fully grown human male getting killed by a pit bull somewhere. This shouldn't happen.

Everyone has their own level of fear and idea of what is a reasonable threat and what isn't based on their size, training, past experiences and current situation. Mine is, I am sure, different from yours. I wouldn't have any problem investigating a shooting of a large aggressive dog by a citizen. Leash laws are there for a reason and if a dog gets out and menaces folks, too bad for the dog.

I've never felt comfortable with shooting a dog that is just protecting its house/territory, even though I could have, several times. I've been able to back away, OC spray, kick in the head, hit with a baton, etc. to avoid shooting dogs that were just doing their job, even if their owner was a dirtbag. Your level of fear may be appropriate for your circumstances. Please do not presume that you can infer anything about my training or experiences for anything other than the matter at hand.

[SuicideHz]

Nope, no words in your mouth that you haven't already used. I don't think I can take on a dog half my weight like I already said. You say I can win against one that is 150 lbs and that is total BS.

I don't care if I've even had training, I'll still "activate" their prey instincts by fighting back. Their "prey" instincts are also triggered by live animals fighting back- that's why they lose interest in stuffed animals so quickly.

So, you'll surely activate their "prey" instincts.

What then?

I WILL shoot the dog if it weighs 60lbs and is chargin me. I can EASILY defend that choice in IN. I surely have reason to fear great bodily harm by a dog that size if he looks to be attacking. I know that I can't wrestle one away or outrun one. I will also have a hard time shooting him once I wait until he does attack me so I WILL be able to defend my shooting once the dog has made his choice.

[M44ME]

Not even about fear levels, or your "level" of training sir! It's really an intelligence issue. Well maybe you live in some town where cotton candy grows on trees and all the dogs have no teeth nor a basist survival instinct exponentially stronger than ours.

kudo's to the dude who started this thread!!!! and BS to the guy who hijacked this thread and talks about himself too much. I feel dumber for you. PS my good friend has been a cop for 16 years in a meth infested town....he also calls bs on you...

[the1911fan]

Please don't put words in my mouth. My point, is that unless you are facing a large, human-sized dog, you can fight them and win, even if you don't have a gun. What's important to remember is not to do anything that activates their prey drive, like screaming and running away. It seems like every year or two we read a story about a fully grown human male getting killed by a pit bull somewhere. This shouldn't happen.

I somewhat agree..it depends on the dog I reckon. When I was 5 or 6 YO
(1974/1975)I was riding my big wheel and was attacked by a Doberman. The dog bit me several times around the left shoulder/left arm. I was able to get off the big wheel and pick it up and beat the dog with it. I don't know how many times I hit the dog but once the dog ran off I peddled home.

When I got home I remember my Dad putting bandages on my wounds. About 3-4 hours after the attack the dogs owner from down the street came to our door wanting my Dad to pay for Vet bills. The dogs left eye was damaged from a big wheel blow so much that the dog was blind in that eye. My Dad showed the guy my wounds and explained what happened, I remember my Dad yelling at the guy and the guy leaving.

Another time in a residential area I made a traffic stop and noticed two Rotts up a drive looking at me. I continued to approach the car I stopped and one of the Rotts charged down the driveway and was coming right at me, I was in between the patrol car and the stopped car. I turned toward the dog and unholstered my gun and I started to yell commands at the dog. I quickly decided if the dog crossed the double yellow I was shooting it. The dog stopped just short of the double yellows as if it knew something bad was about to happen, I was amazed that the dog stopped just a split second before I was going to shoot. After abruptly stopping, the dog raised its head looking me in the eye and sniffed once or twice and turned and ran back to the house.

I have shot and killed a dog (pit bull) during a foot chase and yes I was in the dogs backyard but so was the suspect we were chasing and I had no other option. I have a healthy respect for dogs and I have had dogs ever since I was 10 YO but I have no problem with shooting a dog that is attacking me.

[Patrick Aherne]

Not even about fear levels, or your "level" of training sir! It's really an intelligence issue. Well maybe you live in some town where cotton candy grows on trees and all the dogs have no teeth nor a basist survival instinct exponentially stronger than ours.

kudo's to the dude who started this thread!!!! and BS to the guy who hijacked this thread and talks about himself too much. I feel dumber for you. PS my good friend has been a cop for 16 years in a meth infested town....he also calls bs on you...

Yeah..."basist survival instinct" is that where the band is so bad that the crowd wants to kill them so the bassist runs first?

[Heavy Metal]

I was once in the middle of nowhere working when three large dogs started running toward me.

For some reason, at the time I was in a really, really once in every two year pissed off mad mood. Instead of shitting my paints, I did something else.

I picked up a piece of deadwood and ran toward them screaming like an axe murderer.

Once I started toward them, they stopped barking and got a suprised expression. They turned and ran off.

It seems that charging them really screwed with their fight or flight instinct.

I don't know if I would have the balls to do that again.

I now carry a nice large can of pepper spray.