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Dog Encounter - When Would YOU Shoot?

Frogdog
Okay, first off - I wasn't carrying at the time, so the option to shoot was not there for me. Luckily, nobody was hurt.

Situation: I am visiting my parents for the long weekend with the family. They live in a quiet, semi-rural neighborhood in Central VA. After dinner, my wife and I took our daughters (7 &10) for a quick walk around the neighborhood to collect some of the large acorns that are falling (they use for craft projects). In any case, we passed by a house and heard barking. There was a pitbull mix on a chain, in a pen, in the backyard, enclosed by a 6-foot vinyl privacy fence. Didn't think much of it since he appeared secured/contained. We turned the corner and stopped for a minute, as the girls picked up acorns along the edge of the road. All of a sudden, I hear a commotion and the dog comes OVER the top of the 6-foot fence, and goes straight for the kids, ears back, and they scatter at light speed. In a flash, the wife scoops the kids, dashes behind me, and I give my best grizzly bear impression, causing the dog to stop and assess.

Had I had my weapon, it is this point that I think I might have shot. The dog was not retreating, and we did a five minute dance as he tried, ears back and teeth snapping, to get around me to the kids and dart in close enough to bite someone. I was able to scoop up a handful of large gravel and peppered him in the face as hard as I could as he charged in at me again. He ran back for a minute, and this gave us the second we needed to get into a neighbor's house who was holding their door open for us. Eventually, the dog's owner was able to contain him again, and we headed home.

Anyhow, I can't help but feeling stupid for being unprepared. That said, I would like to hear what YOU would have done. Specifically, when (if at all) do you think you might have employed your firearm?

Thanks!

Frog
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Comments

33 comments

Date Votes
  • grdad45
    No doubt in my mind. Threaten my family and pay the price.
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  • buschmaster
    not like I want to shoot a dog, but the fact that the dog came over the fence means it wanted somebody's ass. I would have had my gun out at that point to cover all the possibilities.

    so the next thing is he's coming straight at you/yours with ears back and teeth snapping. if it was doing that, it's time to assume the worst unless I can head it off somehow.

    if it was just me and/or a wife, vs a pit bull, hand-powered weapons are going to be useless so I wouldn't bother trying to grab a stick. waste of time. might try throwing something and yell to halt the charge. IF it isn't already on us. gets too close, I might fire a warning shot to see if that scares it off. if that results in a standoff, I can handle it because I know when it's going to move in for the attack better than the dog thinks I do. if it does I'd have to pull the trigger. otherwise maybe it will lose interest and go away.

    if kids are involved, that's worse. dogs have a habit of ignoring the adult(s) to run around them and get the little ones, and it's far more likely that's what it has on its mind than biting you, and far more likely it's going to try it. gets anywhere near too close and I'm going to pull the trigger. things happen in a split second and a child can't take a bite from a pit bull.

    from the situation you describe I'm pretty sure I would have ended up shooting it.
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  • kidthatsirish
    I'm all for punching and kicking the animal that lunges at me. I am a big guy and would subdue it physically if it came out of it's yard at my family, unlikely to employ my pistol, but would be ok stabbing it.

    Of course who knows until you are faced in the exact situation.
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  • pickenup
    I feel sorry for the next child that walks by that way, without an adult to get between the child and the dog.
    It will happen again.
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  • Frogdog
    pickenup wrote:
    I feel sorry for the next child that walks by that way, without an adult to get between the child and the dog.
    It will happen again.

    Yep, my Dad already talked to a friend of his at animal control. Sounds like they'll be paying the owner a visit.
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  • lew07
    It?s the dogs owner that needs shooting :evil:
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  • SCOUT5
    To answer the question, with my kids to protect, if armed, I may have shot the dog. One of the issues then is how does the owner react to that. Glad it turned out okay and no one was hurt.

    I tell people on a regular basis a fence is not a barrier for a dog with any go to it. So many people have their nose up in the air about everyone that owns a dog should have a fence and a dog should never be chained. I've never owned a dog that couldn't get over a fence. If I wanted them to stay put they had to be tied.
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  • Cornflk1
    Going after the kids
    time to put him down . Deal with the owner later in court.
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  • KenK/84Bravo
    SCOUT5 wrote:
    To answer the question, with my kids to protect, if armed, I may have shot the dog. One of the issues then is how does the owner react to that. Glad it turned out okay and no one was hurt.

    I tell people on a regular basis a fence is not a barrier for a dog with any go to it.


    I own a Pit. I've taken a fair amount of heat over it the last couple years here. I'm used to it.
    My dog is socialized and shown an enormous amount of love. (Both giving and receiving it.) Owning a breed like this, or similar (Rott. etc.) Requires to Owner to be extremely responsible in every regards. I have a couple heavy duty dog trolleys. (Overbuilt) Parts replaced on a regular basis before failure can happen. I do not trust a fence, they can be dug under, jumped, or climbed. (As you unfortunately got to experience.) My dog is also only outside while I am home and monitoring the situation. (If he barks at something, I am going to see what is going on.)

    If you choose to own a breed like this you CAN NOT take any chances, IF you are responsible. This particular owner sounds like he owns a (Ghetto Pit.) My terminology for one without socialization, and raised in solitude with little to no love, and encouraged to be aggressive. The Owner was irresponsible, and sounds like an accident/tragedy waiting to happen. Glad you contacted Animal Control for a follow up.

    The Owners reaction to you shooting his dog is a very valid point and concern.

    Having said all of the above, If armed - I probably would have shot the dog. (Especially with the Kid's there, and his persistence and aggressiveness.)

    Glad no one was hurt. A most frightening situation.
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  • kimi
    If kids are involved and the dog has stopped, but darts at them its time to do something. If they are in the wife's arms with her behind me and the dog darts or lunges too close, its time to do something. Other than that, back off slowly. I don't think a dog intent on doing bodily harm will stop, fence or no fence, but if they get within kicking distance, kill it if you can.
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  • Mobuck
    Even on my own farm, if I'm not carrying a firearm, I'm carrying a walking stick. You came out lucky so use this as a learning experience and we all hope the owner gets his aggressive dog sorted out.
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  • Frogdog
    Mobuck wrote:
    Even on my own farm, if I'm not carrying a firearm, I'm carrying a walking stick. You came out lucky so use this as a learning experience and we all hope the owner gets his aggressive dog sorted out.

    Sure was a learning experience. When we walk at home, we usually have a firearm, OC spray, and a large mahogany staff with us. Got complacent for a quick trip in a place we've never had any trouble.....and it almost bit us in the butt (literally!) :D
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  • select-fire
    Dogs or coyotes ..stay armed
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  • Warbirds
    I dont want to shoot a dog.

    Im probably OK getting physical with it down and dirty on the ground to stop him.

    If the dog has a potential line where he can get to a kid before I can get ahold of the dog- you have to shoot early enough that the kid is not potentially in the lane of fire.

    Sounds like you did good, but would have been much more comfortable with a pistol on your hip.
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  • KenK/84Bravo
    Warbirds wrote:
    I dont want to shoot a dog.

    Im probably OK getting physical with it down and dirty on the ground to stop him.

    If the dog has a potential line where he can get to a kid before I can get ahold of the dog- you have to shoot early enough that the kid is not potentially in the lane of fire.

    Sounds like you did good, but would have been much more comfortable with a pistol on your hip.



    I do not want to shoot a dog either Warbirds. (But) You really do not want to go hands on with a Pit Bull. Just rough housing with my dog, (like several times today) where he is playing, he is a total handfull. Would not wish to go hands on with an angry/aggresive one. No way.

    If it came to that, and I was armed - its down.
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  • buschmaster
    Cornflk1 wrote:
    Going after the kids
    time to put him down . Deal with the owner later in court.
    yup. kids come first.
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  • Aztngundoc22
    OK :

    YES !!! that dog needs to be shot !!!

    and :

    The owner also needs to be dealt with !!!

    Just one reason I ALWAYS CARRY !!!!

    Thanks !!!
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  • 11b6r
    I do not want to hurt anybody's pet.
    But I sat with my 9 yr old daughter for 4 days in the hospital after she was attacked by a dog running at large.
    That's not going to happen again.

    In the circumstances you described, I would have a bad case of tinnitus right now from having done a mag dump.
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  • Hessian
    The only time I've ever been malled is once I tried to outrun two Dobermans and failed. My ass still looks like I was clawed by a Tiger. The Only other time I've been bitten, outside of the Vets office, is trying to break up a dog fight.

    I kick to the chin seems to work, I've used that a few times. A blow to the base of the skull with a shillelagh also works. A punch upside the head will get their attention but is unlikely to stop them.

    I was driving down the street and a Giant Schnauzer had a teenage girl backed into a bus stop shed. The more terrified she got the more he advanced. A single blow to the base of the skull with my shillelagh put him down for the count. I was actually afraid I'd killed him. but he eventually came back around.

    The vast majority of the time you can stare them down, they'll run up and stop. Whatever you do don't run or turn your back on them. Hard to tell if it is bluff or serious, sometimes you just have to go with your gut feelings.
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  • GilWilson1
    I'd pay to see some of these bad asses take on a full grown aggressive pit LOL.

    Shoot the damn dog if need be
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  • Smitty500mag
    I would have shot the dog and then kicked the dog owners ass!
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  • shootuadeal
    I guess myself I don't take crap from any dogs. My daughter is really nervous around strange dogs since she has attacked by a small dog when she was around 4-5 years old, it just ran her down randomly when they were in town once. My wife is also a bit leary. We have had dogs always out here in rural ND including two yellow labs right now that serve as premises protectors from all the random skunks, raccoons and other unwanted critters that come around.

    In your situation I probably would have beaten the crap out of the dog, which I have 0 problems doing. I have "handled" enough bad dogs in my time that I am not scared of any of them and know how to deal with them. I have a special hatred for german shepards since I've dealt with so many of them that seem to be bad natured.

    Oh, and I did own a very large especially well put together Rottweiler in the past, he was very good natured and I enjoyed wrestling around with him. Being the breed he was and characteristics he had I was very careful of where and who was around him, anytime there were kids around I always kneeled next to him and held his collar just in case, he never ever showed any sort of aggression towards people but when you have breeds that can do serious damage you need to be responsible at all times.

    I would go have a talk with the owner of the dog and see what he plans on doing to prevent this in the future.
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  • shootuadeal
    GilWilson1 wrote:
    I'd pay to see some of these bad asses take on a full grown aggressive pit LOL.

    Shoot the damn dog if need be

    I would much rather take on a pit bull than some of the big dogs people have in our area, a friend of mine has 2 ST Bernards that would be more than a single guy could handle I believe if it came down to an actual fight.

    A cattle rancher I am aquanted with has two huge white dogs, not sure of the breed but they are fairly aggressive when you come around to his place, they look similar to a German Shepard but much larger, those I would not want to have to fight unarmed. Like most dogs once they realize you are not scared of them they tend to back off.

    Pit Bulls are strong but not usually too big, their bite will hurt but then again any dog bite will hurt, whats the difference if the bite hurts a little more than any other dog bite.
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    what you described,,yes, the dog would be dead now.
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  • Mr. O
    August 28th Arlington TX. 3 Pitts, 1 grown man...
    Put your babies in his place.....383870_e77b2f7f47662426d66b70924191b686.jpg
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  • jimdeere
    https://imgur.com/gallery/HcqORAn
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  • SG
    KenK/84Bravo wrote:
    Warbirds wrote:
    I dont want to shoot a dog.

    Im probably OK getting physical with it down and dirty on the ground to stop him.

    If the dog has a potential line where he can get to a kid before I can get ahold of the dog- you have to shoot early enough that the kid is not potentially in the lane of fire.

    Sounds like you did good, but would have been much more comfortable with a pistol on your hip.



    I do not want to shoot a dog either Warbirds. (But) You really do not want to go hands on with a Pit Bull. Just rough housing with my dog, (like several times today) where he is playing, he is a total handfull. Would not wish to go hands on with an angry/aggresive one. No way.

    If it came to that, and I was armed - its down.

    Yep. Don't care how big and strong you think you are,a pit especially or any large breed will absolutely f you up if they are intent. I've seen pits hit across the nose and head with ball bats to no affect. Milage may very but odds of killing a pissed off 80 lb pit with your bare hands without receiving life altering injuries is slim to none.
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  • ltcdoty
    About twelve years ago in Saratoga Springs, in New York, a pit bull went after a child. A young black man grabbed the dog and the dog bit onto his arm. The guy cool as a cucumber held onto the dog and walked into a nearby pond in the park.....walked up to his chest and held on to the struggling dog until it drown. The dogs owner called the police and wanted the young man arrested for killing his dog. The dog owner got ticketed instead.
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  • KenK/84Bravo
    ltcdoty wrote:
    About twelve years ago in Saratoga Springs, in New York, a pit bull went after a child. A young black man grabbed the dog and the dog bit onto his arm. The guy cool as a cucumber held onto the dog and walked into a nearby pond in the park.....walked up to his chest and held on to the struggling dog until it drown. The dogs owner called the police and wanted the young man arrested for killing his dog. The dog owner got ticketed instead.

    If you are willing to give up a left forearm (if you are a righty,) and have a knife on you, (not a pocket knife) you may have a chance against one. Other than that, if you do not have a firearm/big robust stick on you, you are F'd.

    Although several here have insisted they would take one down physically if confronted. Not very realistic.

    Check out their Jaw Force per sq./in. Vs. a Hyena. Will break, crush bones.

    Not something I wish to go "Hands On" with.
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  • Hessian
    KenK/84Bravo wrote:
    ltcdoty wrote:
    About twelve years ago in Saratoga Springs, in New York, a pit bull went after a child. A young black man grabbed the dog and the dog bit onto his arm. The guy cool as a cucumber held onto the dog and walked into a nearby pond in the park.....walked up to his chest and held on to the struggling dog until it drown. The dogs owner called the police and wanted the young man arrested for killing his dog. The dog owner got ticketed instead.

    If you are willing to give up a left forearm (if you are a righty,) and have a knife on you, (not a pocket knife) you may have a chance against one. Other than that, if you do not have a firearm/big robust stick on you, you are F'd.

    Although several here have insisted they would take one down physically if confronted. Not very realistic.

    Check out their Jaw Force per sq./in. Vs. a Hyena. Will break, crush bones.

    Not something I wish to go "Hands On" with.

    I had a real deal Malamut (80 plus pounds, bred to eat frozen fish) grab onto my left elbow, I'm basically a fighter, not a runner or do I tend to panic freeze-up. I was sitting, I hit him the first time on and just behind his left eye, the second punch the adrenalin was flowing well and I hit him in the same spot, he released, backed off and you could see his legs were a little wobbly.

    The thing about fighting dogs is they really don't feel pain as many other dogs do. Part of the breeding is a high pain threshold. But most animals can be concussed, even if it is temporary you can stun them.

    I had some nerve damage in my elbow and lower arm, somewhat numb in areas, the rest hurt for months. I also damaged a couple of knuckles, likely fractured but not broken.
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