tinkerinWstuff

Allright, Ceasar Milan (SP?) the dog wisperer isn't a member here to chime in on the correct body language when confronting a dog?

Anubis

Even a medium-size dog has literal bone-crunching power in its jaw muscles. To me, an approaching dog showing attack signals is life-threatening. The victim in the following link was a neighbor of a work colleague of mine.

Pit Bull Owner Sentenced For Mauling Death - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver

Kicking at one might just get your foot mangled. If shooting is not appropriate (it would be difficult to hit a dog approaching at high speed), a stand-off weapon would probably be best. After it bites is too late.

Years before I thought about carrying a pistol, I regularly ran a loop on country dirt roads near my house. The only time I have ever backed down from a dog was when a great dane, bigger than me, came out of a farmhouse yard, stood in the middle of the road on which I was approaching, and barked threateningly at me. Although I never saw that dog again, for a while after that I ran carrying a 5-foot piece of rebar pointed on one end.

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czman2006

I knew somebody was going to say it!!!

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AMH

This situation is hard to picture fully. I guess it is one of those things that you have to witness to fully understand the dynamics of.

If a large animal approached me in a threatening and aggressive nature, I am not sure I would stick out my leg for fear it would attack my limb. I think I would have shot it.

I would rather immediately neutralize the threat and deal with the legal stuff later.

But that being said, I agree fully with “least amount of force necessary” comments. I am also very glad things worked well, that no one was hurt, and that you didn’t have to discharge your weapon.

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Agave

When I was about 13, I rode a bicycle around the farm, per the road on a daily basis. There were 3 large dogs that were aggressive towards me on one stretch. So I carried a can of yellow upside-down paint in my bottle holder. Painting a Great Dane's face will make him think before he comes at a boy again.

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SIXTO

I've noticed that Great Danes were mentioned at least twice in this thread... I'm surprised, every dane I've ever know was an oaf, you might get some barks out of them, but not much else.

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BikerRN

It's already been said, but I'll say it again, carry a can of Pepper Spray.

I find that drawing a gun while being attacked is difficult to do, plus dogs tend to make really small targets if you're going for a COM shot. I favor a knife when it comes to dogs, if Pepper Spray doesn't work.

Yes, you will get bit, but you need that in court around here to justify defending yourself in court. It's easier to defend yourself from a person than a dog here with all the tree hugging, bunny loving granola eating ferrets that own dogs. I favor a fixed blade knife like a Gerber Guardian or the CRKT equivilent.


Biker

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GettingOld2

Dogs can be tricky. I've been around dogs and had dogs on and off for a very long time. I've handled trained attack dogs and just plain obnoxious dogs over the years and never felt particularly threatened until:

The short version is that my wife and I were Hiking and found ourselves back to back with only wooden staffs for defense against two Dobermans and a Pit Bull as they circled, lunged and snapped.

A pack of dogs of almost any kind is far more dangerous than an individual dog. Even large dogs can generally be backed down if done carefully. With a pack however, they fire each other up and threatening or injuring one just becomes an unguarded opening for another.

By pure luck, no one was injured. Looking back, had I been armed would I have shot them? YES!

stolivar

I always go into alpha mode. I know what dogs are going to bite and which ones are not. It he is going to bite you anyway I am already prepared. I do not go for the do not look into their eyes crappola.

Carrying the mail for over 27 years gives you quite a bit of experience.

I have been attacked by Labs, Sheppard's, Pitts etc. etc.

I have found that Sheppards, Rotts, and Pitts to be the worse. Mostly none of these type of dogs bluff. They mean serious business if they are aggressive. I have only been bitten once in 27 years by a dog I did not see. The rest got hurt.


steve the mailman

yourbestdefense

As a LEO, I have seen officers shoot at dogs a number of times with handguns and handgun rounds are just not very effective against an attacking dog. In bike cop school, we were taught to use a bike water bottle to deter a dog that is charging. If you squirt it at the dog, it makes an odd, surprising noise and the water spraying startles the dog. I have used this technique a number of times it has been very effective. I could see the spray paint technique used against you in a cruelty to animals case.