100-pound Rottweiler, right now

[Monster Zero]

A guy that I know was out fixing sprinkler systems day before yesterday, and returned to a client's house to make some adjustments. Texted the client to let him know he was at the house, and innocently proceeded to enter the back yard where the controller is located.

Uh oh.

The rottweiler that lives in that back yard was on the other side of the yard and came charging around the corner of the house at a full run.

The guy fortunately was able to get to the other side of the gate and slam in shut and (so he told me) the rottweiler slammed into it. It was that close.

So, tactics and training, the obvious answer seems to be something like "be d**n sure there isn't a vicious dog in the yard before you go in."

Fair enough and point taken.

But just sayin'... say a person likes to walk their own non-vicious dog in their own neighborhood in the early evening while it's still light and wants an effective weapon against spontaneous vicious dogs that IS CONCEALABLE - and is not a knife, use of which would presume the loss of at least one's left arm while killing the vicious dog with the knife in the right hand?

Almost posted in one of the handgun threads, but rather than an implement (handgun) really what we're talking about is a solution, so here it is in tactics and training. The answer seems like a handgun but really that's just a compromise at best. A successful shot with a handgun in a situation like that would belong in the circus.

Be d**n sure of the environment before entering. Got that.

What if one's just out minding one's own business and... right now, charging rottweiler coming out of somebody's garage, I know someone who had that experience too. He's gone from zero to fifty and your couple or three seconds to respond began when you heard that one, and only, guttural growl. Here he comes. Right now.

(Oh BTW... obviously the title should be POUND, not POND. I suppose we can't edit titles.)

 

[armoredman]

Best animal defense is pepper spray. Only dog I ever had to gas took off running so fast that I am not 100% certain he's slowed down yet, and that was three years ago. Even the little itty bitty keychain units would work, keep it in your hand, out of sight, when you go past bad dog neighborhood.
Just my .02$, worth what you paid for it.

 

[lemaymiami]

Believe it or not... one of the best non-lethal defense against aggressive dogs is a simple umbrella.... A postman passed along that trick to me many years ago. With umbrella in hand in the closed position you wait until the dog approaches and suddenly open it as the dog nears, keeping it between you and the dog as you retreat back towards safety.

My outfit (police dept.) many years ago began using dogs and at first we did employ rotts - but down here in south Florida they were much too vulnerable to the very hot weather and you had to be very careful not to overheat and kill your K9 from heat stroke... On more than one occasion I watched as one of our handlers had to actually carry a big rott back to an air conditioned vehicle to cool it off....after an area search in the heat of summer. Here's another surprise for those who've never worked with dogs... Take the baddest, fully street trained big canine and boost it into a builiding with a very heavily waxed hard floor and watch your dog freeze up and refuse to move since it had no traction at all.... By the way I never knew a dog handler that didn't have at least one bad scar on one of their arms -from their own dog....

 

[Tcruse]

My thee Pit Bulls, will definitely come running full tilt when we have a visitor. They might even beat you to death with their waging tails. But they just want attention and will not refuse a treat.
One of the more interesting classes that the local CERT (Citizens Emergency Response Team) put on was how to deal with dogs and other domestic animals during an emergency or just normal meeting. Determining which ones are "attacking" vs "scared" is important. There are lots to learn on how to deal with such encounters.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Correction. I bet the Rottweiler wasn't vicious. But was only protecting his master's property. I own Pit bulls that will lick you to death, but if you have bad intentions about my wife you will have a Pit bull necklace.

 

[bikerdoc]

I fixed the title misspelling.

I have several big signs that say - No trespassing and Beware of dog. Cause my rott will bite your butt if you choose to ignore the signs.

 

[Danoobie]

I have had many encounters with dogs. I've been bitten, but the instances have been
few and far between, and usually with some extenuating circumstance. Many times
even Rottweilers are very friendly dogs.

But, once the heat is on, have a plan, and act fast.

 

[Sunray]

"...Best animal defense is pepper spray..." A dog biscuit works a whole lot better. Worked briefly for Canada Post, years ago. Got bit once, by a Spaniel cross, because the stupid owners had its food right under the mail box. Put the bite on me as I was leaving. The assorted big friggin' dogs were far less trouble than any small dog. And no dog went nuts with a dog biscuit presented. Including the Pitt Bull who's job it was to guard a business.
"...one's left arm while killing the..." That ain't gonna happen. Lose the arm and you're et by Herr Fido. Shoot or otherwise harm a pet, whether you think it's aggressive or not and you're sued.
The Rottweiler coming out of somebody's garage at least gives you a case for the owner failing to keep Herr Fido controlled. Required in most places. However, there's no reason to assume Herr Fido is being aggressive. He might just be coming to introduce himself.
"...Rottweiler's are very friendly dogs.." Yep, but not if you're entering his yard unannounced. My Ma's neighbour had one that grew so big so fast it had a heart attack and died at 13 months. Super friendly though. Same guy ended up with 3 of 'em. One of which had been abused as a pup so it was excessively aggressive with people. Did exactly what the ruling house cat told him to do though. The guy's sons' buddies were afraid of the cat, but not the dogs.
"...will definitely come running full tilt..." Dogs see everything as an excuse for a party. Neighbour's miniature Chihuahua did that any time I appeared. Looked like a walnut with teeth coming at you and throwing itself at my feet for a belly rub.

 

[Hangingrock]

I live in the country and I walk a lot, thus long distances. Aggressive dogs are problematic and their brain dead owners cause the associated problems with their "Love Puppy" whom wouldn't hurt a soul. For a walking stick I utilize a long handle shovel shaft along with pepper spray and a concealed handgun. Also a cell phone with a speed dial set up for 911 - Sheriffs Dept./Animal Control. I've had incidents that have been reported to the Sherriff's Dept. and Animal Control. In my seventh decade I'm not in the least bit hesitant to do what's necessary to protect myself from physical injury.

 

[.308 Norma]

For a walking stick I utilize a long handle shovel shaft along with pepper spray and a concealed handgun.

Other than the fact I'm still 10 months from my "seventh decade," Hangingrock, I could have just "copied and pasted" your post, and used it as my own - we're that much alike in how we deal with aggressive dogs out in the country.
There are several farm dogs around here that will run a hundred yards or more down driveways just to threaten me because I'm "trespassing" on "their section" of a public road. I've never had to do anything though, other than showing them my great big walking stick by tapping it on the asphalt. They usually back off then, and stand there and growl as I continue on past. Occasionally though, one of them will sneak around behind me. Those are the ones that frighten me the most, and it's irritating because I have to interrupt my pace in order to turn around and face them. If one of those sneaky curs ever gets close enough, he's going to learn what pepper spray feels like, coupled with a rap up alongside the head with my walking stick.
I carry a gun too while I'm on my exercise hikes. But I don't want to shoot someone's dog if I can help it. I look at it this way - I'm doing the owner's of those aggressive farm dogs a favor by making the dogs afraid of someone walking on a public road, because the next "someone" might not have a big walking stick and pepper spray. They might just shoot.

 

[Hangingrock]

I carry a gun too while I'm on my exercise hikes. But I don't want to shoot someone's dog if I can help it. I look at it this way - I'm doing the owner's of those aggressive farm dogs a favor by making the dogs afraid of someone walking on a public road, because the next "someone" might not have a big walking stick and pepper spray. They might just shoot.

It can be problematic. On the other hand I've had dogs follow along with me. Two come to mind Bow and Sadie, they'll follow me for the duration of the walk then stay around the house usually on the front porch. Then after awhile they go home. Then there was the lady that had a Rottweiler and a Pit-bull. both dogs were will behaved and just wanted petted. Then there is the lowlife's that don't care for and properly train the dogs thus becoming behavior problematic. I had Springer Spaniels (Field-Stock) for thirty or so years. They tend to be territorial. You have to be prepared for the aggressive dog and or dogs. I've witnessed domesticated dogs in packs pull down livestock such as goats. Pack behavior breeds aggression. You have people that leave for work in the morning and let the dog or dogs roam free all day which is also problematic. None the less you have to be prepared to deal with the problem. "He who hesitates is lost" applies!

 

[MedWheeler]

I'd thought of the umbrella trick many years ago, and this is the first time I've ever heard anyone else bring it up. However, I've never actually tried it on anything other than a cat I used to have (yeah, it definitely works on cats!)

Around here, we have had our share of irresponsible dog owners, and the vast majority of actually attacks have been by (wait for it..) pit bulls.

Incidentally, two dog attack stories having taken place in recent days come to mind. In the first, a pair of PBTs ran from a house or garage into an open vehicle nearby and attacked two toddlers who were strapped into car seats. At least one of the children's parents was injured (as were the children, of course) trying to fight off the dogs.

In the other, a Rottweiler charged two police officers who were on a call, and was quickly restrained by a teen-aged boy. However, the dog apparently got loose from where he placed it and charged the same officers again, prompting the officers to shoot at it. Unfortunately, the boy had also run into the fire zone in an apparent attempt to restrain the dog again, and was hit and killed by what was probably a round that first struck the pavement.

I myself have been charged on three occasions I can recall. In one, I used a running push-mower to block the Rottweiler's approach until I could get into my front door. A round fired into the ground from a Ruger .22 pistol in my pocket didn't seem to faze him much.

In the second, the large, unknown-breed dog stopped before reaching me.

In the third, a fast-running PBT came nearly muzzle-to-muzzle with my PF9 as I yelled to its pursuing owner to "call him off!" She shouted something that did indeed get the dog's attention, and it did stop, but it still took some verbiage on the owner's part to get it to get back away from me and onto her property.

I'm not that inclined to trust fast-approaching PBTs (or most other dogs) any more than I would an unknown human charging me like that.

 

[RPZ]

Best animal defense is pepper spray. Only dog I ever had to gas took off running so fast that I am not 100% certain he's slowed down yet, and that was three years ago. Even the little itty bitty keychain units would work, keep it in your hand, out of sight, when you go past bad dog neighborhood.
Just my .02$, worth what you paid for it.

Seconded.

Backed up with a .357 3" or a 9mm pistol.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Dog behavior is a science in itself. Having a Rotty charging at you "right now" is hardly a definitive example.

Many dogs charge and stop short while others seem to want attention and then bite.

What I will say on the topic is that if you are truly being attacked (dog latched on and not letting go) then a knife, if you are able, is the best way to go. Trying to shoot at a dog, whether charging or already latched on, is bound to end up with fliers on unknown destinations.

I have been charged and I have been bitten but thankfully have never been "attacked" by a dog. My strategy if I were actually attacked would be my knife.

 

[fallout mike]

I've been bitten many times by "that dog wouldn't hurt a fly" dogs. It happens. I've had many many pit bulls that were all big babies but were protective of their yard and my wife and I. I'm heading a different direction soon and getting a Dogo Argentino. Aggression was supposed to have been bred out of them.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I've been bitten many times by "that dog wouldn't hurt a fly" dogs. It happens. I've had many many pit bulls that were all big babies but were protective of their yard and my wife and I. I'm heading a different direction soon and getting a Dogo Argentino. Aggression was supposed to have been bred out of them.

Just went googling and found a video about a dogo argentino who killed a puma twice its weight to protect two little girls. The dog was injured but thankfully was able to be nursed back to health.

 

[fallout mike]

Yea Dogos were bred to hunt wild boar and to be great loyal to their owners. They are great dogs. I've seen that video as well. The girls had gotten away from the house and luckily the Dogo went with them. That was in Australia I believe. They are somewhat pricey though.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Pittys and rottys are some very misunderstood and demonized dogs, and there are many other breeds just as capable of being a lethal threat as they.

 

[red rick]

I had a neighbor who use to have Rottweiler's . The one he got from a puppy has real friendly . The next one he got was already grown . It would bark at me through the fence and act like he would bite . I would always look before I went on his side of my fence when making repairs . One morning I looked and didn't see him out so I made my repairs , using a hammer so I wasn't quite . After I finished , I was going back over to my side and I saw him , he was sleeping in the yard the whole time and never got up .

My mom is a person that can go up to most any dog and it will stop barking and acting aggressive toward her .

 

[redbullitt]

Misunderstood or not, sometimes dogs do need to be stopped quickly. I think the pepper spray is probably the best overall tactic, backed up by a firearm, backed up by a proper knife.

Mind you, I have my own misunderstood Cane Corso lol, so I am no stranger to the whole dog stigma stuff. Friendly dogs can quickly turn unfriendly depending on the circumstances. Most people do not train their dogs let alone put in the necessary time to socialize them. Simply put, many people who get pit bulls, mastiffs, or any dog really, should not have a dog at all. My Corso takes a lot of work; he is a great dog and does what I expect, but he is definitely not the type for most. He makes it very easy to see how protective breeds get such a bad reputation simply from neglectful owners, not even considering those who make them mean on purpose.

When animals are a possibility, and it needs to be a pistol, I take the 10mm glock 20. 180g gold dots, loaded to 1275 FPS. Second choice would be 357 sig glock 32, 125 gold dots loaded to 1500 fps. If concealment is not a concern, and I was suspecting 4 legged trouble, I think the 12g with 00 buck would be excellent, or maybe the 458 socom with good barnes coppers.

 

[fallout mike]

.40 will stop a pit. Here's how I know. A number of years ago I gave an uncle a pit puppy from a litter my female had. About a year later he was having work done in the back of his house so he had the pit on a runner in the front yard while he was at work. When he got home his dog wasn't there. His neighbor came over and told him what happened. Apparently someone called the police on a pit terrorizing the neighborhood. Cops saw his dog in the front yard, on a runner, shot it, called a garbage truck over, unhooked dog from leash and threw it in the garbage truck. Neighbor said the dog wasn't dead yet, whimpering in pain, trying to move but really couldn't. So, yes, a .40 will stop a pit.

 

[coloradokevin]

I'm a career LEO, and I've used pepper spray effectively against dogs on quite a few occasions over the years.

 

[red rick]

When my dad was a boy delivering newspapers on his bike he told me that he had a dog that would chase him and try and bite him . He said he put ammonia in a squirt gun and squirted the dog in the eyes one time and he said from then on the dog would run the other way when he saw him coming .

 

[.308 Norma]

When my dad was a boy delivering newspapers on his bike he told me that he had a dog that would chase him and try and bite him . He said he put ammonia in a squirt gun and squirted the dog in the eyes one time and he said from then on the dog would run the other way when he saw him coming .

I've heard that, and I actually have a little squeeze bottle full of ammonia in the cabinet where I keep the rest of my "walking" equipment - pepper spray, .32 H&R, flashlight, gloves, ball cap and bandana. But I've never remembered yet to put that squeeze bottle full of ammonia in my pocket when I head out on my walk. I probably should. I've experimented with water in it, and I know it shoots a pretty good stream for 15 feet or thereabouts. So I'm pretty sure it would be effective at a greater range, and less likely to blow back in my face than my pepper spray.

 

[old lady new shooter]

.40 will stop a pit. Here's how I know. A number of years ago I gave an uncle a pit puppy from a litter my female had. About a year later he was having work done in the back of his house so he had the pit on a runner in the front yard while he was at work. When he got home his dog wasn't there. His neighbor came over and told him what happened. Apparently someone called the police on a pit terrorizing the neighborhood. Cops saw his dog in the front yard, on a runner, shot it, called a garbage truck over, unhooked dog from leash and threw it in the garbage truck. Neighbor said the dog wasn't dead yet, whimpering in pain, trying to move but really couldn't. So, yes, a .40 will stop a pit.

What a horrible story.
Did he sue the police?