Dog leash in one hand, flashlight in the other...

[1911Tuner]

I would not stand on a dog leash unless you wanted to land on your head when that dog takes off, same for a d-ring on your belt.

I used to use the D ring with my male Collies all the time...three brothers...and the runt of the litter weighed 80 pounds.

As with anything...proper technique determines success or failure.

You don't clip it until there's a reason...and by the time there's a reason, the dog has already taken the slack out of the lead...so there's no running start and you're already braced.

Or, alternatively...you clip it to the ring and keep it wrapped around your hand until you have to let go to reach for your gun.

It also helps to train the dog to heel whenever the command is given.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Your life is in danger or it isn't. If it is, drop whatever is in your hand and get on your gun as fast as you can. A couple of coyote pups wouldn't meet that threshold for me.

If you think you are seeing some little animal, you might wind up drawing on a jogger with those shoelaces listed a couple of posts ago. Years ago, while driving down a country road one night I slowed down because I could see the eyes of some animal running down the road ahead of me. It turned out to be a jogger - dressed in black with reflective thingies on the back of his shoes.

 

[leadcounsel]

I'll echo what some have said.

I have a carabineer on my dog leash, so I can affix her to any fixed object (tree branch, wrap around a tree, etc) or even my leather belt. Of course that will take a moment, so it's not always suitable.

I also walk my dog during daylight when practical. Eliminates the need for a light.

I carry a can of pepperspray, so aiming at 4 legged threats isn't as important. A can of spray will likely scare off most aggressive animals.

If you have multiple dogs, perhaps walk them separately or with another person.

Headlamps and reflective vests or belts are probably a must if you are routinely walking in the dark. I have a reflective belt I wear when it's dark, and my dog has a collar that has reflective tape sewn into it. Biggest danger would be getting hit by a car.

 

[MacTech]

Cooper, my Portuguese Water Dog is 40-ish lbs of pure muscle, and is amazingly strong, plus, he's able to accelerate to top speed in two strides, and he's *fast*, he has a very Greyhound-esque "coiled spring" kind of run

He's around 3 years old and still a puppy, Porties mature slowly, whenever I take him out for a walk, I have a short leash, as well as his retractable, I loop the short leash through the handle of the retractable, then loop the short leash behind my belt, so the belt is restraining the short leash, that way, he's tethered to me, and I can drop the retractable leash if necessary, yet he's still restrained...

It allows me to have one hand free when walking him at night, one hand has my MagCharger with 1,000 lumen LED module in one hand, and the other hand is available to go to a sidearm if we encounter skunks/raccoons/opossums in our evening walks

 

[Trent]

LOL... the LAST thing I'd ever want to do is attach my dog's leash to my belt. If he's determined to go somewhere, fast, the only safe move is to "let him."

Not only does he outweigh me by a fair amount, but to try to hold him if he bolts would permanently damage that limb.

Nope.. if there's a threat and he goes after it, probably won't NEED the sidearm.

 

[Warp]

It doesn't take much to be a handful. Our GSD's weigh 60 and 100, and even the 60 lber going full bore with a standard color on a grippy surface can pull me along...and I'm a 202 lb guy who lifts weights semi-seriously. They have a much lower center of gravity and twice as many feet for traction.

Pinch collar. If the dog might pull on the leash, hard, for some reason, a pinch collar makes a world of difference.

Attaching the dog to your belt might just guarantee that you are unable to stand firm or make an accurate shot if need be, depending.

If and when I carry a light with a dog leash I usually put both the leash and the light in my off hand. I always put my hand through the loop at the end of the leash before then grabbing it, so I can let go of the leash while still having the loop around my arm at least.

The only issue then is that I can't get to my off side OC very well with the dog pulling on the leash. Trade-offs

 

[leprechaun50]

Trent, Love the dog. What more protection would you need?

 

[skoro]

I'm open to any and all suggestions!

Just a thought...

Maybe get a leash with a loop on the end that you can slip over your wrist. Then carry the flashlight in your left hand, keeping your right hand free.

 

[Frosty Dave]

I still use the method I learned for emergency lighting while flying at night, small flashlight on a chain around my neck & stick it in my mouth when needed.

 

[blinkjr]

Again, thanks for all the replies!

Often times it is not possible for me to walk our dog in daylight, especially in the winter months. I get home too late from work and it gets dark too early.

I do put my hand through the loop at the end of the leash, but also grab the leash with my hand. No way I could keep hold of my dog otherwise. He's gotten better, but still would bolt at the drop of a hat. Especially for something he thinks is another dog. And as others have stated, even though he's only 40 pounds when he decides to take off he can easily pull me off balance.

Dog, flashlight, gun - I need a third hand!

Maybe if I put a light on the gun I could release the flashlight once I have identified whether or not there is a threat. Then if I believe it necessary to draw my gun I can use the light on there.

I'm not sure there is a right answer here...but, again, I am very grateful for everyone who has responded.

 

[Speedo66]

LOL... the LAST thing I'd ever want to do is attach my dog's leash to my belt. If he's determined to go somewhere, fast, the only safe move is to "let him."

Not only does he outweigh me by a fair amount, but to try to hold him if he bolts would permanently damage that limb.

Nope.. if there's a threat and he goes after it, probably won't NEED the sidearm.

Golden Doodle?

So who makes a leash holster?

 

[Trent]

Golden Doodle?

So who makes a leash holster?

He's an Irish Wolfhound. Big gentle things around the family, with strong hunting and attachment instincts, which become overly protective of their owners, and downright scary when they "intervene" on your behalf.

Had him stand off a friend in the yard one day, and I swear I felt the ground shaking from his growl. I was working in the garden, friend pulled up, Marley positioned himself exactly halfway between me and him and stopped him cold; fur up, teeth bared, deep throaty growling.

Once I approached and told him it was OK, all was well. Marley is skeptical around newcomers until I approach and tell him it's alright. After that he'll keep his distance and keep a close eye on them.

My other dogs (huskies) are not nearly as good about strangers - they'll just jump up and lick them to death. Marley would do much more than that, if someone attacked my family. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end. He's knocked me out on *accident* before, jumping up to lick my face. Paw caught me under the chin when I got home, white flash, and next thing I know I'm looking up at my wife asking "are you alright?!!!"

He can nose-bump an 8' high ceiling with his hind legs still on the floor, playing catch in the livingroom.

 

[Trent]

Here he is giving my daughter a kiss; she's in 5th grade.

And that nose-bump the ceiling catch game...

 

[tnxdshooter]

Hi all. Looking for help on this.

I walk our dog at night, usually after dark. So, in the left hand is the dog leash. In the right hand is my flashlight (usually a Zebralight SC600 - great flashlight!). The other night my dog kept tugging at something behind us. When I looked and hit the flashlight, I was was shocked to see two coyote pups. Luckily, they shied away from the flashlight and I made it home safely. (I live in the suburbs, but we have all sorts of wildlife roaming around)

But that got me wondering what I would/should do when I finally get my CCW and start carrying. Like I said: dog leash in left hand, flashlight in right. If I would need to draw, what would I do? I'm right handed, so I wouldn't let go of the dog yet. The flashlight in my right hand is strapped around my wrist. But if I let go of it to draw, it's just flopping around. Who knows what that would do for aiming purposes. And how could I aim if the flashlight is just flopping around????? I think I need three hands!

Anyone have experience at this? I'm open to any and all suggestions!

Thanks - I am constantly amazed at the amount of knowledge/experience of the members of this forum!

Get you a pistol light. Then get you a holster that will hold the pistol with the light on it problem solved.

 

[Trent]

Get you a pistol light. Then get you a holster that will hold the pistol with the light on it problem solved.

Not a good option where you have to keep the gun concealed, that adds a lot of extra bulk. And a lot of concealed guns lack rails.

I (personally) wear a pretty powerful headlamp when taking the dogs for a walk. Keeps my hands clear to do other things and is one less "thing" in my pockets to worry about. It stays off, as a rule, unless I need it for something. If I hit the button it would blind God Himself, and illuminates very clearly in a tight beam out to 100 yards.

 

[Averageman]

My Girlfriend trains show dogs.
For the most part, they appear to be a pack of mutts to me, but they are very, very well trained.
While on a leash they will sit and stay until released, even if she drops the leash and walks away. They will hold a pose for an indefinate time and not move a bit unless touched.
Perhaps it would be worth some formal training for the dog?

 

[tnxdshooter]

Not a good option where you have to keep the gun concealed, that adds a lot of extra bulk. And a lot of concealed guns lack rails.

I (personally) wear a pretty powerful headlamp when taking the dogs for a walk. Keeps my hands clear to do other things and is one less "thing" in my pockets to worry about. It stays off, as a rule, unless I need it for something. If I hit the button it would blind God Himself, and illuminates very clearly in a tight beam out to 100 yards.

It should work fine for home defense.

 

[Trent]

It should work fine for home defense.

Definitely!

It's one less thing to grab off the nightstand and fidget with!

 

[Bentonville]

Trent, will you name the brand and model of the headlight you enjoy? Thanks.

 

[coloradokevin]

Be creative. There are all kinds of different ways to deal with that situation. I also walk my dogs at night in an area where coyotes are commonly seen after dark. I often carry these items however I find it to be most comfortable at the time. If something comes running at me that requires my gun hand, I can rid my hand of whatever else I'm holding. Odds are more in favor of the fact that I'd see the problem ahead of time. In that instance I find it easiest to hold the leash and light in my left hand, leaving my right hand available for the pistol.

Incidentally, I carry a flashlight with a strobe feature. It works great for scaring the coyotes away (at least around here).

 

[Geno]

I agree with Tuner. I place my heavy duty belt through the dog's leash (left side). That will also lower the center of the dog's pull on your body...more stable.

My handgun goes on the 3:00 position, and has light/laser. Back-up handgun goes on the inside left ankle. The miner's lamps work great! I strongly suggest them...LED type. The problem with applying the light to a pistol for scanning, is that you are painting targets that you do not want to paint...it's as bad as using your deer rifle's scope as a spotting scope...bad idea.

JMHO,

Geno

 

[Potatohead]

In the right hand is my flashlight (usually a Zebralight SC600

I believe you can get a head lamp band with that model, to make it a head lamp.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Perhaps one could "sling up" the dog leash like one would do with a rifle sling? This would leave both hands open to defeat the threat.

 

[coloradokevin]

Attaching your dog to your body via the leash can be risky, depending on the size of the dog, and the dog's overall temperament. While I have certainly walked/hiked that way in the past, I've also been injured that way.

My dog, while pretty well-trained, still has instincts. We were hiking on a mountain trail one time when she was about 2 years old, and she spotted a deer. At that time she was lashed to the hip belt of my backpack, and she bolted for the nearby deer (15 feet from us, so quite a distraction) right as I was stepping off of a rock. She's a 90-lb German Shepherd / Akita mix, so she's got some pull to her. We both ended up tumbling down the hill a few feet, and I sustained a badly sprained ankle. Lets just say that it wasn't a fun hike back to the car!

Anyway, consider the other "threats" carefully before tying in to the dog

 

[JTHunter]

If any of you have a Harbor Freight store near you and your local paper (or "junk" mail) has coupons for free (or "free" w/any purchase), they have a headlamp that runs on 2 AA batteries and uses one of those "rice-grain" size bulbs. It puts out a good amount of light, is slightly focusable, and swivles 90 degrees up & down and is usable in rain but isn't actually waterproof. They sell them for about $7 but if you can find one of those "free" coupons, they are free just for coming in to the store.