What was your best bluff?

[Gordy Wesen]

I'm apologize you guys but I seem to have had my share of whacky dog related events. I'll pester you with one more. This one happened 10 years ago just after I had imported a wonderful working female Rottweiler. She was 2 1/2 and titled. I was walking her and my male Rottie who was recovering from surgery. It was an empty ball park and soon an old car pulled in. They had let their pit bull mix out at the entrance and were exercising it by letting him chase the car into the parking lot. He came running into the lot and spied my male and made a beeline for him. He paused 10 yards out while he sized things up and then promptly attacked. The owners - 2 men and a woman - didn't lift a finger. I grabbed him and put a knee into his head and yelled for the owners to come get their dog. They did and they gave me a piece of their minds while doing it. I was furious but grabbed my female to put her in the van. I arrived at the back door and they did too. I told them clearly that my dog had just had surgery and they had a responsibility to control their dog. One of the fellows slipped his hand into his open jacket as one would for a cross draw. He said he had had enough of me and was likely to kill me and my dogs.
Now, I had not a clue about what the female was or how she worked but I had her by the collar at my right hand. I looked the fellow right in the eye and told him he would never clear it before the dog tore him up. They all looked down at Izzy and I did too hoping I'd see something. I didn't...but this situation just dissolved. They turned muttering, hopped in the car and drove off.
As I worked her later I saw what they did and what they did not. In defence her eyes got darker and she grew very intense. What they did not see was that she bit like a snake. Very fast, very hard.
Thank you Isabel. You saved my bacon. I'm sorry I sold you.

 

[sm]

based on experience...

I made a recording of sounds in the shop, voices, telephones...etc
Had a switch where I could turn this on and some machinery from up front...

I used this more than once when suspicious persons would enter and we were short staffed and percieved we were being cased. The way the store was arranged and partitioned ( including one way glass) well...are there others persons on premise or not?...

 

[Griff]

I apologize, this isn't really about dogs, but thought it might fit here.

A few years back some buddies and I were out walking around Taegu, S. Korea, enjoying being all overwhelmed by the culture shock and unusual sights and sounds; you know, not really paying attention. Just walking along...
A bar door opened and about an equal number of rough-looking drunks (ever heard of Soju?) piled out into the street, probably just as suprised as we were to see someone in their path, but unhappy that we were there, nonetheless. Local sentiment at the time was that, like the GIs in WW2 England, we were "overpaid, oversexed, and over there", not sure I blame them.
We'd had about a second or two of staring each other down, feeling bad vibes start to connect, when I got a wild hair and started doing the "Hare Krishna" song and dance routine for the closest dude.
Another electric moment later, we were all laughing and having a great time making fun of the idiot who....um, yeah, well, nobody got hurt and you've been entertained, right?
Not sure if you can teach that kinda thing at ThunderFrontAcademy, but it sure was effective.

 

[Wakal]

Bluffing is for games.

Never threaten anything you won't follow through on, instantly and without remorse. And that includes the Hare Krishna dance




Alex

 

[Griff]

Oh yeah? well, my dad can beat your dad up

Point well taken, Sir, but let's think about this for a minute.
Beyond the obvious dangers of empty threats, if a person bluffs, they've made a decision to act. Therefore, they're already in motion and have taken the advantage of suprise and shock away from the enemy. My point is: something's better than nothing.

Personally, I'd rather try to deal with a problem on the lowest level first, up to and including making an *ss of myself, so that both sides can then have the opportunity to "save face", you know?

If things go too far and diplomacy fails, though, then it'd sure look good to a judge, jury, or arresting officer if you can be shown to have done everything possible to avoid violence, within reason.

Regards, Griff

 

[Wakal]

Maybe, but my dad is a cripple and your dad would feel really bad afterward

Just saying that once you start you must be willing to follow through...and that, as mentioned, includes the Hare Krishna dance.

I'm still chuckling over that one. Pretty quick thinking.




Alex

 

[KMKeller]

I didn't have to bluff, the dog did it for me...

About a year ago, my son turned six and I decided he needed a dog. We went to the pound and he picked a funny looking Rotty/Pointer mix. Puppy came home and they've spent the last year becoming the very best of friends. The dog is named Sasha by the way, and she's a sweetie. She grew up into a beautiful dog with the lines of an English Pointer and the size, musculature and coloring of a Rotty.

I've never seen Sasha be aggressive towards anyone or anything. She constantly plays with my wife's kitten and is very gentle. About a week ago, my son and I were walking her around the lake (condo community with a few people walking around the lake). We had stopped to watch a couple of huge snapping turtles when a lady who had been walking stopped to watch them as well. We struck up a conversation and she seemed pleasant and polite. She spoke briefly to my son and then put her hands on his shoulders and teased him about going in to catch a turtle. The moment her hands touched my son's shoulders, Sasha went straight for her. Low growl, hair along her spine standing up and she hit the end of the leash hard enough to nearly yank me off my feet. The lady held her hands up in the air saying "nice doggie" as she backed away from my son.

Sasha has barked two or three times in her entire life. She's never shown aggression before and I was very concerned if she'd ever protect my son in case of an emergency. I no longer have any fear about her willingness to protect my boy.

Oh, and for the record, I had a Smith 340PD loaded with .38 Special +P in my right front pocket with two reloads in my left front pocket.

 

[Dave P]

Griff, that sounds like the opening scenes of Lethal Weapon, where the cop starts doing the Larry/Moe/Curly routine on the dealers!

 

[Smoke]

Aren't dogs amazing.

My male Aussie has not shown much in the way of protection toward my son. But he has latched on to my infant daughter. No one approaches her with him around. I don't know yet if he'd really bite anyone but he sure acts like he wants to.

 

[El Tejon]

I tell women in bars that I'm a doctor.

 

[Griff]

I gotta get me a puppy. Good thread!