Good point NBK2000, however, in your particular scenario, if your potential attacker is unaware of your presence, and you have a firearm, you have the upper hand. More often then not, just the sound of the dog barking is enough to deter a would be attacker. No way would I waste my "tool" if I knew the guy was armed. I'd call the cops, get into position where i could fire on him, and if I saw a "grave danger" I would take care of business.
Your post reminded me of a personal situation that drives me nuts. I moved into an apartment that doesn't allow pets, so, for the meantime my parents have my dog. Shes a really sweet pitbull, and like many other pits, is a poor protection dog. Anyways, my parents are in the jewelry business, their building is comprised mostly of wholesale jewelers and has lax security. Three people have been robbed on their floor, the next door jewelers most recently, the owner was shot point blank in the face. Most of the jewelers are gunowners, naturally, my parents however, the old hippies turned yuppies that they are, abhor guns. The last time I was at their office, I asked them what kind of security they had. "We've got Daisy (my dog)!"
"She'd be shot instantly" I said...my mom responded "But isn't she a pitbull?"........
God I hate the media.... They also have a security door, its
glass ! But my mom said it was bullet proof, I could break it one one kick, and I offered to prove it, she declined.
Well, it sucks knowing that not only are my parents sitting ducks but so is my dog
(I actually like the dog more, I know, I'm evil). Just owning a "tough" breed isn't enough, you have to train them hard and like any tool, know when its best to use them. A well trained Shepard is better than any poorly trained Fila, Dogo, or Presa.