Desensitized to Danger?

Many years ago, when we were kids, we'd always be going in and out through the back yard gate. At one point, my father, after replacing the gate latch, told us that we were to NEVER slam the gate and better yet, to politely go through the house to reach the back yard. When we ended up with a dog, use of the gate diminished greatly.

If your kids are playing and slamming the gate, tell them to stop doing so. If need be, install a simple leash-clip on the gate latch that has to be removed by reaching over first. Especially if you have a dog.

Children should be taught to announce their entry into the home and their departure. "It's me!" is sometimes enough. And they should always announce if they have someone with them, "It's me! And I have Bobby with me!" Or "I'm going out to play". Now you know why the door is being opened. No vocalization means a need to be alert.

I mentioned a dog. We were lucky enough to be adopted by a one-year old Doberman who relished having a back yard instead of an apartment. Quite a good companion animal, loving, smart, alert and assertive in his defense of the home. Not aggressive until or unless it was necessary.
doberman-pinscher-1.jpg


I learned after he weaseled his way into sleeping next to my bed (a week later, in the bed with me) that dogs have a specific communication protocol with their vocalizations.

Woof-GRRrrrrrrr = "What's Thaaat?" I head something...I think.
Woof-GRRRrrrr-Woof-Grrrrrr = "Who's there? What's going on?"
Rapid Barking w/some whining = "You're in my space!" -usually a cat or dog.
GRRRRRRRR (deep growling) = "Something is wrong." Danger lurks out there.
Rapid Barking only - "Who are you?" Challenge to someone/something
Rapid Barking w/some growling = "I see something wrong!" Territorial violation.
Rapid Barking w/snarling growl = "Get Away! Danger!" Intruder seen

Usually, for the first two types, I'd just start back to sleep and figure if he spotted something I'd know soon enough. The bark/whine I learned was usually due to other animals in his "territory".

Rapid barking is a challenge. "Who are you?" and if he's met with a friendly voice and manner and recognizes the neighbor or family friend, all is well. A stranger may be "announced" this way unless the dog senses an evil intent.

But when that deep growl went on for more than a couple of seconds, it meant he heard or sensed danger lurking. He was seldom wrong. When he'd bark at a window and it included growling that meant he spotted something he thought was wrong. Sometimes it was another dog (especially a disliked one) or a passerby late at night or folks leaving a neighbor's house late.

But when you hear that snarling growl between barks, it's time to man up with a weapon and check out what's going on. It could be another animal or and intruder. In any case, he's saying "Get away" or "Beware! I'll attack you!"

Last comment: A dog's nose is sensitive to certain smells. Among these are the "fear stink" some people put off when they get slightly nervous or agitated before committing a crime. No matter how nice, calm or polite they seem, your dog may detect it and give the alarm.

When our Doberman was about 2, Mom opened the door to a knock, holding the dog's collar. Outside was a reasonably well dressed man who smiled and began talking to her about landscaping jobs. Within seconds, the dog's bark-bark ("who are you?") changed to that vicious-sounding Bark-snarl sound. He backed away. Mom apologized and closed the door so he left. Four houses down, about 5 minutes later, he tried to shove his way into a woman's home. Fortunately her 18 year old son and his school chum were both there (and both high-school linebackers) and subdued him.

Listen to your dog. He really is trying to tell your something. :cool:
 
My dog went off last night, was only my friend returning to pick up his truck, harvest is on :)

Last week dog that sleeps beside my bed went off, was 2 people walking up the road at 3am, never seen em before never seen em again. Might have been up to no good or not I dont know. Dog going off means get up out of bed and turn on floods to check it out. Out where I live it is quiet at night.

Out on the deck you can hear my great horned owl, he has lived here longer than I. Night is the best time to sit outside when you live out here.
 
I live in the country with no other house within 100 yds and that one is separated from our property by woods. When my dogs bark, I pay attention to it post haste. There is no good reason for anyone to be casually around my house or barn.
 
I keep an eye on everyone who comes anywhere near my house. I don't pull a gun on them (Usually) but I always have one on my person and nearby in case the neighborhood meter reader ends up being a parolee that knows how to make a fake I.D. Or the friendly looking kid selling candy turns out to be a distraction for some piece of trash kicking in the back door. You get the idea.

I also got rid of that same back door before I even moved in because it had a lovely windows for looking into the back yard through. The same windows also tend to be good for busting out and unlocking said door with very little noise.

And I investigate every sound that doesn't sound right. Might not have a gun in hand, but there's always one AT hand. Chased off a couple teenagers trying to get into my garage because of that habit not too long agao.

My guard dog is actually my wife's chihuahua that barks at every little noise and I like it that way. My wife, incidentally, always has a gun on her because she's lived with me in most of the countries I've worked in and has no illusions that what we saw on a regular basis there can't happen here.

We are both trained in KravMaga in case we can't get to a weapon for whatever reason and we re-enforce that training twice a week. Beyond that I do the usual, keep the outside well lit, no shrubs or treees covering windows, and an alarm. Also have the sweetest older lady living next door that tells me when anyone's been there when I'm gone.

I might seem a bit paranoid, but I've seen enough ugliness firsthand that I don't put anything past anyone.
 
Warhammer,

Didn't apologize, but did feel like I could have easily interrupted a costly theft.


Now . . . when he barks, I DO check it out, and if it is nothing important to me, I treat him with all friendliness and say something like, "You knucklehead; people are entitled to walk up the street" and give him a pat.

Rmocarsky
 
So what do you all do to stay prepared and alert to any potential dangers? Is there being to0 alert, like becoming paranoid?
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Contrary to what some folks claim, nobody is always prepared and alert all the time to any potential dangers. It just isn't possible to always be prepared and alert.
 
de-sensitized, or cautious ?

Everytime a topic such as this comes up, and folks talk about getting armed at the first sound of a possible intruder, I think of the teenager that decided to 'spook' her dad upon returning from a date at the wee hours of the morning. Her dad was one of those guys that was not going to be surprised and often took to roaming the house with his gun ... just to protect the family mind you.

As it turned out that night, dad must have heard a noise and when he saw a shadow-figure he fired. His daughter died in his arms. When I think of this event, I always wonder what goes through his mind on her birthday.

Be cautious, at the risk of appearing desenitized.
 
My dog sleeps at least 20 hours a day. When he is not sleeping he is eating, playing, walking with us or reacting to contact. He wastes no sleep time on false alarms. If he is reacting I am reacting too.

Everytime a topic such as this comes up, and folks talk about getting armed at the first sound of a possible intruder, I think of the teenager that decided to 'spook' her dad upon returning from a date at the wee hours of the morning. Her dad was one of those guys that was not going to be surprised and often took to roaming the house with his gun ... just to protect the family mind you.

As it turned out that night, dad must have heard a noise and when he saw a shadow-figure he fired. His daughter died in his arms. When I think of this event, I always wonder what goes through his mind on her birthday.
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I read a similar story about how the girl jumped out of the closet. It was very tragic. I already talked to my kids about it. We don't play dumb games like "hide in the closet after lights out". If I am getting up, the wife is getting up too and checking the kids.
 
I live alone with 2 big dogs out in the boonies. The dogs do bark at coyotes, but it is a different bark than when someone is around. I can easily tell the difference & always check out a warning bark. Their bark when my girlfriend comes over is all together different. Learn to listen & read what your best friend is telling you. I have a gun hidden, but within easy reach, in every room & usually one on me. Paranoid? No! Prepared!
 
Our new Daughter in law.

The 5th of Sept. my Wife and I were very proud to be there for our youngest Sons wedding in Sacramento (Only a City Stick with me, Glock safe in safe in Florida) me not Safe! In California.

I made a comment about must find a way to travel with my Glock! I was only joking, she appeared to be terrified!

Not sure how their first visit here is going to be? Sitting in front of the Lap Top just now, Glock 19 in right pocket of robe, cell phone in left.
I am always armed, day or night, paranoid? no, but I know just how long it takes for a teenager to go from A to B. I also know a 9mm projectile is faster than one of them, or I.

Nothing worth stealing outside, our Jeep is indoors, could some one break in? Sure, not a good idea when we are in, monitored alarm when we are out.
 
Familiarity breeds contempt.

So the barking dog, after hearing it time after time, makes it seem it's no big deal and does not raise an alarm in the mind.

Either train the dog to ONLY bark if strangers approach, or get a different alarm system.

Deaf
 
Quite a few years ago a professional burglar was interviewed on television and according to him the most effective warning system anyone can have is a barking dog. Their hearing is far superior to ours and they bark when they hear or see anything or anyone they are not accustomed to. When my Pomeranian alerts I respond.
 
Coopers color codes

You don't see it much anymore, but Coopers color code awareness thing was a pretty slick system to keep one thinking and avoid complacency.
 
Just because you are paranoid does not mean that they aren't out to get you!

But seriously, I believe in being prepared. As I type this, my S & W .38 snub is in my pocket. Either it or my Ruger LCP is always there. In my living room my Ruger P97 .45 is quick to hand. A Ruger P89 9 mm is handy in my bedroom.

Am I paranoid? I don't know or care. I know that a very tiny percentage of the people will ever need to use a gun for self defense. Even most cops never have to use their gun on duty. However, if you are one of those who do, for you it is 100 percent.

In my younger days, I spent several years as a cop. I saw that random acts of violence do occasionally happen to ordinary people just going about their daily lives. They did nothing to provoke it nor were they in a "bad" location.

I remember a situation that occurred when I was about 12 years old. I was with my father when we were accosted by a car load (I believe four) of young punks. They were very beligerent, aggressive, and threatening toward my father and I. That is until Dad produced his Colt 1911. It was amazing how quickly their demeanor changed. They couldn't get away from there quick enough. I might point out that this was in a very rural area with the nearest law about 20 miles away. And we were on our own property.
 
Deaf Smith...

... on the one hand, I see your point, but on the other hand I have to respectfully disagree.

1) Look at BillCA's post; you can learn what your dog's different barks mean. Additionally, you can pretty easily learn their body language. In my case, almost all of my dogs have historically run toward the door or window if they sense another animal, or just something fairly normal going on. When they have actually felt threatened, they have tended to assume defensive postures either near and in front of the lady, or near (and possibly slightly behind) me.

2) Look at TheNatureBoy's post; I've also seen studies that indicate barking dogs are major deterrents.

Therefore, I don't see training the dog not to bark as being a plus. The only dogs I can see a utility in training to be silent would be dedicated attack dogs, for which I don't have a use.
 
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Constant state of alert

As DoubleNaught Spy already mentioned, it's not possible to constantly be in condition red, or whatever you like to call it.

This is why Battle Stations on a US Navy ship, as an example, is only set for periods of hours at a time, and not days or weeks at a time. It is very mentally wearing, and rapidly exhausts watchstanders.

If heightened states of readiness are required for a ship or base, watch durations may need to be shorted and rest periods increased.

If military personnel, ages typically from 18-30 have difficulty with prolonged states of heightened watchfulness, then how are most normal folks, often significantly older, going to sustain such?

I'd say, let intelligence inform when you should deliberately heighten awareness. (IE, relax at home unless something out of the ordinary happens; don't constantly worry about muggers while watching a movie at a busy theater, etc)
 
Dogs and the stink of fear...

BillCA raised this point earlier in the thread. I know of at least two cases in my family where it has come into play.

Case 1) Massachusetts, 1980's. My dad's cousin was home alone, kids in school, husband at work, in rural, central Massachusetts. A floral delivery van pulled into the drive. Delivery guy rang the bell, said he was trying to find an address, but couldn't find the road. Could he please come in and use the phone?

My dad's cousin let him in the door. Immediately, her German Shepherd, "Pup" (the name should tell you just how aggressive the dog usually was) began growling. The man asked, "does she bite?" My dad's cousin, the light bulb now coming on over her head, said, "do you want to find out?" The guy left.

My dad's cousin called her husband and told him what happened. Her husband told her to call the cops. Cops came out in some numbers, 20-30 minutes later. They told her a serial rapist had been hitting their area, using the ploy of being a lost flower delivery man. They had a task force looking for him.

The officers also told her that since she lived out far enough in the sticks to expect response times over 20 minutes, she really should get a gun. She followed that advice.

Case 2) My ex had interrupted a domestic battery in progress at a public beach bathhouse. The female (victim) ran away. The male (assailant, puncher/choker) made a move to threaten my ex, but my ex was at the beach with some USMC friends of ours. (I was deployed at the time.) The guy backed off, for the time being.

My ex rode with the jarheads back to where they'd met up, at a local biker bar we tended to frequent. They all hung out at the bar for a while. She then got in the 4Runner and drove up through the mountain pass, down the other side, and to our house. She went to let our dog (Rottweiler/Shepherd mix, around 55lbs) out, and opened the gate to the backyard, which was below the level of the front yard.

As she and the dog started down the staircase, Bella (the dog) started growling and bristling, and moved against my ex's leg, staring down into the backyard. Looking where Bella's attention had fixed, my ex saw the guy from the beach, plus a friend of his, in our backyard and moving toward her.

They froze when they noticed the dog. My ex ducked quickly into the house, and grabbed her Beretta Brigadier 9mm from its hiding place by the door. She came back out off-safe and cocked. Between the dog and the gun, the two guys tore off, and jumped the back fence, leaving some denim from one's jeans snagged on the fence.

Note: Bella loved people in general; we used to take her to off-leash parks all the time. She'd let unknown little kids climb on her back. She NEVER reacted to people the way she did on that occasion.
 
For what it's worth, being alert and prepared doesn't translate to shooting anything that moves and scares you. All of us should have a training focus on identifying their target. Even if you have a "clean" shoot, you may run into trouble down the road if you can't clearly articulate what you saw that made you shoot.
 
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