I was lurking the last few days and read the "gene pool" thread started by Sir William. After exchanging a couple of PM's, I decided to post a thread regarding canine tactics and training for we who walk our dogs and who carry our concealed weapons.
First, this is by NO MEANS a critique of Sir William. It simply points out some "outside the box" things we can do, and is only offered as such. I am more of an expert on dogs by FAR than I am in tactics or guns, having owned, trained, and rehabbed "rescue" dogs for years. Still, IANAAT (I am not an animal trainer) and IANATN (I am not a tactican ninja) so ignore at will.
We all know that if we go out with our handguns, we also need to go out with our CHLs (you DO always CARRY that license when walking your dog? right? ). You must have your cell phone, because if there is a problem you WILL need it and will need enough juice in the battery. You will also have:
1) one or more dogs on the end of leash(es)
2) a pooper scooper
3) an umbrella, if it's raining
4) a child or two in tow if you have small rugrats
5) utterly unpredictable surroundings (passers-by, other rugrats playing in the street, cats running along to distract your dogs, etc.)
If I were to find myself in a situation in which I needed to protect myself on a walk, a whole lot of decisions would need to be made in a big hurry, most of which can be addressed (and are) by others on this forum who really do know their stuff. However, there is the issue of the dog(s). Several people have suggested "let the dog go". IMHO, this would be the least useful response.
Why? Because the dog, unlike you, cannot size up the situation and think it through. He is going to respond on instinct, on feelings and awareness of YOUR feelings (if you think dogs can't sense YOUR fear, think again). If bullets start flying he is likely to panic. If you let him go before bullets fly, he becomes, well, a potential hostage. I don't know about y'all, but my dogs are trained to be FRIENDLY when we're out on our walks. They are greeted by every kid and every adult that sees them, they love it, they seek it out... and if I were to just let them go, they'd likely go wander off for attention from the BG(s), thereby making them hostages.
Besides, the last thing you need in an already difficult situation is more unpredictability.
To that end, if you have dogs and you carry your gun when you walk them, train your dogs. Teach them down-stay, and get them to where they can do it flawlessly. It takes tons of work. For this to be effective if the SHTF, the dog must be able to do it without responding to distractions. If your dog doesn't even know how to sit-stay, you may have months of work ahead of you; but you must be able to down-stay your dog so that you do NOT have to worry about where he is, what he's doing, and whether he's going to get shot.
In our family, our dog walks are on a very predictable path. It helps if your dog knows "his walk" so that he knows exactly how to get home if you DO end up having to let go of his leash. But that's a last resort.
So: let's assume that a bad guy has trailed me around the block and I am on one small stretch of our neighborhood where people are actually not always out and around. And I need to take cover. I want to be able to down-stay the dog, then put my foot through the leash grip or step or kneel on the leash to ensure the dog stays put. THEN I have both hands free to shoot, call 911, AND to pat the dog to reassure it as needed.
What we do NOT need to do is turn our dogs into doggie ninjas or K-9 officers. All we want is to get out alive, and for our pets to get out alive, of any bad situation. Keep them still, keep them quiet, and keep them down, would be my advice on that.
Back to lurkerdom, but this is important, IMO.
Springmom
First, this is by NO MEANS a critique of Sir William. It simply points out some "outside the box" things we can do, and is only offered as such. I am more of an expert on dogs by FAR than I am in tactics or guns, having owned, trained, and rehabbed "rescue" dogs for years. Still, IANAAT (I am not an animal trainer) and IANATN (I am not a tactican ninja) so ignore at will.
We all know that if we go out with our handguns, we also need to go out with our CHLs (you DO always CARRY that license when walking your dog? right? ). You must have your cell phone, because if there is a problem you WILL need it and will need enough juice in the battery. You will also have:
1) one or more dogs on the end of leash(es)
2) a pooper scooper
3) an umbrella, if it's raining
4) a child or two in tow if you have small rugrats
5) utterly unpredictable surroundings (passers-by, other rugrats playing in the street, cats running along to distract your dogs, etc.)
If I were to find myself in a situation in which I needed to protect myself on a walk, a whole lot of decisions would need to be made in a big hurry, most of which can be addressed (and are) by others on this forum who really do know their stuff. However, there is the issue of the dog(s). Several people have suggested "let the dog go". IMHO, this would be the least useful response.
Why? Because the dog, unlike you, cannot size up the situation and think it through. He is going to respond on instinct, on feelings and awareness of YOUR feelings (if you think dogs can't sense YOUR fear, think again). If bullets start flying he is likely to panic. If you let him go before bullets fly, he becomes, well, a potential hostage. I don't know about y'all, but my dogs are trained to be FRIENDLY when we're out on our walks. They are greeted by every kid and every adult that sees them, they love it, they seek it out... and if I were to just let them go, they'd likely go wander off for attention from the BG(s), thereby making them hostages.
Besides, the last thing you need in an already difficult situation is more unpredictability.
To that end, if you have dogs and you carry your gun when you walk them, train your dogs. Teach them down-stay, and get them to where they can do it flawlessly. It takes tons of work. For this to be effective if the SHTF, the dog must be able to do it without responding to distractions. If your dog doesn't even know how to sit-stay, you may have months of work ahead of you; but you must be able to down-stay your dog so that you do NOT have to worry about where he is, what he's doing, and whether he's going to get shot.
In our family, our dog walks are on a very predictable path. It helps if your dog knows "his walk" so that he knows exactly how to get home if you DO end up having to let go of his leash. But that's a last resort.
So: let's assume that a bad guy has trailed me around the block and I am on one small stretch of our neighborhood where people are actually not always out and around. And I need to take cover. I want to be able to down-stay the dog, then put my foot through the leash grip or step or kneel on the leash to ensure the dog stays put. THEN I have both hands free to shoot, call 911, AND to pat the dog to reassure it as needed.
What we do NOT need to do is turn our dogs into doggie ninjas or K-9 officers. All we want is to get out alive, and for our pets to get out alive, of any bad situation. Keep them still, keep them quiet, and keep them down, would be my advice on that.
Back to lurkerdom, but this is important, IMO.
Springmom