Pit Bull Gun
- Thread starter Loid Bridjes
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+1 on this. I am a dog lover and I would hate to have to end a dogs life, knowing in my heart that another option had a chance at working.
I'm not saying when he comes jumping across the fence into your yard that you should try and give him kisses
. . . I guess I'm just saying to make absolutely sure that you have exhausted all avenues before taking leathal action. This will protect you legally and you will feel better about yourself at the end of the day. 
Loid Bridjes
Inactive
I have already tried the doggie treat approach. While discussing the situation with the owner, have asked and received permission to give the dogs some treats. This did not stop the behaviour. Have also tried getting them used to me while they are on a leash being walked by the owner, outside of their yard. Didn't work. Have tried every possible avenue to become friendly with them. Back to gun/caliber selection.
WeedWacker
New member
Option pertaining to OP:
I'd almost rather have a knife on me. Not a folder but a fixed blade big BAMF piece of metal. Like my BK7, or my bushman which weights next to nothing. Personally, caliber doesn't seem that big a deal with pitbulls but bigger holes generally work better. A little .357 snubbie would be good. Won't have the jamming issue the PPK had in the story posted above. If you want the high capacity of an auto, I'd lean towards a .40 preferably or 9mm at minimum. Just expect that if you DO get attacked that they will be on you before your first shot so expect to be bit and mauled. With a snubby treat it as an extension of your hand and wield it like a sword, get it close before you unleash fury. Run drills where you face an angry dog and escalate to multiple dogs. Since you have the fence you will probably see them coming first and it takes a bit to get over that barrier.
Better option:
Maybe you should look into getting a wooden slat fence with slats made of 1x4's and about 5.5 to 6 feet high. If you make it where there isn't a gap between the boards the dogs can't see you and will not have as much incentive to act up nor iwll they be as intimidating.
I'd almost rather have a knife on me. Not a folder but a fixed blade big BAMF piece of metal. Like my BK7, or my bushman which weights next to nothing. Personally, caliber doesn't seem that big a deal with pitbulls but bigger holes generally work better. A little .357 snubbie would be good. Won't have the jamming issue the PPK had in the story posted above. If you want the high capacity of an auto, I'd lean towards a .40 preferably or 9mm at minimum. Just expect that if you DO get attacked that they will be on you before your first shot so expect to be bit and mauled. With a snubby treat it as an extension of your hand and wield it like a sword, get it close before you unleash fury. Run drills where you face an angry dog and escalate to multiple dogs. Since you have the fence you will probably see them coming first and it takes a bit to get over that barrier.
Better option:
Maybe you should look into getting a wooden slat fence with slats made of 1x4's and about 5.5 to 6 feet high. If you make it where there isn't a gap between the boards the dogs can't see you and will not have as much incentive to act up nor iwll they be as intimidating.
Have these dogs been able to get out of their yard or restraints previously? How large is the fence that they are behind? Do you share the same fence as your neighbors?
The first thing I would do (if possible) is erect a larger fence around my property. As you mentioned action always beats reaction… if they are able to get out of their yard at least they will not be able to get into yours.
As-far-as caliber goes, I agree with what a few others have said. Anything that will stop a man will stop a dog. If you are going to carry a firearm I would also suggest carrying a non-lethal weapon as well like pepper-spray or the likes.
Also, please take some sort of firearm safety and training course. I am not sure what your background and experience level is, but there is always more to be learned, even if it is just going to be refresher course.
The first thing I would do (if possible) is erect a larger fence around my property. As you mentioned action always beats reaction… if they are able to get out of their yard at least they will not be able to get into yours.
As-far-as caliber goes, I agree with what a few others have said. Anything that will stop a man will stop a dog. If you are going to carry a firearm I would also suggest carrying a non-lethal weapon as well like pepper-spray or the likes.
Also, please take some sort of firearm safety and training course. I am not sure what your background and experience level is, but there is always more to be learned, even if it is just going to be refresher course.
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MikeNice81
New member
Don't count on it. I posted elsewhere about having to shoot a pit bull. I shot him twice with a Ruger 10/22. He ran away but it did not kill him. There is no promise that a pit bull will run. In fact that was the first time I have ever seen a pit run from pain.
I would consider .38spl+P SJSP, SJHP, or HP rounds. If you want to go with .38spl I would use Buffalo Bore 158gr soft lead LSWC-HC.
As much as I love revolvers, I think this calls for a semi-auto. There's 3 of them, they move fast, and you're going to have some misses. Six shots on 3 fast moving targets is no good. Glock in 9mm or above or ruger P series in 9mm or above. Both easy to break down & clean and you won't have any guilt about beating them up working.
Reply from a dog owner
First, you need to talk with your neighbor. Find out if those dogs area actually mean, or if they just like to bark and jump at the fence.
If they are not mean, get your neighbor to introduce you to the dogs. That may get them to chill out a bit when you are outside. (Then again, it might not. A buddy of mine has some Borzois and Blue Heelers that lick my hand in the house, but bark their fool heads off at me when I walk up the drive. Come to think of it, my dogs do the same to my friends...)
If your neighbor says they are mean, let him know that you have concerns about the fence being high enough / solid enough etc to contain the dogs.
DO NOT use a spray or shock device on the dogs if they are not attacking you. (Owner's reaction if he sees this will be negative) DO NOT throw food to the dogs if you don't have the owner's ok. (Note: burglars will do this to condition the dogs to ignore their unlawful entry; sickos will do this to poison the dogs; do you want to be taken for either type?)
I'm a laid back, pleasant person, according to people who know me. I tend to be very reasonable. If some jogger used a shock or pain device on my dog because he didn't like barking, I'd be very tempted to introduce said jogger to the business end of my fists.
Tempted, but I hope I'd have the self control to simply report his nervous Nelly a## to the police for assaulting my animals. That might depend on what I saw happen, and how badly it seemed to affect my dog.
If my dogs go into your yard, the situation changes. But if they are in my yard, barking or not, jumping or not, leave them be - especially if you haven't talked to me about your perception of the situation.
There are some truly mean, vicious dogs out there. But most of them aren't that likely to actually come over a fence at you.
To the jogger who shocked the GS - if he regularly jumped high enough to clear the fence, and apparently could have done so at will, don't you find it odd that he never did?
You're lucky that wasn't my dog...
First, you need to talk with your neighbor. Find out if those dogs area actually mean, or if they just like to bark and jump at the fence.
If they are not mean, get your neighbor to introduce you to the dogs. That may get them to chill out a bit when you are outside. (Then again, it might not. A buddy of mine has some Borzois and Blue Heelers that lick my hand in the house, but bark their fool heads off at me when I walk up the drive. Come to think of it, my dogs do the same to my friends...)
If your neighbor says they are mean, let him know that you have concerns about the fence being high enough / solid enough etc to contain the dogs.
DO NOT use a spray or shock device on the dogs if they are not attacking you. (Owner's reaction if he sees this will be negative) DO NOT throw food to the dogs if you don't have the owner's ok. (Note: burglars will do this to condition the dogs to ignore their unlawful entry; sickos will do this to poison the dogs; do you want to be taken for either type?)
I'm a laid back, pleasant person, according to people who know me. I tend to be very reasonable. If some jogger used a shock or pain device on my dog because he didn't like barking, I'd be very tempted to introduce said jogger to the business end of my fists.
Tempted, but I hope I'd have the self control to simply report his nervous Nelly a## to the police for assaulting my animals. That might depend on what I saw happen, and how badly it seemed to affect my dog.
If my dogs go into your yard, the situation changes. But if they are in my yard, barking or not, jumping or not, leave them be - especially if you haven't talked to me about your perception of the situation.
There are some truly mean, vicious dogs out there. But most of them aren't that likely to actually come over a fence at you.
To the jogger who shocked the GS - if he regularly jumped high enough to clear the fence, and apparently could have done so at will, don't you find it odd that he never did?
You're lucky that wasn't my dog...
TheGoldenState
New member
Any decent SD round will work fine.
Many dogs are big and bad behind a fence, as a defense mechanism. Im not saying they wouldnt do anything or not to be prepared but just keep that in mind in general. Not to mention, my dog (ScHIII for you dog trainers) barks "viciously," at anyone near his fence/garage/car but away from his territory is very friendly and playful.
Many dogs are big and bad behind a fence, as a defense mechanism. Im not saying they wouldnt do anything or not to be prepared but just keep that in mind in general. Not to mention, my dog (ScHIII for you dog trainers) barks "viciously," at anyone near his fence/garage/car but away from his territory is very friendly and playful.
Ownership, this is lost on this neighbor. No ownership for the dogs or the safety of the neighbor. I would think at the very least he would be willing to create a better fence line so you would fell safer. Double fence or a block wall so the dogs will not see you in your backyard.
If these dogs are barking at night then there may be something you can do. Set up the brightest lights possible pointed at the neighbors house and set them to go on every time the dogs bark at night. If you do it properly it should wake up your neighbor. Then you will be responding to noises in the night.
Keep calling for the barking and get your other neighbors to help by calling too.
Check your local city/county ordinances to see if they have a dangerous breed listing and regulations. You might find out that they have some and you can use it to help get the authorities to do more. Check with animal control and find out what you have to do to have the neighbor put on notice for housing a dangerous animal. At that point they have a higher level of responsibility to control the dogs.
If you should be attacked god forbid, find a way to settle it on the "Judge Joe Brown show" I swear he HATES pit bulls. Its almost comical how much he hates them, he almost always gives the plaintiff everything up to the state limit for small claims court. If you record a few shows you'll see what I'm talking about.
If these dogs are barking at night then there may be something you can do. Set up the brightest lights possible pointed at the neighbors house and set them to go on every time the dogs bark at night. If you do it properly it should wake up your neighbor. Then you will be responding to noises in the night.
Keep calling for the barking and get your other neighbors to help by calling too.
Check your local city/county ordinances to see if they have a dangerous breed listing and regulations. You might find out that they have some and you can use it to help get the authorities to do more. Check with animal control and find out what you have to do to have the neighbor put on notice for housing a dangerous animal. At that point they have a higher level of responsibility to control the dogs.
If you should be attacked god forbid, find a way to settle it on the "Judge Joe Brown show" I swear he HATES pit bulls. Its almost comical how much he hates them, he almost always gives the plaintiff everything up to the state limit for small claims court. If you record a few shows you'll see what I'm talking about.
I think this thread has run the course and is pretty much done. I believe the OP has gotten his handgun question answered many times over. The topic of what to do about vicious dogs is off topic for this handgun forum or even TFL in general, and that is what the thread has turned into so we'll lock 'er down at this point.
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