Over at our Texas property (weekend house out in the country), Saturday when I pulled up to the gate a very large German Shepard type dog came around the neighbors house across the highway and charged me. I had not seen this animal before. I was able to get the gate closed before he got to me, and I tried all the usual non-confrontational tactics. When I tried to let him smell my hand through the gate, he kept trying to bite me through the gate. Note that Marion County does not have animal control.
When my wife got home after dark, I met her at the gate and the dog charged again. I lit him up with the Crimson Trace laser at about 25 feet right in the eyes and he backed off, this was a good thing as another two feet and I would have fired. I called the Sheriff's Office and made a report, they said to shoot the dog if he attacked again. There were no lights on at the neighbors house, they moved in a couple of months ago and I have had no contact with them. They have another dog that has gotten on my property before, a simple "go home" and he trots back home.
When we tried to leave Sunday, we were again charged by the dog. I again called the SO and a deputy responded. He drove up to the neighbors house but got no response. He suggested I get some industrial strength pepper spray, which I will get, but he also said if the dog does it again to shoot.
A major concern is if this mutt figures out that, except for the gate, the front of my property only has a couple strands of barbed wire. He could be on my property in a heartbeat. I'd hate like hell for the wife or I to be out in the yard and suddenly we've got a face full of dog. Maybe that's why I strap on the .45 when I go outside, but the wife won't carry.
I don't know the neighbors name or phone number. Approaching their house is not feasible unless someone has a Sherman tank I can borrow. I have warned the Jefferson Post Office about the dog.
The last thing I want to do is shoot someone's pet, but I need to protect my wife and myself. Options are:
1. Pepper spray: my thought is this will be temporary and only aggravate the situation.
2. Ultrasonic device: not available locally and again likely to only make it worse.
3. Pellet gun: I can't see where this will be at all helpful.
4. Paint ball gun: Again, decorating the dog in pretty colors probably won't be helpful.
5. .45 ACP Hydra-Shock. This will certainly correct the dog, but will cause problems with the neighbor.
Any suggestions to a peaceful resolution to this conflict?
When my wife got home after dark, I met her at the gate and the dog charged again. I lit him up with the Crimson Trace laser at about 25 feet right in the eyes and he backed off, this was a good thing as another two feet and I would have fired. I called the Sheriff's Office and made a report, they said to shoot the dog if he attacked again. There were no lights on at the neighbors house, they moved in a couple of months ago and I have had no contact with them. They have another dog that has gotten on my property before, a simple "go home" and he trots back home.
When we tried to leave Sunday, we were again charged by the dog. I again called the SO and a deputy responded. He drove up to the neighbors house but got no response. He suggested I get some industrial strength pepper spray, which I will get, but he also said if the dog does it again to shoot.
A major concern is if this mutt figures out that, except for the gate, the front of my property only has a couple strands of barbed wire. He could be on my property in a heartbeat. I'd hate like hell for the wife or I to be out in the yard and suddenly we've got a face full of dog. Maybe that's why I strap on the .45 when I go outside, but the wife won't carry.
I don't know the neighbors name or phone number. Approaching their house is not feasible unless someone has a Sherman tank I can borrow. I have warned the Jefferson Post Office about the dog.
The last thing I want to do is shoot someone's pet, but I need to protect my wife and myself. Options are:
1. Pepper spray: my thought is this will be temporary and only aggravate the situation.
2. Ultrasonic device: not available locally and again likely to only make it worse.
3. Pellet gun: I can't see where this will be at all helpful.
4. Paint ball gun: Again, decorating the dog in pretty colors probably won't be helpful.
5. .45 ACP Hydra-Shock. This will certainly correct the dog, but will cause problems with the neighbor.
Any suggestions to a peaceful resolution to this conflict?