Got attacked by a dog this morning. What would you have done?

[Gaffer1968]

Maybe carry OC or similar spray to use as a deterrent before deploying lead based corrective action? A good fixed blade SD knife is always a quieter option if the dog gets in on you and you need to go hands on.

I carry all the time including my dog walks and outdoor physical training partly in case a dog shows up to attack me or my dog. I've debated this in my head many times and it always comes back to how big/aggressive is the dog as the primary driver for my reaction.

Someone said it earlier, if the dog is big enough to kill you and it's on a mission then there will be no hesitation. I'll deal with the legal part once the situation is resolved. In your case OP, I think you did the responsible thing. The dog's owner, not so much.

My younger spirit may be willing for the "stand-your-ground counter aggressive" thing but my 72 YO body isn't. I already have circulation problems in my legs and any level of bad dog bites would probably cause me to lose one or both. Nope. One gets near me like described and I'm genuinely fearful, it gets it straight-off....

 

[rbalan]

My wife always carries spray when she walks/runs.

 

[Glorfindel]

 

[Tony2X]

........

 

[WC1911guy]

My younger spirit may be willing for the "stand-your-ground counter aggressive" thing but my 72 YO body isn't. I already have circulation problems in my legs and any level of bad dog bites would probably cause me to lose one or both. Nope. One gets near me like described and I'm genuinely fearful, it gets it straight-off....

All factors must be considered for sure regarding your personal response to the threat. Age, limited ability to respond to the threat of a large breed aggressive dog should most certainly be factored into the scenario. In the end, you have to protect yourself however you deem fit.

 

[potenza]

It was someone’s baby. I would have turned around yelling at it to stop, while I took aim. Warning shot first

 

[streetroc]

Shouldn't the thread title be "ALMOST got attacked by a dog this morning"?

I was going to title it "I almost missed going to the gym because I spent all morning explaining to the police why I emptied an entire magazine in front of my neighbor's front yard at 6am" but it wouldn't fit

 

[Gaffer1968]

I was going to title it "I almost missed going to the gym because I spent all morning explaining to the police why I emptied an entire magazine in front of my neighbor's front yard at 6am" but it wouldn't fit

I shot until I was sure it was down for good because I feared for my life.

 

[streetroc]

It was someone’s baby. I would have turned around yelling at it to stop, while I took aim. Warning shot first

Yeah I really don't want to kill someone's pet. Glad I didn't have to

Warning shot? Are you kidding me? Have you seen the price of 380 ammo lately?

 

[UptaCamp]

Yeah he probably would have. I'm really glad that it didn't come to that. However by the time he called her off my LCP was out of the holster and in my hand with my finger on the trigger. As soon as she sank her teeth into me for the first time the whole neighborhood was going to get a rude awakening. I don't think he saw that though. By the time I walked back to talk with him it was secured and concealed again.

I would be pulling the trigger before sustaining bodily harm. Ain't nobody got time for that.