Your Thoughts

[JTROKS]

I have a dilemma with a neighbor with his backyard adjacent to mine. We have a fence separating our property that is only about 4.5' tall, the problem is a full grown American Stafforshire Terrier also known as one of the pitbull breeds. Looks just like this except for the ears not cropped.


Well, he thinks my backyard is his backyard so everytime me or any of my family, including 3 small children goes out to the yard this dog charges the fence (standard wood) with full force, sticks his head up, growls and barks at us. I usually carry my 4" 38 special revolver, but today this dog is just very ornery, barking and growling at me while jumping up a bit more than usual. I had my 38 revolver with me stoked with 125 gr JHP and I started thinking this may not be enough for a full grown 70 lb pissed off pitbull. I do have shotguns, but my other neigbors might get worried and call the cops if they see a pump shotgun being carried around the backyard. Your thoughts and opinions on what I should pack in my backyard?

josh

[CSACANNONEER]

Get a 100lb pit!

Seriously, a .38 will do the trick. It's all about shot placement.

[razorx]

strychnine?

Sad that you can't enjoy your backyard without being threatened by an aggressive dog.

Maybe one day zap him with pepper spray and see if that makes a difference?

Or more rationally, talk to the neighbor about building a taller fence. Not sure if anything else can be done. 4.5 feet is too short for comfort.

On further thought: try giving the dog snacks and make him your pet. Maybe bite the owner?

[Saigon1965]

Get that damm fence higher. Then top it off with some concertina wires.

On a serious note, talk to all of your neighbors, what kind of problems do they have. If you band together then approach the dog's owner and present the issue. Good luck.

[mymonkeyman]

Let the dog bite your hand. Call animal control. Dog gets euthanized.

Edit: On a more serious note, you have a right to the use and enjoyment of your land. If a dog barks and growls at you every time you are in your backyard, your rights are being violated. File a notice with the city government that the dog is a public nuisance. Call the police. Develop a written record. Then go to court if you have to.

[razorx]

even further thought, it would be very, very difficult to hit a charging dog in the backyard with a handgun before he would already be at a child. If it's just you , it will be tough enough. Factoring in a full dead run, with time to draw and aim, shot placement just isn't going to happen if the dog is not running toward you directly.

If running to a child (dog's smaller target), then too difficult of a shot and too close. Not sure a weapon buys you anything, better off with a knife maybe.

[JTROKS]

I've talked with the dog's owner and they said he's harmless I actually have a couple of neighbors urging me to write a petition. Also I carry a full size Gerber Applegate & Fairbairn folder. It really bugs me that I'm more armed in my backyard than when I was in Balad Air Base, Iraq. I really don't feel like shooting this dog, but I told its' owner that as soon as this dog lands or crosses into my yard I'm gonna put a bullet in it. I do hold an USPSA A card in open class and a B card in limited class. It's amazing how I feel my range time can deliver if this dog actually breaks into my yard. Also making the fence higher does sounds good, but it take money.

jtroks

[ontmark]

Build the fence. How much money could you loose if arrested for negligent discharge? Time off of work, legal fees, loss of weapon in evidence. Wouldn’t a taller fence also provide more privacy to your whole family while in the back yard? This alone would be worth it.

This is only my 2cents worth.

[atavuss]

used to have renters living next door and they had two pits. the male was very aggressive and would jump high enough to see over our 6' fence. we had to take our dog on a friggen leash in our own back yard because he would otherwise run to the fence and try to fight the pit (we have a Jack Russell Terrier). I tried using pepper spray through the fence and it would work for a short time then the pit would be back to the same thing. I tried putting one of those "barker stopper" things on our side of the fence and it did not faze the pit in the least. the neighbor used to say the same thing about his pit as your neighbor (he is a baby, perfectly harmless). thankfully they moved away.

[razorx]

I've talked with the dog's owner and they said he's harmless I actually have a couple of neighbors urging me to write a petition. Also I carry a full size Gerber Applegate & Fairbairn folder. It really bugs me that I'm more armed in my backyard than when I was in Balad Air Base, Iraq. I really don't feel like shooting this dog, but I told its' owner that as soon as this dog lands or crosses into my yard I'm gonna put a bullet in it. I do hold an USPSA A card in open class and a B card in limited class. It's amazing how I feel my range time can deliver if this dog actually breaks into my yard. Also making the fence higher does sounds good, but it take money.

jtroks

Kinda different mental situation though if children are involved. Always having to be ready for the draw otherwise, if out of position, that lost half to full second will be too much to overcome without concern of shooting children.

How important is safety? Unfortunately, the only practical response would be to have a larger fence. Maybe the neighbor can be convinced to share in the cost since dog owner is fully liable if dog gets out. If it was just you, would try to make nice with the dog. But, even if the dog makes nice with your children, you could never trust it.

Oh well, fence seems to be the front runner. +1 on the knife.

[tankerman]

Use a shotgun for a walking stick and have a Machete for your belt knife. That otta do the trick. Or you could buy a male and female German Shepard and let them hunt your neighbors dog.

[JTROKS]

I am thinking about getting a Jack Russel Terrier, but the thought of losing that to the pitbull did cross my mind. Yeah, looks like a taller fence will have to be it, but even then that is still not a guarantee it will keep my boys safe. Maybe a 150lb bull mastiff? Hmmmm... I wonder how much those run for?

[dreyna14]

It shouldn't be your responsibility to pay for or build a higher fence. I agree to talk to the owner about building a new fence. If that dog comes in, shoot it. My brother had a pit bull, what a worthless pile of crap. If there weren't kids involved, I'd mess with that dog to piss it off as much as possible, when the neighbors aren't home of course.

[CSACANNONEER]

Also, get a can of bear spray or pepper spray. You could try asking your friendly neighborhood LE to have a talk with the dog's owner. Maybe, he could nicely hint that they could be charged with "branishing a weapon in a threatening manner" or some other wierd or made up "law".

You could go another route and dog sit the stupid pomerainian that my wife brought home a few months ago. Then, after your neighbor's dog jumps over the fence and kills it, (for my sake, make sure it's dead!) you can use the attack to justify shooting it!

[aplinker]

Also, get a can of bear spray or pepper spray. You could try asking your friendly neighborhood LE to have a talk with the dog's owner. Maybe, he could nicely hint that they could be charged with "branishing a weapon in a threatening manner" or some other wierd or made up "law".

You could go another route and dog sit the stupid pomerainian that my wife brought home a few months ago. Then, after your neighbor's dog jumps over the fence and kills it, (for my sake, make sure it's dead!) you can use the attack to justify shooting it!

this is the best advice. Spray and police. A gun isn't the best choice here.