Sounds like a LARPer. I just avoid interacting with them, if they were reasonable and polite people they wouldn’t be LARPing at a public range.

 

True. Avoid contact, vacate the immediate area.
If he sees someone that resembles his Ex or his Momma it won't be good.

 

Yep, that was my thought as well. Usually during the day it's old guys and we shoot, tell stories and generally have a good time. I was a bit upset. The counter guy said to avoid hi because he's about half nuts.

 

The counter guy said to avoid hi because he's about half nuts.

And yet they still rent a lane to him.

 

Now we know why the dog wore a helmet :⁠-⁠)

 

Weird, yes, but no need to be a horse's patoot about it.

My pheasant hunting friends were bringing their young dog to the (outdoor) range, gradually closer to condition her to gunshots.
Seems to have worked.

 

They are deaf now.

 

Years ago had a friend that brought his dog to our MG shoots. She would casually sit behind firing points, noise didn't bother her at all. As usual she passed a few years later, we all missed her. Have a pic somewhere that may post if can find it….

 

What is a LARP’er?

Sam

 

LARP is an acronym for “Live Action Role-Play.” It’s used to describe activities that involve acting or pretending in real life. Historical reenactments, and Cowboy Action shooting are forms of LARPing, as is dressing up for the Renaissance festival. The biggest issue with LARPing isn’t LARPing itself, but the wing nuts that get too deep into character and act difficult around normal people like the OP and his daughter.

 

Not the place to take your dog—we’ve had people show up at our little range here, and let their dogs out like its a dog park. Think its a good way to have an accident!

 

Yup. When I saw this thread I thought it was gonna be about animal cruelty. I have taken my dog with me to the range but leave him in the car a good distance from the firing line, so as to minimize the stress and possible hearing damage.

I'm surprised and embarrassed at the fellow's reaction; the gun range is no place for short tempers; extreme etiquette and gentility should be the rule.

 

That is not the way my friends operate.
More like:

 

I get the guy and his role play fantasy, but the dog? I felt sorry for it because this range is basically a concrete tunnel and if you're not doubled up with plugs and muff's it's loud!

 

I'm not half as concerned about the dog as I would've been the basement commando. Unfortunately as gun people we have to concede that folks like that do exist among us.

As for bringing dogs to a range, usually not a good idea. Besides the noise they have no understanding of range rules and can run out between you and the targets.

 

I was shooting a 357 at the range one day and a black lab came up and sit down. When I got through he was still beside me. I dropped the tailgate on my pickup and he bailed in. I had him about 15 more years. There was a lone guy at the range a year or so and one day I spoke to him as we were leaving. I got to know him later on and said he use to dodge bullets in Africa on a hunting resort.

 

I don't know what to tell you, but don't engage in conversation with person bringing dog to shooting range unless it's a service dog.
Stupid people bring dog everywhere, local Pulix had to put up signs stating no dogs allowed besides service dogs for the disabled.

 

JMO, and trying to understand this… why did your daughter want to strike up a conversation with this obvious weirdo? How old is she? Does she interact with strangers regularly? My concern is for her and how does she conduct herself on a day to day basis… interacting with others. Not saying she did anything wrong… rather just concerned for her safety.

 

Probably a much-needed emotional support dog.

 

The number of people with emotional problems is increasing, the problem with dog people is only going to get worse. One can't even take leasurely walk anymore without meeting multiple people with unleashed dogs. The law states those need to be under owners control which in many cases is non-existent especially if squirrel, another dog, cat,... shows up. Unfortunately there are stupid people who don't mind if strange dog sniffs their crotch area. They smile bigly and pet the dog involved

 

She's 47 and friendly. We'd been visiting with others at the range and having a good time. Al she said was you have a cute dog, what's his name. Nothing really out of the ordinary just casual conversation.
She likes to come shooting with me because of the friendly atmosphere. She's about a half hour away from me and shoots at a range by herself. She's the only woman at her range when she goes so she enjoys yapping with my friends.
I understand your concerns and appreciate it.

 

Am I the only one that's had to walk out and run a herd of cows off the range before I could shoot?

Public land use in my case. Have to share it. Not like the ranchers let em' loose after I set up my targets. Small inconvenience. Better safe than sorry.

 

The guy sounds like a total nut job to me. I probably would have left if the guy described showed up at my range.

 

Here is local unenclosed Dogs on the Loose Exercise Park where almost nobody has dog on the leash. Is it the word "please" that makes the rest of the sign irrelevant?

 

Everybody is claiming PTSD these days, and claiming their animal is a Service Dog, or Emotional Support Dog. I ask them where they served (Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) and I get a PO’d stare, and never an answer!

 

Everybody is claiming PTSD these day, and claiming there animal is a Service Dog, or Emotional Support Dog. I ask them where they served (Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) and I get a PO’d stare, and never an answer!

There are service animals for PTSD. Generally, the dog will enter a place to "check" on the mood inside the premises. If it's all good, the dog will run back to its owner and give the all clear.

Emotional support animals do not have the same protections that a service animal does. Emotional support animals are still "pets" and can be banned from entering.

Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA

This document provides guidance and answers about the ADA’s service animal provisions.

www.ada.gov

There are two questions that you can ask regarding service animals. 1) Is this a service animal? 2) What is the animal trained to do? The second question usually trips them up and out they go. If it werre a true service animal, the owner would have that answer readily.

Oh.. Only canines and miniature horses qualify as service animals. All others need not apply.

 

This was not a service dog, at least it was not marked as such. It was a small terrier that he lifted up on the shelf in his shooting lane. Poor dog, he's going to need a service owner to recover from his crazy owner

 

That was my point, the dog probably has a more legitimate need for a service something than most humans that I see bringing dogs into the grocery store, and our local restaurant. I’ve got a niece claiming to have PTSD, because her Ex yelled at her—I think its a joke! Might buy into it if she could say she’d been shelled for weeks at Khe Sanh, or fought through Fallujah, and I know guys that did both, and aren’t claiming anything.

 

I think the service dog thing has been overused... i.e "emotional support" animals. Recently the grocery store I shop at, put a ban on the so-called emotional support companions in the store. They now must have legitimate proof... such as blindness, mobility issues etc. Enough is enough. Airlines have done the same.

 

I had a friend quite a few years ago that always brought his yellow lab to the outdoor range. He was about 80 and his yellow lab (Max) was a great dog that went everywhere with him. He started his range day by taking his dog on a long walk around the open areas of the range, never a leash and no need for one. When he started shooting his dog would happily wonder the open areas and come up towards the firing line when he needed some attention from his master and I would enjoy the many times he came to me. Never encroached on any shooting areas. My friend passed away several years ago and I always wondered what happened to his dog. I’m sure he felt very lost without his good buddy as I missed seeing and visiting with him, too.

 

That's part of the issue. This is a gun store/range that's owned by a large company and it's run by people in their middle 20's. I consider them kids. A young lady who works there told me she only makes $11 per hour. I doubt they're emotionally equipped to handle a situation that would escalate to a more serious situation. Sadly I also take my 14 year old grandson there to shoot as well. I'm not really happy with the way it's run but it's a state of the art facility so I'm surprised they're not using a more professional staff.

 

At my 700+ member club liability insurance is over $13000 per year and no one gets paid but the secretary. One guy I remember stayed to himself and quiet. Turned out he was a rn at a hospital and spent his extra money on skydiving. That's why he drove an oil burning Suburban with no air and wasn't married.

 

That clown would be OUT of my club!!!

My Husky accompanied me on many plinking walks and hunts when I was young. But if I was taking a hi-powered centerfire rifle, I would tell him STAY, and he would!