[Ranger4]

I have written many times of the risk of dog attacks and choice of a handgun for such events. I have written of multiple events in both law enforcement and in my own life of dealing with such events including responding to a call of a pack of 5 pit bulls that had attacked a state park employee and posed a risk to others. I have also written about maybe a half dozen events where I stopped and aggressive dog by firing between the lead dogs front legs, with several guns, from 22 to 357. And we have all heard about former Texas Governor Rick Perry who shot a coyote that attacked his lab pup, killed it with one hot from a Ruger LCP 380. I have killed 2 but never want to do so again, but I will not be bitten, so it is what it is. I have bought the HikeNStick for my wife and daughter, a walking stick with a built in stun gun.

Dog attacks are one of the most likely risk for anyone who walks outside, it can be local sidewalk, where 2 pits killed a lady and her dog near where my daughter lives in Oklahoma City, to 5 dogs who attacked and mangled a lady for life when she was walking to a neighbors in a rural area. And we have all read hundreds of accounts of small children injured or killed.

So, when I read this article of a 65 year old man who was removing his deer stand in Georgia, I was surprised to read, that the 65 year old "hunter" did not have a handgun, did not even have his cell phone on his person. I know that would never happen to any reader of this forum, but maybe we should send the message to family and friends.

Georgia Hunter Suffers Hundreds of Bite Wounds During Brutal Dog Attack in the Woods (msn.com)

This guy had 296 puncture wounds.

So, would that 22 or 380 have prevented this? Probably so, he had no gun , so no chance. This is one of those discussions that immediate brings the 45 acp to mind, and of course the 10mm or 400 Corbon or any of the Super 45s. Or as in my case, a snub 357 has worked with 100% results.

So, what is your carry choice for walking or hiking where an attack by a pack of dogs might happen?

 

[Colt191145]

I have one experience with multiple dogs attacking, and my 10.5" AR15 SBR loaded with Hornady 55gr soft points eneded that confrontation in an instant, fortunately I had it close at hand. The rottwieller took 2 rounds to the chest, aggression over. The other dogs didn't want any and GTFO. I took no satisfaction from killing that dog, but I had to or my wife would have been hurt badly or killed.

There are SO many people that should not have dogs, they treat them badly and let them come and go as they please. Where I live dogs at large is a constant issue. Either they are running deer or causing problems with other area dogs.

Handguns are great for carrying, but whenever possible a rifle or shotgun puts the odds even moreso in your favor.

 

[Michael W Cuber]

A guy I knew years ago (LEO) shot a German Shepard that was getting into his trash in the alley as he was getting his car to go to work—bad decision on his part. He assumed he could kill it with one shot. The Shepard went into full attack mode after getting hit by a 9mm to the mid section from the Officers Browning Highpower. It preceded to chase the Law Enforcement Officer onto the roof of his car, were he ended up emptying the mag into the canine to kill it! Wasn’t long after the barrage of gun shots that other LEO’s arrived at the seen, and said Officer lied his way out of the situation by claiming he was attacked.
The moral of this is that you better think twice, and know for d-mn sure you can kill a large dog with whatever it is you are carrying, and not just send it into absolute Psycho Mode by poking a hole in it!

 

[longarm]

Critters won't fold as fast as a human - more like a human on enhancements.

And, there is no doubt the LEO wasn't careful with his shotplacement - and I'd expect his load-out was not well chosen.

 

[Tom in Ohio]

I once shot a large, healthy male coyote at close range with a .45ACP 230gr. Federal HST. The bullet tracked diagonally across its chest cavity. Exit wound was about 3/4” diameter and blood poured out like a water hose. Instantly killed it. It did have a broken leg from getting clipped by a car, though, but was still walking (that’s why I shot it). I’m sure it would perform well on a dog.

Interestingly, I’ve drawn on two pit bulls (one chasing a kid and the other was sicked on me by the owner I was there to arrest) but didn’t shoot them. In both instances, the dogs somehow realized I was about to kill them (I distinctly remember being focused on my front sight and beginning to apply pressure to the trigger) and turned and ran at the last instant. I can only guess that both dogs had been shot by BB guns or something growing up.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have had occasion to shoot dogs twice. Both time it was a single animal and not a pack. Once I used a .38 snubbie. Once a full-size 10mm Glock. Both did the job with one shot. My GUESS for what that might be worth to you is that a dog pack has a much different psychology than a single dog and you might have to take down several before they get discouraged. A mouse gun would not be my first choice for this task.

 

[mbrenna5]

Interested to see how this poll shakes out and the responses provided by other forum members.

While I don't have an overly significant concern about dog attacks, I do carry a 10mm as my primary woods gun whenever I'm out fly fishing or hiking/camping here in Colorado. Hence I threw in a vote on the 10mm front. Ultimately, I think it comes down to individual confidence level in training and equipment, as well as the obvious of knowing where your rounds are impacting and beyond.

In our subdivision, however, we have had issues with owners allowing their dogs to simply do what they want/when they want/how they want. My wife typically has both OC spray and her G43X when walking our son in the stroller, usually with Underwood penetrators. Ideally such a situation will never present itself but she'd be ready if it did.

 

[parallax]

I think the last time a topic like this came up, I commented that the only roving packs of animals in my area were of the 2-legged variety.

Not saying it can't happen, but packs of roving dogs is not a very likely scenario for me to worry about.

 

[Chance-dg]

45acp It is my preferred chambering and I always have one close to hand.

 

[Earth Pig]

Best choice? Whatever you have is better than nothing at all.

 

[Michael W Cuber]

Where I live in interior Alaska, we have no “Humane Society” or Dog Catchers, and we’ve had travelers “dump” their dogs. If they create a situation, our Troopers have at times had to get envolved. There was a period about 10 years ago that we had a seemingly friendly pack of mutts roaming town together, and loitering mostly behind the local restaurant. Would not trust them around my own pets or children for a second.
Was told by an Old Timer that there had been a similiar pack about 20 years before that had attacked an infant in a front yard in his folding play pen when the parents were momentarily back inside the house. You don’t know what your dog is doing, or capable of, when it packs up with a group of dogs!

 

[Chance-dg]

singles and pairs are way better to deal with than a pack of anything on legs. A dog in a pack loses it's singular personality and takes on the "pack" mentality. Hard to deal with. I had a Norwegian Elk Hound as a kid and he began to run with a pack. He was shot while they were killing a young Angus Bull. Justly so........My parents paid the damages as mine was the only one with a collar. I was pretty young and never let any dog of mine run loose again.

 

[Earth Pig]

Years ago, when I lived in the country, it was the custom of local ranchers to shoot any and all roaming dogs. We were advised to keep our dog close to home lest she be killed. Packs of feral dogs can destroy an entire herd of sheep or goats in minutes.

 

[Chance-dg]

I did the same in Montana,

 

[Earth Pig]

I think the last time a topic like this came up, I commented that the only roving packs of animals in my area were of the 2-legged variety.

Not saying it can't happen, but packs of roving dogs is not a very likely scenario for me to worry about.

Same pistol loads apply to two-legged feral animals.

 

[ratwhacker]

The neighbor's bird dog was chasing my grandfather's milk cow around the pasture on one cold Thanksgiving day, and we boys (cousins) were all coming in from our normal Thanksgiving morning squirrel hunt. Naturally, we all had rifles with us, and I got mine loaded first, and loosed a round off at the dog. I wasn't even close to the thing, but it immediately switched directions and headed for home. He wasn't a bad dog, really, he was just having fun, but a milk cow's udders don't need the banging around that a running cow will do to them, either.
Grandpa called the neighbor and he got the dog chained up, no more issue with that dog.
When I was much younger, another neighbor had a pack of mutts that ran loose, and he lived right down the road from our country church. I got out of Sunday School one morning, saw the dogs and went over to pet them, and got bitten for my troubles, but they didn't try to take me down, just a nip to leave them alone. Old Art never did get the message about his pack of mutts running loose, and they were dealt with accordingly. Farmers tend to do those things necessary without fanfare.

 

[earlwb]

My normal carry gun is a .45 acp but I do carry a .380 when needed due to circumstances at the time.

When I was young we sometimes had to organize hunts for feral dog packs. A pack of dogs that aren’t afraid of humans is a bad thing.

 

[longarm]

This is one of those discussions that immediate brings the 45 acp to mind, and of course the 10mm or 400 Corbon or any of the Super 45s. Or as in my case, a snub 357 has worked with 100% results.

HEY! You didn't bloody list 400CB! (which isn't awful, as I think the low-recoil 45auto would allow you to perforate multiple critters faster)

 

[JD11]

I once shot a large, healthy male coyote at close range with a .45ACP 230gr. Federal HST. The bullet tracked diagonally across its chest cavity. Exit wound was about 3/4” diameter and blood poured out like a water hose. Instantly killed it. It did have a broken leg from getting clipped by a car, though, but was still walking (that’s why I shot it). I’m sure it would perform well on a dog.

Calling coyotes used to be a hobby of mine using a 22-250 with little 50 grain bullets and they generally ran at the most about 20 feet if at all . I would imagine a dog would be about the same.

 

[longarm]

Calling coyotes used to be a hobby of mine using a 22-250 with little 50 grain bullets and they generally ran at the most about 20 feet if at all . I would imagine a dog would be about the same.

For controlling them at a distance, fine. But, if they can run 20 feet while yer standing 10' away and silly, you don't want a 22-250 ;-)