I have an adorable, people-loving 75 lb American Bulldog mix. Though not trained as an attack dog, if she thinks her mommy is being threatened, she will attack.
If, for whatever reason, in home invasion or CCW situation, I can’t restrain her and comply with law enforcement at the same time. How can I effectively communicate with law enforcement and not get myself or my dog shot?
@Cheryl12 - I think you need to train your dog.
Some people are surprised by the damage a dog can do. Each bite leaves many puncture wounds that require serious attention by a doctor or E.R. I learned this by having to guard arrestees that tangled with police K-9 and observed first hand the extreme wounds the dogs cause.
That made me more conscious of the serious injury a dog can do, so while I would hate to have had to kill someone’s dog, I wouldn’t hesitate if being attacked. I agree with OldGnome, if your dog is a good protector, then you need to take it to protection/security training so it will instantly obey your command to not attack. Plus you have the benefit of having a properly trained security dog who can protect you even more if someone were to force their way into your home.
Your response is much more responsive than OldGnome dude, judgmental. Thank you for much more effective training plan idea. My dog is a cruelity case. She lives with and nutures 4 cats and a rabbit. That proves how gentle her nature is. Our cats engage her and the rabbit hops onto of her.
Thank you. I believe I have a source.
I am a new gun owner and just applied for my CCW. Because I am new a gun owner and CCW, I am thinking about potential threats more than ever. Thank you, NOT riots.
I think it is soooo sad we live in a time when need to worry about our pups, adopted because we love them and want to provide a better life for them becomes a legal issue. BUT I GET IT. Gun ownership brings a whole new perspective
Our last two German Shepherd dogs were protection trained. The first one only had an average protective instinct but the second one was high being from a protection line of shepherds. Having the protection training pays off in a variety of ways. The second one we couldn’t get to stop barking at the door when someone rang the bell, but after training would sit quietly to the right of the door ready to protect but totally obedient and quiet. Good luck with the pup no matter how you proceed. She sounds like a good pup.
Edit to add they both had basic obedience training, but the protection training took their behavior up a notch.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if your dog takes a run at the police it is almost certain they will shoot. You won’t get a chance to explain how nice she usually is to the cats in the split second it takes the dog to traverse your living room and launch. It is a very rare police officer that will restrain and hopefully switch to pepper spray or some other non-lethal. Don’t count on the police just accepting a dog bite.
For a home invasion, this is a good trait.
In addition to training (which is the best and really only answer, but not always so easily doable), think ahead of time what to do if the police knock on your door (for any number of reasons not just a no-knock at 2am). Is there a room you can lock the dog in temporarily? Or baby-gate across a hallway to keep them separated? You do not want to be trying to handle 75lbs of angry dog while trying to have a conversation with the police.
I am thinking in addition to installing a better, less penetrable bedroom door, I need to install an anchor I can attach her to before opening the door.
my thought was more along the line of being barricaded in a room because of an invader and asking police to be patient while I secure her and secure my weapon, while not leaving them thinking I am preparing an attack.
I would never ask police to accept a dog bite, which is why I am asking. I believe they go through too much abuse these days.
Perhaps a more demonstrative example is I am walking my dog and am approached by someone with less than valor intent. Although I think being with my dog would make me less a target, let’s say I have to engage. I would look for a tree or some other item to restrain her afterward. Police come and my pup is obviously tense. God only knows what the circumstance this would happen. Is there any case or plea to law enforcement that a plea to not shoot my dog would be honored? I am assuming not. I would be at the mercy of the criminal, lose my dog and get arrested. Not that I blame the police, they are under so much stress., especially if firearms are involved.
Guess a pet is not a valued life…
The bottom line is, the possibilities were always there. I just never contemplated the scenarios…
Good things to think about.
It all sort of depends on the scenario. I think there are too many variables in what may happen to whom and in what order. Police officer wont just run up to you on the street, so if you are in a situation hopefully you are the first to 911 (it is a race) and you can tell the 911 operator about your dog and they will pass it on to the responding officers. If the situation has ended they aren’t in a rush, you should be able to tie the dog down or secure it or put it in a cop car or neighbors yard or something. However, if it’s a chaotic situation with everyone running around yelling and screaming that’s a harder ask. Police will be interested in knowing where the firearm is and making sure it wont be used against them.
I think training is key. It is a long and difficult road, but ultimately is the best for you and the dog and not just in emergencies.
You will learn much here. Some folks here have very good long answers. Some are short like oldgnome. Was he wrong? Take a minute before judging folks here. He has taught me a thing or 2. Lol
Everybody was standing out by the vehicles and some were a little intoxicated - ish and a friend told the other DO NOT GET NEAR THE CAR< HE WILL EAT YOU! The well warned person reaches to the window of the car, in his mind, to bond with the dog. When all said and done his hand was bit through and through and after a 4 hour wait in the hospital got 16 stitches. Some people do not except truth and reality all the time. The dog is doing what a dog does, they are animals that we keep as pets and are part of our family. Think of it like your kids, Do you want them to mind you? Do you want them to be protected, as well as, being protected by them?
I well trained dog is well worth it.
Excellent story. What else is there to be said.
In the eyes of the law, a pet is nothing more than property. Beloved, maybe, but property nonetheless.
@OldGnome, I like your response, not judgmental at all. I have had dogs, with brief exceptions, for more than 50 years. They’re great companions, great security tools, but they have to understand that you’re the boss. Without that understanding, they’re a tremendous liability to their owners.
Training is easy and affordable. Just do it.
@Cheryl12, great post. Don’t make the assumption that because your dog is a rescue she can’t be trained. Every dog I have ever owned has been a rescue. Some have taken weeks to train, some years. But they can be trained. And kudos to you for (a) rescuing a dog and, (b) having a dog. They’re great companions and great security tools! A loud bark is a good deterrent against Bad Guys.
My apologies to oldgnome. I do have a lot to learn, I admit that. His answer was short and I got defensive.
@Cheryl12 - no apology necessary. We’re all on a learning journey around here, or we wouldn’t be around here. 
Out of curiosity, I looked up bite force for an American Bulldog. She tops a shepard, yikes! We never got pregnant and my family live in another state so I am not kid-knowledgeable but I do understand what you are saying. I hadn’t worried too much about it before, but with all the craziness and riots these days and having just applied for my CCW license, I now think about situations where police could be involved and I don’t want them or Tulip to get hurt. I don’t know how she would react if I had to fire and was arrested. I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands up and hold my dog simultaneous. If I were a cop and she charged me, I would shoot too.
When we considered getting a dog I was concerned about going to the shelter because I needed a cat-friendly dog and bless their hearts, they really don’t know the dogs. I found a group that rescues death row dogs (because of over-crowding or health issues) and is all volunteers who foster the dogs. Tulip was being fostered with a cat. When I brought her, since may cats didn’t know dogs they scurried away and Tulip chased. I was thankful I kept her on leash. I dog a dog/mommy trained with a few days and started working on basic impulse-controlling skills. Later I ended up working with a woman who works with the strong-willed breeds. AND, no one stands right at my door after they hear Tulip. They stand back about 6-10 feet.