As a dog owner and someone interested in home defense, I’ve been pondering whether to rely on my furry friend or invest in a firearm for safety. What do you think? Can a loyal dog really provide the same level of protection as a gun? I’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts!
While they are both a responsibility, a dog is something that you will have to take care of for the next 15 years. It needs veterinary care (which gets expensive as they age) and most of all love. If you’re looking for a companion and are willing to commit to giving them a forever home, then a dog is great. But they aren’t simply an appliance for a single task.
Also, you’ll never have to rush home because you forgot to let your gun outside to take a shit.
Exactly, and I’d rather have companions than to be injured protecting family…
lol, That’s hilarious. And true. Dogs aren’t security tools, unless you get a relevant breed AND hire a professional dog trainer that trains guard dogs. Then hire them routinely to keep the training up. One bullet can take out even the fiercest guard dog, so gun > dog.
both, but my dog is NOT part of my intruder plan. I do not want to have to deal with the trauma of my best bud getting shot because he ran up to some asshole with a gun. So he is a good alarm dog but nothing more. If you care about your pets, you wont put them on the frontlines.
Exactly, dog for prevention and for an alarm. Gun is for the threat.
I’m currently training my dog in the safe and proficient use of firearms. A Chiwawa with a 12 Gage saw off is the safest option.
For a Chihuahua I suggest going to the 20 gauge.
If you want to hand a dog a 12 gauge you have to go up in model to at least 80 pounds to handle the recoil. Look at the larger working breeds.
A dog is not a burglar alarm. A dog is a decade plus long commitment. Vet bills, feeding, groomimg, kennels, and a not insignificant amount of love. Not including real expensive training if you want a true working dog.
You don’t need to arrange a kennel for your gun when you go on vacation. You don’t have to make sure somebody comes and walks your gun while you have to work late. Your gun doesn’t accidentally eat squirrel poop and spend the day barfing in your yard.
It’s easy to be a dog owner and very hard to be a good dog owner.
Dog.
It protects your home when you aren’t there. Nothing like a barking dog to cause opportunistic criminals to move on to a less troublesome target.
There was a reality show where they hired a thief to test people’s houses. At one house he fed the dog from the fridge, befriended it, and then stole the dog.
Dogs unless specially trained are just as likely to not do shit as protect you, Active Self Protection shows lots of videos of people being attacked and their dog not doing shit. Even if trained, gun because your dog can be otherwise neutralized (poisoned treats thrown in the yard and the like) and a gun is far more effective anyway.
Dog for companion / deterrent / alerts but don’t rely on them to save the day.
Both. The dog is there to alert you that you need to grab your gun. And that’s all your buddy should do. Anymore than that and he will be put down because he bit an intruder or get shot. Your dog is just your alarm, your warning. NEVER is the dog part of the actual defense/attack.