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[jdonovan]

Question - when is it appropriate to take escalated actions in a dog/dog/human situation?

Same as in a human conflict situation

Did you aggravate the situation, or were you the aggressor?

Did you fear for your life, or significant physical harm?
Was the threat immediate?
Did the aggressor have the ability to cause immediate harm?

If the threat meets the above 3 and you were not the aggressor then you may defend yourself.

[ss313]

For walking your dog in a neighborhood you might want to think about a cattleprod. It's 2' to 3' long and will put a cow on its knees. You don't have to get within biting range like with a taser and you don't have to deal with legalties of shooting it.

As for agressive dogs coming to visit me... Just call my place the doggie Hotel California. I will not be held captive on my own property by a dog.