Archery, my dog, 3 Sheriffs, and the neighbors. A short story.

Liquid Courage · July 05, 2015, 06:41:00 PM

I have a house on a little over half an acre and I shoot almost everyday. I have to put my German Shepherd (Jax) inside due to him chasing after the arrows every time I shoot and then just standing in front of the target waiting for the next arrow to "chase".
I decided to shoot with him today in order to try to get him to be able to stay with me while I shoot. I attached his 10 foot leash to the fence next to me and commenced lobbing arrows down range . Well every time I shoot Jax would go nuts, he wanted to chase the arrows. He whined and barked the whole time. So I gave up and stopped shooting for the day.
About 20 minutes later the door knocks and three Sheriffs are there. They were informed by a neighbor that a dog was being abused at my address. I told them that my dog has never been abused. After going over everything, the Sheriffs and I determined that it does sound like a dog is being beat when you loose an arrow, it hits the yellow jacket target with a thump followed by a loud whining dog wanting to chase the arrow.

I need to move and get some land.

Burnsie · July 05, 2015, 06:55:00 PM

So they made the report based soley on what they heard?

Liquid Courage · July 05, 2015, 07:07:00 PM

Yes, when the leaves are up you cannot even see into my backyard from where I shoot.

nineworlds9 · July 05, 2015, 07:09:00 PM

Three whole sheriffs? Sheesh

Liquid Courage · July 05, 2015, 07:19:00 PM

They seemed perturbed at first, but once they entered my house we talked and my three kids started on them and they were fine. I really think they thought they were going to actual make an arrest or something. It is completely ridiculous.

Sam McMichael · July 05, 2015, 07:32:00 PM

It is never ridiculous when somebody calls the police on you without knowing anything about the situation. Bad neighbors! Yeah, you need to move for a coup[le of different reasons.

July 05, 2015, 08:06:00 PM

Man, that stinks! Glad you got it all worked out.

Bisch

Shinken · July 05, 2015, 08:19:00 PM

I love GSDs - got a 24 month old right now that is just primo! A little marker training might nip that behavior in the bud...just sayin'...

Keep the wind in your face!

Shoot straight, Shinken

Recurve7 · July 05, 2015, 08:45:00 PM

I certainly understand the arrows pumping up Jax. I have two German Shepherds that I'm doing Schutzhund training with and they go ballistic when I shoot. It kicks them into
" prey drive " with one shot. I appreciate concerned neighbors, however, would hope they would have enough confidence in me to at least get some facts before calling in the troops. Oh well, sounds like you have a great German Shepherd any way..

newhouse114 · July 05, 2015, 09:45:00 PM

I think I might make a point of doing a LOT more shooting under the exact same circumstances!

Roadkill · July 05, 2015, 10:31:00 PM

A larger view might indicate everyone involved tried to do the right thing. You were inconvenienced, and have a report on file, but cooler heads prevailed in the end. The deputies might end up being you advocate so day.

McDave · July 05, 2015, 11:22:00 PM

I think it's a good thing when people care enough about dogs to care if one is being mistreated. it is kind of humorous in a way that the neighbors heard the thwack of the arrow hitting the target, and then the dog howling, and came to the wrong conclusion. But I'm glad it turned out okay for you and your dog.

I shoot with two people almost every day, and we all have dogs. My border collie is probably better trained than I am, and all I have to do is think something and she is on it. Another friend's dog is a catahoula, and is also pretty well trained (no bias here!). They stay with us at the shooting stakes until we move forward. The third dog is a mix of golden retriever and other things. She goes and sits in front of the targets, not for any particular reason, just because that's what she wants to do. Since it is way too late to train her to do any better, we just put up with it until she decides to move on somewhere else. Which might be a while, but that's okay, because we fire too many arrows too fast anyway, and it's good to take a break every now and then.

It sounds like your dog is young enough to train to do whatever you want, including finding lost arrows, if that's what you both want to do. But communicating with another species is not that easy. Compare with communicating with one's own wife, which many of us have difficulty with, and they're supposed to be the same species we are.

Firstlight · July 06, 2015, 12:29:00 AM

Thats a good story. I like the timing of arrow hitting + dog cry ing.

Thumper Dunker · July 06, 2015, 01:47:00 AM

That's funny. Had them out to my place when I was playing with some calls one day. My boarder collie ausie mix goes to his room (under the shed) when I shoot. Then he comes out to help me find the arrows.

Jon Stewart · July 06, 2015, 05:47:00 AM

Someone called 911 and the deputies arrived to investigate. A complaint has to be written up with their findings.

Upset with 3 LEO showing up? With what is going on in todays world of anti police, I don't blame them. After all a weapon was involved in the complaint.

It worked out so I would leave it at that.

dbd870 · July 06, 2015, 07:21:00 AM

3 - slow day I guess.

wingnut · July 06, 2015, 08:01:00 AM

Let me see the neighbors heard what they thought was a dog being beaten and cared enough to call the police. I don't see anything wrong. Would you have rather they mind their own business when something real is happening at your place? What if they hear gunshots or one of the kids in trouble?

I'm on the neighbors side here. Sounds like the dog is not a good idea when you are shooting.

Mike

centaur · July 06, 2015, 08:09:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Jon Stewart:
Someone called 911 and the deputies arrived to investigate. A complaint has to be written up with their findings.

Upset with 3 LEO showing up? With what is going on in todays world of anti police, I don't blame them. After all a weapon was involved in the complaint.

It worked out so I would leave it at that.

X2

Phillip Fields · July 06, 2015, 08:10:00 AM

I am also on the neighbor's side. I know that it sucks that the officers showed up.

Jon Stewart · July 06, 2015, 08:10:00 AM

16 officers have been shot and killed from Jan to June this year.

Really guys, you are grumbling over 3 officers showing up to a call that involved weapon.

You need to do a ride along for a day. I know after my wife did one she promised never to complain about my crappy attitude when I came home from a rough night on the streets.