QUOTE: Links to shooting schools that I've attended and personally recommend END

Will, I followed the links, figuring they would be too far away for me to consider, but curious anyway..........and turns out that one is in Oregon. I have a question. "Lead-free range" (lead-free bullets, period) is a new term to me. Can you point me to a discussion of this technology?

When I was stationed out in SanDiego, there was quite a number of gun clubs in Cali that offered combat pistol/rifle/shotgun training. Before Marrige and kids I lived at the ranges almost. I'd go to a police supplier and ask around.

A good link about the lead-free ranges:
http://www.colerussell.com/default.asp?id=28&newsaction=newsdetail&articleid=5

Thunder Ranch use to be in Texas, I was disappointed when they moved to OR. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I honeymooned at Gunsite, it was very nice.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Quote: When I was stationed out in SanDiego END

I'm a long way from San Diego -- up above Monterey and Carmel on the coast. I do know of a couple of ranges with certification/classes, etc., not far from here. I guess you're recommending that a police supplier might have recommendations as to which is better? I was interested too in that term "lead-free range" on the web site Will's URL took me to.

It just dawned on me that this is not dog talk, and I'd better hit the yellow pages and the internet before a moderator yells at me! Will's URLs can be my starting point.

Thanks for the input, btw.

QUOTE: A good link about the lead-free ranges END

Wow! This is a whole new technology to me, and it looks/sounds great. Thanks.

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And as far as how much time and effort a person is willing to put into learning to protect themselves, I'd ask this question point blank - what's your life worth to you? is it worth the tution to one of the good shooting schools? Is it worth maybe watching a few hours of TV less a month to practice your skills? I would think that a rational person would say "of course so".

Make an investment in your personal safety, it's the smartest thing that you'll ever do for yourself and your loved ones.

Did you know you're more likely to die of heart disease than you are to die as a result of a violent crime? I think the smartest thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, get plenty of exercise, don't smoke, and get the ol' ticker checked regularly. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Also, early defibrillation has been shown to increase survival rates for cardiac arrest significantly. Is it worth a few hours out of your life to keep your CPR card current, set up CPR/AED classes in your community, and help to ensure that AEDs are readily available in public buildings in your community? I think a rational person would say "of course so". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

 Quote:

And as far as how much time and effort a person is willing to put into learning to protect themselves, I'd ask this question point blank - what's your life worth to you? is it worth the tution to one of the good shooting schools? Is it worth maybe watching a few hours of TV less a month to practice your skills? I would think that a rational person would say "of course so".

Make an investment in your personal safety, it's the smartest thing that you'll ever do for yourself and your loved ones.

Did you know you're more likely to die of heart disease than you are to die as a result of a violent crime? I think the smartest thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, get plenty of exercise, don't smoke, and get the ol' ticker checked regularly. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Also, early defibrillation has been shown to increase survival rates for cardiac arrest significantly. Is it worth a few hours out of your life to keep your CPR card current, set up CPR/AED classes in your community, and help to ensure that AEDs are readily available in public buildings in your community? I think a rational person would say "of course so". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Lady, i am with you all the way <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

PP has it's place, but making people paranoid is.... getting into politics && bussiness here aren't we?

Obviously we've gotten way off topic here. I understand that a lot of participants on this forum are very much into personal protection, and tend to approach things from that stance. While personal protection isn't my bag, I do take what I consider to be reasonable precautions for my own personal safety and that of my loved ones and dogs, and I don't think there is anything wrong with preparing for the worst, *if that's what you're into*.
My only point regarding Tim's original post is that the puppy wasn't really "attacked", and he handled the situation appropriately, and in my opinion, most likely no permanent harm was done to his pup. While the Terrier's threat display was frightening to the pup, and the pup may be a bit on edge with approaching dogs for a little while, I'm not concerned that his pup is going to turn out dog aggressive because of this incident (which was his question). If Tim wishes to arm himself in order to prevent unwanted contact with strange dogs in the future, that's his choice and I respect that. There's nothing wrong with being prepared for bad things to happen; I just don't think there's any reason to panic or overreact here. Also, he didn't "let" contact happen, and I don't think anyone's advocating that he neccessarily should.

As far as walking my own dogs, I am always alert. 99.9% of the time, I'm aware of what's going on around me long before my dogs even are. If I see an off leash dog, I go the other way. If I know there is a fence barker at a particular house, I either work my dog through it using obedience or just don't walk past that house. If a dog charges suddenly and unexpectedly out of a driveway or yard, I get between it and my dog. Since every yahoo with a "friendly" retriever lets their dog run off leash at the neighborhood park, I don't walk my dogs there. I'm prepared to do what I have to, and I'm prepared to take personal responsibility for whether or not I choose to carry a stick or any other weapon with me when I walk my dog(s). It's my *choice*. There's a saying that goes "To a man with a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail.". I think being prepared to protect yourself and your dog needs to be tempered with a little bit of common sense.

Ok, apparently we've heard from the paranoid mind-set ( myself ) who's actually been attacked and survived and then the rose-colored glasses mind set folks in which life is candyland and all is well. Since life for normal folks is somewhere in the middle I'll be closing this thread now.