Re: I\'m might to have to shoot my pal (dog) 
Thanks for the input gents - It is certainly a very tough topic.
Latest news: I asked my handyman/friend to bury the sheep and the cat and give them a once-over if he could. He did this and we've determined 2 important things - the FEL needs a bolt-on tooth bar /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, and the sheep broke its leg. It appears that the sheep bled to death and that the leg meat really wasn't that molested.
Maverick (the dog) is still the prime suspect here and there is enough evidence now to conclude that he did it.
I've read all the replies, and my current thought is that there are now 2 options:
<ul type="square">[*] find a rescue that will take him. Unlikely really, but it would be much preferable.
[*]put him down. I talked to the wife and she is pushing for the vet to do it. If I go that route, it will hopefully done my way. Friendly and fun and then a shot that
I give him to knock him out, and the vet can do the killing shot.
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A dog on a chain would only work if I could guarantee that no-one else's chld or property could come in contact with the dog. The livestock kill would easily be used against me in a lawsuit. Up to now he killed gophers and such (to my delight). If he injured my son (only 17mos old) I would have a hard time living with myself. Realistically, he would never do that, but then I never thought he'd kill a sheep. He will be exceptionally hard to place with even a rescue because of his tendency to beat up other dogs. There was a hunting dog his size in CA that the neighbors just wouldn't keep fenced (even after it had spooked horses with riders more than once), and it would taunt Maverick to no end (Maverick was behind a 6 foot fence). One day there was a flash storm that created a small landslide that made the wall only a 3 foot wall on the inside. The next day that dog came back to harass him and got a suprise when Maverick jumped that wall (8 foot drop on the other side) with minimal issue. He then tore that dog up. Thankfully the dog lived and those neighbors thought coyotes did it. Since it happened on our property and all the other issues I really didn't feel that bad. I suspect that Maverick's anti-other dog tendencies were really set in stone by that particular dog.
I did go to a number of lengths to keep him from the sheep. He managed to jump atop a deck rail, drop down 7-8 feet, and somehow circumvent 2, 4-foot gates. I had electric fencing on until my toddler was out there a lot and I didn't want to risk that just yet. I tried a radio fence for "big dogs" with no luck. The day before we left for vacation my neighbor set me wise to how there were high-powered collars that WOULD deter him when the other one barely even annoyed him, but that is a bit late now.
I don't
blame him or hate him - he is doing what comes naturally to him and unfortunately it is that one aspect of him that gets him into trouble.
If I do decide to shoot him myself (influenced by other people's experiences), I will be using my 30-06. I'll shoot at the back of his head too if I do.
How close can one safely be with a 30-06? Practically point blank? I've never tried something like that (that close) with it, but since I do have it - IF I use it I want his death to be instantaneous.
Who knows - maybe someone is out there with land, no animals, and wants a protector that isn't that big but is plenty intimidating and could hold its own against coyotes. I'll probably put something on Craigslist as well as call the rescues. It is worth a try.
