A few days ago, I was reviewing a new high-intensity flashlight, though I already own several different models, since a problem at night means it can be a good idea to have the means to illuminate it. While it seems to be a universally-held belief that lighting up the “target” is absolutely necessary, I can recall situations where this did not happen, either from choice or necessity. Sometimes it is not prudent to possibly alert anything or anyone that you are moving around and a light will give out your location rather quickly. Something that disturbs the peace of the night is, at that moment, only an unidentified something. This leaves me wanting to find out what the something is but I don’t always want the something to know that I am investigating.

I rely on dogs for many things; this is one of those situations. It is a dog that will first alert me to a potential problem. Having superior senses to my own, I can use the dog’s inherent advantage in my favor. It takes a particular type of dog, however. Many will alert an owner, some will bark incessantly, others due to size or disposition are not going to be a lot of assistance. Moving through a dark house with a 10 pound Jack Russell terrier is probably better than nothing, but a small dog on a leash will give me very little feedback as to what is happening. Moving along with a German Shepherd while holding the dog’s collar is far better. (There are collars made with a handle on them, these are ideal for this kind of work – I get them from Ray Allen.) The Shepherd can see and hear, I can get feedback from the dog through the handle on the collar. If the dog becomes agitated, I’ll instantly know and can act accordingly. This technique does mean that if anticipating a true threat, then whatever weapon you are carrying must be completely operable with one hand – your other hand is holding the dog. A handgun is fine for obvious reasons, but a pump-action shotgun will only give you one shot and you’ll have to release the dog to cycle the shotgun’s action. This is why some military and police dog handlers are issued semi-automatic shotguns, as they can be fired repeatedly with only one hand. In any case, you may not want to release your dog after finding a threat that you needed to shoot. I know that since I think a lot more of my dogs than I do anybody I find uninvited in my home at night, I want the dog staying next to me, not running at the bad guy where my bullets are also going. Ideally, your dog will walk along with you and you will both find nothing at all as whatever interrupted the night has gone away.

Another way to search in the dark is to send the dog ahead. But, the dog absolutely must have either the training or a strong protective instinct to do this (and many dogs do have that instinct, especially in their home). You are not getting direct feedback from the dog unless the dog makes a noise – you are using the dog as your bodyguard. If the dog discovers a threat, the dog will hold or attack depending on what the dog decides to do. There is a great risk of the dog being hit if a gunfight starts, so here is where a flashlight becomes crucial, allowing you to identify what is happening once you hear that a fight is on. The threat is already engaged with your dog, so any light will not exacerbate the situation further – unless you do not plan to get into the fight. In that case, don’t light up anything because your dog will have a much greater advantage against the bad guy in the dark. This type of search is quite appropriate if you have a dog that is capable and protective, and you have little or no way to defend yourself otherwise. If you can’t fight and the dog can, then let the dog take care of the problem. If you are using a big, strong dog, it’s very likely that the bad guy will absolutely want away once your dog starts leaving holes all over him. My wife has a 90 pound male German Shepherd and she will send him ahead if she is at home alone and hears something. I would never, ever want to take him on, even though I am armed. He is just too fast and too tenacious. I would be badly hurt before I could get a gun running, so escape would be my best option. In my mind, he is perfect in his role as watchdog and protector.

Can you just put the dog on a leash? Yes, if you are aware of a few limitations. While you will be remotely in control, you’ll get little feedback except for tugging or noise from the dog. Both of you will be moving around in the dark, so there is the possibility of becoming entangled in the leash. If the unknown something turns out to be a mouse, the dog will discover the mouse before you know what is happening. Meanwhile, the mouse darts across the floor and the chase is on. You can easily get knocked down by your well-meaning but distracted mouse-catching dog. If you have a large, powerful dog on a leash and you’re caught off guard, and if the leash is across your legs, the dog can effortlessly flatten you. Trust me on this. I’d be more likely to use a smaller dog on a leash, where I would want to hear the dog but not have great concern about being dragged around the furniture.

If you own a dog, please give these concepts some thought and perhaps some practice. Rather than searching for a “something,” you may at some point need to search for a quiet but misplaced loved one in the dark and unable or don’t wish to use any auxiliary lighting. At that moment, your “search-qualified” dog will be invaluable.