we had a big bear problem here so the local forest rangers came looked around an said i hope they dont get your dogs cause we have 2 outside dogs an the gave us 4 12 gauge rubber buck shot so bout 20 feet away bang shot the bear an it just looked around didnt do one thing to them an it kicked about as mush as my 22 cause im not a 12 gauge fan at all so i never use it but i used it then a not a thing