To shoot or to catch, that is the question

I carry a pistol with me most times. Over the years I've had multiple occasions where another pig will come to the aid of the one that is caught and hit the dog and rip it off leaving a pretty good gash on the back half of the dog. Hard to stop that in the woods but I've been able to on a few occasions on the crop fields. I believe that very thing to be the biggest threat to hunting the type dogs the way i do. I've seen the dogs do this and get knocked off a couple times by the group and then gain a little respect for the confrontational group and just try to sort off a single and catch it away from the group only to have the group again rush to the aid of the caught pig. This sucks in the woods cause your running into the mob in defense of your dog that is caught or doing his best to stay caught and stay alive. You put the heart into a catch dog to tolerate that kinda abuse, then i feel you yourself need the sort of heart that compliments that kinda dog. If I had my father's, I'd rather run through that mess with a pistol in my hand. The noise of a couple shots helps panic the aggressive group and send them on their way so the dog and you can get about your business. Plus if your daughter is with you or someone whom wants to experience a little pig dogging action for the first time with you, I believe the noise from the pistol would greatly help you keep them safe. Some people have the courage to follow me even into that if it ever occurred when they were with me but they also believe I would protect them and I certainly would. A pistol would help me keep safe those who are depending on me to do so.
Main reason I usually carry a pistol isn't either of these cases though. Lot of people off their rocker doing risky things they themselves will take up arms to defend or silence you over. I'd rather be armed and be able to defend myself so I could escape a bad situation rather than being overcome by the situation. I firearm might be a handy thing to have one day when you least expect it in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere.