Attacked... at the pub.

[SadKen]

Happily enjoying a pint in our local pub with our two german shepherds, when out of nowhere a staffy on another table pulled free of its 'lead' (a bit of lead rein) and attacked my older boy, going for his throat - unprovoked, my boy had only got up to welcome me back to the table with the drinks. After about 30 seconds which felt like hours we and the owner managed to wrench it free. It seems we have been lucky and the other dog only got his scruff. No blood.

I gave the owner a full on carpeting at full volume in the pub beer garden (no swearing). My OH was ready to knock his and the dog's lights out and was asked not to be aggressive by the pub staff. I have agreed not to report it on the basis that such things can happen but if I see the dog again unmuzzled I will report it.

Still shaking. There were kids in the car park 5 mins before. The pub waitress seemed to be quite defensive of the other dog saying it wouldn't attack kids whilst also saying they know it can be aggressive with other dogs. I believe the owner of the dog goes in a lot more than we do. She said she wouldn't tell us not to report it tho. I don't feel like we can ever go back there now.

Pointless post really. I'm just in shock.

 

[PapaverFollis]

That's really scary. I'm so sorry that happened to you and very glad your dog isn't hurt. If a dog is going to fly at another dog unprovoked it really should be muzzled and properly secured! Very irresponsible.

 

[Bellasophia]

It’s awful when this happens,it’s really upsetting.I hope your dog is ok and not affected by this .
Your dog may have deep bruising in a few days so watch out for that.

 

[SadKen]

Thank you PF, I hope the owner will muzzle it now. My OH was incandescent and if either of us see it out without a muzzle we will tell him straight that he is risking lives including that of his own dog, and report it.

BS I didn't consider potential bruising but will keep an eye out for that. My boy is super stoical and hopefully there won't be any long lasting issues. I feel so horrible about the whole thing. My OH was ready to kill the dog and if we hadn't got it off when we did I think he would have. God knows what would have happened then. I live next to this pub! Feel sick about it.

My OH has cooled off now and has reminded me that our younger boy barked at another dog who came into the pub and I know it can happen, could have been our younger dog who did something, it just had to happen to my poor old boy who never hurt a fly!

 

[{97702}]

Hmmm well with that reaction from the pub staff I would definitely have reported it, because it says to me that the staffy has clearly done it before! All this crap about it wouldn’t attack a child is irrelevant to me - I don’t have children lol, I do have dogs and if it had attacked one of mine I would have knocked 7 bells out of the dog and the owner

ETA - big difference between a dog barking at another dog, and a dog getting another dog by the throat?

 

[SadKen]

Exactly the same for us Lev, I told the waitress that effectively the dog had run 30 feet to silently attack *my* child and as a result my OH and i both lost our tempers as this is about the worst thing that can happen to us. She did say that we could get details from the bar if we decided to report it, offered us another drink (we declined and left). I guess she could see how agitated my OH was, he was ready to do exactly what you described and probably not in the pub's interests to have brawling or worse in the beer garden.

I would have reported it for sure if blood had been drawn, but as it hasn't and my garden backs on to the pub I thought it better to give the guy a chance to muzzle his dog before I kick up a stink, since he knows where I live, altho I absolutely will without hesitation if I see it again without a muzzle.

 

[Nicnac]

He's lucky you are so understanding! Hope your old boy is ok and the staffy is muzzled in the future. That is a terrifying thing to witness.

 

[{97702}]

Exactly the same for us Lev, I told the waitress that effectively the dog had run 30 feet to silently attack *my* child and as a result my OH and i both lost our tempers as this is about the worst thing that can happen to us. She did say that we could get details from the bar if we decided to report it, offered us another drink (we declined and left). I guess she could see how agitated my OH was, he was ready to do exactly what you described and probably not in the pub's interests to have brawling or worse in the beer garden.

I would have reported it for sure if blood had been drawn, but as it hasn't and my garden backs on to the pub I thought it better to give the guy a chance to muzzle his dog before I kick up a stink, since he knows where I live, altho I absolutely will without hesitation if I see it again without a muzzle.

Ah - yes in that case I can completely understand why you chose not to report, that would be a bit sensitive! I hope your lad is OK and isn’t bruised or anything x

 

[AmyMay]

How absolutely awful. I would report it I’m afraid. That was a ‘I mean business’ attack.

I’m so glad your boy was not hurt.

 

[SadKen]

I do agree Amymay, it was. There was no warning, he went for the throat and locked on. Honestly, if I lived a little further from the pub I would report it but everyone there knows we are the house with the German shepherds and all it would take is a bit of poison over the fence if the guy happened to take offence at being reported. I will take the risk if he doesn't muzzle it in future though.

 

[Keith_Beef]

That's really scary. I'm so sorry that happened to you and very glad your dog isn't hurt. If a dog is going to fly at another dog unprovoked it really should be muzzled and properly secured! Very irresponsible.

If a dog is going to fly at another dog unprovoked it really should be put to sleep.

 

[{97702}]

If a dog is going to fly at another dog unprovoked it really should be put to sleep.

I totally disagree with this - which isn’t surprising bearing in mind that I have a dog which will fly at other dogs in an unprovoked attack.

I manage the situation. It isn’t rocket science. He isn’t allowed off the lead. He is muzzled. Those measures ensure that the risk is neutralised - he doesn’t get any possible opportunity to attack another dog. He most certainly does not need to be PTS.

 

[Smitty]

This is my nightmare in daytime. I am so pleased your dog is OK, perhaps a smaller one wouldn't have been. I quite understand your reluctance to take this any further, which is a big pity and I hope and pray they muzzle the beast in future. Shame you didn't let your OH off the leash... ??

So the pub staff know the dog can be aggressive with other dogs, the owner must therefore know and does sod all to prevent it, why exactly, does it give them a "kick"?

 

[Keith_Beef]

I totally disagree with this - which isn’t surprising bearing in mind that I have a dog which will fly at other dogs in an unprovoked attack.

I manage the situation. It isn’t rocket science. He isn’t allowed off the lead. He is muzzled. Those measures ensure that the risk is neutralised - he doesn’t get any possible opportunity to attack another dog. He most certainly does not need to be PTS.

Yes, perhaps I should have worded it better... and I almost added "and the owner banned for life from getting another dog".

I agree that it's a combination of the dog's behaviour and the owner's handling of the situation. A dog that might want to attack another, but whose owner knows that tendency and keeps it muzzled and under control, is less dangerous.

The pub waitress seemed to be quite defensive of the other dog saying it wouldn't attack kids whilst also saying they know it can be aggressive with other dogs. I believe the owner of the dog goes in a lot more than we do. She said she wouldn't tell us not to report it tho. I don't feel like we can ever go back there now.

So the pub staff know the dog can be aggressive with other dogs, the owner must therefore know and does sod all to prevent it, why exactly, does it give them a "kick"?

If I got aggressive in a pub and attacked somebody, I'd be banned and almost certainly reported to the Police. It's outrageous that this owner is allowed to bring the dog back onto the premises, knowing that it is aggressive like that.

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

I really think you should report this. Obviously not the first time it's happened, how would you feel if it kills or seriously injures another dog next week?
Hope your dog is OK, what a terrifying thing to happen.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Ok, so either report it via the normal channels or leave multiple shitty reviews on Facebook. Their call!

Do you think the staff owner would have done nothing if your dog had grabbed his by the throat?

I have one who doesn't like other dogs. So I don't take him to places like that. No brainer, really.

There's handbags at dawn and there's grabbing another dog by the throat. If he went on to seriously hurt another dog because he was given a by ball this time, I'm not sure I could forgive myself.

 

[Bellasophia]

In the meantime..whilst you are deciding whether to report or not etc...I would take the dog back ,at a different time,when you think things will be quiet,so he doesn’t have an aversion to the place.
And yes..I would add my voice to denounce this dog attack.
this dog will do this again...
I didn’t want to divert your initial post,but something similar happened to my beautiful st poodle boy when he was just a ten month old pup...
.we walked onlead with my very frail old girl and myyoung dog..out of the blue,a rotweiller male came like an Exocet missile across the park to beeline on my boy.He bowled him to the ground and latched on to his belly..my boy was screaming ,screaming so loud I thought he was finished.The owner a twenty year old ,on his phone ,watched from 200m away..Myhusband,a powerful man ,waded in to literally try to kick the dog off...if seemed to go on forever ,but we got the dog off .
The boy ambled up..Said my dog was at fault because he looked “so strange“( he had never seen a big poodle before)..he leashed the dog and literally ran away..,
My boy had severe.bites and deep bruising.....The next day I tookmyboyback to the same area ....we did a nice quiet walk,but never went back again.
i believe this helped him not to fix his bad experience on a place rather than the event.
I hope your old fellow is ok..there wil always idiots ..try not to dwell on this and be very proud you had two big steady shepherds and a very loyal Oh who all showed great restraint.

 

[fankino04]

I understand your reasoning for not reporting but it sounds like this dog has a history of being aggressive to other dogs and as the owner hasn't taken any responsible actions before I very much doubt they will this time...

 

[SadKen]

I do take the point on reporting this, I really do. It's just that the pub is so close to my house, I don't want trouble with the pub or the guy who knows where we live. If blood had been drawn on any of us I would have reported anyway, but there may be some who didn't witness it who think I am creating trouble as 'no harm done'. What could have happened is far worse than what did happen. This way I think at least I have done all I can to be reasonable, and if he doesn't follow through it's him and his dog he's risking. BS I am so sorry that happened to your dog. I've only been involved in two 'mean it'attacks. This one and my BIL's bedlington who attacked our 14wk old GSD pup for no reason tearing his ear and leaving him dog aggressive for life. I do feel concern that this could happen again, but my first duty is to my dogs and my OH, I don't want to take risks with the pub so close. In the guy's (weak) defence he was straight in to get his dog off and didn't try to run off after, even tho OH was threatening him, which gives me a little hope he may have been shocked out of any complacency even if only through fear of my OH who is somewhat... imposing and forthright. To be honest if he had attempted to excuse what his dog did OH would have brought things to a swift conclusion anyway.

On the plus side I can see the beer garden from my window. If he is there again unmuzzled I will go there sans dog and tell him straight that I gave him a chance and will now be reporting him.

I may take my boy back in a week or so. He is incredibly wonderful and hasn't been remotely bothered, we met loads of dogs on a big walk today and he socialised happily with them as he has always done. I think he thinks I'm making a fuss for no reason, and my OH has told me not to dwell on it (now he has cooled off!). Probably good advice! I will watch the pub though.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

The bloke ought not to take his dog to the pub if it’s aggressive to others. I wouldn’t dream of taking Zak to a place where he may have to to tolerate other dogs, it’s way too stressful for him and far too dodgy for other dogs. If I were the pub manager, I’d be asking him to leave the staffy at home in future.

 

[bonny]

All the people on here saying the dog should be reported I’m a bit lost who you would report this to ?

 

[AmyMay]

All the people on here saying the dog should be reported I’m a bit lost who you would report this to ?

The dog warden, and police via 101.

 

[SadKen]

Little update: we have just had a visit from the landlady of the pub, to see how my boy is. She apologised profusely (even tho it wasn't her fault!) and said she has barred the owner from the pub, and he will only be allowed back without the dog. The waitress was his girlfriend which explains the defensiveness. The landlady said she thinks we should report it and if we want to she will back us up. So that's my mind at rest a bit.

 

[{97702}]

That’s great news SadKen - and explains the waitress who I really couldn’t understand! - thanks for the update ?

 

[Bellasophia]

Cheers in every sense..this sounds very positive and at this point I would let it go,given your close proximity in location to the offenders.
If you get the chance and happen to see the owners ,I’d have a conversation to say you thought about reporting the dog but are giving him a chance,and obviously expect to see him on a heavy leash with all precautions taken.