Dog attack - help!

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 June 2011
Messages
6,600
Visit site
My 11 yr Whippet x Lab bitch is a quiet little thing. Obedient, calm and just lovely to have with you. Our walks are usually before 7 am, and after 6pm. However, this past week the routine has changed a bit due to me having a week 'off' work. So walking around 9am and again around 5pm.
I'm not sure if they are new to the area or just because of my changed times, I've met a couple walking 2 standard poodles. The male poodle seems ok, but their bitch comes in all guns blazing and flattens mine in an agressive manner. The owners seem very apologetic about ''Polly's'' behaviour, but haven't done much else.
Trouble is, I know this dog clearly has an issue, only due to the fact it is wearing a shock collar, which buzzes all the time - I can hear it! When I had to grab her off mine earlier and although not electric shocked, I was being 'buzzed' all the time!!
So, what do I do now? Talk to them about keeping it on a lead, threaten with dog warden, avoid my new times, do I allow my kids to walk our dog? (they do once or twice a week) And if I should meet them again, how do you react?

Words of advice please.
 
I have a standard poodle,he's a big dog,athletic and strong so I'd be absolutely horrified if he had attacked an elderly ,slight dog...no excuses,he'd be on lead and I'd be very apologetic to you. Mine is a softie,but I know that some can be very high prey drive and not respect a weak owner.
I'd definitely be annoyed and take steps to talk to this couple..the dog obviously has issues if she's wearing a shock collar.i would report this to yr dog warden in case you do have a reoccurrence. I would not let your kids take your oldie on their own in case this twit reappears.
I have carried a large umbrella in the past,like a walking stick...the type that opens when you press a button....if opened in the attacking dogs face,it creates a protective barrier,giving time for the aggressor to be put back on lead.
Poodles are a quirky,intelligent dog and the problem here is this female may well repeat this behavior,as it serves her prey drive and can become a bad habit. Do be careful.
 
Thanks for the info. I know nothing about the breed, and was surprised not only in their size, but the clear drive to get the better of mine. I thought they were a 'soft quiet' breed!!
I'll find the dog warden and give a heads up. Thanks.
 
Poodles were gundogs and are very intelligent and need training. I would report to dog warden and go ballistic next time I saw them.
 
I've had three now...each one different in temperament...the first was so high prey drive she cleared my front fence ,4 ft ,in one bound to go after my neighbours cat. We raised fences and kept her in the back after that..
the next was low prey drive ,but a really serious one man dog,my dog of my lifetime.She was from Germany and so obedient..but just focused on me,didn't want anything else in her life. Both have passed on now,but they were great dogs and well trained.
The latest is my new boy..soft and loving yet a good guard in our home and garden..

When I took my first girl,then a 5 m pup to a training course,the Italian trainer said he didn't trust the breed as his friend had fifteen stitches in his face from a st poodle..!
They are all very different temperaments,but very fast,athletic,lively,strong dogs.I bet they would give a whippet a run for their money too,so a determined ,aggressive one would be a nightmare...
we walk all weathers,they are not for the couch lovers,but do settle after their excercise.
My boy is from a wonderful kennel and he epitomizes the sweet nature that the breed should have. I'm sorry you've had this bad experience,but not all poodles are like this dog.The owners who put a poodle in an electric collar are clearly looking to quick fix a problem in this dog without putting in any training .
 
Last edited:
im not entirely sure what a dog warden would do, my mum had one called to hers after a clueless couple let their JRT come bounding across our private yard barking irrationally at her old collie and collie flawed it (JRT was not injured jst shell shocked) anyway warden came round next day took one at collie cuddled up with the kids and said "theres clearly no issue with regaurd to aggression towards humans and dogs are dogs these things happen" and left but maybe because this happened on our private land and their dog shouldnt have been there but warden didnt actually say that. I think the owners of poodle are very irresposible letting it off the lead especially as they clearly know there is an issue, i would be inclined to just have a polite word with them next time although hopefully lessons will be learnt and they will keep it on a lead in future. Poodles are very highly intelligent dogs and need mental stimulation aswell as physical exercise, maybe owners arnt aware and would benefit some dog classes. Hope you and your dog arnt too shaken
 
I wouldn't have a polite word, I'd turn I to a bloomin fish mongers wife - during and after having kicked seven shades of do do out of the dog in question.

Once you can be upset about, after that - I'd be apoplectic, and wouldn't be shy of letting them know.
 
^^ This. I go crazy mad lady if people allow their aggressive dogs to approach mine. That's what caused Zak to become aggressive in the first place. Go bag s h I t crazy at them, problem solved. Plenty of people now avoid me, thank god. I hobble away quickly, put him on a lead, tell them he's aggressive and STILL they let their bouncy, untrained or aggressive dog jump on mine. Hacks me right off.
 
This just goes to show the dangers and issues of using shock collars by people who obviously haven't a clue.......... :(

The shock collar has obviously made the dog's behaviour worse not better; personally whilst I don't like them and wouldn't ever use them, they may, just may, be a useful tool in SKILLED hands and with dogs that probably otherwise would have to be PTS. These people have obviously been watching too much Cesar Milan.

Our neighbour's dogs are aggressive towards ours; not only that but just recently they came out and made as if to go for the horses' legs as we rode past........... that was it for me, it was Dog Warden. I found them very understanding, approachable, and was confident that she took my concerns seriously.

Meantime........ you could try one of the Aerosol spray things, think they're called "corrector" or something similar; plus it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a used bottle of Fairy Liquid and top it up to about three quarters level with water and be ready to use it as ammo next time you see this dog. If there's a bit of Fairy left in it then so much the better. OR get a chilli pepper and boil up in water, and use it as a spray. You will not be breaking any laws!

But Dog Warden would be my advice.
 
I am not surprised by this. I have staffords and face the bad press accordingly. What I have found looking into this deeper, is that it really is the owners and not the dogs. Most aggressive dog I have ever met was a black lab. Even more of a surprise for me as my uncle bred golden labs when I was a child but of course, they were properly trained.

Turn this around. These people are irresponsible. If they know their dog is dangerous it should not be off lead. Report to the dog warden because next time, someone else may not get away with the dog "just" being floored and why o earth should you have to change your walking habits because another person is unable to control their dog?
 
I like mijods' spray idea! Tbh if it happens again I would hit the roof. Once is ok, accidents do happen. After that the owner has to step up and take control.
 
I carry around the pet corrector if I'm walking certain dogs in certain places for the times there might be one flying over. Only had to use it once.
However if you were to use it I'd condition your own dog not to associate the spray sound with something good, else you'll make the problem worse and freak your dog out even more when you used it.

Due to the fact that I'm a dog walker and can't stand there yelling at people (bad for business!). The owner is clearly a little clueless - maybe talk to her about it rather than just yelling. Some people don't really get it, first thing I'd be saying to her is about the electric collar going off constantly! But making an alternative suggestion (e.g a lead and some training) is probably a nicer way to go about it. Yelling will just switch people off and get them on the defense which helps no one, particularly the dogs.
 
Report it please I now have an extremely fear aggressive dog since he got attacked three times in one week but according to the owners mine was in the wrong because their little darling was playing when it was hanging from his neck he's a Doberman x Weimaraner I'd liked to of seen the reaction if I had allowed him to attack back to protect himself instead of me booting the dogs to get them off there is no excuse now a days and it's a shame my boy cannot go off lead anymore due to this. I would consider taking a horsewhipped with u the sound of a good smack on the ground usually stops them or at least gets the owners attention
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top