I am DONE with walking dogs in public spaces

blackcob

blackcob

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We haven't done one of these for a while. ;) Any tips for being less angry about it?!

I already walk with a thunderous resting bitch face, at anti-social times and try to avoid popular locations, none of which helped yesterday as my on-lead dog was attacked by an off-lead dog on a residential street near our house.

I've had years of being harassed by off-lead dogs when out with my big dogs but at least due to their size and breed a decent proportion of people attempt to call their dog away, and they are capable of defending themselves if the dog is actually aggressive rather than just rude. One of them will still be terrified by it, sadly, but at least he can bite back. Poor wee dog has no such advantage and we were both properly shaken up.
 
Awwww no poor Tasmanian Devil ? I hope you are both OK!

Not a problem I ever have so I can’t give any advice I’m afraid, other than I’d not hesitate to deal very firmly with any off-lead dog that approached mine if I happened to be walking a smaller one on its own. Mind you even then I wouldn’t rate the other dogs chances ?
 
I am truly sorry that you and Baby Shark have fallen victim to a vicious dog. I hope the little fella is okay.

I have no tips for being less angry.

I have found that people KNOW their dog will attack another dog and do nothing to prevent it. One of my dogs received puncture wounds and one was seriously mauled and required extensive surgery, in unprovoked attacks and I knew from the owner's reaction in both cases that it wasn't the first time it had happened. (both owners were very cool, showed no concern and couldn't have cared less).
 
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Hope your dogs are ok. I've never had a bad experience with other dog owners but I know from social media that other people do. We've been lucky to always come across lovely dogs and owners in the countryside.
 
We are ok now thank you but I think maybe I'm still stewing on it because so much of it was out of my control? I've developed a fairly thick skin about shouting at owners to call their dogs away, getting between the dog and mine and telling it to piss off, with a booted foot if necessary, and as a last resort I've taught him to spring up to be carried when I pat my leg. I know you're not meant to pick them up and I don't like it but if it avoids conflict, so be it.

Yesterday I couldn't see dog or owner before it happened, we were both approaching a corner at the same time, so it was on him before I could do anything. They had two other dogs on leads, leaving the savage creature off. :rolleyes:

I think the other reason I'm still angry is that you'd think this would be an unfortunate accident, accept the owner's apology and get on with things but it keeps happening, different owners and dogs, different places, it's happened with the wee chap twice now and countless times with the sibes before this. A mixture of the "he's only being friendly" brigade and as skinnydipper says, those that know but don't care.
 
blackcob said:
We haven't done one of these for a while. ;) Any tips for being less angry about it?!

I already walk with a thunderous resting bitch face, at anti-social times and try to avoid popular locations, none of which helped yesterday as my on-lead dog was attacked by an off-lead dog on a residential street near our house.

I've had years of being harassed by off-lead dogs when out with my big dogs but at least due to their size and breed a decent proportion of people attempt to call their dog away, and they are capable of defending themselves if the dog is actually aggressive rather than just rude. One of them will still be terrified by it, sadly, but at least he can bite back. Poor wee dog has no such advantage and we were both properly shaken up.
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You need to arm yourself. How sad is that? An aerosol should work. I would normally recommend a cattle prod, but I’ve mellowed as I’ve aged.
 
I'm considering arming myself with a grumpy old Siberian husky and only ever walking them together - she'd have torn it a new hole. I'm sure it would be our fault then though. :rolleyes:
 
Blazingsaddles said:
You need to arm yourself. How sad is that? An aerosol should work. I would normally recommend a cattle prod, but I’ve mellowed as I’ve aged.
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No offence, BS, but you have to have been in this situation to understand, I'm afraid. Please see excerpts from my previous post on this subject.

"I am afraid I take no prisoners now if a dog threatens mine. I have had 2 dogs badly attacked, both silent and deadly attacks.

The first time was poor Joe, my late Rough Collie, a very gentle boy. 2 staffies ran at him and attacked, one hanging each side of his neck. Luckily for Joe he had a deep mane and only sustained puncture wounds. Had it been one of my smaller dogs or the lurchers the result would have been very different.

The second time we weren't so lucky. I don't know if it was a large Husky or a Malamute that ran at us, the owner was about 300 yards away (across the other side of a large field). Layla tried to run away and it was on her, in no time it had taken 2 big chunks out of her back, it was like a piece of meat. The vets were appalled at her injuries and the severity of the attack, 2 chunks of muscle had been removed plus a couple of smaller bites. She was stitched the full width of her back and down the sides and had 2 drains. Layla always had two divots under the skin after that. A previously dog friendly playful dog totally lost her confidence around other dogs.

In neither case was there any doggy introduction. Just straight in to the attack. Silently. I felt the Husky's behaviour was sheer predation, it just wanted to kill her.

Neither of the owners would accept responsibility/give me their details.

* I now carry a pet safe citronella spray which does not harm the dog. If that didn't work, I would resort to violence. "

The Husky I chased off, I ran at him shouting and brandishing my ball thrower and I would have hit him with it if he had not run away. We had to grab the staffies by the scruff as they wore no collars and drag them off (in retrospect this could have inflicted further damage), the staffies' owner was still running towards us. The Husky's owner was trying to make a getaway, when I caught up with him I had to insist he put his dog on a lead!

Please note this sentence * (brave and heartfelt words) and read on.

I didn't mention the last time I had a dog attacked in my post earlier today (though I did at the time) because I could not find an injury on him. It was Christmas Eve 2018 and my dog was an on leash GSD. The attack was out of the blue - as I find they are. The owner was on the phone, unaware and about 50m away. The attacking dog was one of a pair of labradors, both ran at him and one bit him.

Ever since Layla sustained serious injuries I have carried a dog stop spray. Everything happens so fast. Attacking dogs don't wait for you to access your spray. I was hanging on to a very large GSD who wasn't in the best of health. My husband had to drag the labrador off him, his feet barely touched the ground as he was hauled back to his owner. My husband is 6ft and I am 5ft 3. If I had been on my own I would have been unable to control my dog and fend off the attacking dog. They are not passively standing still.

Such was the speed of the attack, my plan was useless - I didn't have time to access my spray. I totally lost my confidence in my ability to protect my dog and it took me a while before I felt happy to take him out alone.

Dog owners know what their dog is capable of, or should do, and should take steps to ensure their dog is not a danger to others. We shouldn't have to deal with situations like this.
 
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I had 2 rottweilers and a sheepdog/poodle cross looking white dog/ old it was/ full of dreadlocks...just turn up at my place. My very young huskyxGSD and parson russelxstaff both approached with curiosity. So all dogs were lose.

When i notcied blood all over the white sheepdogx i called my dogs over firmly and shut them in. My gsdx was crying as soon as they turned up, she sensed my reaction to the dogs, wanted to ‘protect’ me, but was feeling uneasy.

These dogs were just wandering around my yard and garden sniffing around, the rottweilers were actually friendly, as they ended up wagging their stubby tails at me talking friendly to them, as i was hollering for my OH. The white one kept back and wasn’t friendly.

Turns out the owner didnt ever had good security at her place and they would roam as a pack often. That trip they had killed a load of chickens at someones place. So presume that was what the blood on the white one was.
In the end i heard they got shot by a farmer when they escaped another time.
Very sad.

There i was expecting the rotties to be vicious, when it was the sweeter looking white dog doing the carnage of chickens and sheep, the rotties went along for the walk.

My 2 are friendly to all animals and people, yet wha they would be like in an unusual situation i dont know, i imagine instincts would take over, but theyve had their chance at my place to attack all sorts of animals and never have.
Why some dogs just go into attack mode without reason is very odd behaviour.
 
I’m so sorry, blackcob, I know the feeling, I’m blooming sick of it. I had this a lot with Brig, if ever he was on lead. I wonder if it was something to do with him being entire. Over the years, I learnt to get very loud, which tends to frighten most dogs that come to attack, not to mention the owner.

It’s difficult to remain calm during an attack, but it would be handy to tell idiot owners that you’ll be informing the dog warden.
 
PurBee said:
My 2 are friendly to all animals and people, yet wha they would be like in an unusual situation i dont know, i imagine instincts would take over, .
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I had 6 of my other dogs with me at the time of Layla's attack, including my first GSD (not the one mentioned in my previous post). None of them got involved.
 
skinnydipper said:
I had 6 of my other dogs with me at the time of Layla's attack, including my first GSD (not the one mentioned in my previous post). None of them got involved.
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I find that really surprising - I count myself very lucky that I’ve never had an encounter with a dog that has attacked mine seriously, but I know from experiences with ‘chancers’ that all five pile in without hesitation if one of them is attacked. This has always been the same with my greyhound/lurcher combinations over the years - maybe it’s because of the breed
 
Levrier said:
I find that really surprising - I count myself very lucky that I’ve never had an encounter with a dog that has attacked mine seriously, but I know from experiences with ‘chancers’ that all five pile in without hesitation if one of them is attacked. This has always been the same with my greyhound/lurcher combinations over the years - maybe it’s because of the breed
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It may have been because of the speed of the attack and how quickly it was over. I know some dogs do get aroused in these situations and could even turn and bite each other in redirected aggression, I am just thankful that they didn't. It would have been a complete blood bath.

ETA. My dogs were all calm, dog friendly, non aggressive dogs.
 
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I am sorry but not surprised to read this. I have been walking 2 big Rottweilers with fig 8 leads round their noses and a back up lead on a harness in an open space and have had idiots let their off lead spaniel/bc/ JRT/ pint sized mongrel (delete as appropriate)approach, sometimes with a ball in its mouth. One of the Rotts was very laid back and 'hail fellow, well met' towards anyone who was friendly but the other was sharper, having learned from experience that not all dogs we meet are friendly and not aggressive but more wary.
I would take to walking with a big stick!
 
I have had major issues with mainly men allowing their off lead dogs attacking my tiny girls. With the excuse of ' they are just playing' whilst the smaller of the 2 was SCREAMING in terror. The next time I saw him I had Kody the cross breed I posted with me too and as he doesn't like men he was really barking and growling, I said clearly if you come any closer he WILL bite. That got the message across. I despair of some of the idiots around
 
skinnydipper said:
I totally lost my confidence in my ability to protect my dog
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This is exactly it, and why I'm still angry and stewing over it a day later, and will be for some time.

I have a plan, as above, I am confident advocating for my dogs when I see a situation brewing and have learnt not to care about offending people by shouting, walking away, picking up my dog or whatever. It's taken years to grow enough of a pair to do this stuff and not give a jeff what people think. Yesterday - poof, plan out of the window, nothing could be done, it happened in a microsecond.

I had every intention of kicking the dog but in the panic mine slipped his collar (never happened before, it was on tightly, and I will obviously be using a different collar and lead from now on) and with them both loose and the other owner having their hands full with two other dogs on leads I was left almost helpless. Thank god that when I called him he ran back and jumped into my arms instead of properly bolting, and thanks also that the other dog wasn't bigger, else there's a good chance I'd have been bitten on the arms in the process.

The irony is, I have a reactive dog myself - not aggressive, just absolutely terrified of other dogs coming at him head on and liable to scream and lunge when it happens, looking for all the world like a savage beast - and take such great care to not let him so much as inconvenience anyone else. The injustice of it! :mad:
 
Thanks CT. Wee lad is entire but entirely unoffensive with it, it'd be such a shame if it's something to do with that. I most certainly did not remain calm and once I'd scooped him up and gaped a bit in shock, laid into the owner in nonsensical shrieking fishwife fashion I'm afraid. :oops: I didn't recognise any of them or know where they're from to report to the dog warden, sadly.
 
These stories are just proof that I shouldn’t get another dog. I have absolutely no issue with booting someone else’s dog in the face should it not Git when told. had too many of my dogs attacked on the lead by other peoples off the lead. Mind you did have the odd arsehole that allowed themselves to be dragged by their dog to say a snarling hackles you hello. Soon got sent packing mind you.

I have no patience anymore for the vast majority of the public human race with dogs, they don’t seem to have any knowledge or their just don’t care and I don’t know what’s sadder.
 
I would be surprised if it was because he is entire. Joe was neutered and Layla was spayed. It is the aggressor that is problem.

Like you, Blackcob, I had a reactive dog which was why I always called him and put his lead on in the presence of other dogs and why he was on his lead on Christmas Eve. He never bit another dog and never went after another dog but was extremely vocal if a dog came in his personal space.
 
Pearlsacarolsinger said:
We hire a dog field so that we know that we can let ours play/ train/chill without any other dogs interfering with them.
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Ditto - ours are always walked on short leads and harnesses in public places, so we can scoop them up if attacked. Heard to many horror stories to let them roam free, and although have miles of riverside paths to walk them on, there are always other dogs around - often off the lead with little discipline.

They have a large garden to run around in, and 8 acres of safe, dog free play area, where they can let off steam and play ball etc.
 
I find muzzles and dogs who go ballistic at off lead dogs and cats helps but since Dobby caught Fizz when he tried to tug on her lead she now starts on him when he reacts ?

I actually worry about my boy being an attacker so am ultra careful. He's only had two scraps (no injuries either time) and both were with dogs we know but he can't handle dogs staring and will not back down if he feels threatened, he is also a rude greeter so a great combo. He is rarely off lead except at training or when I am certain there are no other dogs (I have got to the point he can be on a long line and will choose his toys and me over other dogs but I don't trust him).

The more I read stories like yours the more I genuinely think all dogs should be muzzled in public but then you would have the same issue, responsible owners will and those with dogs who need a damn muzzle won't.
 
blackcob said:
Thanks CT. Wee lad is entire but entirely unoffensive with it, it'd be such a shame if it's something to do with that. I most certainly did not remain calm and once I'd scooped him up and gaped a bit in shock, laid into the owner in nonsensical shrieking fishwife fashion I'm afraid. :oops: I didn't recognise any of them or know where they're from to report to the dog warden, sadly.
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You can still report to the dog warden with a description.

Re the entire thing, Brig was the least offensive dog ever, my community dog who helped all the scared of dogs local kids get over their fear, soppy as anything. He just didn’t ever upset anyone but was attacked by a few dogs. I just wondered if it was a un-neutered dog thing, other dogs felt he was a threat, maybe?
 
Christmas CinnamonCookie said:
You can still report to the dog warden with a description.

Re the entire thing, Brig was the least offensive dog ever, my community dog who helped all the scared of dogs local kids get over their fear, soppy as anything. He just didn’t ever upset anyone but was attacked by a few dogs. I just wondered if it was a un-neutered dog thing, other dogs felt he was a threat, maybe?
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Because of the severity of the attack on Layla the vets advised me to contact the Police, although I could give a good description of the owner - there were things about him which set him apart - they said that unless I could give them a name/address then they had little hope of finding him.

I don't know why Brigg would be singled out, CT. As I said previously the problem is with the aggressor not the victim. There is no hope as long as some owners of aggressive dogs do not recognise that they have a problem on the other end of the leash or, even more terrifying, off leash.

It is particularly galling for people like yourself and BC who work so hard to keep both your own and other dogs safe.

My dog is just as you describe Brigg, she is a sweetheart and I want to keep it that way.

I am heartily sick of owners who allow their on leash dogs to launch themselves at her in a frenzy while they stand talking, seemingly oblivious. (How do the owners do that? It must be practice).

Or those who continue to walk towards us with their dog on its hind legs barking aggressively and straining to get at her and who act as if it just isn't happening.

Or the multitude of dogs allowed to entertain themselves by aggressing at every passing dog from their safety of their front window.

I think it is more a case of what is wrong with people not what is wrong with their dogs. They don't seem to recognise that their dog has a behavioural problem which, if it can't be addressed with training, needs to be controlled with management.

It doesn't occur to them to contemplate the effect it has on the target dog. It isn't very nice. We have been the victim of 3 such episodes on one short walk and the effects are cumulative.
 
Combination of bad breeding, poor breed/type selection, lazy owners and the current trend towards thinking a dog's head will fall off if you tell it off for thinking about being a twat, I think.

I don't walk very far in the mornings any more, my dog was attacked two or three times by the same massive Rottie cross being walked by a local 'trainer' who was busy on her phone or drinking coffee who offered that he was 'a rescue', who was so traumatised by some imagined trauma that he repeatedly went out of his way to cover a large amount of ground to muller a dog that was on lead and minding his own business and holding a ball. I once met her on a rare occasion that she had the thing on a lead and she started throwing sausages at my dog (who was attached to me by a double ended lead, we were biking at the time, thanks for that) and said it would create a positive association (after attacking my dog, unprovoked, several times). Melter.
One one of the occasions a poor workman in a hi viz jacket very kindly shoed it away from me as he saw me start travelling very fast in the opposite direction when I saw it bombing towards me.
I did report her to the dog warden.

I know you probably don't have free hands in these situation but the last time my dog was attacked by two large labradoodles, who's owners were a good distance away, calling their names weakly, when I had scared them off and they continued circling, I whipped my phone out and started pretending to film them. I also tried carrying a schooling whip for a while, mainly as a visual deterrent to the other owners.

But like I say I just gave up walking in the mornings as I was turning up to work upset, stressed and hoarse from trying to scare away other people's badly behaved dogs.

Even if your dog is big (mine is 28ish kg) it is terrifying to be stuck there with your dog and someone else's even bigger dog, with the owner miles away, not knowing if you are going to end up at the vets or in hospital through trying to intervene. I feel very bad for my dog because I cannot let him defend himself because then he and I would be in the wrong because some numbnut says their dog is 'only playing', with bared tail and ears back and tail flying like a banner.

My dog is entire and there is something about him that seems to set some other dogs off, but that's not his problem, it's the problem of stupid owners with rude dogs and no recall.
I have no problem if the other owner is contrite or apologetic or tries to do something, but usually I get laughed at or blanked.
 
I think it is ignorant and lazy owners that we experience on our street walks and I find I am getting increasingly rude ;)

The word bratty just seems to pop out of my mouth when I am telling the big girl to ignore the tw*ts and walk on.

I don't know why owners seem to think it is acceptable behaviour and I don't see why she should have to put up with it.
 
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The problem dogs round here are my neighbours ridgebacks. They spend their time in kennels that look onto my yard and create whenever they see my dogs. If loose they try to attack my dogs through the fence. I know of at least two dogs they have attacked when they have been loose. They do not know the boundaries of their own premises as there are no gates and they have never been walked on leads, only let loose to "acompany" family members when they have gone up the lane on bikes ect. A lot of the time when they are loose the family do not have a clue where they are.

Because of these dogs I never walk my dogs on the lane, which I used to do all the time before these neighbours moved in.
 
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