If a dog does attack you or your dog - what would you do?

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SplashofSoy

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Thread inspired by Radio 2 phone in at lunch time (as a result of awful incident in london at weekend) where they had the editor of K9 magazine advising what to do if you are attacked by a dog. The advise in summary was to stay still, submissive sideways stance and try to defuse situation. If dog bites and lets go repeatedly curl up into a ball and protect vital organs and extremeties. If dog bites and doesnt let go try and force mouth open by grabbing lip and then restrain but keeping mouth shut. Not to run, hit, kick or shout as this will just make things worse.

No comment from me about the quaility or correctness of this advice as i havent a clue really just wanted to know.. Its only ever happened once (fingers crossed never again) to me when a lab appeared from no where got hold Henry who was about 6 months old and on lead, and attacked him. Henry yelped and went very still and lab started to shake him about. I was with my Dad who without thinking just kicked the dog in the side of the head. It let go and looked dazed and we made a hasty retreat behind a gate. Owner was nowhere to be seen although dog was wearing a collar. Henry was fine and lab wandered off. Dad was wearing steel toe caps so goodness knows what damage was done to the lab but it certainly saved Henry. Again not saying this is the right thing to do, in fact i didnt do anything as just froze and dad said he just acted on instinct.

Have you or your dog ever been attacked by another dog and how did you deal with it? Is there a golden fast rule you abide by for handling such a situation?
 
It's all very well them advising stay still etc and not attack the dog BUT when you see your beloved dog being attacked and crying in sheer terror and pain as I have done on numerous occasions your adrenaline as well as your natural protectiveness kicks in and in you go.
I too, like your Dad, wear steel toe caps and have kicked dogs several times, whether that is the correct thing or not to do I really don't give a **** anymore, if the dog is out of control and idiot owners can't control and it wants to start a fight, I will finish it by any means good or bad that I can. I simply have not got the patience now to deal with people who have such vicious out of control dogs and really don't seem to care if their dog tears yours apart, it has happened so many times over the years with all my dogs who were minding their own business and have been attacked.
I have been attacked by 3 mastiffs whilst on a call out to a stables, surrounded by 3 snarling angry dogs in the dark and got bitten in the calf by one of them is no joke, I used severe force to get rid of them, no warning by the owners or signs up to say they were dangerous. I black listed the stables and refused to set foot on there ever again.
 
Horrible, horrible situation. I was walking my dog when a bull mastiff type sounded pounded up and grabbed him around his neck. My dog tried to defend itself so I had a ball of flying fur but my boy was screaming and def coming off worse. I tried to stay calm, tied my dog's lead to a nearby fence post and then grabbed the other dog by his tails and pulled for my life. As soon as his teeth released I pulled him away but was then terrified that he'd dive back in for Round II, so I held on. I always carry a spare lead in my pocked so, still holding the mastiff's tail, I grabbed my spare lead, a nylon all in one type with a slip end, and got it around his neck. I then walked him further down the pathway, tied him securely to the fence and went back to check the damage to my own dog. He needed stitches in wounds to his muzzle and neck so I carried him to my car and left for the vet. When I arrived at the vet they dealt with my dog and with me - I hadn't even noticed the deep puncture marks the attacking dog had given me along my arms. By this time I was shaking uncontrollably and obviously in shock. Vet called the police and notified them of the mastiff tied to the fence. He was unharmed but unidentified so taken by dog warden.

This was the most frightening experience of my life, beats anything that ever happened with horses!!
 
I've been around large dogs and service dogs (the type that take down crims) all my life and from an early age it was drummed into me from my mother, from trainers, from serving police dog handlers, NEVER run, never scream, never shout, never flap - that just makes you 'prey'. Stand still and remain calm and do not make eye contact.
I would also not hit, kick, punch, that can make an aggressive dog even more aggressive.
My tactic would be to choke the attacking dog off with whatever I had to hand, belt, lead, rope, whatever. A dog cannot hang on if it has no air supply.
 
I very much doubt any one dog would attack my Dobes, they are always together so the dog would have to take on 2, the only vunerable one is Pip but again I cant see the Dobes standing by whilst she is being attacked and the same goes for me.
If I was on my own I would try to get my back against a tree,hedge or wall and would have no compunction about kicking it as hard as can be. If it was biting me I would try and twist the collar and choke the dog or testicles. Before anyone asks I try to prempt situations or work out in advance what I would do in situations like this and I do have quick reactions.
 
A dog I know bit another and would not let go- the only thing that worked was to pick it up by its back legs and pull them apart, this does however require more than one person.

My friend carries a mini water fire extinguisher
 
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I had 2 bitches that fought and the only way to separate them was to put a lead round the neck of the aggressor and twist to cut off air supply. Recently when walking my dogs I carry a pet corrector spray in my pocket. I got the idea from a friend who had a dog who was reactive to other dogs, he was always on lead but of course there were always the dogs who "just wanted to be friends" and came up to him. She always managed to control him but the spray was just in case he kicked off.
 
Recently, I had this experience. I was driving through a village and nearly ran a loose dog over that popped out of nowhere. I got out of the car with a slip lead to try and catch it and it sauntered off, so I followed it as it was in the middle of the road. A lady walking her tiny JRT came the other way, and I thought that would be my chance to catch the loose dog - but this dog went for the JRT big style! The lady was screaming, kicking this dog (a terrier of some kind) as hard as she could - she even picked her JRT up by the lead and swung it around (:eek:) - she was in a right panic, but this dog was not letting go. In the end I managed to get her to hold still so I could grab the attacking dog by the scruff - a fine way to get bitten, but it was all I could think to do at that moment in time, and fortunately it did let go and didn't go for me, and I was then able to explain to the lady that it wasn't my dog as she was also yelling at me! Horrible situation, the little JRT was very shaken as was her owner. Thank goodness the attacking dog was small enough to manhandle and seemed fine with people - once I got a lead on it, it behaved well. I ended up leaving it with some local people as the number on its collar produced no answer but they said they knew where it lived - I was miles from home and there was NO WAY it was going in my car with Henry.

Honestly, short of pulling the other dog off I don't know what I'd do - this lady was booting this dog but it had no effect whatsoever.
 
the dog trainer i took Millie to as a puppy advised that if ever your dog got attacked and it was wearing a collar, grab it and twist the collar and cut off the airways so it would have to let go and open its mouth to breath - however i wasnt sure I'd want to put my hand in like that and like others have said would probably stick a boot in instead...
 
No idea what I would do if a dog attacked me but my dog who's now 18 months was often attacked by strange dog(s) when he was younger when we were out and about. My dog was too submissive and would 'bow' down or roll over and he would then be pinned to the floor/bitten and each time the owner would appear and say ' he's never done that before'! I taught him 'hup' to get him to stay on his feet which helped but best way was to make my own judgements about the body language of the other dog and recall mine and put him on a lead. He's now fully grown and it's not so much of a problem.

I have seen my cousin choke (using a chain lead) a staffy who had bitten into the neck of her boxer and wouldn't let go. Horrific experience and the boxer was lucky to be alive.
 
We had it on in work and were talking about it

Immediate/automatic reaction is to go for the dog

As cc says this isn't what you should do but its very difficult not to

I know of 2 small dogs that have been attacked one cairn who was ripped open from her neck to under her stomach, survived just

The other a chihuaha had its eye ripped out

Both dogs were bull/staff types, which gives them a bad rep, I always say its the owner not the dog's fault in how it has been brought up. I've met some lovely dogs of this type and they have been fine.
 
I think so many people are just lazy, ignorant or embarressed... I have a friendly little JRT he doesn't bark or yap just tail wags quick sniff and carries on. He's very submissive if dogs get a bit much, he the ill just lay on my belly until you go away.. A few dog's I have met out walking have gone for him badly. One got him by he's ear and drew blood. The dog that done this was on a lead and I've never seen it off the lead. There was no warning that he's dog was dangerous (no muzzle, halter, check chain. no vocal warning) I did kick hes dog in the head and he still didn't seem fazed hes dog sat and glared at me afterwards whilst I picked mine up. The owner thencasually said I don't know why he keeps doing that. I was shocked!! I obviously then told him he's fortune and to invest in a muzzle or have the dog destroyed before someone was hurt. Being in that situation the last thing I would want to do is stand still and another dog drags and shakes mine around by its ears! People need to take more responsibility for there dogs. And need to realise it is down to there actions they are like this or lack of!
 
BeckyCandy said:
I think so many people are just lazy, ignorant or embarressed... I have a friendly little JRT he doesn't bark or yap just tail wags quick sniff and carries on. He's very submissive if dogs get a bit much, he the ill just lay on my belly until you go away.. A few dog's I have met out walking have gone for him badly. One got him by he's ear and drew blood. The dog that done this was on a lead and I've never seen it off the lead. There was no warning that he's dog was dangerous (no muzzle, halter, check chain. no vocal warning) I did kick hes dog in the head and he still didn't seem fazed hes dog sat and glared at me afterwards whilst I picked mine up. The owner thencasually said I don't know why he keeps doing that. I was shocked!! I obviously then told him he's fortune and to invest in a muzzle or have the dog destroyed before someone was hurt. Being in that situation the last thing I would want to do is stand still and another dog drags and shakes mine around by its ears! People need to take more responsibility for there dogs. And need to realise it is down to there actions they are like this or lack of!
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What was your dog doing going up to one that was on lead? Ever thought it was on a lead for a reason, and as such may not appreciate being approached by your "friendly little JRT"?
 
A friend of mine told me a horrid story of how he was cooking dinner looking out of kitchen window, and this staffy ran into his garden (being walked off lead in a village by 2 teenage girls) and grabbed his 18yr old pet cat, and was ripping it apart. The girls did nothing, he ran out (barefoot or he would have kicked it) and it took 2 minutes of twisting it's collar til it choked, and punching it in the head, for it to let go of the cat, who they had to rush to the vet to have pts as its guts were hanging out and it was dying a terrible death. I'm not saying what he did was "right" (and actually, I think he was trying his best to kill the horrible little mutt) but it made me think of what I'd do in that situation... The sad thing in the above case was that neither the girls nor the owner could see anything wrong with what their dog had done and were angry about my friend hitting it....
If possible, I guess I'd try and throw water over the dog, my OH who does work with greyhounds, says grabbing the testicles is the best way:eek::eek: and also a good way to get bitten. I think there should be more protection for dog owners whose dogs are attacks, but police aren't interested in animal on animal attacks :(
 
When R was set upon by a collie a while back I booted it in the ribs - had some hefty walking boots on - it was more pinning him down and grizzling at his neck than actually hanging on so me kicking it actually flung it into the air and was enough to shock it into staying back. This wasn't the first incident with this dog and the next time it comes at us off the lead I will be booting it as soon as it comes into range. :mad:

I am doing my best with R's socialisation but every incident like this sets us back weeks and it happens with ridiculous frequency. Even D who is now absolutely non reactive (and I never thought I'd be saying that! :)) got tackled by a passing lab a few days ago, both dogs on the lead in a busy high street, totally unexpected. No apology from the owner. You can bet who would have been blamed if there were any injuries, never the friendly black lab... :rolleyes:

That was different to a dog that has bitten and is grimly hanging on, however, and I think that choking them is the only way to go then. I know when I was trying to get D to let go of that poor bloody cat I couldn't prise her jaws open and even lifting her clean off the ground by the scruff didn't do it, I had to grab her throat and squeeze her actual trachea for several seconds before she gasped and let go. I can imagine a bully type being even more tenacious. :(
 
I deal with alot of aggressive/unpredicatable dogs so depending on the situation have to best assess how to deal with it. Dog attacking humans should of course be met with calm, no eye contact and slow movement away from the dog, however faced with an attack you cannot prepare for then no matter what you are told you will react from instinct in only you know how.
I carry slip leads and have used them to choke dogs when they have attacked another (not mine) I have far to many dogs for a dog to attack mine, funnily enough dogs avoid mine, maybe they see to big of a pack to attack, but I have seen other peoples dogs attacked. I generally try and keep the dog doing the damage as still as possible to minimise the damage to the dog being ragged around whilst I choke the other off and hold it for dear life when it lets go (generally they jump right back on)
My mam had 2 sheps that fought (many years ago) she would also choke one off (they worn choke chains at all times)
But to be fair you cannot prepare most reactions.
 
Becky Candy, as lexie says if a dog is on lead it really is not sensible to let your dog run up to it, no matter how friendly. As I mentioned in the post above my friend has a dog who is always on lead because he can react to other dogs, you would not believe how many dogs run up to him and even when she asks people to call their dogs back they tend to reply "oh he's friendly". This is why she carries a corrector spray.
 
Taught by my grandad you choke the dog or if water is handy, water has never failed (for me) to split fighting dogs, especially good if a hose pipe you can aim it in their mouth/eyes/up the khazee.
 
lexiedhb said:
What was your dog doing going up to one that was on lead? Ever thought it was on a lead for a reason, and as such may not appreciate being approached by your "friendly little JRT"?
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Indeed! Another opportunity to quote this genius image:

dinos-by-lili.jpg
 
Yeah, I have heard the old pull the legs apart thing, Miss L Toe, never actually heard of anyone having the time or wit to actually do it - have you ever have a dog come at you? And have you tried this tactic?

The reason I would never punch or kick an attacking dog is because I have seen a lot of dogs with my own eyes being 'agitated' in a very controlled environment with trained decoys (who know how to develop the prey or defence instinct of the dog, depending on the individual dog) - it just makes the dog hang on harder to whatever it wants to be hanging on to.

Also, you pull dogs apart, you risk tearing to the attacked dog.
 
CaveCanem said:
Yeah, I have heard the old pull the legs apart thing, Miss L Toe, never actually heard of anyone having the time or wit to actually do it - have you ever have a dog come at you? And have you tried this tactic?

The reason I would never punch or kick an attacking dog is because I have seen a lot of dogs with my own eyes being 'agitated' in a very controlled environment with trained decoys (who know how to develop the prey or defence instinct of the dog, depending on the individual dog) - it just makes the dog hang on harder to whatever it wants to be hanging on to.

Also, you pull dogs apart, you risk tearing to the attacked dog.
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I saw this work when it was dog on dog and there were two people there to get hold of either dog by its back legs. It did first involve much tying of other dogs to trees, but they let go pretty instantly. Back legs this was though, couldnt have gotten to the front legs.

Police woman told me a nasty story about an old chap who was bitten by a police dog because he did not stand still when the dog entered his garden- instead he ran screaming waving his arms about- fear is irrational though, so god knows what I would do if a dog was really going for me.
 
It worries me so much when walking my dogs, Dotti who is 2, Jack russell/staffi has been picked on a few time, she never fights back just runs back inbetween my legs. Why cant people control there dogs, I never let mine go up to a dog on a lead (they are on leads for a reason) and their recall is very good.

As for riding that worries me a staffi (that came from the RSPCA) attacked one of our horses grazing. Photo on profile, not nice.

The law needs to change NOW
 
Sue C said:
It worries me so much when walking my dogs, Dotti who is 2, Jack russell/staffi has been picked on a few time, she never fights back just runs back inbetween my legs. Why cant people control there dogs, I never let mine go up to a dog on a lead (they are on leads for a reason) and their recall is very good.

As for riding that worries me a staffi (that came from the RSPCA) attacked one of our horses grazing. Photo on profile, not nice.

The law needs to change NOW
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Holy poop! Did the Staff get hold of the tongue or did the horse bite it off in the panic?
 
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