It's all my fault for keeping my dog on a lead, is it?

[CorvusCorax]

Well that took an unexpected turn
On lead/off lead debates always seem to go this way for whatever reason...no one knows what they will do until they are in the situation. It would be nice to think we could all turn into ninja dog-protecting warriors, some people do just literally freeze. Sometimes, kicking and screaming can add aggression and tension to an already heated situation and make the matter worse with certain types of dog. I've had to adjust my own dog walking times and areas so as not to put my own at risk, it's not worth it.
I am sorry to see Lev go and hope she will return.

 

[9tails]

Judging by a lot of posts here and posts on Facebook, you didn't have an unusual walk at all. There are idiot dog owners everywhere.

 

[skinnydipper]

I too, am sorry to see Lev go. I know she must have been upset because a greyhound had been injured but I feel sure that she would also do whatever she needed to do to defend her dogs.

Fortunately I haven't had to hit or kick any dog. But I would absolutely do so if necessary to protect my dog.

The Staffies were locked on to Joe's neck. As the owner was some distance away my husband and I grabbed them by the scruff and hauled them off - they had no collars. In retrospect this was not a great idea but thankfully Joe's thick fur afforded him some protection and he suffered only puncture wounds. None of my other dogs would have come out of this so well, either from the attack or trying to pull the dogs off.

I normally walk the dogs alone so was very lucky that my husband was with me at the time of both incidents.

The attack on Layla could not have been pre-empted (neither attack could because the dogs just ran up and made instant contact, there was no situation to diffuse that could have prevented the attacks). Just as you described, CC, when the Husky was savaging Layla my husband froze and did not react at all. I ran at it with my arms wide, shouting and would have hit it with the ball launcher, kicked it or whatever but I must have appeared a fearsome beast as it stopped and ran back to its owner. I knew then what I was capable of should it be necessary.

Following Layla's attack I sent for 2 Petsafe SprayShield sprays from the USA (I wanted to buy bear spray or pepper spray but it would have been confiscated by Customs). It is a citronella spray which does not injure even if it gets in the eyes. It does carry a warning that it may not stop all animals who are highly motivated to attack but I have found it effective. The dog who was PTS was off lead one day and having just attacked a lab turned its attention to my crew. I ran forward and sprayed it as she came for us and it gave the owner sufficient time to come and get hold of her. I can't think why but I apologised to the owner for spraying her dog - duh!

The attacks on my dogs were random, I had never seen the Staffies before and had only ever seen the Husky once or twice in the distance. When a dog is off lead, as they all were, then I assume that it is safe to be off lead. Both the owners seemed fully aware of their dogs' predilection for attacking other dogs which made me even more angry and I shoved the Staffies' owner in the chest when he got clever with me. All the dogs left their owner and travelled a distance to attack my dogs, the Husky owner never even called his dog at all and just tried to get away, the Staffies' owner started running and calling some distance behind them.

 

[Rowreach]

I too, am sorry to see Lev go. I know she must have been upset because a greyhound had been injured but I feel sure that she would also do whatever she needed to do to defend her dogs.

I'm sure she didn't leave because of one little spat on this thread, she's been involved in far worse on here over the years.

It's a forum, it's a topical debate, it's obviously something that a lot of people have had experience of.

Everyone should be able to express an opinion without anyone else being gratuitously rude, or having a flounce

Goodwill to all people, people!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

A colleague has a Pom. She said the breeder told her about a different litter, one of the dogs was eaten in the park in 2 bites. Horrifying, I couldn't have a small dog, it would panic me too much.

I've seen even Mr calm and laid back, Brig, defend himsel-notably whilst on the lead! Mine are medium sized, I suppose and capable of defending themselves, not that Zak ever has the opportunity.

 

[Sandstone1]

Its sad that this thread has turned out like this.
I understand its upsetting to hear of a dog being injured. However I honestly dont think any of us would stand by and watch a dog being attacked and do nothing.
Any breed of dog could attack another its not just greyhounds. I have looked up about ex racers wearing muzzles off lead and although its not the law that they do most Greyhound rescues do advise it

 

[cbmcts]

Don't get me wrong I don't advocate pilling into a dog fight intending to batter every dog that looks sideways at mine. I'm probably more relaxed than most about odd scuffles and random dogs running up, after all on more than one occasion mine were the ASBO dogs. But when it came to the crunch I was prepared to kill that Akita if that was the only thing that would save my poor dog dying slowly and painfully. It amazes me that I can feel pity for such a dog but really, she never had a chance with the breed she was and with the owner she had. She could have done serious damage to me but in honesty she was very restrained and showed admirable bite inhibition in hindsight. I never had an doubt who was ultimately to blame but she was the definition of a dangerous dog. Not particularly to people but certainly to other dogs, cats and poultry. All of which she killed at some point.

Like most people who spend time around horses I suspect that we, as a group instinctively are more aware of animal body language and are probably more confident to intervene in a fight because we are used to controlling and staying safe around large animals. When I'm out with my current large dog there seems to be two distinct groups - those that are terrified that he's going to eat their dog, children, them - he won't, his party trick with annoying dogs is to body slam the big ones and splat small ones with a (large) paw - or those who think it's funny to let theirs harass him, laughing all the while about how they've got small man syndrome. But if those dogs are allowed, from pups to harass other dogs it's no surprise that we are seeing more unsocialised dogs that progress to aggression either from never learning dog manners or conversely, those who are harassed become aggressive in self defence. There are an awful lot of pet lovers out there who have no understanding of animal behaviour or management.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

It wasn’t ex racers that attacked my dogs. It was racers in active training and running races still.

It is a shame that it went this way but sometimes you need to step away and think about things and not let your fingers run away with your brain on a forum

 

[bonny]

It wasn’t ex racers that attacked my dogs. It was racers in active training and running races still.

It is a shame that it went this way but sometimes you need to step away and think about things and not let your fingers run away with your brain on a forum

I suppose we all have different experiences and opinions whether it’s dogs or horses on here, isolated experiences are just that but I guess it can colour the way you view the world and other people’s way of dealing with things. I do stand by my opinion though that the vast majority of dogs and owners out for a walk are friendly. The real idiot dog owners are probably not out walking their status dogs in your local woods .

 

[cbmcts]

I suppose we all have different experiences and opinions whether it’s dogs or horses on here, isolated experiences are just that but I guess it can colour the way you view the world and other people’s way of dealing with things. I do stand by my opinion though that the vast majority of dogs and owners out for a walk are friendly. The real idiot dog owners are probably not out walking their status dogs in your local woods .

Maybe most are friendly and I've never had a problem with the status type dogs - there are a few around here but the dogs, like the owners tend to be all mouth, no trousers and both respond well to a firm 'hop it'. But what I have noticed in the last 5 years or so is spoilt brat type dogs with entitled/oblivious owners. They are the ones that cause most of the problems IME and when their ill mannered dogs cause a fight they are completely ineffectual both in preventing it and breaking it up. Even when they know their dogs are prepared to put teeth on skin, human or canine they still aren't prepared to either control their dog and/or train it. That has a knock on effect in the area as other dog walkers get more nervous, making their dogs more nervous and as a result, walking in the local park becomes gladiatorial rather than relaxing.

You maybe live in dog low density area where it is relatively easy to avoid other dogs if you want to but in many suburban/urban areas there are very limited areas where you can let your dog off lead or even walk them on lead and it isn't always easy to avoid others. Surely that's not too hard to understand?

Like I said I've only had my dogs seriously attacked once in 40+ years of dog ownership - that was once too often and I did discover that I will defend my animals if need be. But there is now a level of unsocialised dogs that concerns me due to the apparent fact that dog attacks are increasing in both number and severity.

 

[bonny]

Maybe most are friendly and I've never had a problem with the status type dogs - there are a few around here but the dogs, like the owners tend to be all mouth, no trousers and both respond well to a firm 'hop it'. But what I have noticed in the last 5 years or so is spoilt brat type dogs with entitled/oblivious owners. They are the ones that cause most of the problems IME and when their ill mannered dogs cause a fight they are completely ineffectual both in preventing it and breaking it up. Even when they know their dogs are prepared to put teeth on skin, human or canine they still aren't prepared to either control their dog and/or train it. That has a knock on effect in the area as other dog walkers get more nervous, making their dogs more nervous and as a result, walking in the local park becomes gladiatorial rather than relaxing.

You maybe live in dog low density area where it is relatively easy to avoid other dogs if you want to but in many suburban/urban areas there are very limited areas where you can let your dog off lead or even walk them on lead and it isn't always easy to avoid others. Surely that's not too hard to understand?

Like I said I've only had my dogs seriously attacked once in 40+ years of dog ownership - that was once too often and I did discover that I will defend my animals if need be. But there is now a level of unsocialised dogs that concerns me due to the apparent fact that dog attacks are increasing in both number and severity.

I live in a city, there are a lot of dogs that I meet daily !

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I suppose we all have different experiences and opinions whether it’s dogs or horses on here, isolated experiences are just that but I guess it can colour the way you view the world and other people’s way of dealing with things. I do stand by my opinion though that the vast majority of dogs and owners out for a walk are friendly. The real idiot dog owners are probably not out walking their status dogs in your local woods .

You yourself are like a dog with a bone. I don’t have to defend my actions in protecting my dog to anyone, nor do I have to justify them. I have ignored your ramblings thus far so now you have had your acknowledgment why not toddle on??

In 20yrs of dog ownership one bad incident does not colour my judgement, as I said before I protect my own as have many others on this discussion, there is no right or wrong here.

 

[bonny]

You yourself are like a dog with a bone. I don’t have to defend my actions in protecting my dog to anyone, nor do I have to justify them. I have ignored your ramblings thus far so now you have had your acknowledgment why not toddle on??

In 20yrs of dog ownership one bad incident does not colour my judgement, as I said before I protect my own as have many others on this discussion, there is no right or wrong here.

I never mentioned you as I think you know, I was talking generally as I am perfectly free to do, now I’ve acknowledged you feel free to follow your own advice

 

[JFTDWS]

You did quote her post though, didn't you bonny? Kinda implies you're talking to her!

 

[bonny]

Saying I’m talking generally, implies I am doing just that !

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I never mentioned you as I think you know, I was talking generally as I am perfectly free to do, now I’ve acknowledged you feel free to follow your own advice

How can you quote my post but not say you didn’t mention me or that you are talking generally? I think you need to check your grip on reality or at least think before you post you are not representing yourself well at the moment

 

[Annette4]

I kicked one of my own dogs to get her off another (not that it helped, OH had to physically remove her jaw.....we found out the very serious, sudden change in behaviour from our laid back girl to wanting to kill her best friend was brain tumour related after she was PTS) and would most certainly defend my dogs against strange dogs. Personally I’m an advocate for all dogs being muzzled in public but it will never happen and it’s only responsible owners who would do it anyway.

 

[bonny]

How can you quote my post but not say you didn’t mention me or that you are talking generally? I think you need to check your grip on reality or at least think before you post you are not representing yourself well at the moment

You were talking generally about people on a forum and I answered generally about people on a forum. I didn’t mention your incident with your dog.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

You were talking generally about people on a forum and I answered generally about people on a forum. I didn’t mention your incident with your dog.

Wow honestly the passive aggressive is strong in this one. Although the grip on reality might be slipping.

 

[ester]

It's fairly usual BB.

 

[bonny]

Wow honestly the passive aggressive is strong in this one. Although the grip on reality might be slipping.

Ok then, show me where I mentioned you or your dog ? Without the childish comments would be good !

 

[ester]

If you aren't replying specifically to a person don't press the reply button to quote their post, it really is that simple.

 

[skinnydipper]

Ok then, show me where I mentioned you or your dog ? Without the childish comments would be good !

Good Lord, don't you know when to quit.

 

[JFTDWS]

Saying I’m talking generally, implies I am doing just that !

Generally speaking, posters who are excessively antagonistic on the internet are trolls.

How would you interpret that?

 

[bonny]

Good Lord, don't you know when to quit.

Apparently not !

 

[bonny]

Generally speaking, posters who are excessively antagonistic on the internet are trolls.

How would you interpret that?

As ridiculous, I’m hardly being excessively antagonistic, do you think anyone with a different point of view to yours is ?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Ok then, show me where I mentioned you or your dog ? Without the childish comments would be good !

The only person being childish and very pedantic is yourself, also going by what others are saying this seems to be your little joy in life.

Now where’s the troll spray

 

[JFTDWS]

As ridiculous, I’m hardly being excessively antagonistic, do you think anyone with a different point of view to yours is ?

Why are you taking it personally? I did say "generally speaking" didn't I?

#TakesBow

 

[bonny]

Why are you taking it personally? I did say "generally speaking" didn't I?

#TakesBow

No, you clearly were directing your comments are me but as you seem to take pleasure in accusing me of being a troll then your bow is noted. Well done.

 

[ester]

Ha, so now it's clear..... you couldn't make it up.