Walking on a busy road, and a dog fight

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googol

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I was driving home from the yard tonight along a busy main road and there was a man walking his gorgeous boxer along the footpath. It was getting dark but as I passed I realised he didn't have it on the lead! I can't imagine walking even the best behaved dog along a road where cars travel upwards of 60mph off the lead. Am I mad or is he?!

Also, about a month ago, my dog (giant jack Russell x) , and the yard dog (retriever) had a fight. They are well socialised together, and although they aren't exactly best friends, they have got on OK for the past 3.5 years. About 18 months ago they had a fairly bad fight over a rabbit that had been buried outside the arena, but it was fairly easily broken up and they were fine after. This last fight was not easily broken up. They were properly going for each other and my dog ended up getting 7 staples in her neck (near her jugular!) and yard dog had a nasty gash on her leg. I'm actually not sure what started this fight. I know there was a dead rabbit in my field, but the field was at least 50 yards away from there. I was picking out my horses feet at the time so didn't notice any warning signs or strange body language. I brought my girl back up 2 nights ago, equipped with a bucket of water, and instructions on how to break it up should anything happen. They were fine. They even had a wee game of chaises which doesn't usually happen. It was cringe to watch as they reared at each other first and it brought back terrible memories. The fight has really shaken me up and I'm really nervous having her at the yard now. It's not really possible not to bring her as she loves coming and I'm there a lot, I probably wouldn't have a dog if I couldn't bring it up. She's very sensible round the horses and as I say, usually gets on fine with yard dog.
The next night I brought her up, I realised she was in season, so the yard dog was, for want of a better word, mounting, her occasionally. This always happens when she's in season even though they are both bitches. There's never any issues except its weird. Now I'm scared to bring her back in case when she's not in season, they don't get on?! Am I just being paranoid? I haven't experienced many fights but def never want to try breaking up such a vicious one again even though I feel better educated to.
Any reassurance/advice welcomed!
 
Your post does come across as a bit ridiculous.

1. Don't see the issue. He knows his dog, you don't. I don't suggest you try it with your dog and with the majority of dogs it would be ill advised, but it's really none of your business.

2. Why, in the world, would you put your dog back into this environment? They've had a major fight, there's no way you should be leaving them together unsupervised while you do your horse. Leave her at home, insist the other dog is shut away or shut your dog in the stable or keep her on lead if this isn't possible. By the time you get to them with a bucket of water she could be really injured. Incidentally, once 2 bitches have taken a serious dislike to each other there's rarely anything you can do about it.

3. Bitches mounting each other isn't uncommon, sometimes dominance and sometimes due to inappropriate socialization. But given the fights, you shouldn't leave them unsupervised so this can happen again so it won't be an issue.
 
I wasn't being nosey, I was just wondering if many people would trust their dogs behaviour enough to walk it off lead on a busy road.

Secondly, thank you for your input. I have had mixed reports IRL about them fighting, so was wanting opinions from hopefully more experienced owners. 2 fights in almost 4 years doesn't seem like a deal breaker to me but I will definitely take your comments on board.

Won't get into it about my post being ridiculous, as that's your opinion. I am grateful that you replied politely, so thanks for that. I am glad amymay, who wasn't so polite, has taken my advice onboard to ignore posts that she finds ridiculous or annoying.
 
There is of course a chance that they won't fight again, but since the last one was so serious (what if it had been her jugular?!) there is no way in the world I would risk my dog. Fair enough you gave it another go after the first fight, but I think the second would absolutely be a deal breaker for me. I realize it's useful when you can take them to the yard and just let them off, but best laid plans and all that, sometimes the characters involved don't make it an option.
 
7 staples anywhere would be a 'deal breaker' for me, I'm afraid. So the advice to keep your dog at home is one I would definitely follow.
 
Possum said:
There is of course a chance that they won't fight again, but since the last one was so serious (what if it had been her jugular?!) there is no way in the world I would risk my dog. Fair enough you gave it another go after the first fight, but I think the second would absolutely be a deal breaker for me. I realize it's useful when you can take them to the yard and just let them off, but best laid plans and all that, sometimes the characters involved don't make it an option.
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Yea I know what you mean. It's just so not in either of their "normal" natures to be aggressive, but as you say, I can't put her in the position for it to happen again.
 
No, I wouldn't walk my dog off lead on the road, they're used to being taken out of the car then let loose so road walking would be dangerous with no lead, although they heal beautifully.

Re the yard: no, I wouldn't take my dog back there, not after a serious injury. The yard dog is going to be territorial, they're both bitches, which is normally worse than dog/dog. I can't understand why you would risk your dog.

As for amymay, if you don't like straight talking, don't post on a forum. You're going to get many opinions and hers is the succinct version of what others would say.
 
amymay said:
Really????
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Actually agree with this. Surely common sense prevails and under no circumstances would you put your dog in this situation again.

And why the hell are you concerned about regarding the well behaved boxer, when you are putting your dog in far more danger.
 
I am afraid that if I were YO, the decision wouldn't be yours to make. Your dog woud be banned from the yard - because you obviously can't pay the dog enough attention when you are dealing with your horse.
 
cinnamontoast said:
No, I wouldn't walk my dog off lead on the road, they're used to being taken out of the car then let loose so road walking would be dangerous with no lead, although they heal beautifully.

Re the yard: no, I wouldn't take my dog back there, not after a serious injury. The yard dog is going to be territorial, they're both bitches, which is normally worse than dog/dog. I can't understand why you would risk your dog.

As for amymay, if you don't like straight talking, don't post on a forum. You're going to get many opinions and hers is the succinct version of what others would say.
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I wondered when the amymay brigade would join in. There was absolutely nothing straight talking or succinct about her first reply. It was actually just incredibly unhelpful.

The other replies, which could be seen to be a bit "sharp" are to the point, helpful, and what I would expect from a forum.
 
The clue is in what you called the other dog ,the yard dog ,it's that dogs territory your dog simply can't go to the yard anymore .
If I was the yard owner I would be telling you that .
 
It might have been more helpful to split this thread into two as the two queries are unrelated, unless you were saying 'can anyone think of ways to risk your dogs life, here are two.'

We had a dog fight here, mine and my brother-in-laws two bitches, and one of his died. They were all equal sized dogs. They had never shown any signs of aggression before but they had a dead rabbit and tempers flared. I wouldn't risk your dog's life, and will you pay YO's dogs vet bills if her dog is badly injured?
 
googol said:
I wondered when the amymay brigade would join in. There was absolutely nothing straight talking or succinct about her first reply. It was actually just incredibly unhelpful.

The other replies, which could be seen to be a bit "sharp" are to the point, helpful, and what I would expect from a forum.
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Amymay brigade? Am I missing something? Is there some new clique of which I'm unaware?

If you don't like someone's style, either don't post or use the ignore function. Dear me. :rolleyes3:
 
1. its illegal to walk a dog off lead on a public highway.
2.keep your dog away from the yard if she fights with yard dog.yard dog lives there i presume.get you dog spayed aswell if shes not going to be used for breeding.
 
cinnamontoast said:
Amymay brigade? Am I missing something? Is there some new clique of which I'm unaware?

If you don't like someone's style, either don't post or use the ignore function. Dear me. :rolleyes3:
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Ooh can I join?i didn't know this club existed either,but Amymay speaks my language...
I would not walk a dog unleashed on a trafficked road......I would not take my dog back to a yard where the yard dog had attacked her and caused serious damage,nor would I let my in season female run loose whilst I attended my horse....

Do we get a badge too?
 
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This 100%

My 1yr old hitch attacked my three month old new pup when she went to stick her nose in her feed bowl, pup learnt to stay away. Then she suddenly started attacking her over piles of clothes and bones. Straight down vets and she was in phantom so drugs and they weren't left alone. Bones were supervised then back up. Now the phantom has gone they play, evening caught them playing tug of war with a bone the other day, pup still dosent come in kitchen when food is put down but that is fine.

Older one will 've getting spayed in three weeks so hopefully she will never have a phantom again.

So spay the dog, if you do take it back to yard keep it in stable/car until you can walk it.
 
I'm sure you get the point now but it is really common sense.

Your lucky that your yard owner is still letting you bring your dog to the yard. I wouldn't if I was them! In return for them being so understanding it is your duty to make sure you properly supervise your dog. It doesn't take much. Keep her on her lead or in the car until you are ready to take her out and properly supervise.

I do this with my dog. She comes and helps me muck out and then goes back in to the car while I ride/groom. Then we go for a walk while the horses eat their food.Then back in the car while I turn out and clean up.

I also would never let an in season bitch out of my sight for a second especially on a yard! That is just irresponsible so get her spayed if you are not able to do this.
 
A couple of things come to mind.... firstly, is it truly illegal to walk a dog off the lead on a public highway??

And.... if your dog caused a serious accident at the livery yard is there insurance cover in such an instance????? Our insurers, NFU, have made it very clear that the only dogs to be on our yard, loose, are our own...... consequently none of our liveries can allow their dogs to run amock.
 
googol said:
I wondered when the amymay brigade would join in. There was absolutely nothing straight talking or succinct about her first reply. It was actually just incredibly unhelpful.

The other replies, which could be seen to be a bit "sharp" are to the point, helpful, and what I would expect from a forum.
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Rename it the "common sense" brigade and you're about there.

I have to echo the "really" sentiment - 7 stitches from previous fight between two bitches and you are still taking your dog to the yard? If I were your YO I would be spitting feathers. After this latest episode either leave her at home or take her and shut her somewhere away from the yard dog - that is her territory, and bitches who don't get on, will probably never get on.

Out of interest what has your YO said?
 
abb123 said:
I also would never let an in season bitch out of my sight for a second especially on a yard! That is just irresponsible so get her spayed if you are not able to do this.
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Why, oh why is she not spayed? So many benefits to spaying. I would not take her back to the yard unless you can supervise.

So perhaps, she can wait in your stable until your ready to walk her? This is what I do with my dogs. Although I am surprised the YO is letting you bring her back.

It most likely will happen again if allowed free roam.
 
Let me get this right - the OP is picking fault in a man walking a well behaved boxer off lead (not really advisable but many do it) yet openly admits she allows her unneutered female dog run loose, unsupervised and get into fight, not just once, but twice?

OP can you not see that you are farm more irresponsible than the boxer owner?
 
Windston said:
Why, oh why is she not spayed? So many benefits to spaying. I would not take her back to the yard unless you can supervise.

So perhaps, she can wait in your stable until your ready to walk her? This is what I do with my dogs. Although I am surprised the YO is letting you bring her back.

It most likely will happen again if allowed free roam.
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I was a nervous wreck when my puppy had her first season. I got her spayed pretty much for that reason alone! I had no plans on breeding from her and I couldn't cope with the stress when she was in season! The other benefits are just extra pros.
 
Dog fight aside I am really surprised that anyone would let a full, in season bitch wander loose and not even keep an eye on her!
 
Well, I think you may need to reconsider your routine at the yard. As everyone has said, two bitches fighting is rarely going to end well, and you should do everything in your power to stop it happening again, even if this means leaving your dog at home or in the car/stable. There are lots of dogs at my yard, but one of the YO's dogs, a German Shepherd bitch, has taken against my little JR X so she's never, ever loose on the yard. She comes with me, I walk her and then she goes in the car. It's a shame, I'd like to have her running around with the others but I'm not prepared to take the risk. Also, get her spayed!
 
Www
Bojingles said:
Well, I think you may need to reconsider your routine at the yard. As everyone has said, two bitches fighting is rarely going to end well, and you should do everything in your power to stop it happening again, even if this means leaving your dog at home or in the car/stable. There are lots of dogs at my yard, but one of the YO's dogs, a German Shepherd bitch, has taken against my little JR X so she's never, ever loose on the yard. She comes with me, I walk her and then she goes in the car. It's a shame, I'd like to have her running around with the others but I'm not prepared to take the risk. Also, get her spayed!
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I agree with Bojingles. Mine go back in the car if I can't keep an eye on them. I would love to let them wander around but 2 of them have already shown a keen desire to head into the YO's house..

Just one thing to point out here guys. It might seem very obvious to you about keeping 2 fighting bitches apart but clearly OP didn't know hence asking..and being hard on her isn't really helpful. It would make me think twice about asking for help in here.
 
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