Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone. Tonight Kaiser and I went for our usual evening run. On our way home a large brindle dog, maybe 80 lbs to Kaiser's 40 lbs came around the corner of a house and headed toward us. He appeared friendly right up until he sniffed Kaiser's side but then he bolted for him. He was too big to be a pit bull but he definitely had that sort of head. I'm thinking mastiff/boxer mix. The two were fighting on the end of Kaiser's leash and I tried to pull Kaiser and move us both away from this dog's property. I yelled "Help!" for lack of something better to say and a woman came out to get her dog. Thankfully she had good voice command over the dog and he came off it immediately. As she dragged the dog back into the house she apologized and said he got out when she got home and opened the door.

Anyway, we were frightened but nobody was hurt. I know how it feels when your dog accidentally attacks someone so I'm going to leave a note in her mailbox to make sure she knows that my dog wasn't hurt and that there are no hard feeling held toward her.

What I want to know is what I can do in the future if something like this happens again. I was completely unprepared for such a thing to happen and there were images of blood and my dead dog running through my head. Is there anything I can do without endangering myself? Obviously I'm not about to reach my hands or any other limbs in there. I just keep thinking that if this ever does happen again and the dog is more aggressive or more skilled, or the owner isn't around, I want to be able to save my dog..

Any ideas?

I know exactly what you mean and I've had a few successes with carrying around an umbrella while out on walks when only walking one dog. I'd see a dog appraoching and for me I NEVER trust another dog coming at us. The intruding dogs are never allowed to sniff my dogs while they are on leash with me. So, when a dog charged us I would put my dog behind me and pop open the umbrella towards the oncoming dog. That noise and quick action startled every dog I encountered and allowed me time to get out of there with my dog.

Now that I'm walking two dogs and don't have a spare hand to do the umbrella thing so, I've found my voice and body are my best "weapon" against oncoming dogs. If a dog charges us I tell them to "go away" and yell "No!" as they appraoch. I'm quite loud and obnoxious about it. If an owner happens to appear due to this commotion and tell me their dog is friendly, I tell them I don't care and that mine isn't (which is partially true especially when on leash). That tends to rectify the situation fairly quickly and they get their dog away. If an owner doesn't appear and a dog attempts to get to sniffing distance I do start kicking at the offending dog. I haven't had to make any contact with them. The act of stomping my feet is enough to deter them. Still, an off leash dog making contact with my own dogs is NOT an option for me so I will kick them if I have to. I'm not participating in a dog fight. I'm trying to prevent one. My dogs are on leash so the law is on my side and I'm not in their yard- fortunate for my dogs, but unfortunate for a dog that doesn't heed my warnings. Thankfully I've never had to physically kick a dog yet. I hope I never have to.

Good luck on your walks. We have an area in my neighborhood that we call "walking the gauntlet" because there are so many off leash labs on the block we are on constant look out for the next one that will appear.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

I've added an article on Roaming Dogs that might have a helpful tip or two. The one on Loose Dogs that has been up awhile has some coping techniques for walks. At the link below my signature.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

That umbrella idea is great. I live in the city- so there aren't many lose dogs running around. However, this is a fear I have very often... a scary dog running up and attacking my dog. He is an American Pit Bull Terrier- and although he is a mushy, easy going boy my family tells me if he HAD to protect himself and me "the fight in him would come out". I just can't picture him standing up for himself! LOL!

So glad it worked out okay, that is very scary!

>>Any ideas?

I've noticed that the mail carriers around here have a little spray canister clipped on their shorts (or pants). At least, those that walk the mail about to deliver it have these. It is called Direct Stop, it contains citronella oil (it is not a pepper spray!).

.

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tabitha
Kayo, Kahla, and Dante'

That's an even better idea!!!