Dog Attack- What to do?

[DiegosMom]

Hello All-

Tonight on my walk with Diego and Meeka, we were walking on the same side street we walk everyday. I see a dog running towards us and a person about 10-15 houses behind it. The dog was a little black thing (scottish terrier i think). The lady was casually walking after it, so i yelled out, is it friendly? First because i would pick up the leash that was dragging behind it to return it to the owner, second because its running at my dogs and i have nowhere to go. the lady yells back i dont know, and the dog is about to reach us. It runs up to my two growling and trying to bite. I'm trying to get mine behind me and sticking my foot out at the other dog trying to get it to stop. It got ahold of Meeka's leg and wouldn't let go, Meeka was trying to get away with her leg up in the air in the dogs mouth. I start yelling hoping to scare the other dog, and it let go. While this is happening the lady is still casually walking to get the dog, still about 10 houses from me. Luckily a guy walked up behind me and grabbed the dogs leash. I checked meeka to make sure it didn't break skin, and then turned around and walked back toward my house. the lady never tried to say anything, just got the dog and went back home. i checked her again when i got home, she was fine, just scared and had some teeth marks on her leg.

So my question, what do you do when a loose dog attacks your dogs on a walk or similiar situation?? It happened so fast I just wanted to get my dogs away.. i didnt care if it bit me but i didn't want my dogs hurt.. i would like to be better prepared if it ever happened again.

[Tayda_Lenny]

This has happened to me before, I picked my dogs up off the ground….

[MacPack]

How frightening. Glad everyone is OK. There is always pepper spray, but you risk spraying your own dogs (and yourself). A friend keeps a product called Direct Stop, it is a citronella spray that does not really hurt them but the smell repels a dog with odor alone. Another person I know carries a small spray bottle with ammonia water in it, she has never had to use it so I can't vouch for that one!

Anne

[rnasto]

I pick Indy up off the ground, hug him to me, turn my back and keep him safe I am after all his alpha and protector. If the owner is cool about it then ok (everyone has a bad day). But if not, call animal control and start a file. They will not immediately come and take the dog for one incident, but if it becomes a problem they can step in.

[nomrbddgs]

We've had this discussion before, I think. When I was in the city, I carried a small boat horn. It's really loud and usually scares everything off. Just be careful not to point it at a dog as it is very loud. Just up in the air will do.

[Sharla]

@MacPack:

How frightening. Glad everyone is OK. There is always pepper spray, but you risk spraying your own dogs (and yourself). A friend keeps a product called Direct Stop, it is a citronella spray that does not really hurt them but the smell repels a dog with odor alone. Another person I know carries a small spray bottle with ammonia water in it, she has never had to use it so I can't vouch for that one!

Anne

I agree with MacPack. Most pet supply stores wil carry the direct stop. It is small and won't harm the dog. YOu could also take a walking stick with you to assist if you had an extreme problem.

I am glad nobody was hurt. I would also contact animal control to start a file on the dog, more then likely it wasn't the first time.

[Jylly18]

I always pick up Tosca too. This usually works the best, however, I am short, and if its a big dog it is still scary because if the dog jumps up it could still get Tosca or myself. Half the time the owners of the dog look at me like I am crazy for picking up Tosca as their dog runs at us barking, like I am a baby or something…which is really annoying. I just tell them Tosca is not good with other dogs (kinda true actually) and usually they apologize. However, some people are so dumb and just casually take their time getting their dog back...meanwhile I am sitting there spinning around with Tosca in my arms, trying to keep her away from whatever dog is trying to get us...I hate when that happens!

[wizard]

I've had this happen many times as well, although usually the owner is apologetic – in two cases, however, the offending dog was a lab (that the owners let loose when they are outside) and they kept saying "it's okay he's friendly" - yeah right, the dog charged mine, growling and being menacing, and actually nearly bit mine (except I grabbed him up at the last minute). I'm freaking out because this big lab is jumping up at me trying to get to my b and I'm only 5'2 and the owner's are saying "he won't bite". The second time the same lab charges at us, I yell at the owner to call his dog, and the guy says, "it's okay he's a lab". I yell back that I don't care and to call his dog and the guy swears at me and says its just a lab he wont' do anything. What a couple of (#$%^&). I thought about pepper spray but was always worried about spraying mine by mistake; I'll definitely check into the citronella spray.

[sharronhurlbut]

I would report this fellow.
Sounds like this dog is just a bite away from big trouble.

[Ferox]

I always walk Roxy while carrying a big stick. Anytime we have been threatened by another dog usually just shaking the stick at the dog while shouting or banging the stick against the ground in front of the dog is enough to scare it away but I would be willing to use it more forcefully if needs be.

Roxy is as placid as anything around other dogs but she is a fighting breed and would fight to defend herself and I cannot put her at risk.

I would be really careful picking up your dogs while another dog is coming in to attack. Even a small dog could cause damage to yourself if they are determined enough to get at your dog. Alot of dogs are also unaffected by sprays if they are that intent on cause harm.

If a dog grabs hold of your dog and wont let go, grabbing the offending dog by the collar and twisting hard so it tightens will usually result on the dog letting go. But you do have to be really careful.

Hope your Meeka is ok, the other dogs owner should be ashamed :mad: :mad:

[Janneke]

We had this last sunday..
There is a dog at our training that's not totally normal when it comes to other dogs… and of course... the owner had an 'oops' and there it was.. her dog running towards Tillo, growling etc.. and attacking him. He's the same size as Tillo.. So I just figured Tillo could 'handle' him. I gave him some extra leash to sort it out.. untill the owner came to get her dog.. After that I tried to get Tillo's attantion and did some sits and downs to relieve the stress.

If it had been a larger dog or a dog I did not know.. I would probably have done something else. What? I don't know.. lifting your pup while he is under attack isn't that easy.. If it would be a really big dog...? I think I would kick him....:eek:

[DiegosMom]

Thanks for the advice everyone! Picking them up would have probably worked in this situation because the other dog was small, but i couldn't think that fast as it was happening! but carrying some kind of spray sounds like a good idea, i am going to look for that at the pet store. Thanks again!