So much going on, I've missed the forum. KD. and I have been taking classes together. Starting with puppy classes, KD has done well.
Two weeks ago, we were walking home from class and suddenly confronted by a pitbull. I tried to pick up KD to protect her, but she wheeled around to face the charging dog and calmly sat down. I yelled "sit" at the pitbull, and "down" and every thing else I could think of, then I noticed KD's ears were trained backward. There were two pitbulls, one had circled through the field and was coming up behind us, while the first growled and barked at us to keep attention on him. Finally, as both dogs are circling us, the owner came out and yelled repeatedly to get them back in his pickup. He drove off immediately. These were 70 to 80 pound dogs to KD's 24 pounds.
I called my trainer, Ed Nicks, a retired police K9 handler/trainer. He was amazed. KD and I both could have been shredded. The pitbulls were looking for a fight and KD simply sat down and ignored them. My older service dog, in spite of her training would have turned around ready to fight– and we both would have been mauled if not killed. I'm so thankful for KD's behavior, I don't know why she chose to sit quietly, but she stopped the attack. If the owner had not come out, I don't know what would have happened. The dogs might have attacked us anyway, but KD bought us critical time.
Has anyone any ideas on how to deal with attacking dogs?
Sarg. Nicks suggests a cattle prod/walking stick.