What would you do if your dog was being attacked?

kamperkat

We were out having a lovely stroll in the woods yesterday when we encountered a westie and a labrador.

Our dog (a normally lively springer) immediately hid behind my legs as soon as he saw them coming, I thought he was being an absolute wuss and laughed it off...

However, a couple of seconds later the westie went for him followed by the lab grabbing him around the neck, the westie continued to attack his rear end while the lab literally dragged him off down the path and pinned him to the ground shaking him by his neck.

The owners did absolutely nothing and my DH had to grab the lab by its scruff and grabbed the dogs jaw to make it drop.

Our dog now has a large puncture in his neck ... which, for the record, he seems to have forgoetten all - but as you can probably tell by the fact that it is 5am and I am awake, I am still traumatised

So..can I ask if any of you have been in this situation and what did you do?

I don't want to be a paranoid dog owner who won't let her beloved pet play because of one incident, but I am 5 months pregnant and now terrifed of going out alone with our pooch, because I don't feel that I would be able to prevent him being hurt - which makes me really cross!!

Thanks for reading my rant...does anyone have any advice? x

ailuro2

Carry a big stick with you? ( and use it on the owner - j/k)

I'd report the incident to the police, as this person was obviously not in control of their dogs - what if you had a child with you - what would the dogs have gone for then?

No wonder you're shocked - I think most people would be very shaken up by something like this.

kamperkat

ailuro2 wrote: »

Carry a big stick with you? ( and use it on the owner - j/k)

:rotfl:my DH has just suggested the same thing!! He also think that I am slightly crazy being up since 4.30 worrying about it (I blame the pregnancy hormones!!)

It all happened so quickly, so apart from knowing what type of dog they were i have no idea who the owners were as i don;t think I even looked at them I was so busy checking ours for blood!
My DH has since told me that it isn;t the first time those two dogs have attacked - but he is fairly sure that the people walking them yesterday were not their owners as he has seen an older chap walking them previously...(still if i had stick i would have beaten them!!)

DH has just taken pooch out for his morning walk - they are both fine and happy to be going for a walk - i am sitting here on MSE panicing

sparky16_2

Hi, sorry to hear about your poor pooch I'm glad he has been out for a walk since the attack, as since our black lab x was attacked last year he wont go out, we get as far as the end of our road and he has what the vet calls a panick attack, We did know the name and address of the other dogs owner and contacted both the police and area dog warden, who went and spoke to the owner's but that was all they did as the other dog had not attacked befor! or at least not been reported! Just hope that next time the dog does attack its not a child.:eek:
I do understand your worry though.

Raggs_2

I've come between my dog and his arch nemesis a few times (my dog forgets this fact after a few months and wags his tail, wants to say hello, the other still wants to kill him).

Because I could see the owner, and knew he would come to help me, I seperate the two of them by the scruffs of the neck when the owner got close (my dog is about 38kg, his probably around 30-35). If it happened whilst the owner wasn't around I'd probably kick his dog as hard as I could, then seperate them. I'm beyond the point of letting them get on with it, since I know this other dog wouldn't stop (probably couldn't "win" as such, but I don't like all the holes he leaves in my dog (not that Louis notices)).

Two dogs attacking one is not as easy by any means. I would have probably kicked the lab, and grabbed and thrown the westie, if it hit a tree in its flight, not my problem.

Although I have a large male dog, it's not his job to protect me, it's mine to protect him. Whenever another dog has acted unreasonably aggressively towards him I've got between them.

There again, I've worked with my dad (dog trainer, specialising in big "bad" dogs), so I'm used to being around bigger dogs, with the constant risk of taking a bite or two in the process. Getting bitten really doesn't worry me, whereas if I was a pregnant woman, I'd definitely not be so confident.

+1 with the carrying a big stick. Use on the dogs first, then the owners.

geri1965_2

This happened to my mum recently, her Yorkie got attacked by another dog which was on a lead! (extendable type). The owner didn't even say sorry, and Toby was left with a neck wound and had to go to the PDSA.

A friend of mine was walking her dogs and a Staffie which belonged to someone else, and they were attacked by another Staffie. She got badly bitten trying to separate them and the park ranger had to call an ambulance. Her arms are scarred now. She won't report the dog as she says it was her own fault for getting in the way!

BonandDom

I completely sympathise with you, this happened to us whilst walking our Jack Russell once. The owners response to my DH was "OH, he thought you were his dad!" If he approaches his 'dad' with hackles up, charging at 100 mph and teeth bared I'd be a little worried.:(

OUr JRT is now terririfed of all dogs (except his mates he lives with:D) and displays fear aggression and so for us this means walks on the lead all the time, unless we can see a clear 100m all around. 100m based on his recall distance as at 101m either his fear overrides his training or selective deafness kicks in.

I cannot understand any owners not holding thier hands up and offering to pay for any resultant vet bills. :mad: Too many people own dogs nowadays with little understanding of thier dogs temperament and body language.

As a result of our JRT being attacked if we now see another dog approaching we put our JRT and Rottie on their leads, move as far out of the way as possible, ask our Border coliie to sit and stay at our heels. I have lost count of how many owners have let thier dogs strut up to ours, hackles up and obviously wanting to 'pick a fight'. when politely asked to recall/restrain thier dogs the response we get without fail is "He/she is ok, won't fight".

My DD once recieved a bite on her arm, as a dog ran around the back of her and jumped on our placid, loving well trained and behaved border collie and the owner had the cheek to say it was our dog that caught her!
"Yes but my dogs are not ok with it, hence the reason we have our under control":mad::mad::mad:

So to conclude.......

'Bad' dogs = bad owners

elliesmemory1

You can buy a areasol can called a pet corrector which when pressed imits a load hiss of air, its usually enough to stop dogs. you can buy it in pet shops and its small enough to carry in your pocket.

You can also get a simalar one called Dog stop, A bit like a rape alarm.
While I sympathise with people whos dogs get attacked I have seen it from the other side when a jogger with a dog ran out of no where when I was walking my dog who is a big soft elderly lab who has never shown any aggressive behaviour to any one, man or beast and was kicked by the jogger for sniffing his dog, I intervened to protect my dog and was pushed. The jogger was a 6ft male im a 5ft female.

you need to be carefull about hitting dogs and owners wth sticks etc.

Sezzler

Just wondered, who is liable for the vets bills etc.. im guessing the owner of the attacked dog needs to pay up, but that seems so unfair !!!:mad:

kaya

flea bay, search for "blackthorn walking stick" , suitable for use on agressive dogs and owners

Beckyy

Steel toe cap boots.

The police probably won't care unless a human was biten, I'm not sure if that includes being bitten defending your own dog. You could try carrying a pet corrector, squirty bottle of ice cold water etc. but I'd be suprised if they really stopped a dog who wanted a fight. You could look into carryign Bite Back spray. I think it's disgusting stuff and wouldn't use it unless totally necessary (and uld avoid your dog if possible), but maybe worth using in your defence if you need to. http://www.bite-back.net/