What would you do if your dog was being attacked?

ameliarate

If you are going to kick a dog then try to go for the top part of your foot under their belly. You can kick and kick a dog and it still won't let go but if you get it right kicking them there with the top of your foot (a) doesn't cause damage and (b) knocks the air out of them so they are more likely to "drop". Easier said than done in those situations I know.

I would definitely try and find out who these people are, if your OH has seen them before and get the attack reported.

cjmumto2

Hi sorry about your ordeal, Next time you need to get the name and address of the owners and their insurance details, by law a dog has to be under control. Even take a photo of them and the dogs and threaten to take it to the police if they dont give their details, A puncture wound can turn into a nasty abcess and can be expensive.

I would also get one of those air blaster tins and if that fails I would kick a dog off but dont grab the dog as you will get bitten ( as has happened to me)

gettingready

Sorry about your dog..... Hope both you and the dog get over it.

Had to say something though - never ever get in between 2 dogs that are fighting, never grab by the collar/neck as this can mean it will be YOU who will get bitten.

I would not physically attack another dog either.

The correct way to separate dogs would be for each owner to grab his/her own dog by the back legs and drag them away - at the same time.... and I have done it a few times.

Zara and another dog, about the same size got into a bit of a fight over a stick yesterday - me and the other owner grabbed them both in seconds, separated and they were fine 30 sec later walking together. No injuries, just a lot of saliva on both of them.

But of course you need to have the other owner cooperating - dogs will always get into little fights but it does not mean they will kill one another or cause major injury.

Your dog was injured, I would make sure I find those owners and report them.

ameliarate

gettingready wrote: »

Sorry about your dog..... Hope both you and the dog get over it.

Had to say something though - never ever get in between 2 dogs that are fighting, never grab by the collar/neck as this can mean it will be YOU who will get bitten.

I would not physically attack another dog either.

The correct way to separate dogs would be for each owner to grab his/her own dog by the back legs and drag them away - at the same time.... and I have done it a few times.

Zara and another dog, about the same size got into a bit of a fight over a stick yesterday - me and the other owner grabbed them both in seconds, separated and they were fine 30 sec later walking together. No injuries, just a lot of saliva on both of them.

But of course you need to have the other owner cooperating - dogs will always get into little fights but it does not mean they will kill one another or cause major injury.

Your dog was injured, I would make sure I find those owners and report them.

I have known dogs (terriers) hanging on so tight that if you grab their back legs and drag they would probably rip a piece of the other dog off :eek:

gettingready

Not if they are both grabbed at the same time - BUT you need 2 owners who know what they are doing... to avoid more damage.

Never ever get in between 2 fighting dogs, way too dangerous.

Grabing by the neck/collar - huge risk of the dog biting YOU, even your own dog.

kamperkat

Thank you all so much for your replies - it horrid how often this seems to happen and it is often the most unexpected breeds that attack...

ameliarate wrote: »

I would definitely try and find out who these people are, if your OH has seen them before and get the attack reported.

cjmumto2 wrote: »

Hi sorry about your ordeal, Next time you need to get the name and address of the owners and their insurance details, by law a dog has to be under control. Even take a photo of them and the dogs and threaten to take it to the police if they dont give their details, A puncture wound can turn into a nasty abcess and can be expensive.

I was so shocked at the speed at which it all happened it didn;t occur to me to get angry or even converse with the owners - I think I assumed DH would take care of the shouting bit...but he is so very calm (despite being quite scary looking ).
I am, however, quite tempted to go for lots of long walks without our dog just so I can bump into the owners again and tell them exactly what i think! (obviously I am not going to do that because I am a big girly wuss )

cjmumto2 wrote: »

I would also get one of those air blaster tins and if that fails I would kick a dog off but dont grab the dog as you will get bitten ( as has happened to me)

Thats what I am so scared about - it is instinct to wade in and stop it but i know that i wouldn;t have been able to seperate them. An air blaster is a great idea...as I wouldn't want to carry anything that I could potentially hurt my own dog with (pepper spray etc)

gettingready wrote: »

Zara and another dog, about the same size got into a bit of a fight over a stick yesterday - me and the other owner grabbed them both in seconds, separated and they were fine 30 sec later walking together. No injuries, just a lot of saliva on both of them.

But of course you need to have the other owner cooperating - dogs will always get into little fights but it does not mean they will kill one another or cause major injury.

The owner of the lab just froze, so was obviously going to be of no help at all - and it wouldn't have been so scary if I thought our dog could retaliate but he was literally being dragged through the mud on his back by this bully and didn;t look like he was going to fight back, and there was lots of yelping and whimpering... it's making me emotional just writing about it (pregnancy hormones!!!!)

Right I am taking him to the vet later to have his yearly jabs (evil mummy!) and the vet said he'll look at the hole in his neck - but it hasn't bled since last night so I am sure he is fine...and the fact that he has been out for a walk this morning perfectly happily is good...now I just have to get my emotions in check and man up!

Thank you all once again - it has helped tremendously talking about it.

Kkxx

Apollonia

I have a book called 'First Aid for Dogs' by Dr Justin Wimpole BVSc. His advice, and I quote directly from page 36, is as follows:

If the primary offender is not castrated, grabbing and pulling on their scrotum may cause them to let go. One other less savoury technique is to insert one of your fingers into the primary attacker's anus in an attempt to make them release their grip.

:eek:

So... if you try these techniques, let us know how you get on!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

To be honest, I'd probably kick the Westie in the head so hard that the owner was left with a dead dog. Not if it let my dog go, but I wouldn't hold back if it were in the middle of attacking. Probably break the lab's ribs as well.

If some dog attacks ended up with the attacking dog being killed and it were reported in the paper (particularly where it is a smaller dog, s they are ignored in favour of the devil dogs stories), perhaps some of the useless owners would reconsider letting their 'babies' off the leash.

gettingready

.. and personally .. I would go for the owner - carry a chain lead with me .. just in case I need it....

elsien

I'm always wary of kicking other dogs in case they turn on me. I would consider carrying a stick to bash it with as that means I can keep further away. I have been known to shout and holler abuse at owners to get their "f" ing act together or I will make sure their dog is put down for being out of control - that normally prods them into some sort of action.
However the most effective thing (and this was before the attacker got his teeth into mine and was pure chance that I had a water bottle on me), was to thow water in the dogs face every time it round for another go - persistent little beggar than was horrible aggressive and kept coming back for another go. Took about 5 goes and my water was about to run out, and I was shouting "leave" at it in my best deep aggressive voice, but it finally did the trick.
I hadn't realised my aim was so good!

It is horrible though, and I have a scary dog that's meant to be able to take care of itself! Needless to say, she's useless when genuinely attacked. The owner of two out of control collies let them have 3 goes at mine before I told them I knew where they lived and would make not only be reporting them but would take them to court for the vets bills. They now only go out one at a time and muzzled.