next door staffie ran after my mum

Vikipollard

pimento wrote: »

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to be able to walk past your neighbour's house without being barked at or approached by any dog. Not everybody likes dogs and some people are scared of them. The dog is simply barking to protect its territory. That's not unreasonable. What IS unreasonable is irresponsible owners failing to secure their property so Rover can't get out.

I wouldn't know if your dog wanted to say hello, or lick me to death, was looking for food or wanted to rip my face off and frankly, I shouldn't be put into the position of finding out just by going about my business. Of course you wouldn't - and provided you aren't on its property (and the owners have a fence/gate in place) it's not going to reach you.

If your dog likes to approach people or bark as they walk past, then keep it on a lead or keep your garden fenced. Keep it on a lead in my secure garden? Ridiculous.

Your dog may be Lassie, but I don't care. Erm...Whatever..?

I appreciate that you won't agree with me. Protecting territory is normal for dogs though, and provided people are responsible there is no reason why it should impact on anyone's normal business.


OP - hope your Mum is feeling more settled now. Apologies if you've already answered this (been a long day...) but I couldn't see where you'd answered what kind of bag Mum was carrying?

seven-day-weekend

Why does the type of bag matter?

nodiscount

Vikipollard wrote: »

I appreciate that you won't agree with me. Protecting territory is normal for dogs though, and provided people are responsible there is no reason why it should impact on anyone's normal business.


OP - hope your Mum is feeling more settled now. Apologies if you've already answered this (been a long day...) but I couldn't see where you'd answered what kind of bag Mum was carrying?

It was a carrier bag with milk cartons in. She said she used it as a shield to protect her legs.

pimento

Vikipollard wrote: »

I appreciate that you won't agree with me. Protecting territory is normal for dogs though,

Is it? I wouldn't know.

Apologies if you've already answered this (been a long day...) but I couldn't see where you'd answered what kind of bag Mum was carrying?

If it was a type of bag that the dog found threatening (a mailbag maybe) would that excuse it biting?

Your dog can do whatever it likes within the confines of your property. If it is in public and likely to object to my dress/carriage/demeanour, then it isn't my problem, it's yours.

Fosterdog

There is a chance that the dog would never have bitten her legs at all, the dog may have been threatening and acting aggressively but that doesn't automatically mean it would bite. By putting the bag in front of it, it may have felt more threatened and even thought it was going to be hit by the bag so bit it first.

I've known a number of dogs that would bite objects in an aggressive way but never bit a person, especially rescues who may have been badly treated in the past and are just trying to protect themselves from a threat.

I'm not saying this was your mothers fault, it really wasn't at all, she only used the bag to protect herself because she was scared of an unknown, out of control and possibly dangerous dog, it was quick thinking on her part to put the bag between her and the dog just in case.

The owners to need to make sure the dog is kept secure though. They may not have even realised the dog could get out, if they haven't long moved in and the dog has never got out before they may not have even realised it was possible. Maybe the dog managed to open the gate and had never done it before so the owners didn't know it could.

My girl once let herself and our other dog out by opening our front door, she stretched up and caught the yale lock which opened the door and both dogs got out. She'd never done it before and we had no reason to think she would. We had to add an extra lock to the door to stop it happening again.

As for your mothers anxiety, if she is generally ok with dogs but just shaken up by this, could she maybe speak to the neighbours about her and the dog getting used to each other, in a controlled area with some nice treats for the dog, that way the dog will no longer see her as any sort of threat so won't feel the need to protect itself or it's home from her and she will be more confident and less scared to walk past it.

km1423

esmerelda98 wrote: »

Is your front door right next to the road? And are the signs really eye-catching, because otherwise by the time a caller is at your front door it is too late for them to take care. The signs need to be at the entrance to the property.

It is nice to hear concern for those 'attacked' by a dog from a dog owner. (I use 'attacked' as a shorthand, and that is how it often seems to the person concerned) There is precious little on the forum, especially on the other thread. As in real life the animal-owning community can be intimidating, causing those who don't agree 100% with their views to retreat.

Signs are large, and on the gated entrance (drive) to our property, and there are additional signs on the brickwork as you approach the front door. (Police did mention that notices were very clear) My car was parked on the drive, with entrance gate closed.

I spoke to the girl, asked if she was OK, and anything I could do, as she was visibly shaken. I didn't expect the Police at my door, however I can appreciate how frightened she felt.

I am very responsible dog owner, and even the Police said there is very little else I can do. I can't help the fact some people simply don't or won't read.

km1423

merlin68 wrote: »

Which dog breed is most likely to bite?
A study, published this week in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, with researchers questioning 6000 dog owners had some surprising conclusions.
The dog breed most likely to bite was not the Pit Bull, Rottweiler, or German Shepherd, but …wait for it…the Dachshund. And second was the Chihuahua, followed by the Jack Russell Terrier.

Little dogs with attitude. Allowed to get away with it because they are small.

Air_Cooled_75

Not quite the same, but we had a rescue cat, she used to freak out at carrier bags and real Christmas trees. All we knew was that she'd been a cruelty case.

Our dog will go in pockets and my bag looking for used tissues though. They seem to be completely irresistible...

Hope your mum is ok.

In this day and age I think a lot of people do immediately turn to the internet for advice, so I don't think the op posting when she did is all that odd.

grey_lady

OP - your mum wasn't hurt, you weren't hurt - but anxiety appears to be an issue for you, so perhaps get some treatment for your anxiety and you'll be able to deal with the dog in a normal context.

I don't think the breed should come into it btw - i've known tough staffies and lovely laid back staffies.

elsien

nodiscount wrote: »

In answer to some of the questions. The dog was in back garden. There is an alley way that my mum used as a short cut (she gets really tired so it was really convenient for her).

If it's the back garden then that makes it much easier for them to stick a stonking great bolt on the inside and secure it properly. I suppose the problem now for your mum though is that even if the dog's safely locked in, she's going to be worried about walking past just in case. Would it be feasible for someone who's more confident around dogs to walk through with her a couple of time to reassure her?