my dog attacked by another - any advice?

foreign_correspondent

Sorry for the long post.....

Yesterday, whist out with my dog in the park she was attacked by another dog. Luckily she wasnt badly hurt but I am wondering what to do...

Some background might be useful - My dog is a little rescue dog, poss a jack russell or corgi crossed with a collie! (she has a collie face, but is much smaller, with shorter legs) I have only had her 6 months, but her behavior is pretty much perfect - she is very trainable and walks well on and off lead, recalls fine, and is not aggressive with other dogs. She is quite wary of other dogs who are bigger or aggressive, but never retaliates - even copes with my friends large nervous lab who growls at her a lot!! For a small dog she is exceptionally 'un-yappy' - this is often commented on!

We often see a guy (sometimes with his OH) walking three boxers on the field - or rather, they walk him, he is mormally leaning back at almost a 45 degree angle as they pull on the lead so much.

Yesterday, we were having a lovely walk, had just met a lady who we often see out with her collie, had a chat with her whilst her little grand-daughter fussed my dog, then continued on our walk.

A bit later I saw I the couple with the boxers in the distance and did not immediately realise his dogs were off lead - they aren't usually. My dog was trotting along quite happily about twenty feet from me, when I spotted one of his dogs making a beeline for mine, actually sprinting, very fast, straight at her - I called my dog - she had spotted the boxer and sat down, and seemed to hesitate for a second,giving one bark at the boxer, before she turned to run to me. The boxer owner was calling his dog, but it took no notice. By this stage the other dog was almost on her, and I heard her yelp as he bit at her.

My dog ran to me, with the boxer still biting at her, at one point he knocked my dog onto the floor, whilst still biting at her, and I really thought he might kill her, but she is quite quick and agile, and got away from him, - I shouted at the dog, and managed to grab its harness as it tried to get past me to get my dog again. I shouted at the boxer to sit down and kept hold of him by his harness. By this time another of the their boxers had followed so I was trying to hold the first boxer and protect my dog. The owner had walked over so I said to him - 'will you get hold of her?' (meaning the second boxer which was still free and sniffing at my dog, who was looking pretty nervous) and he said 'oh, shes ok' - so I said 'are you sure, cos this one isnt, is he?' - the bloke just took his boxer off me, and went - no apology, no are you and your dog ok?, no nothing.

My dog was covered in dog spit and marks all down one side. I got her to lie down so I could look and see if the skin was broken, luckily it wasnt (she has incredibly thick fluffy fur so it was hard to tell!).

However, I am really hacked off that this guy has these big dogs which he is clearly unable to control, and lets them run free on the park, and secondly, that he didnt come over and apologise - if my dog scared or upset someone I would be mortified, never mind if she had actually been aggressive.

I thought of going after him and saying something, not to start a row, but just about the fact that he ought to get his dogs trained before they do some damage. But, I walk their every day and I do not want to start any aggro, or be avoiding going there because of them...

What do you think? Should I say something or not? should I ask for an apology? or just try to give some constructive advice?

Stephb1986_2

i'd report him to the rspca at the end of the day he doesnt have his dogs under control and what happens next time they are off the lead does that mean they have free reign to attack other dogs or possibly even people he has dangerous dogs that he cant control.

my brother had a staff that got loose it went out and attacked a greyhound ripped its face apart the dog lived luckily but my brother had his dog put down because he couldnt trust it not to attack another dog or a person.

Steph xx

sammy_kaye18

oh FC - thats awful.

My friend had a smiliar situation with her little jack russell.

Her Jack was on the lead and bimbling along happily and a staffy came out fo nowhere and attacked him. The staff wasnt on a lead and was owned by some nit wited little Chav. He went over - hit his dog with a golf club :eek:, didnt apologise to my friend or ask how her dog was - jsut left. Then when my friedn said arent you going to apologise, the guy shouted at her saying well if SHE couldnt control her animal then she shouldnt have it.

Little sods.

I hope your baby is ok. Id be inclined to pick up your little one next time they get anywhere near you - on or off the lead - at least shes up out of harm way or (i know its not much) but if you were harmed by his animals in an attempt of them getting to your pup then teh silly burk who owns them might pay some attention.

Sorry it rattels my cage when inappropriate narrow minded little nits are allowed animals and they let them do that with out a second thought :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

foreign_correspondent

Thanks folks, but... I don't really think the RSPCA would be interested, or could do anything, and besides I do not want to get into ay sort of running battle with the dog owner.

Also, thanks for the support, it is appreciated, but I don't really believe in picking dogs up, I think it will only make more of a issue of meeting other dogs (as I said my dog is fine with other dogs, and most of the dogs we meet on our walks are too, and I think that the socialisation is important) - and, although she is short she is a solid little thing and weighs over 10 kg so I dont want to pick her up unless I can avoid it!! :-)

Also, I know sometimes dogs play fight which is fine, but this was different. I considered grabbing my dog, but felt very strongly that the boxer would have gone for her whilst I was holding her, which would have had us both in trouble, so grabbing the boxer was the only option!

pollyanna24

I'm so sorry to hear that about your dog. We had a similar issue with our staff (yes, they get attacked too ). The other dog turned out to be a half staff / half pit bull and the owner thought our dog would be okay and be able to "take it!" because of her breed. However, our staff is a timid little thing who sees the cat as higher ranking in our "pack."

EDITED to add: The dog in question then came up to me and decided to use me as a weeing post!! Ewwww!

It is unfair that some people get away with this. Not quite sure what the solution is. We just tend to steer clear of dogs we know that are like this, even walking in opposite directions if need be, which is a shame.

candygirl

FC i'm sorry to her about this incident, and hope you and your dog are ok now.The attitude of the boxer's owner is sadly very typical where I walk my dogs.If a dog doesn't have 100% perfect recall it shouldn't be off lead in a public place at all:rolleyes:
One of mine does,one doesn't, but I do keep them both on lead as they are staffies, and I can't risk another dog starting a fight and them finishing it:(
Picking a dog up when another dog is appraoching isn't a good idea as it can make the dog fear aggressive

davsidipp

report him to rspca if you know where he lives. similar thing happened to my freind while walking her placid springer. she found out where the guy lived and rspca went round and gave him a warning. turned out this guy was a dog walker and walking 5 dogs could not control them. what makes me angry with people like this is it always the innocent that get hurt through them being complete idiots i do hope your dogs ok but dont let it go persue the matter .

MrsTinks

Report him to the police...

Dogs Act 1871
Under this Act, a court may, upon complaint that a dog is dangerous and not kept under proper control, order the owner to keep him under proper control or to be destroyed.

Especially if you know where he lives - definitely report him. It may have been "only" your dog this time... but next time it could be a small child!

He obviously has no control of his dogs and therefor they should be on the lead.

Stephb1986_2

i wasnt sure if it would be the rspca or the police so thats why i just put rspca lol

Steph xxx

MrsTinks

And ofcourse the dangerous Dogs Act too

• Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) 1991

There are two main sections to this Act. Section 1 applies to four specific breeds of dog including ‘the type of dog known as the pit bull terrier’. Owners of these breeds had to comply with certain legal requirements, including having their dog registered, neutered, microchipped and tattooed. One of the main problems with this law is that the pit bull terrier is not a recognised breed in the UK. As a result, many owners of cross breeds which resemble a pit bull terrier ‘type’ have been charged under the Act.
Section 3 applies to all dogs, making it a criminal offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place. This includes instances where there is fear that an injury might occur.
Owners found guilty under either section of the Act could have their dog destroyed, face the possibility of six months in prison and/or a fine not exceeding level 5 (at present up to £5,000).
For more information on this Act click here (opens new browser window)

"acquired" from the Dogs trust site

Mrs_pbradley936

Poor you and your dog. Looking at it from the other side I know a woman that used to walk her dog at 5am because he was a fighter and she used to get into rows with people. Still I suppose she was being responsible with him, I think I would have parted with him or got him a muzzle.