Hello everyone, I need some advice. I am still shaking/boiling about what happened to me on my morning walk - a moment I really look forward to with my 6 month old golden retriever. He is very well-behaved, and calm towards other dogs. Not in the least aggressive or confrontational. I have a lovely path that I take through local woods - normally totally alone; just me, the dog, taking a breather after the hectic school rush!
However, there is a woman who also walks her dogs in this forest. She has a greyhound, and a Saluki (I think). The Saluki is gorgeous looking, but terribly aggressive towards other dogs. We have met him before and he's the sort of dog that even though you pass a good distance away from him with your dog on the lead, he launches himself at you and you just know that if he was off the lead... well - today it happened. The owner wasn't able to recall him in time - being in woods its difficult to see round every corner. I spotted them, and was just bending down to put the lead on my dog. This creature bounded across the river that was between us and launched itself at my poor dog, biting it repeatedly on the bum and the scruff of the next. My poor puppy was shrieking blue murder. I was trying to put myself between them, but at the same time this dog is big! And I was scared. And unable to stop the B****D. The owner called totally ineffectively and eventually I was able to chase him off. I don't know who was more traumatized, me or my dog!! Of course she apologised, but hey that's too little too late!!! She knows what her dog is like. As far as I am concerned she is totally to blame. God, I am still steaming!!!!
What can I do to get this woman to make her keep her dog on a lead, even in a wood? Or at least put a muzzle on it? Of course, its no fun for the dog to be on a lead the whole time, but what if I had had my sons with me? Or my puppy was a small dog?
Bloody woman. She knows its dog agressive. Or am I allowed to carry dog pepper spray? Or preferably a tazer.....
Apologies for those offended by my language. I am just so mad!!
Anybody know what I can do? Going to the police seems so dramatic, but I don't want that ever to happen again. It was really scary.
You need to calm yourself before you start to make any decisions whatsoever.
Secondly,
The fault is entirely on the lady with the aggressive dog. She MUST keep this dog on a leash at all times. Especially if she has such poor recall.
A muzzle won't do shit, and will hardly teach the dog what to do.
As you have pointed out, you have encountered this dog before so this isn't a "once off" ocurrance.
Personally, if there is some sort of walking pattern (times of day, days of the week, etc.), I would suggest that you try to approach this woman WITHOUT your dogs.
I would strongly point out that she needs far better control of her dog if she wants it to be in public, and if the dog is NOT on a lead at the time then point out how grossly irresponsible she is given your recent event.
If there is no change in her behaviour then she will need to be reported.
I would perhaps also report the incident at your vet as well with a description of the dog and owner.
Well, hopefully that will the last time you had such a bad experience..
I had my own experience with myself bothered with free walking dogs, and even my kids were almost experiencing the same kind of thing..
I think A DOG MUST ALWAYS BE ON LEASH at all times when walking in public.
I know what the dog owners will tell me now but in that case, THERE MUST BE SPECIAL AREAS/PARKS RESERVED FOR DOGS WALKING FREELY. if one is entering this area, it must be on his/her own risk..
I'm tired of being scared to death when I'm out for jogging or even walking (as I stop jogging and start calmly walking when I see adog free). but no, only a few weeks ago, 2 of them ran on me at different times, different dogs.. And what can be done later on is just a "sorry" from the owner.. Sorry, but when my kid or me is bitten or harmed badly, a "sorry" does not help anything!..
I was starting a thread about this some months ago in EF, and I seriously think this is too dangerous especially for small kids. And we should be able to tell our opinion to some authorities.
I would definitely take your dog to the vet. Get them to check out your dog's injuries. Dog bites can easily become infected and it's better to be safe now than to face more serious issues later on. The vet will also be able to advise you on what further steps to take like informing the police for example.
Technically the owner of the aggressive dog is responsible for paying the vet bills for any treatment
This dog is dangerous and should not be let off the lead in any public area, even more so given the owner's complete lack of control over it. It is the owner's responsibility to be in control of her dog at all times and this is clearly not the case here.
I firmly believe there is no such thing as a bad dog. . . BAD OWNERS.
If you want a Taser you need to go find the woman to use it on.
If you used a Taser on my dog I would bury you in the woods not caring who was to blame.
Anyways, I understand your mad & scared. What a horrible thing to have happen to your poor little doggie & to yourself. This woman was completely in the wrong...
Not sure if going to the police would achieve much but maybe they would force her to obedience school?
I hope youre not too shaken and venture back in the woods. . . . to have pleasent walks with your dog again.
Record the events with your phone and report it to the police. It sounds like it is not the first time this dog has behaved so and it certainly won't be the last. The police will take it very seriously.
Your dog has been bitten/nipped so do take it to the vet and do bill her.
Please bring your camera next time without your dog and make a record if she lets her dog roam free again. You will then have evidence to report her. Have you been to the dog owner training course yourself? What did they teach you to do in such situations?
I agree, take your poor dog to the vet and have a good description of that woman and her dog ready to give them. You were right to hesitate to get between the two dogs, as much as you would have like to rescue your own. You might have been attacked yourself. If you see the woman again I would try to get her personal information, just as a kind of safeguard for the future (the dog may attack again - your dog or someone else's - and you'll need to be able to refer the police to her). If she refuses to give you her name, are you allowed to take a photo of her and her dog? Does anyone know if this is legal? That way you would at least have some way of directing the authorities to her. Have you tried to speak to other dog walkers in your area? Very likely there are others suffering from her lack of dog handling skills. Good luck to you. As someone who survived a mauling by a "friend's" dog, I feel for you and your poor doggie.
Id report her to the police if you genuinely feel that this dog is not safe... you (your dog) cant be the only one it goes for, so others are at risk too!
Also, Take a solid walking stick with you when you go out for every dog walk. If you see the dog gunning for you then take stick and use it to keep the dog away... its safer than just your arms or body.
I don't think all dogs should be on leashes because some owners do not know how to train and handle them. The same way all people shouldn't be in prison or in straight jackets because some people are violent and stab or shoot people.
I do not believe all people and dogs should suffer because some dogs/owners are idiots, or because some people are so petrified of dogs that they over react when they see one off leash that has actually not done anything wrong but be playful. Of course, that is not the case in OP account, but just addressing some of the silly comments posted.
I have had this happen to me a couple of times now and each time it has been, "they have never done that before". I am rather forgiving as I like dogs and fortunately my dog has never been too injured though the noises at the time would make one think differently but if these behaviours do not improve something has to be done.
Plus I think you have every right to defend your dog being attacked. I do not know where the law stands on this, but I had to chain whip one dog off of mine. Wasn't nice, could of escalated the situation but I had to do something. The owner was not too happy but they understood that I had to do something whilst they were half way across the field as their dog mauled mine.
I would second the prior advice about approaching the owner without your dog to discuss. Demand they take action to improve and never allow that dog off leash until they are more behaved. Next time you will report, and you want her details for your vet check. Likewise, tell them, if you are willing, that next time you may have something to protect both yourself and your dog that may end up in their dog being restrained in an unpleasant way.
You mention the school rush. Does this mean you sometimes have the kids with you when you are walking the dog? Although the dog might not normally be aggressive towards kids, once they get caught up in the frenzy of attacking another dog, you can't be sure they won't suddenly go for one of your kids (or you!).
I think, as others have said, you have to be proactive on this and either report it to the local plod or at the vet's.
Presumably your dog has been properly trained by you and you are a responsible owner, so the scenario will never arise.
However, if your dog attacks me , I reserve the right to use all legal means of defence. If I have a gun - I will shoot your dog. I agree it would be a real shame for a dog to suffer the punishment due its owner, but that's the way it is - dog owners are legally responsible for their hounds. Shooting the dog is legal, shooting the owner isn't.
OP - You can buy pepper spray to protect yourself against non-human attack. I see it on sale in the gun shop on my home from work. Go to the vet, get a report, tell the police.
I think the same can reasonably said for most people. You have every right to defend yourself or your dog from a dog attack, and if that involves beating another dog to prevent yours form serious injury, then as far as Im concerned beat the other dog half to death if you have to. If the owner then decided to beat you (like Niamhe daydreams of) then the police will have a field day with them, and they will be looking at criminal charges.