on the best way to handle agressive off leash dogs who attack my dogs while they are on leash.
Background: I live in a small town and I walk my dogs every morning. I have three dogs, a 30 pound BC/Sheltie/? mix (5 years old), a 35 pound BC/Husky/? mix (2 years old), and a 45 pound lab/German Shorthaired Pointer/? mix (10 months old). I walk the two BC mixes on my left side and the lab mix on my right. They like other dogs and we encounter quite a few off leash dogs on our walks (at least 2 dogs a day). We have only had problems a couple of times when the other dog has growled and I yell at it to go home. Problem solved.
Situation: Yesterday we were doing some training, practicing sitting when I stop walking, and two dogs race out from behind some rusted out cars snarling and growling. I think they were an Australian Shepherd mix about 40 pounds and a BC mix (McNab?) about 60 pounds. Startled the heck out of me. At first I just kind of froze thinking maybe this was just an act and they would calm down, but they raced in and were clearly trying to bite my BC mixes. My dogs at first were like, hello !!!!, great other dogs, but then they were just kind of startled, like WTF? They did not growl or attempt to defend themselves in any way other than to stay out of they way of these snarling evil dogs (I know the dogs weren't really evil, but it felt like it at the time.)
Then I had some sort of flashback and remembered talking to the owner of these dogs in the past and him telling me that the border collie had bitten a few people before so I needed to watch out if he was ever loose. Well, then I just got freakin pi**ed that my dogs were going to get hurt. My 30 pound dog was literally between my legs cowering and the other two were planted on each side of me. So I just screamed at these other two dogs to get in my loudest meanest voice and charged after them. I fully intended to kick these dogs or whatever it took and I think they sensed that because they ran away. I checked my dogs over and couldn't find any bites.
Question: But now, I am kind of freaked. Under no circumstances do I want anything to happen to my dogs. I would rather get bit myself then have my dogs think I failed them. But I love taking them on walks. So, what I want to know is:
How would you handle a similar situation? Should I have let go of the leashes? I worried that my dogs woud run and get attacked without me there to intervene. I am not sure my dogs would defend themselves. Should I start carrying a walking stick and carry all of the leashes in one hand? What do you guys think or what has worked for you in the past?
Sorry this is so long, but any advice/opinions would be great. Thanks.
Background: I live in a small town and I walk my dogs every morning. I have three dogs, a 30 pound BC/Sheltie/? mix (5 years old), a 35 pound BC/Husky/? mix (2 years old), and a 45 pound lab/German Shorthaired Pointer/? mix (10 months old). I walk the two BC mixes on my left side and the lab mix on my right. They like other dogs and we encounter quite a few off leash dogs on our walks (at least 2 dogs a day). We have only had problems a couple of times when the other dog has growled and I yell at it to go home. Problem solved.
Situation: Yesterday we were doing some training, practicing sitting when I stop walking, and two dogs race out from behind some rusted out cars snarling and growling. I think they were an Australian Shepherd mix about 40 pounds and a BC mix (McNab?) about 60 pounds. Startled the heck out of me. At first I just kind of froze thinking maybe this was just an act and they would calm down, but they raced in and were clearly trying to bite my BC mixes. My dogs at first were like, hello !!!!, great other dogs, but then they were just kind of startled, like WTF? They did not growl or attempt to defend themselves in any way other than to stay out of they way of these snarling evil dogs (I know the dogs weren't really evil, but it felt like it at the time.)
Then I had some sort of flashback and remembered talking to the owner of these dogs in the past and him telling me that the border collie had bitten a few people before so I needed to watch out if he was ever loose. Well, then I just got freakin pi**ed that my dogs were going to get hurt. My 30 pound dog was literally between my legs cowering and the other two were planted on each side of me. So I just screamed at these other two dogs to get in my loudest meanest voice and charged after them. I fully intended to kick these dogs or whatever it took and I think they sensed that because they ran away. I checked my dogs over and couldn't find any bites.
Question: But now, I am kind of freaked. Under no circumstances do I want anything to happen to my dogs. I would rather get bit myself then have my dogs think I failed them. But I love taking them on walks. So, what I want to know is:
How would you handle a similar situation? Should I have let go of the leashes? I worried that my dogs woud run and get attacked without me there to intervene. I am not sure my dogs would defend themselves. Should I start carrying a walking stick and carry all of the leashes in one hand? What do you guys think or what has worked for you in the past?
Sorry this is so long, but any advice/opinions would be great. Thanks.
