Nearly got attacked TWICE yesterday.

[RD]

I couldn't use an air horn, unfortunately, as my dogs are sensitive to sudden, loud noise and would probably be bothered more by the horn than the oncoming dog would be.

I'm overprotective of my dogs. I have Border Collies, they're not built to fight other animals, but they're tenacious little dogs and won't back down if threatened. If a dog comes up to us and acts aggressively, my dogs will react and if it's a big strong dog, it's going to be a bad outcome for my gutsy crew. So if I see a dog coming towards us and posturing aggressively, I'm not going to be gentle and tell them to "shoo, shoo" or give up if stomping my feet at them doesn't work. I've found that a good whack to the head with the clip end of a lead is effective, especially if you have heavier hardware on your lead.

 

[smkie]

the hardware on the ella lead is enough to make a stern statement:yikes:

 

[Chewbecca]

I used to carry a riding crop when I walked the dogs. The area I lived in backed on to a green space, and they were all connected, so there was quite often dogs out for walks or otherwise that we'd run into. One guy had about 8 dogs, and some would go way ahead since he didn't pay attention that well. Two of those were large mixes that had attacked my dog before. So, I started packing the riding crop. It worked well even as a threat, I could bang it on a fence or something as well, and if need be snap the dog in the chest, which seemed to work really well to back them off (a mastiff cross vs. a border collie, not fair). I figured if the owner wanted to complain about their dog getting hit, well it's a two foot thing, and if they didn't have their dog under control to get it out of my space, well...

The thing I worry about with a spray or air horn, is it can affect all the dogs, not just the one you want it to affect.

Lana

Well, Ella jumped that one time, but now she runs to see what is going on whenever the horn is blasted. It didn't have a lasting effect.

An air horn is gentler than Ella would be if another dog came up to us unexpectedly.

 

[bubbatd]

To me hitting a dog would make it even more aggressive ... My friend carried and used a dog zapper .... years ago , but it was enough to stun them .

 

[Paige]

I couldn't use an air horn, unfortunately, as my dogs are sensitive to sudden, loud noise and would probably be bothered more by the horn than the oncoming dog would be.

I'm overprotective of my dogs. I have Border Collies, they're not built to fight other animals, but they're tenacious little dogs and won't back down if threatened. If a dog comes up to us and acts aggressively, my dogs will react and if it's a big strong dog, it's going to be a bad outcome for my gutsy crew. So if I see a dog coming towards us and posturing aggressively, I'm not going to be gentle and tell them to "shoo, shoo" or give up if stomping my feet at them doesn't work. I've found that a good whack to the head with the clip end of a lead is effective, especially if you have heavier hardware on your lead.

Bandit is built pretty thick as far as the Border Collies go. I've seen him take on a buff pit bull who (not hating on the breed, idiot owners) who attacked Spanky. I never would have let it get as far as it did now but I'll admit I was in shock. It was the first time the boys had ever been around an undriendly dog.

There is no way Spanky could ever hold his own. He is way too small with not enough guts. He'd rather die then put up a fight.

 

[RD]

I'm not hating on the breed either, but most of the dogs around here with irresponsible owners ARE "pit bulls" or "pit mixes" and none of them are particularly nice to other dogs. And I don't particularly care to let my 25, 30 and 40lb BCs mess with someone's 60-75lb "pit bull". Dakota is a wily one and I know he can handle himself in most situations, but I'd rather he not.

In a really bad situation I'd step back and let Zaphod handle another dog. I know he can and will, but I'd still rather protect him than let him protect me.

 

[bubbatd]

Ollie is big , but a pussy-cat !!! We went over to meet my neighbor's new rescue when she got him and the first thing he did was attack Ollie .....took a few second for poor Ollie to defend himself .

 

[Paige]

I'm not hating on the breed either, but most of the dogs around here with irresponsible owners ARE "pit bulls" or "pit mixes" and none of them are particularly nice to other dogs. And I don't particularly care to let my 25, 30 and 40lb BCs mess with someone's 60-75lb "pit bull". Dakota is a wily one and I know he can handle himself in most situations, but I'd rather he not.

In a really bad situation I'd step back and let Zaphod handle another dog. I know he can and will, but I'd still rather protect him than let him protect me.

I'm the same way. I know Bandit can handle himself. He's a tough little bugger but I'd never let him. I don't want him to feel like he has to defend himself.

 

[CharlieDog]

My dad used to carry around a taser gun. It hurts like hell to get zapped by one of those too. The problem with one of those is you have to be near the dog, but they have ones that are shaped like batons now... That might be effective.

 

[smkie]

Ollie very gently put Victor on the ground when he was being a nucklehead. Not a tooth mark on him, but down he went!

 

[bubbatd]

Ollie says he's sorry !!!! He was just trying to help Victor get back on the patio !! I love seeing dogs interact and solve their " issues " when no one gets hurt . When Hunter is here and play gets to a point , I say " Hey , that's enough ! Someone is going to get hurt " ...... that's what I said to my human kids too !!

 

[Whisper]

Sorry, Reggin. It's annoying and scary as hell.
I've had lots of dogs run up to my dogs on walks. Since we live in a rocky terrain and have easy access to rocks, I've found a rock is enough to deter some dogs without hitting the dog with it, though when that doesn't work a swift hit with a rock will get the dog to back off.
Millie was actually attacked by my aunt's Rottweiler Xena. I had Millie next to my side, not even looking at Xena, and she lunged and got Millie by the throat. I was so pumped with adrenaline I was spectacularly stupid, and at once my mom, my mom's ex, and I leaped on Xena and started pounding the hell out of her. Jason got her by the scruff of her neck and squeezed until she released, which was unfortunately long time; Xena had a really strong grip on Millie. Jason got bitten by Xena in the process. Poor Millie didn't do anything but yelp. She was very shaken up when she got loose, but didn't have any real damage. I'm so glad she has so much fluff around her neck! Millie's about 30 pounds and Xena I would estimate is about 100 pounds. We didn't handle it at all well and we weren't prepared at all, but Millie is okay.
Poor Xena, too. She came around the same time my aunt had a baby and was banished outside. Other than Harley, who is a male Rott that she's fine with, she hadn't seen another dog for the majority of her life. She's banished because they don't trust her around their daughter, so her life is basically being an ornament in their backyard.

 

[Squishy22]

I couldn't use an air horn, unfortunately, as my dogs are sensitive to sudden, loud noise and would probably be bothered more by the horn than the oncoming dog would be.

I'm overprotective of my dogs. I have Border Collies, they're not built to fight other animals, but they're tenacious little dogs and won't back down if threatened. If a dog comes up to us and acts aggressively, my dogs will react and if it's a big strong dog, it's going to be a bad outcome for my gutsy crew. So if I see a dog coming towards us and posturing aggressively, I'm not going to be gentle and tell them to "shoo, shoo" or give up if stomping my feet at them doesn't work. I've found that a good whack to the head with the clip end of a lead is effective, especially if you have heavier hardware on your lead.

Maybe if I desensitize reggin from the horn he wont be bothered by it. Its worth a try. He gets use to strange noises very quickly.

My aunts female border collie got in a little fight with my parents husky/lab/chow mix and the collie whooped ass, lol. They are VERY quick on their feet. Thats why I was worried when I seen an ACD charging us because I have seen them fight before and are extremely quick dogs and tenacious.

 

[Squishy22]

There are a lot of DA pit bulls where I live and they scare me, but I have NEVER seen one loose.

The problem in my area is loose GSDs, mutts, and extremely DA labs. That really surprises me because labs don't strike me as being DA dogs. But then again they are the type that are built like rotties, so I am sure they are from BYBs.

 

[elegy]

I've started carrying HALT dog repellent because I have had the same problem over and over and over again. I also only walk one dog at a time (a pain), and I only walk them up my street to Main Street, and down Main. Anywhere else I try to go, I run into loose dogs. It's a tremendous frustration, because Mushroom is EXTREMELY reactive and defensive-aggressive precisely because he's been attacked so freaking many times. I get him worked to the point where he's better, and it happens again. It frustrates me to the point of tears.

 

[Kayla]

It's really quite remarkable with the amount of stories like these that there arent way more dog attacks happening daily. Irresponsible owners create ticking time bombs and one day some poor person or dog or child has to pay the consequences, along with the breed of the attacking dog.

Such a sad reality.

I'm with everyone else though avoid the area if possible, arm yourself with repellent, airhorn and I'd like to restate please consider reporting your next door neighbours dogs to AC, dogs like that should not be able to escape do easily.