OMG! Hershey got shot at!!!

[Spirit2010]

Well, we went on a walk last night, I was holding both leashes of Hershey and Whisper, and Whisper got on Hershey's nerves, and I let go of his leash, because I didn't want either to get hurt. Whisper has gotten the bad side of Hershey once, and I didn't want it to happen again. And he ran to my grandma's neighbors. And the next thing we knew he was getting shot at!!!!!!! :yikes: With a real gun! So I screamed "there shooting at Hershey!" Really loud. So he halled back to us, and he is fine, and isn't injured, we checked. Picked his leash up, and went home. My grandma said don't come this way again. Isn't shooting at a dog with a leash dragging/collar and tags illegal??? I was freaked out that they might have gotten Hershey. And then Bruce didn't make it any better by threatening to burn down their house for shooting at him!!! He could have gotten shot!!! (He was trying to yell at them about shooting at Hershey) I know I shouldn't have dropped his leash. I was wrong in many ways. But your supposed to call Animal Control. I can't hold 136 pounds of dog on my right/left arm. My arm gets weak after a while. I pitched in softball/threw. And now my arm is going out. I can't hold my niece anymore/hold dog food for very long now. And two dogs almost fighting isn't making it any better. So I guess its separate walking times now for the both of them. I took the dog coupler back for this reason. I tried separate leashes last night. I'm still freaked out about him getting shot at. However, I wasn't going to go over there, and talk to them about it. Because they are crazy, my mom and grandma said that they were. Of course I will do anything for Whisper and Hershey to make this situation better.

 

[Zoom]

I think you're going to have to start taking two walks. You've got two problems here, Whisper and Hershey don't get along all that well when walked together and obviously your neighbors aren't too thrilled to have a loose dog on their property.

I'm glad he's not hurt but heed the lesson!

 

[MicksMom]

...Isn't shooting at a dog with a leash dragging/collar and tags illegal???...

Not in rural/farm areas. What is illegal, at least around here, is shooting a gun too close to dwellings and roads, tho. I'm not saying it was right to shoot at Hershey, only that, just because he was dragging a leash and has tags doesn't mean it was OK for him to be on someone else's property. However, I totally understand why he was loose, and I'm glad he wasn't hurt.

I'm with Zoom- it looks like you'll be taking two walks. Or maybe someone can come with you and you each take a dog?

 

[elegy]

Depending on where you live, no, it's not illegal. I agree- if you can't handle the two of them together, you'll need to start taking separate walks. That's what I have to do with Luce and Mushroom, and yeah, it's a pain, but that's just what we have to do.

 

[Spirit2010]

Not in rural/farm areas. What is illegal, at least around here, is shooting a gun too close to dwellings and roads, tho. I'm not saying it was right to shoot at Hershey, only that, just because he was dragging a leash and has tags doesn't mean it was OK for him to be on someone else's property. However, I totally understand why he was loose, and I'm glad he wasn't hurt.

I'm with Zoom- it looks like you'll be taking two walks. Or maybe someone can come with you and you each take a dog?

We live in the country. I do understand that it wasn't ok for him to be running loose. Two walks sounds like a good idea. Whisper can be a pill for Hershey who isn't in to mouthing/all the energy. Thanks everyone for the advice. And I will definately take this lesson in, so Hershey doesn't get shot. Next time the guy might not miss. <----- As harsh as it sounds, but some people just aren't very nice. And we all know it.

 

[Babyblue5290]

Scary! I would not go that way again if you can avoid it!

Agree with Zoom, if they don't always get along and you can't pull them apart, seperate walks may be for the best!

 

[Mach1girl]

Happened to one of our dogs. One got shot and the other was shot and killed. Jack made it home, only for me to have to put him out of his misery with my gun. He was almost dead.

Terrible, but hey, I can understand why some folk do that. In my case the dogs kept escaping and chasing cattle. You never know what the reasoning is. Just be careful, or you'll have to go thru what I did. And that sucks.

 

[bubbatd]

Scary for you ....but a lesson learned .

 

[Barb04]

I'm glad to hear everyone is okay. Do please take them on separate walks. That guy is crazy! I just moved to the country and there's lots of loose dogs which visit my house.

 

[Sch3Dana]

It seems to me that the primary problem is that your dogs are not walking nicely on the leash and feel that they are allowed to fight with one another on walks :yikes: This is a training issue. With enough training, you should be able to walk two intact males who don't like each other, let alone two dogs who live together and presumably get along most of the time. I think everyone is right when they suggest separate walks for now. But long term, I would be training them to walk better on the leash and listen to you. You should be able to say sit or down and stop any bickering or over-excitement. It may take a while to train them to that level, but you should eventually be able to walk them together again.

Have you taken them to any training classes? Do you know anyone in your area who is good at retraining aggression? My guess is that they get too excited about the walk and then bicker when they bump into one another or fight over who gets to stick his nose deeper in the smells. This should be pretty trainable. Part of the training is teaching them not to get so wild, part of it is teaching them that they need to be listening to you for commands. If they both sit as soon as you tell them to, every time, they can't fight. I would also tend to suggest training on gentle leaders or haltis. The haltis in particular are good, bc you can pull up on the leash and that one simple pull will get their heads away from each other and close their mouths. The haltis can be very good for gently correcting low levels of aggression.

 

[Renee750il]

You have to check the laws in your state. Here in Tennessee, shooting a dog unless you're a farmer and the dog is chasing your livestock or unless a dog is attacking, is felony animal cruelty.

But yah, separate walks. I usually do separate walks with Bimmer and Kharma, and they get along. Kharma just pisses Bimmer off when she lunges or doesn't stop when he stops.

 

[oc_spirit]

You can walk both dogs together just train one to heel on your left and the other on your right. They cant fight if they're remaining in their respactable spots (with you between them). Like Dana said, ths is just a training issue that can be remedied.

 

[adojrts]

Happened to one of our dogs. One got shot and the other was shot and killed. Jack made it home, only for me to have to put him out of his misery with my gun. He was almost dead.

Terrible, but hey, I can understand why some folk do that. In my case the dogs kept escaping and chasing cattle. You never know what the reasoning is. Just be careful, or you'll have to go thru what I did. And that sucks.

OMG, your an idiot AND you have pitties. Not very responsible are you?

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Hershey, please don't walk both dogs until you are SURE you can do it safely. Land owners in most areas are within their rights to destroy loose dogs on their property, especially if they feel their livestock may be in danger.

Get someone to walk the dogs with you, or walk them one at a time.

 

[Renee750il]

And, you never know how good a shot the landowner is . . . or how drunk he is. It might not be the dogs who get hit.

 

[corgi_love]

In california is illegal to let go of the leash. In fact I think there is a leash length regulation? No longer than 6 feet I believe.

In any event, I'm so glad your babies are okay. I'm moving out to the 'country' soon so now I know to never let my boy off the leash. Lesson learned for me too!

 

[Spirit2010]

The obedience trainer is going to come to our house sometime too, she does a good job with aggression. Shes going to help us with our problems at home. And I'm not going to walk them together until it can be done safely. I know this is a serious issue. And, this guy has no livestock of any kind. Hershey was in his ditch. And thats it. And sniffing around, not hurting anything. But I do understand that he can't be running loose, on everyone's property. It was scary! (Whisper mouths at Hershey, and he doesn't like it, he doesn't start it) But yes, this is a training session with the two. Would I give them a treat every time they are by each other, and not nipping or anything? Like, put Hershey on a leash, have him walk into the room Whisper's in, and give her a treat for not biting? I'll ask the trainer when she comes over also.

 

[adojrts]

Have you called the police?? I don't know about your state but where I am from, it is illegal to fire a weapon within a couple of hundred feet of a road and other residents. It is also illegal to fire any weapon towards or across a road. So if you dog was in his ditch and you saw it, depending on the laws you may have a case. At the very least its on record.

 

[Zoom]

Are you sure it's attacking and not just Hershey telling Whisper to "settle down already!"? Sawyer likes to do this with Virgo on occassion...jump on her and mouth when walking next to her. I just walk one on either side of me and the problem is solved. Most of the time they can be walked next to each other as well; Sawyer has grown out of his total "brat on a leash" phase.

Good luck with the trainer!

 

[Paige]

That's frightening. Glad the dogs are ok.