What should you do if your dog is attacked?

[PWCorgi]

I had a stray dog run up to me the other day while I was walking Frodo, and thank goodness he was friendly, but it got me thinking about what I would have done if it had been aggressive. And I didn't have an answer, I really don't know what I would have done.

So basically, what should you do? I am mainly talking about when you are walking your dog(s), and an aggressive dog starts coming towards you, how are you supposed to respond?

 

[Lizmo]

Yes I would like to know too

 

[iheartsammy]

I've tought of this as well while walking Samm...

 

[bubbatd]

Whenever I've walked my dogs and a strange one came near , I'd watch it's demeanor and put my dog at a heel/sit . Luckily none have ever attacked ....but I think staying quiet helps.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

I honestly don't know. I know that my dogs would be on a sit stay and I would be ready to fend off any attacking dog... but I'm sure that's not the right thing to do.

 

[ToscasMom]

Give the dog a face full of pepper spray or HALT. Then call the police, tell them where the howling dog is and leave. It beats reasoning with an aggressive dog, and is a heck of lot more reliable. Practice your aim on something first so you get the hang of how to use it and don't end up hitting yourself or your own dog. While it's nice to hear what expert trainers would do, most of us will never have that much experience to feel good about practicing when a dog is coming at us. I would say it's far better to be safe than sorry. When a dog is coming at you, all the things you think you learned could easily go out the window with fear. I know that's what would happen to me. My life and the life of my dog come first before the comfort of any loose dog coming at us uninvited.

My tolerance level for loose dogs went out the window last time I took a bike ride. I see where Taser manufacturers are coming out with a small personal model. Once those hit the market, if I were a dog owner, I would really think twice agout letting my dog run around loose. There are a lot of very skittish irrational people out there these days when it comes to loose dogs.

 

[Julie]

Give the dog a face full of pepper spray or HALT. Then call the police, tell them where the howling dog is and leave. It beats reasoning with an aggressive dog, and is a heck of lot more reliable. Practice your aim on something first so you get the hang of how to use it and don't end up hitting yourself or your own dog. While it's nice to hear what expert trainers would do, most of us will never have that much experience to feel good about practicing when a dog is coming at us. I would say it's far better to be safe than sorry. When a dog is coming at you, all the things you think you learned could easily go out the window with fear. I know that's what would happen to me. My life and the life of my dog come first before the comfort of any loose dog coming at us uninvited.

My tolerance level for loose dogs went out the window last time I took a bike ride. I see where Taser manufacturers are coming out with a small personal model. Once those hit the market, if I were a dog owner, I would really think twice agout letting my dog run around loose. There are a lot of very skittish irrational people out there these days when it comes to loose dogs.

I agree... I do feel sorry for the dogs that are let alone and just wondering around...but you really have to protect your own... I never walk my dogs without pepperspray in my pocket and I feel much safer knowing I have a deterent for loose aggressive dogs... I mean it is NOT my fault, my dogs are leashed and under control.

 

[bubbatd]

I've never carried anything for protection . My friend carried a shock pistol .....but has never had to use it .

 

[Julie]

I've never carried anything for protection . My friend carried a shock pistol .....but has never had to use it .

Well, it is better to have something available and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

 

[sam]

I am extremely watchful and careful now.I ahve learned some hard lessons. If a dog I don't know is approaching I call my dogs to me. If a bullying or aggressive dog starts being rude, chest bumping, looking humpy or growling at my dogs I step in between that dog and mine and tell them loudly and firmly to get lost. I also keep an eye out for an owner and if I see one ask them to call their dog. Usually that much works but I once had to beat a dog with my chuckit (ballthrower) who had run at Rosie pinned her and wouldn't get off. Luckliy she wasn't hurt.
Sammy was pinned and bit over and over again on the neck leaving him with several puncture wounds and VERY sore all for arriving at a ball at the same time as another dog that I thought he was fine retrieving with.
It's a good idea to carry some "Direct Stop" it's citronella spray and won't hurt anyone (which is especially good since it might get on your own dog accidentally) but is supposed to be useful in stopping a fight.

 

[krisykris]

I'll look into the direct stop!! Thanks!

 

[Bobsk8]

If you want to avoid either you or your dog getting bitten, a can of Halt works wonders. I carry a can whenever I go out, since there are many dogs where I live....

http://www.amazon.com/Halt-Dog-Repellant/dp/B000AOA420

 

[ToscasMom]

I opted out of Direct Stop because it works on odor only and acts as a "distraction". The material on it says it gives you "valuable seconds" to get away from the dog while the spray "distracts" the dog. Pepper spray on the other hand is going to put the dog out of commission for longer than a few seconds because it just plain hurts. I wouldn't want to spray a dog only to find he's after me even more angry in less than a minute. I can't run THAT fast.

 

[GSDluver4lyfe]

I agree with the pepper spray, although that may incite the dog more, depends on the dog's willingness to "fight". I never make my dog sit or stay if a dog is around, I want them to be in a position to defend themselves if need be. But my dogs dont bark or anything at dogs, so they stay calm.

 

[Kayla]

Before I had Duke, when I was 12 or so I used to walk my uncle's boxer ( who lives in the same house as us) every day. On one occasion someone had their mixed breed dog offlesh and had stopped to chat with someone and turned his back on his dog. The dog spotted us and proceeded to approach us with hackles raised and in a low stalking like position. Diamond was probably close to 65 pounds and the other dog looked maybe a little bit shorter then her but not by much.

I immediatly diverted eye contact and started to back away slowly while trying to keep diamond from making eye contact with him or her as to not envoke an assault from him. He kept gaining ground on us and I kept glancing over at the owner who was about the length of a football field away not at this point and I was to afraid to scream for him to get his dog incase it startled the dog into attacking.

When he finally caught up to us diamond stood very rigedly inbetween me and the other dog and I sort of frooze and looked away from him as It's all I could really think to do. Finally the owner called the dog back and it left.

I guess if I ever encountered a truley aggressive dog that started trying to bite not just growl and I couldn't get away I'd probabaly fight back at that point and try and get away. When Duke is older I think he would give any attacking dog a run for it's money unless it was a huuge 150 pound plus dog.

Dog attacks outside of the home are pretty rare though, most incidents of mauling occur when children usually under the age of 15 are left unattended with a dog or not taught how to behave around a dog.

Kayla

 

[Miakoda]

Honestly, in 2 separate incidents I have been bitten trying to shield my dogs away from the oncoming dog in order to spare those dogs some serious damage. Never again. Of course I will try to deter the oncoming dog(s), but if they continue to come at us aggressively even after me trying to shoo it away, I will let happen happen. I don't think I should have to get bitten in order to protect someone's dog who obviously doesn't even feel like protecting it themselves.

And I always carry a breakstick with me nowadays.

 

[ToscasMom]

Dog attacks outside of the home are pretty rare though, most incidents of mauling occur when children usually under the age of 15 are left unattended with a dog or not taught how to behave around a dog.

The last three serious dog attacks I know of here occurred when loose dogs went after a person. One occurred in the yard of the boy who got mauled when the dog entered the yard by surprise. The other two happened on the street to adult pedestrians. We HAVE had cases of in-home injuries though.


Miakoda, What is a breakstick? Sorry if that's a dumb question but I'm curious.

 

[Kayla]

Breaksticks were traditionally used to break up pitt fights but are effective for using to break up any dog fight by wedging it between the two dogs without risking being bit by redirected aggression by your dog or the other dog and giving you a moment to seperate the two.

As for my comments about stray attacks I guess it would depend on where you live as well but I have found for the most part, dog attacks here and most ones reported involve children at home, this isn't to say it might be reverse somewhere else.

I'm undecided about how effective things like pepper spray would be as when any dog is in attack type mode I'm unsure of how easily deterred they would be.

Kayla

 

[blue]

First thought for me was shoot.

 

[bubbatd]

Sorry ^^ Grammy doesn't carry a gun !