While out on a walk with my docile lab my dog was attacked by a pit bull and another stray dog. What should I have done?

Question

Hi Ed,

    I read your page on dog fighting and it was pretty helpful, thanks. I still don't feel like I completely understand what to do if attacked by a dog, so if you could consider my specific situation I would greatly appreciate it, as I am somewhat at a loss.

    Two nights ago I was walking down the main street of my small town with my very docile, friendly, sweet, yellow lab. He's a classic lab, wouldn't hurt a fly. We paused outside of a bar to look at the calendar of events, when all of a sudden two dogs, one pit bull, one shepard/rottie mix, came tearing out of the bar and attacked my dog. They came out of nowhere, it felt like. Apparently, the owner of the dogs is a bartender at the bar, and had them tied to a stool while he was in the back fixing something. Ass hole. Anyway, both dogs attacked my dog and I didn't know what to do. I tried kicking them off but I don't think I was ever even able to make contact with them. It happened so fast and I was so scared, it's all sort of a blur to me now, frankly. Finally, after hearing my cries for help, people in the bar came running out and 2 men helped get the dogs off my dog. Luckily, my dog survived - he escaped with a deep puncture wound in his neck and some scratches on his face, but he will be fine. Please note that my lab didn't fight back - I don't know if that information is important, but it wasn't a dog fight in the sense of equal fighting - it was a true attack.

    Now I am scared to walk around my town... I feel like there are dogs everywhere waiting to "get" me and my dog. What can I do to feel safe? Someone suggested carrying dog pepper spray. I have heard conflicting things about this. Some people say it works to separate, even though you may spray your own dog in the process. I can do that, as long as I know the damage to him is temporary. Others, however, say being sprayed can piss the attacking dog off even more and make things worse.

    I liked your method about making a harness for the dog with a leash, but if I am out walking with my dog, I figure it is unfeasible to get the leash off of him so I can use it to tie up the other dog. Also, I am not very strong and in a panic situation might botch that method. So dog pepper spray seems to be the most viable option for protecting my dog from being attacked. What do you think? Is there anything else you can recommend for a girl in my position?

    Thanks for your advice, and I will continue to visit your page.

    Lauri

Accepted Answer

Lauri,

    I would get a very stout walking stick and keep it with me every time you take your dog out. If a strange dog comes near you - warn him off with your voice (this is very important in respect to your dog looking at you as a pack leader - your dog expects you to protect him). If the dog comes through your warning then crack him over the head as hard as you can with the stick. We are not talking about love taps here. You will not kill a dog by doing this. They have very thick skulls.

    Once had a very, very dog aggressive GSD male at my kennel. A mistake happened and it attacked my 13 year old female black lab, retired drug dog, Gabby. He had her down by the neck and I could not get him off her. I was not about to allow him to kill her in front of me. I hit him over the head with a flat bladed kennel shovel (with the flat of the blade). I hit him as hard as I could hit him. It took somewhere between 5 and 10 hard, hard hits for him to break-off the attack and stagger away. My point here is that it did not kill him (although I was prepared to kill him rather than allow Gabby to be killed). I am sure he had a headache for a couple of days but this extreme action on my part saved my old dogs life. So hitting a dog with a walking stick one time may not be enough. Hit the dog as hard as you can hit him - right between the ears.

    With that said - a walking stick would not have worked on these two dogs that attacked your dog. I would recommend carrying pepper gas (the 10% concentrate stuff) and I would have put the nozzle within inches of the attacking dogs nose. Try and squirt it right up the nose and right into their eyes. Dogs don't have tear ducts, I think the nose works better. When the attacking dog backs off - continue to spray it. I would spray it until the can is empty.

    When dogs like this attack they are focused on the dog they are biting. 99.99% of the time they are not going to stop or be concerned just because you are close to them with a can in your hand. They do not see that as a threat until it's too late.

    As far as listening to these people with their comments on pepper gas or whatever - I can say that you should learn one thing from this - "Everyone has an opinion on dog training (just ask). The problem is very, very few people have the experience to back up their opinions." This results in a ton of bad information being passed around.

    This bartender should have got a citation for what happened. I hope you called the police and insisted on a report. If the police will not do anything call the DA and the Mayor and tell them if they don't follow up, you are going to write a letter to the editor of your local paper and complain that they (the MAYOR and DA - both elected officials) refused to listen and help. That usually gets results.

    Sincerely,
Ed Frawley