I would like to know what to do when a big dog (German Shepherd) attacks a small dog (Yorkie Terrier)?

Mr. Frawley,

I just read your suggestions on how to break up a dog fight and found it very informative. My problem is that I would like to know what to do when a big dog (German Shepherd) attacks a small dog (Yorkie Terrier)?

My husband was out with our son and our Yorkie, Hoss, when a large German Shepherd jumped over a 7ft wall and attacked our dog. The German Shepherd had just clamped its mouth down on our dogs back and was getting ready to "shake" him, when my husband pried open the German Shepherds jaws and released our dog. The German Shepherd then turned and attacked my husband. We know the German Shepherd and his owners and my husband was yelling the dogs name and telling him to stop, he finally kicked the dog hard twice in the face before another neighbor came out and attempted to pull the German Shepherd off of my husband, the dog then turned on the neighbor until one of the owners children came up and yelled the dogs name. The dog stopped and was then lead away by the collar. The owners have had problems with this dog before but say they can't find anyone who will take him and can't afford to put him to sleep.

What should my husband have done differently to prevent any blood shed? How can we protect our dog in the future?

Any advise would be helpful.

Thank You,
Cindy