I know there have been several posts recently regarding protection from loose dogs, protecting your dog from other dog-aggressive dogs, carrying walking sticks, etc.

I don't know, should I be freely bashing these loose dogs that charge me and my pup? It seems every single weekend an incident occurs (wherever I bring him) wherein an idiot of an owner thinks he or she has control over their dog and lets it off leash. Once yesterday a dog somehow got out of its collar and charged my dog. I saw it coming, put my dog behind me and kicked her dog. The owner grabbed it before it had time to do anything else.

Today, I was in a park w/my dog on leash and two guys and 1 woman had 3 dogs w/them - 1 looked like a mini Malinois and 2 looked like boxers. The boxer snarled at my dog but I had already walked off the path when I saw them coming and couldn't really go any further. Luckily the boxer was leashed at the time. 1 hour later at another point in the park all were off leash. I turned around and went the other way. Unfortunately, they caught up to me. The Malinois looking dog charged, I again put my dog behind me, kicked his dog and when I did this the mongrel of a dog jumped up on me (it was soaking wet by the way too to make matters worse). The man did no apologizing and looked at me like I was crazy I didn't appreciate what had just occurred.

What would any of you have done at this point? Being about 5'4 and 105 lbs, I'm not anxious to enter into a verbal confrontation w/an obvious idiot and his 3 dogs.

I can't help but feel ineffective in protecting my dog and luckily nothing serious has happened but this is getting ridiculous.

Given these two scenarios, would any of you have hit either dog with the stick? Mind you, I'm also concerned for my safety in the one instance with the guy in the woods.

My second question: is it crazy of me to consider teaching my dog NOT to be dog aggressive but to teach him a command that might ward off some charging dog or the moron who owns him? I.E. Loose dog is running up to us, I give a command to alert or something, giving the owner a heads up to get his dog BEFORE it gets to mine?

I hope this all made sense. I'm open to suggestions of any kind because I'm really fed up with the dog owners in this area <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> !

Judy, why don't you explor new areas to walk your dog. Why do you keep going back to the same place. There must be some other place where you may have fewer encounters. I know that I say away from several places that I have found the stupid pet owners worse than others. In fact I have been taking my dogs the last 2 weeks to a beach several towns away in order to avaid a beach that is closer with people with more out of control dogs. I also use a bit less desirable area to release my dogs to play in the water for the same reasons stated above even at this beach. I would also carry a stick to use to ward off any stray dogs. Iyou use your foot you may use it to boot the 'wrong' dog one of these days & be bitten.

Anne,

I know you're trying to help and thank you but one of my very first sentences in my post said that it is everywhere I go. If it was only one place, I'd be able to figure that one out and not return. That's why my post was titled with 'NJ' in it - it's everywhere - <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> .

The rest of your post sort of answered one of my questions -you would use the stick for a stray (I would too) but would you use it with the owner right there walking along merrily behind his charging dog like his dog is doing no wrong?? I carry it with me now, it's brand new and I have yet to use it but I am somewhat worried about using it vs. my foot and wondered whether anyone else has struck a dog before while the owner was in tow?? As the dog is coming at my dog, I don't know what it's going to do when it gets to my dog, therefore, should I be waiting till the dog bites my dog and then hit it?? Seems to me a little crazy but somehow striking a dog with a stick when it was only going to sniff my dog (and aggravate me) seems overkill??

Is there some way anyone has found that works on loose (not strays) dogs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> ?

I agree about using my foot and me getting bitten one day and so far kicking the dog has been somewhat effective but ONLY because they've been small dogs.

Maybe I'll just move to Montana <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> .

Judy,

just imagine it's your child.. and a stray dog came over.. You don't know whether it wanted to sniff and bite.

A taser would probably work. The noise should be enough to keep a dog away. Or, get a small cattle prod. That would also work.

Hi Judy,

I wouldn't feel bad about this at all! If you allow another dog to get too near your dog and it's too excitable for your dogs liking or it bites your dog then YOUR dog is the one who suffers! Your dog may well react badly also where it may bite or attack then you have an "agressive dog" according to the morons!

I'd hit it every time with the stick, and I'd feel mildly sorry for the dog, it's the owners fault after all, but any sh*t from the owner and they get a skelp with the stick as well to let them know how it feels :-) JK.

I'd rather hit the owner than the dog but it's not gonna go down that way ever.

John is right on the money....protect your dog in situations such as these as if it's your child.

HTH

John

That time of year again!! I ran in to a similar situation yesterday...and I know what you mean about the situation being unavoidable regardless of where you go, especially when you live in suburbia! In my case, my GSD does not mind 99% of dogs - in fact, she has been taught to ignore them and this usually works. When this does not work is when you have a golden retriever running 100 miles an hour right to her (and in her view, all of us) with an owner 30 feet behind it yelling "hey, come!" ineffectively. This had to have been the most stupid dog I have ever come across because it did not understand dog language at all! Luckily, my fiance was with me to take care of the problem. To combat situations like this when I am alone, I have taught my dog to stay put when a dog approaches and I carry two things: a big stick and pepper spray (I wouldn't hesitate to use either!). Normally, if I yell that "I have pepper spray and I will spray your dog" people tend to gather up their dogs quite quickly...and then I use some colorful language to remind them of the leash laws in public parks.

-Melissa

This weekend.. I had an encounter with a guy with his "macho GSD".. I fired 2 shots from my .6mm training pistol.. (LOL) my 4 1/2 month mal didn't flinch.. His dog went running back to PAPA.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Everyone's post was so helpful but I couldn't help feeling Melissa's post was exactly what happens to me!! You are so right about suburbia. My dog loves other dogs but they always growl at him <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. He's only 12 months old and I don't think will defend himself too well if he gets attacked so I feel like I have to be very vigilant with him. I love your idea of warning the owner about the pepper spray!! Melissa, I'm going to PM you.

My weekly dog training lesson was today. I asked the class what they do...the trainer said she would use a horse whip/crop. I was thrilled with the idea; it makes a noise/snap, it could be used from a distance to possibly slow down a charging dog (make him think this might not be such a good idea to go investigate), it would be painful to the charging dog if he kept coming but would not tie me up in court should the owner be litigious (at least I don't think so). So thank you all. I'm off now to go get me a whip <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> !

No, I wouldn't have kicked or hit the dog, but I saw my husband do it once. He really cracked the dog hard, and it did stop attacking, but it didn't run away. I'm afraid that will stimulate a more severe attack, so I don't do it, plus I feel sorry for the loose dogs because it's the owners fault.

The whip sounds like a great idea. I might just get one. I was walking the other day and saw a loose rottweiler. Luckily it just looked at us and made no attempt to come near. Good luck, let us know how the whip works.