We took Kasey (the most non-aggressive golden I've ever met) down to the beach for a walk today. It was crowded because it's 79 degrees here in So. CA today. Anyway, we're just walking along and this guy walking toward us with a friendly-looking black lab lets his dog come clear over into our space before I can assess the situation, and before we know it that dogs' teeth are in Kasey's neck. One minute the dog showed NO signs of aggression, and in a split second, he's vicious.

How do you guys keep this from happening when walking your dogs? It seems as though, these days, more dogs are aggressive than not. We've been growled at, teeth bared, and bit twice now. I do not want Kasey to become afraid of dogs, but on the other hand I'm not going to let this happen again. I'm thinking that the only way to avoid this is to go out and around other dogs, avoiding them altogether. I'm just concerned that that will teach Kasey to fear dogs, and he's training for therapy dog certification, so he has to be comfortable around other dogs. I just can't understand why people who know their dog bites, lets it approach other dogs!

An off-leash beach is the same to me as an off-leash dog park. I just don't do it. And crowded ... even more so.

I hope you reported this moron with an uncontrolled aggressive dog in a crowded place.

We've been growled at, teeth bared, and bit twice now. I do not want Kasey to become afraid of dogs, but on the other hand I'm not going to let this happen again. I'm thinking that the only way to avoid this is to go out and around other dogs, avoiding them altogether. I'm just concerned that that will teach Kasey to fear dogs, and he's training for therapy dog certification, so he has to be comfortable around other dogs.

I do not trust strangers -- either their control or their training. And you have very good reason not to, too.

My dogs are comfortable (indifferent to mildly interested/friendly) around other dogs. They have some friends, too, among dogs they've met when I worked with them and among the dogs in their training club(s), but I would be OK with it even if they did not.

Anyway, never frequenting off-leash parks with strange dogs didn't hinder this attitude (the attitude that I strive for) at all.

 Quote: Lori Hall

I just can't understand why people who know their dog bites, lets it approach other dogs!

Don't devote too much time trying to answer these kinds of questions - no matter what the vast majority of idiots in the world are using as reasoning, it will always be up to YOU to take as many precautions as necessary to keep your dog safe. This includes flat out avoiding areas where you know there will be off-leash dogs of unknown temperament and behavior.

Never trust strangers to be in control of their dogs (even ON leash), and never overestimate a person's understanding of their own dog - SO many owners out there are completely clueless about correctly reading canine behavior, they don't pick up on subtle dominant and aggressive behaviors even when they SEE them. Additionally, just because their dog gets along well with most other dogs doesn't mean it'll get along with yours. The easy way to avoid these frustrated encounters is to simply keep your distance.

~Natalya

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It was crowded

That's your problem right there.

 Quote: Mike J Schoonbrood

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It was crowded

That's your problem right there.

Great point.

 Quote: Lori Hall

before I can assess the situation

Crowded, off-leash beach with 79 degree weather? There's your assessment right there.

The best way to stop this kind of thing happening is to avoid it in the first place. An ounce of prevention is better than a ton of cure.

That's the reason I stopped walking my neighborhood, loose dogs and owners "trying" to recall the dogs but to lazy to come get them. Finally Zeus got attacked and I was alone (dog came out of a alley). Now I go to public walking trails or forest preserves where the dogs must be leashed. Nothings perfect but I have more control, I can keep a safe distance from people,and zeus sees dogs and people (from a controlled distance)

I see your need to socialze, maybe you can find a training center or canine club where you can interact in a controlled invironment. Explain your situation and your needs.

Lori, you are not being jumped on here, even though the answers are all so similar.

These responses come from the same experiences that the almost-universal (here) disapproval of off-leash dog parks comes from.

It's not our job to understand why morons are morons (even if we could).

It's our job not to let their stupidity affect our dogs.

Therapy dog certification won't require that your dog tolerate other dogs aggressing against him. In fact, effects on your dog of being attacked would be more likely to render him a less-appropriate candidate.

I think that what you will want for your dog is what I want for mine: calm indifference towards strange dogs.

JMO.

 Quote: lori hall

How do you guys keep this from happening when walking your dogs?

As others have said, I avoid dog park-like places. Of course, that's no guarantee that one won't encounter an aggressive off-leash dog.

In my view, I have the absolute responsibility to protect my dogs. When we walk or hike or go to the beach, I always carry sturdy walking stick (or something like it).

When an unsupervised dog tries to approach, I stand between the loose dog and mine and hold the stick out. I firmly tell the dog to "get." If I see the owner, I tell him or her to recall the dog. It has never failed yet. If, god forbid, the dog would continue toward my dogs in an aggressive manner, I wouldn't hesitate to whack it with the stick. I simply will not allow another dog to attack one of mine.

This is how a similar situation was handled recently in the Cleveland Metroparks ...

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/12/man_shoots_attacking_dog_at_ro.html