Just sharing my experience over the weekend:

Went to a cabin in the mountains that my uncle owns and rents now and then. Took my dog for a walk in the morning. Turns out the people in the cabin next door (residents- i.e. they live there all year long) let their dogs run free in the morning and at night. I've been to this cabin before- the dogs have been friendly - but I've never been there with our dog.

The dogs (seemingly friendly enough) come trotting over to us. I keep walking hoping the farther we get, the sooner they'll give up. In my head, I'm saying, "I don't want my dogs to meet your dogs.. why can't you just lock them up when people are at the cabin?"

Sure enough, they catch up to us, do the typical butt sniffing, even though I keep walking and try to stay between her and them. Ginger, my aussie, is very submissive and I think they can sense that. Next thing I know, one of the dogs starts to growl and gets on top of Ginger pushing her to the ground. Not exactly sure what to do at this point, I grabbed the collar of the "dominant" dog and tell him, "NO!". As he gets off Ginger, one of the other dogs gives her a little, "Nip".

At this point, I didn't necessarily feel "scared", but also didn't want this to go any further as I did feel it could get out of hand VERY quickly.

I knew the name of the second dog and said, "Bear- NO! GO HOME!" (hoping the owner would hear me.... he didn't). I see the first dog start coming around behind me and I step between him and Ginger and tell him "NO!". Luckily, he backed down.

I didn't feel these dogs were aggressive, per se, but I wasn't taking any chances. Trying to get three dogs off my dog would not have been a pleasant experience.

Every time I see this or experience something like this, I just shake my head... I understand (at least in the most basic sense) that dogs will establish pack order very quickly... but I don't care. I don't want my dog to be "pack ordered" from your dog.

In hindsight, I wouldn't have taken her out if I knew they were free or tried to dissuade them from following us before they got so close, but you know what they say about hindsight...

I've got some neighbors that let their dogs out free in our neighborhood. I'm sure they thing their dogs are friendly and nothing would happen. Maybe nothing has happened. Maybe as the two dogs I'm thinking of are older that they aren't spry enough to cause any real trouble. However, it still really annoys me when I'm out walking my dog and have to deal with them. I don't carry a stick or pepper spray or anything. I just get between the dogs like you explain and keep saying "NO". I can imagine that not being enough at some point. I don't really know what to do about it except protect my dog as best I can and complain here.

I don't want to seem harsh but this is what I would do.

http://leerburg.com/1212.htm

Bear spray is harsh?

You really don't want to know what I would do, then.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

Bear spray is harsh?

You really don't want to know what I would do, then.

Does it have anything to do with a BIG stick ?

I'm thinking "Bang"!!!

Well Mike,
At the very least I wouldn't go out again without a good stout walking stick.
I don't care who lives where, or how long they've been there. It's no excuse for allowing dogs to run free. If I'm not trespassing they damn well better keep they're distant from me and mine.

Randy

My mom recently had an experience with a stray dog trying to go after her dog while on a walk. She was walking by the golf course and this little dog (she thinks a border collie/basset? mix) came up and was "harassing" her and her dog. Some people on the course tried to help by whistling for the dog-mom thought it was theirs-then drove their cart away. Dog comes back and goes after Zues again. Some ladies stop and try to help my mom-they thought that it was her dog and it got loose. So, they call animal control and wait for them. A good warning (calling out the threat) and any reasonable owner (if there is one) will round up their dog(s) and say "I'm sorry, they're really nice and wouldn't harm a thing" (yeah right ).<<--in my experience

My mom called me afterward to tell me about it and she said that she never knows what to do in those situations. I told her flat out to buy a walking stick and take it with when walking Zues. Or get some bear spray-and if there's an owner nearby to call out that if they don't get their dog on a leash and in control that the dog is going to get sprayed/hit w/a stick if they don't.

Edited by Keleah Stull (05/18/2009 08:00 PM)
Edit reason: had to add more

I've kicked the crap out of dogs that have come near Dankr and I.
Rarely do I leave my home without a sidearm.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

I've kicked the crap out of dogs that have come near Danke and I.

All the dogs in the neighborhood know exactly how long my leg is.