Yes, was carrying pepper spray/mace, & Ed's words were ringing in my ears "Pepper spray won't help you in your pocket" & to paraphrase: aaa, stuff happens quick to retrieve from pocket!!

Thank you Ed for this website & all I have learned!!!

Condensed (long!!) story, have been walking next door park since Lacey was 8 weeks old, now she is 26 inches, 2 years old April 8, & 90 pounds.

We have been the focus of many loose dogs: Pit's, rot's, ect ect.
Have always stood the ground between such dogs & Lacey, with spray in hand & cell phone in pocket; & Many times in past had to call police, especially when the dude with the rot on leash purposely turned his dog loose on us -- that was scarey, full bore run at us, but dog wasn't as brave (focused) as size indicated, stopped short of the charge to sniff a tree!!!! But that dog didn't return to owner when called (of course!!)& owner disappeared before police arrived.
Folk's, there are ALOT of dumb people out there that want to "proof" their dog on a gsd!!!
Ed's (?) trick of pulling out a cell phone & pretending to talking has worked many times in the past, if time allowed!

ok, back to topic, yesterday was loose pit, just a pup, so I was able to intercede, albeit little difficut as I didn't have on prong collar, Lacey is in heat, & she is dog aggressive, but nothing significant happened (should have HAD D*mn Spray In Hand)& I was very proud of her, & my past training that showed in this instance.
But bottom line, she is a gsd, & this dog was not under control, usual inept dog owner with no control of their dog which was now off leash.
I was just trying to keep this circling (female) dog away from my dog, (b*tches leave stitches)
& yes -- I Was Very Pi**ed Off, as it went from enjoying the park & creek to stupid real fast.
After this dork finally got his dog on leash & was walking away, with me saying "Just Keep Your Dog On a Leash, Mine Is"!!!
He turned and started calling me a "B", a "C", then over & over again: I Am Going To Kill YOU & YOUR DOG!!!(?) "Go Ahead, Let IT Loose (?) I WIll Kill YOU!!!
The only other folks at the park, bunch of guys playing baseball, saw the whole thing, poised to come to my aid, but
Has anyone else ever been threatened by another dog's owner?
The worse part, if I would have had to mace this dog, then surely this enraged ignorant owner would have had to be maced, I would have called the police, but bottom line it would have Cost Me Money -- as I have no current rabies vaccine (my choice) which causes me not to have $35 city tag, as my dog is intact.
But True to Ed's words, Don't let Your Dog Bite Anyone, & You don
t have to worry about those things; but macing an enraged dog owner would have brought on the police, which as described above, I would have ended up paying fees, fines.

Thanks for the vent, had to sleep on this before I could type!!

Bottom Line -- Even Though I Own My Home Next To Park, Need To Find New Place To Walk, & those places are getting fewer & fewer these days that don't have other loose dogs, ect.
Gezzzzz Does No One But The Folks On This Website Know How To Raise/Train A Dog? Ok, I know the answer to that question: NO
So I try to be prepared, but it is like warfare out there, these people have loaded weapons & just don't realize it.

Also learned yesterday, from other leashed dog walkers, that above mentioned rot has attacked & bit 2 other dogs since my run in.

Thank for reading!!!!!!

Unfortunately, the pitull as a breed seems to be cursed with an overabundance of owners who are LOSERS in this country.

It makes me crazy to hear that you can't take your dog on a simple walk, mind your own business, and avoid this kind of BS.

Good for you to have your spray ready to go. In this case, if the dogs got into it, you'd have probably had to spray both the dog and it's dipsh*t owner.

I don't know whether you have choices about where you can walk. With your dog in heat, you will attract dog attention wherever you go, unfortunately.

 Quote: rob abel

Unfortunately, the pitull as a breed seems to be cursed with an overabundance of owners who are LOSERS in this country.

It makes me crazy to hear that you can't take your dog on a simple walk, mind your own business, and avoid this kind of BS.

Good for you to have your spray ready to go. In this case, if the dogs got into it, you'd have probably had to spray both the dog and it's dipsh*t owner.

I don't know whether you have choices about where you can walk. With your dog in heat, you will attract dog attention wherever you go, unfortunately.

Rob Abel,

Thank You for your considerate reply!

I too, as a first time intact female dog owner, thought as you stated; & I am very careful, watchful; & 99% of the time have my mace in hand!! (Moral of the Story!)
Truth be told, in 2 years, never had the "dogs" camping out by the house, or envisioned interest.
Only time, in two years, the object of "both" of their desires: was a white, toy poodle!!
Yes, I tried talking to Lacey about her "choice" -- she just looked at me with this "I like HIM mom" look -
& yes, that was a on leash, fence between, brief looking/longing, as otherwise she is in the breezeway!! & Always on leash if not!!!!
ps: She should be coming out/or is out of heat; I always give an extra week past "3 week" interval; & I'm lucky as I always catch first/or very first days. 1st heat I took her to vet to confirm, & they stated either ending or beginning; it was beginning. Her very 1st heat seemed kinda longinsh to me, why I give the extra week to cycle; but like stated, newbie intack female owner.

Edited by Theresa MacDonal (05/10/2010 10:29 AM)
Edit reason: ps

Ok, first, I'm sorry you experienced this. That said, sometimes it's better to just keep the comment to yourself and keep walking. It's not easier, it's just a better choice to avoid escalating a confrontation that you aren't prepared to deal with...and, absolutely no offense intended but, you were not prepared to deal with this confrontation.

That said, never underestimate the will of a coward to stab you in the back, sometimes literally, and any man that would threaten a woman like that is most certainly a coward. Yeah, he was more likely than not just mouthing off himself, trying to intimidate you in order to hide his blatant insecurity. I don't take that chance, though, nor do I count on others defending me in a time of need. The guys with the bats wouldn't have been able to do anything to save you if that guy had pulled out a gun. As I said in a different topic, my area is prone to violence and a fair number of people get stabbed, shot, and/or killed over simple arguments. Coward or not, if someone threatens your life you had better take it seriously.

Leaving the area at that time was the correct choice to make. Make sure you scan the area before your next few walks to make sure that idiot isn't around.

 Quote: Scott Garrett

Make sure you scan the area before your next few walks to make sure that idiot isn't around.

That's a good point. Might not be a bad idea to walk somewhere else for awhile.

 Quote: scott garrett

Ok, first, I'm sorry you experienced this. That said, sometimes it's better to just keep the comment to yourself and keep walking. It's not easier, it's just a better choice to avoid escalating a confrontation that you aren't prepared to deal with...and, absolutely no offense intended but, you were not prepared to deal with this confrontation.

That said, never underestimate the will of a coward to stab you in the back, sometimes literally, and any man that would threaten a woman like that is most certainly a coward. Yeah, he was more likely than not just mouthing off himself, trying to intimidate you in order to hide his blatant insecurity. I don't take that chance, though, nor do I count on others defending me in a time of need. The guys with the bats wouldn't have been able to do anything to save you if that guy had pulled out a gun. As I said in a different topic, my area is prone to violence and a fair number of people get stabbed, shot, and/or killed over simple arguments. Coward or not, if someone threatens your life you had better take it seriously.

Leaving the area at that time was the correct choice to make. Make sure you scan the area before your next few walks to make sure that idiot isn't around.

Thanks Scott, I respect your post!!! & agree!
He was already on a tangent w/the "B" "C" words (?), as he escalated (& being alone/woman, trust, I did keep my mouth shut during this onslaught; realizing, ohhhhh, crap, my cell phone is at home -- stupid, the time I need it)-- I said what I said calmly for the circumstances, thinking/trying to defuse some,& I was to say shocked by his continued reation (as I tried/DID prevent a dog fight), but be sure, I was shaking & taking the situation seriously!!!! This is when I scanned the "scene", as I had thought I was alone; then saw the baseball field & headed in that directin, not knowing they had been observing!! Scarry to say the least; horrible, & Mother's Day to Boot!!lol, can smile a little today!!
& be sure: "Make sure you scan the area before your next few walks to make sure that idiot isn't around"!!

Edited by Theresa MacDonal (05/10/2010 11:12 AM)
Edit reason: grammer

I open-carry a .45 cal while I walk my dogs, which is legal in my state, and oddly, I *never* get hassled.
There's an old saying, "an armed society is a polite society".

You might want to look into getting a CCW and seeking out a good firearms defensive training course, you'll greatly increase your personal security by talking these steps.

That must have been a terrible Mother's Day experience. Again, I'm truly sorry you had to experience that. I try to look at every experience as a learning experience, even if it's only a small lesson in what not to do.

 Quote: will rambeau

I open-carry a .45 cal while I walk my dogs, which is legal in my state, and oddly, I *never* get hassled.
There's an old saying, "an armed society is a polite society".

You might want to look into getting a CCW and seeking out a good firearms defensive training course, you'll greatly increase your personal security by talking these steps.

So much this.

For the folks without any self defense training, Will's posture and alertness also play a large role in his image to potential bad guys. Just like the animal kingdom, social predators more often than not look for victims they perceive as weak and easy targets. A person who's walking upright and always scanning their surroundings is not an easy target.

 Quote: will rambeau

I open-carry a .45 cal while I walk my dogs, which is legal in my state, and oddly, I *never* get hassled.
There's an old saying, "an armed society is a polite society".

You might want to look into getting a CCW and seeking out a good firearms defensive training course, you'll greatly increase your personal security by talking these steps.

Thank You!! Your not the first "To Push Me In This Direction"!
A client, said almost word for word your post, to me just last Wednesday!!!!!!! & Yes, He Carry's!!!!

Thank you Will for your reply & consideration!







Edited by Theresa MacDonal (05/10/2010 11:39 AM)
Edit reason: error's

Theresa, glad that you and Lacy are OK. Be careful out there, I drive to several spots to walk my pup, 14 weeks now. And lucky for me I have access to a military base. But even so. On occasions I have walk in to loose dogs, but always got a sorry, which does not help me, since Chico is or was in the fear period. Unfortunately, many people are not into responsible and serious dog ownership and training. And a person that would say that to any person, is definitely not on balance ground at that moment. Be prepare for all your walks. even small ones, wish you well,and always be safe. Dan