I was walking by Basset this afternoon (an intact male) and I saw the AB out of the corner of my eye, on the opposite side of the street, and running loose in the front yard of his owner's house. Although I was really concerned about this, I just kept walking at the same pace, and didn't look his way. My worst fear came true, as he bolted out of his yard across the street and ran up behind me. He stood about three feet away, growling, hackles up, eyeballing my dog. I tried to keep the Basset facing away from him so they couldn't make eye contact, and stood my ground. I pumped all 124 lbs. of myself up to look as big and intimidating as possible, and said "No"! He still stood growling, so I yelled "No" as loudly and imposingly as I could muster, made eye contact, and the dog took a few steps back. Fortunately, the whole neighborhood probably heard me, and the dog's owner stuck his head out the door and called his dog inside. WHHEEW...did I just luck out, or what? Would this be the best way to handle this kind of situation? Any suggestion? I never had this happen before. Oddly enough I was really pretty calm during the incident, but I'm shaking now!
BTW, my husband did go to the owner's house and very diplomatically suggested that it better not happen again, and that the dog would need to be properly contained from now on.

You did the right thing. I would start carrying a stout walking stick. One that carries a punch when you WHACK a stay dog over the head. You may also want to carry pepper gas. Someone your size may be better off using gas of the dog stops like this dog did. If the stay actually closes and attacks your dog use the stick. Hit the dog as hard as you can bit him - right beteen the ears.

Your dog expects you to protect him. You are the pack leader and the dog knows it.

Read the article I wrote titled DEALING WITH THE DOMINANT DOG. Its in my list of training article http://leerburg.com/articles.htm

Hitting an AB with anything other than an axe right between the eyes is NOT going to stop the dog IF his intention is to hurt you, or your dog.

Luckily 90% of ABs are nerve bags when it actually comes down to it.

Sorry Sammy, but an AB is still just a dog. Nothing super-dog about it. One well placed and properly administered strike will hurt any dog enough to make it run or incapacitate it. One well placed strike from someone with training will kill the dog. Just because ABs are known for high pain tolerance does not mean that they are impervious to any sort of physical dissuasion.

Cow femur smashing , I didn't see that on the cold steel dvd <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> That would explain the mad cow thing going on in this country <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hummm, the feel of a nice piece if hickory. Now I'm doomed to carry a politically correct expandable.

At a buck-24 you are about Kevin's size...if he says expandable, that's what I'd go with....

Will, real men carry Benchmades. . .and Sigs.


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