My first run-in with an agressive, off-leash dog. I was returning from my daily walk with my dog, Sutter, and we came over a hill and around a corner (the person who designed my housing development doesn't believe in straight or flat) and a young dog (he might have been about a year--he still had some puppy gangliness) barrels down on us. He look like he was about 15 or 20 pounds, not a big dog, but he was determined to get at me or Sutter. This little dog rushed me before, a few weeks before we adopted Sutter and two of our neighbor's boys have been nipped on the ankles by him. Anyway, I stayed between it and Suttter and yelled at it, but there were a few tense moments when I didn't think it would go. Sutter is big, so I doubt he'd be on the losing end of a squabble with this thing, but I don't want trouble (and I don't want any crap about my big, adult dog beating up on their puppy--even though my dog was on a leash and heeling nicely).
As soon as I ran off the dog, this person's toddler wanders down to the sidewalk and wants to pet my 'doggy'. (And Sutter immediately goes into a sit, because that's what gets him petted at home) Parents/owners are sitting on the porch with dog and son out of sight.
Some people shouldn't have kids or dogs. I'm not sure I'd trust these people with a rutabega plant.
Should I talk to the owners (and be very concerned about the welfare of their dog and child--at least at first) or call animal control?

Becca if the people let their dog and toddler run around unsupervised they will probably just get defensive and not listen to you.

You might just want to creatively tell your story:

"Man I was really worried about your dog yesterday (you were). When I was walking I saw this big dog (your dog)approach your dog and I was afraid they would get into it and your dog would be hurt. Then your toddler came up and I was afraid he would get in the middle of the scrape between the big dog and your dog. Thankfully your dog was smart enough not to get to close to the big dog and the big dog was nice to people."

Now everything you said was true and you have told the people nicely that they are idiots but you did so in an nonaccusitory manner. If this does not work then you will need to contact the appropriate authorties.

Get a gun and a concealed weapons permit. Carry the gun on your walks. Shoot the dog when it attacks you or your dog ( check with local laws first ).
Calling Animal Control and reporting the current dog attack now would help you justify the need to defend yourself in the future. Pick up the phone and file a report *now*.

So the steps would be:
Aggressive dog attacks you or your dog. You are in fear for your safety.
*Bang*.
Problem solved, quick and effective.



Or consider filing a lawsuit for emotional distress caused by their dog threatening you - hey, their stupid behavior is basically harassment, return the favor.

And no....I'm not kidding one bit here. If more people would defend themselves, idiots wouldn't let their dogs run free to attack people.
Is my idea crude and borderline brutal? Maybe - but I won't play the victim and I don't think other law abiding people should either. And my way works. Let the idiots and people breaking the law pay the price for their own stupidity. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Becca, I see you live in Wyoming. My idea would work fine in that state.

Though I'm not comfortable shooting in a neighborhood with so many kids, and so close to houses. My Colt .45 and concealed carry permit are in the works. My dad is a gunsmith and likes his girls to be well armed.
I'm tempted to call child protective services if the little boy is out unsupervised again. I'm afraid he'll get bit by his own dog.

Have you thought about carrying pepper spray? I do when I go to the nature trails near my house because people do not put their dogs on leashes very often and it pisses me off to no end. The only time I let my dog off leash is in the middle of 4 baseball fields where I can see all around us...wouldn't even do that if I knew that my dog's recall was not reliable.

I own a 6-ft staff and have a few years training in bojitsu. Maybe I'll carry that first--one good smack . . . <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Unfortunately you don't need a permit to become a parent... or a dog owner for that matter. There's always loose dogs (often unsupervised) around my neighborhood, I've almost run over them with my car, my dog was bitten on the nose when he was 4 months old by some lil white kick dog, the owners were on the other end of the street talking to their neighbors casually.

I think shooting the neighbors dog is a lil harsh, maybe shooting the owners would be a better idea <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> But calling child services would definately cause them quite a few problems, that might be kinda fun.

Oh for the record, that lil white kick dog got kicked when he bit my dog, lil sh*t wouldn't go away - i WILL defend my dog no matter what... I'm thinking pepper spray might be a good idea.

I couldn't tell you how many times this has happened to me when I'm with my dog. The most recent was an attack by a 100+ pound Alaskan Malamute that broke loose after his genius owners tied him out on a retractable lead. The POS attacked my Shepherd who weighed considerably less. I was able to grab the lead and correct it, flipping it over, and nearly knocking it out the second time. I put my dog in a down and walked it back to its owner and gave them hell.

I now keep a baseball bat readily accessible in my backyard, where this occured. On our walks/hikes I carry one of those retractable hiking staffs. Works well as a club and I can poke out an eye of a truly determined dog. For a dog that decided to attack me, this has yet to happen, I carry a knife. Like others have stated, I take my own and my dog's personal safety very seriously.