*Applause* to Mike Arnold's post! He's right, it will happen again, and all it takes is for your dog to take matters in his paws and reprimand the chihuahua, getting labeled a dangerous dog for it even though it wasn't his fault. Do you want to be in a lawsuit or trying to save your dog from euthanasia because some other owner was a jacka**?

Plus, a swift kick will likely teach that little scrap-dog to stay the H away from you a lot quicker than its owner could.

Thanks everyone. I guess I thought its only a Chihuahua what harm could it do. I will continue walking and not wait for the owner. I'm not sure if I mentioned but both the owners were at their doorway talking to someone when the dogs bolited out of the house past them. Knock on wood I haven't run into a stray or wonderding dog. I did just move here in January and sm still getting used to this area.
I carry pepper spray on my night walks. I guess I'll stick it in my pocket during the day.
Too bad it will happen again, but you're right, it will.

ps. the 2nd dog, when the owner got to it, submitted to her, flopped right on her side. so no, it didn't nip at my dog and submit. That is why I reckoned the dog has done this before and would think she would restrain the dog. She probably thinks the same, oh its only a Chihuahua

(edited for the ps)

 Quote:

He said, "I don't know...... I guess it's some kind of dog or cat."

<img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Where have I heard that one before??? <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

 Quote:

He said, "I don't know...... I guess it's some kind of dog or cat."

<img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Where have I heard that one before??? <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I just can't imagine, John.......... just one of those stories that morphs into an urban legend, I guess....... <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mike enjoyed reading your post on this one.
Ms. Coyle,
I agree with everything that Mike has to say, it is our job to protect our animals, no matter what size the offending animal may be. With that said remember what Cesar says:
A dog is a dog first and then a breed. So do not kind yourself, yes a Chi may be a very small breed of dog but it is a dog none the less, run and you are prey, stand your ground and allow any dog to know you are a preditior and not prey.
I have too many free roaming dogs in my area and when I walk my dog, he is A always on lead and B my responsibility to protect, does not matter if that is a Chi or another GSD, still my place to protect them. No dog will ever bite mine, unless I have no way to prevent that. I am not a big guy, but surely would take any dog out that was within my power to do so.
As a side note, even been bitten by a Chi, trust me they can break skin and make you bleed :-(.

Given that it is always better to reply to a similar post than to start a new one I would like to relate my encounter last night and seek any advice from the forum.

As is usually the case with me, the circumstances surrounding the incident were unusual.

Situation: Out walking my dog (43lb. heeler mix) with my wife. Wife has the leash. We walk past a house where the owner was watering her lawn. We smile, wave, say "hi", she comments on our pretty dog. Then I see her daughter, about 4, coming down her driveway on a little bike. At this point I am a little more alert since little kids always want to pet your dog and can be a little "squirrely" which on my dog gets him riled up.

So the kid left the door between the house and garage open: bounding out is, too my untrained eye, a 60ish lb. hound mix. Great. Wife and I try to get around our dog and keep this other dog away...but he was too quick and darted around both of us as we shuffled around & the owner was trying to call off the hound. In the space of about 3-5 seconds the hound had: bounded out of the house, darted around my wife and I as we kept shuffling to keep our dog away and got to our dog.

Snarls and barks ensue for another second or two and then the hound takes of running down the road. Owner tries to call her dog back but it was pretty obvious that he was gone. Our dog was fine. The owner of the hound was mortified and really worried about our dog (the 1-2 second or so that they were together sounded pretty ferocious and I wasn't about to stick my hands in there). By the time i had an opening to grab the hound's hind legs he had already started to run away.

Our dog didn't even seem to care that anything had happened. The hound owner appologized profusely and was very concerned for our dog (he looks like a puppy but is at least 2 years old). Unfortunately for them their dog took off down the road. Her son (much older than the daughter) was sent out to get him (assume it was actually her sons dog).

Question: What better way could I have handled this situation? It happened really fast: dog bounds out of house and makes a b-line for my dog. We dance around for a second trying to keep him back and then he moves in where they make some noise and then he runs away. Pepper spray would have been out of the question as it would have gotten into the little girls eyes, mouth, nose. Dog was oblivious to people so telling it to get back did no good. Didn't have time to get them apart as they were together and apart in less than 2 seconds.

My biggest fear/problem with the situation is that it only takes a second for a very serious bite to occur.

 Quote:

Given that it is always better to reply to a similar post than to start a new one I would like to relate my encounter last night and seek any advice from the forum.

As is usually the case with me, the circumstances surrounding the incident were unusual.

Situation: Out walking my dog (43lb. heeler mix) with my wife. Wife has the leash. We walk past a house where the owner was watering her lawn. We smile, wave, say "hi", she comments on our pretty dog. Then I see her daughter, about 4, coming down her driveway on a little bike. At this point I am a little more alert since little kids always want to pet your dog and can be a little "squirrely" which on my dog gets him riled up.

So the kid left the door between the house and garage open: bounding out is, too my untrained eye, a 60ish lb. hound mix. Great. Wife and I try to get around our dog and keep this other dog away...but he was too quick and darted around both of us as we shuffled around & the owner was trying to call off the hound. In the space of about 3-5 seconds the hound had: bounded out of the house, darted around my wife and I as we kept shuffling to keep our dog away and got to our dog.

Snarls and barks ensue for another second or two and then the hound takes of running down the road. Owner tries to call her dog back but it was pretty obvious that he was gone. Our dog was fine. The owner of the hound was mortified and really worried about our dog (the 1-2 second or so that they were together sounded pretty ferocious and I wasn't about to stick my hands in there). By the time i had an opening to grab the hound's hind legs he had already started to run away.

Our dog didn't even seem to care that anything had happened. The hound owner appologized profusely and was very concerned for our dog (he looks like a puppy but is at least 2 years old). Unfortunately for them their dog took off down the road. Her son (much older than the daughter) was sent out to get him (assume it was actually her sons dog).

Question: What better way could I have handled this situation? It happened really fast: dog bounds out of house and makes a b-line for my dog. We dance around for a second trying to keep him back and then he moves in where they make some noise and then he runs away. Pepper spray would have been out of the question as it would have gotten into the little girls eyes, mouth, nose. Dog was oblivious to people so telling it to get back did no good. Didn't have time to get them apart as they were together and apart in less than 2 seconds.

My biggest fear/problem with the situation is that it only takes a second for a very serious bite to occur.

I do honestly believe that sometimes, no matter how hard we may try to protect our dogs, instances happen where a fight or a scuffle will happen. As much as we try to prevent it.

My only suggestion, I guess, would've been that one of you could've stepped forward, in front of your dog by a foot or two and tried to possibly block the charging dog??
But from the sounds of it, you didn't have time to do it.
I do find, though, that with about 99% of charging dogs if you're very very exuberant in your "shooing" them away, waving arms, stepping or leaning forward towards the offending dog and using a low voice, most of them usually stop in their tracks to try and figure out if it's wise to come closer to such a raving lunatic. I always step in front of my dog, so that a) he isn't a target because now the other dog can't fully see him & B) so that the other dogs attention shifts from my dog to me...a much larger and louder target. If it happens again, if you can, get whoever is holding the leash to make your dog sit (even if you have to put your hands on him to do it) and then have them phsically stand in front of your dog. Then the other person can step forward in front of the both of them a foot or 2 & play defense. I don't carry a stick, I have a hard enough time carrying everything else I bring (plastic bags, 2 balls, regular leash, extend-a-lead, water bottle)but that water bottle has been used many times as a weapon. It's on a string with a hook on one end so I can loop it onto the waist band of my jeans, which makes it good for swinging into or at the charging dog. The water bottle, not the other end with the hook I mean

Some dogs just get by us though, try as hard as we can to stop it.

As to how it may effect your dog, he might be a bit more on the defensive now when he see's another dog, thinking he has to keep his guard up.

I did get in front of my dog to try and deflect the other one. But he was quick and relatively determined. What you described is basically what we did. Generally when I stand my ground or move forward the other dog will either stop or just run off.

I think my dog is okay about it. Didn't really seem to care. I am sure seeing the other dog turn tail and run helped.

On a training note: The second we got home we worked some more on recall after seeing the other dog just run away...

Hey Chris,
This all seemd as if if it happened pretty fast, the down side to this is that in most cases that will be how this happenes, very fast and un-expected. I have had this type of thing happen once while walking my dog, it happened very fast, the good thing was that I had already planned for this event and did just what I had planned to do, I kicked the living crap out of the dog that was charging my dog and me. The owners were right there (luckly a little girl was not involved), the owner freaked out started yelling at me and having a real cow. All I did was look at them and say I would not have had to do that if their dog was under control. Now mind you I had my dog on lead and had to take two quick steps in front of him and get between him and the other dog. My dog is not dog aggressive at all (Thanks Ed). I think that what you kind of need to do is always have your plan of action in mind and then follow that. Having pepper spray is nice, when you have time to grab it and aim, in many cases you will not have the time to do that. Carrying a walking stick can help, I have one as well but as luck would have it was not carrying that night. Heck I also carry a gun but would not use it, unless I HAD too. In my case a very good kick did the trick and the dog was off and running, now I did my best to frist say no, stand as tall and errect as I could to present a bigger scarry imagine, but at 5'7 150 lbs... most bigger dogs do not see me as that big a threat.. LOL
The best thing you can do is to have a plan before this occurs again, know just what you are going to do and then follow that plan without thinking about it. Most people do not plan ahead and then try and re-act when this occurs. Bad thing is that if you have to think about what you are going to do, it is over with before you have a plan. Reading this board for a few months before I got my dog, listening and doing my best to understand the Dom and Aggr DVD from Ed. I just was lucky and already had thought this through and knew what I would do. If I had my stick would have hit him with that, was not going to pull my gun and shoot, first off no time, second that is my very last resort, would much rather hurt the dog than kill it do to bad onwership and respnsibility. So my best advice is to have a plan of action before this occurs, know what you are going to do. Tell your wife what you would do, have her with the lead, you step forward and do what ever it takes to dispatch the offending animal. If you are alone step in between your dog and the other dog. I know that is hard to do when trying to be a nice neighbor, but if your neighbors were as nice as you are their dog would have been under control and you would not have had to take care of thier dog, just your own.
Plan your Work, Work You PLAN!!!
My Two Cents!!!