Spinoff: What DO you do when you and your dog meet an unleashed dog?

[Renn_aissance]

I didn’t want to hijack the thread about the tragic San Marcos attack for this question, but it did come up there.

Some of us live around neighbors who are not good dog owners, and see unleashed dogs on a more or less regular basis.

What do you, personally, do when you’re out with your leashed dog and you’re approached by a dog (or dogs) roaming off-leash?

We have several neighbors who don’t seem to mind that their small dogs can slip through the fence and go on walkabout on a regular basis. These dogs are no particular threat or bother to my mid-size dog, although I worry about their well being if they head towards the road. Obviously, being approached by one or more large and/or unfriendly dogs is a totally different situation than a pair of gamboling Shih Tzus. I’ve never had to contend with a situation where I thought my dog or I were at risk from loose dogs, but it’s clear that some of you have had to deal with this, and I’m curious what you do to keep yourself and your dog safe.

[vxf111]

This is a major issue for me because my dog is leash reactive and it’s a work in progress. Being approached by unleashed dogs that are reactive sets her back tremendously.

1. I don’t walk where/when I know unleashed dogs are likely to be around. My one neighbor always lets her 2 small ankle biters “escape” every morning. So I don’t walk that direction in the morning (even though, for whatever reason, Maggie happens to be less sensitive to those 2 dogs).

2. I constantly scan the horizon. If I see a loose dog, I immediately turn and go the other way. Long before Maggie sees it. Long before the other dog sees us.

3. If we’re in a safe area (no cars) and it’s an unleashed dog that I actually know to be friendly and Maggie likes and it’s charging at us, I will drop Maggie’s leash because she’s only leash reactive (off leash is no problem) and she’s pretty darn good to voice commands. With another friend dog I can keep her under control and non-reactive as long as she perceives she’s loose/unleashed.

4. With a large/unfriendly dog I am prepared to kick it hard. I haven’t had to do this, but I think I could if I had to. Most dogs in my area are all hat, no cattle. They might charge up barking but they’re not going to actually attack, luckily. So I haven’t had to do this, but I would if I had to.

[cnigh]

I had this happen at the park. A lady came into the park and didn’t even look around before letting her shitzu go free.

It made a bee line for me and mine. I didn’t know what Amber would do. Dyna had just been PTS and we had the aggression problems with Amber before she died.

I called out to the woman and said I didn’t know If my girl would attack the little dog. She was too slow to get her dog, so I pointed at it and told it - NO! It listened better to me than it’s owner.

I was able to keep both dogs in a sit stay, about 10 feet apart. She got her dog and all was well.

She was there again today and did the same thing, just as I was leaving with Amber. One day her little dog is going to get hurt.

I really like most of the dog owners in my area. There are a lot of large breed dog owners that are very aware of their animals. Makes it so much easier.

[2tempe]

If uncertain, I would turn around. I know someone w/ an unfriendly Aussie; she carries a serious stick in case of loose dogs.
Some years back, I was walking my two chow mixes. Both were dog friendly. Around a curve comes a Big A$$ Staffordshire terrier, unattached to any human. In a hasty decision moment I chose to drop the leash of my female. She was an alpha girl but loves big boys, lol. She trotted right up to that scary fellow, tail up and wacked him on the shoulder w/ her paw:eek: Off they went running around someone’s yard till the owner came to get his boy.

Same female several years later got knocked over and attacked by a golden retriever who came out of nowhere. I kicked him good and gave the owner an earful that included things like vet bills, police, and lawsuits.

[Nezzy]

i try to chase it away. Whatever i can find on the ground will work if he won’t leave.

[Pep_n_Ann]

I ignore the friendly ones, and expect my dogs to do the same. (knock on wood) we have never encountered an aggressive dog while walking. I would probably stand my ground if at all possible, but if it came down to it, I would be more concerned about my child who walks with us, than my dog.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Me? I panic. :eek: I am in a wheelchair so my options are pretty limited. Even if I have both my boys in my lap, we’re all still pretty vulnerable.

I don’t go to dog parks or there places, other than walks in my neighborhood, where there is a likelihood of unleashed dogs (dog training classes being the exception).

[Foxtrot_s]

Met three collies/Aussies today off leash. Quite well mannered, but my dog was dying to play with them as they milled around.

It seemed to me that this was a dog owner who felt rules were for everyone else but her.

I have a young Boxer and I told her she was on leash because I could not trust her not to run away, and was given the lecture that Boxers are very trainable and all I had to do was to make myself more fun than the running away and that she used treats. Have to say I resented her implying how useless I was!!! I told her I had had four Boxers and it kind of shut her up, but I did not leave before saying that it is safer for everybody to keep our dogs on leash when out in public.

My friend and I then continued on our way nicely.

[ynl063w]

My dog wants to like other dogs, but she’s been mugged too many times (she’s always on leash) and was attacked once by a dog that was off leash that she panics as soon as another dog gets within touching distance of her. In the past, if the loose dog is standing near its owner and not running towards us, I politely ask the owner to put a leash on the dog. One time I kicked a loose lab multiple times to keep it from jumping on my dog, who started crying like a hungry baby with a wet diaper the minute she saw this monster run towards her. I was grateful it was a lab and not a pitbull, because I doubt kicking it would have worked. The time she was attacked I was able to grab the other dog off of her and twist its nylon collar tightly enough that I could hold it out and away from me and my dog until the owner came and got it from me. I was grateful that one wan’t a pitbull too. I now stay off trails and out of woods because for some reason people think it’s okay to let their dogs off leash in that type of environment.

I cannot express how much I hate people who allow their dogs to roam loose on public property. It’s such a hugely selfish thing to do.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=cnigh;9019342]
I had this happen at the park. A lady came into the park and didn’t even look around before letting her shitzu go free.

It made a bee line for me and mine. I didn’t know what Amber would do. Dyna had just been PTS and we had the aggression problems with Amber before she died.

I called out to the woman and said I didn’t know If my girl would attack the little dog. She was too slow to get her dog, so I pointed at it and told it - NO! It listened better to me than it’s owner.

I was able to keep both dogs in a sit stay, about 10 feet apart. She got her dog and all was well.

She was there again today and did the same thing, just as I was leaving with Amber. One day her little dog is going to get hurt.

I really like most of the dog owners in my area. There are a lot of large breed dog owners that are very aware of their animals. Makes it so much easier.[/QUOTE]

Is this a dog park? The lady’s behavior is exactly what I expect at a dog park. Your and your dog’s behavior is abnormal for a dog park. An aggressive dog should be carefully kept away from public places where its known other dogs congregate.

[Bicoastal]

Patrica McConnell had success with throwing food in the oncoming dog’s face. Here is here blog about that the test: http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/it-works-how-to-stop-an-approaching-dog-in-an-emergency

If it is an aggressive dog, you need a physical barrier: throw your dog up onto a car, into a trash can, etc. Yelling for help and kicking don’t work. Ask me how I know :no:

[vxf111]

My dog weighs over 60 lbs. Throwing her into something isn’t a practical plan.

[rugbygirl]

[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;9019766]
Me? I panic. :eek: I am in a wheelchair so my options are pretty limited. Even if I have both my boys in my lap, we’re all still pretty vulnerable.

I don’t go to dog parks or there places, other than walks in my neighborhood, where there is a likelihood of unleashed dogs (dog training classes being the exception).[/QUOTE]

I am a sizeable, physically strong and not using any mobility aids…and I panic too. I sympathize. So much.

I wish I could say I did something effective when approached by off leash dogs, but mostly I seem to get yelled at by the owners. Seriously. Usually they are screaming the dog’s name, sometimes they yell at me for not doing ‘the right thing.’ I’m never sure what that is supposed to be. Stop? Run? Also yell at the stupid dog? It’s very inconsistent.

The two times I feel like I pulled off an adequate response, I had mitigating circumstances. In one case I was riding a Clydesdale. She took care of the dog. I am not even sure she connected but she struck, hard with her front hoof. Honestly, I hope the dog is dead. It had rushed off its property more than once, weighed at least 75 lbs and posed a real threat to others. The second time I was walking our elderly, deaf Bichon cross. On leash. A mid sized bully looking thing rushed us and I kicked it. Hard. Cue owner screaming. Again, I didn’t stick around. I picked up my little dog and booked out of there. Owner was significantly less fit. Little dog was the best dog ever. She deserved my best defense. I guess I’d have dealt with the owner if I had to. When I saw that big stupid dog racing toward her, anger took over panic.

Without names and addresses, it’s impossible to make a complaint to AC.

We live in the country now. I’m glad. If a dog hassles us on our own property, we are well within our rights to shoot it. Which we would not hesitate to do.

[vxf111]

Throwing food is not a bad idea. I think that would deter dogs running up to play but not dogs hell-bent on attacking. I think I’ve already got a decent game plan for dogs running up to play, but another trick in the book can’t hurt.

[CanadianTrotter]

I have only ever owned large dogs that can take care of themselves. My experience of walking a dog in a city around other dogs is limited because most of my life I have been on farms with large acreage.

When I was in this situation my dogs were always 100% under control and restrained. If we were going to be in an area with high volumes of people and/dogs I would put the muzzle on the dog as a preventative. I always carried a muzzle and a back up leash in case the one I was using broke.

I have had a good number of unleashed dogs approach my dog(now passed), some to play, some out of curiosity, some to pick a fight. These times happened in public park/trail areas where a lot of people(idiots) let their dogs off leash even though it’s against the law here in Canada. I also had people and their dogs walk past my house where my dog was totally contained by a proper fence, and their dog ran onto my property to bark and antagonize my fenced dog.

In the beginning I would tell my dog to sit/stay and try to keep the offending dog away from my dog until the owner caught up to it and took it away. I got really tired of that fairly quickly and changed the way I dealt with it.

If I saw a dog starting to run towards my dog I would holler to the other owner, “I am not going to stop my dog from defending himself, so unless you want your dog ripped to shreds, get it under control!” Straight, honest and to the point, boy did that work well! Of course I was then thought of as the crazy woman with the killer dog, but at least I could walk my dog in peace and unmolested.

If I was walking by a house where the owner let their dog(s) run loose and run out to the sidewalk to greet everyone and their dog as they passed by, I told them the same thing. If their dog bothered my dog on public property it was going to be their fault if their dog ended up like mincemeat and that I would drop my dog’s leash and let the best dog win.

I said the same type of thing to those that let their dogs onto my property, “If your dog wants on my property so badly,I’ll go open the fence for them!”, the owners moved pretty quickly after that and didn’t let it happen again. One asked me if my dog could climb/jump over a 6 foot fence and get to her little dog. I told her if he was pissed off enough he could sprout winds and fly.

I am absolutely sick and tired of owners that don’t contain/restrain their dogs properly as a responsible owner first and foremost and then according to their laws secondly.

I don’t even own dogs right now and I have called animal control, the police and city hall twice. I am not going to be one of those people that didn’t report a loose dog only to see or hear of it attacking and possibly killing a cat, another dog or worse a human. I am not going to placate and molly-coddle an irresponsible owner that has lost control of their dog by returning it to them/their property, only for them to repeat the offense again or over and over.

Oddly enough, I believe the people that complain about organizations like PETA are the ones that either are or stand a chance of being the irresponsible animal owners.

I’ve had enough.

[Foxtrot_s]

Wow, that’s a bit strong IMV.

[sophie]

Wow, reading this thread, I am glad I live in a little town with two nice parks and one beach where people are allowed to let their dogs “roam off leash”. I’d feel very bad for my dog if I had to keep her on leash all the time.

Some owners keep their dog on leash because the dogs are not friendly (in which case they announce it) or not well trained, but most dogs are off leash running and playing together and in all these years I’ve taken dogs there, there has never been a problem that I know of.

My current Std poodle is as friendly as they come, will politely greet the dogs we meet (on or off leash) and move on, or play with them if they are so inclined. Interestingly, she won’t go near a leashed dog that seems unfriendly.

We had one incident when a guy with his leashed pit bull type dog wanted his dog to meet mine (who was off leash by my side) and the dog, who seemed friendly, got close and immediately tried to grab her, almost throwing his owner on the ground. My dog ran off yelping (unharmed).

My former Std poodle was even more harmless - she was totally focused on me and royally ignored any dog or person we met on the way.
She was attacked once, while walking by my side in my neighborhood, by a Beagle who escaped his owner, ran to the street and barreled into her growling and biting. I was able to grab his leash before anything really bad happened. Owner was very apologetic (usually always had that dog on leash, for good reason it seems!)

I don’t think I would own a dog if I couldn’t let it go off leash…

[Where_sMyWhite]

My “kids” get plenty of off leash time in their very own backyard.

I don’t see the need to risk my dogs or myself because of some inconsiderate individual with a poorly behaved dog.

[CanadianTrotter]

[QUOTE=sophie;9020849]
Wow, reading this thread, I am glad I live in a little town with two nice parks and one beach where people are allowed to let their dogs “roam off leash”. I’d feel very bad for my dog if I had to keep her on leash all the time.

Some owners keep their dog on leash because the dogs are not friendly (in which case they announce it) or not well trained, but most dogs are off leash running and playing together and in all these years I’ve taken dogs there, there has never been a problem that I know of.

My current Std poodle is as friendly as they come, will politely greet the dogs we meet (on or off leash) and move on, or play with them if they are so inclined. Interestingly, she won’t go near a leashed dog that seems unfriendly.

We had one incident when a guy with his leashed pit bull type dog wanted his dog to meet mine (who was off leash by my side) and the dog, who seemed friendly, got close and immediately tried to grab her, almost throwing his owner on the ground. My dog ran off yelping (unharmed).

My former Std poodle was even more harmless - she was totally focused on me and royally ignored any dog or person we met on the way.
She was attacked once, while walking by my side in my neighborhood, by a Beagle who escaped his owner, ran to the street and barreled into her growling and biting. I was able to grab his leash before anything really bad happened. Owner was very apologetic (usually always had that dog on leash, for good reason it seems!)

I don’t think I would own a dog if I couldn’t let it go off leash…[/QUOTE]

You’re lucky! Firstly because you own one of the best breed types in the world and secondly because you are in a small area where people have more respect and control for and with their dogs.

Here in Ontario, unless you live in a small community dog owner respect/responsibility was quite irregular until our basic dog laws were made stricter and enforced. It’s still spotty but a lot better than what it was in my experiences.

[CanadianTrotter]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;9020326]
Wow, that’s a bit strong IMV.[/QUOTE]

Anything I think or do with regards to irresponsible dog owners is in accordance to our Ontario, Canada Dog By-Laws.

I have had enough of irresponsible dog owners and I give them no quarter.