what should i do about loose dogs?

[kelking]

hi

if anyone as read my other posts ive had problems with off lesh dogs in my area and my 10 m male has been attack a few times

now am good at spoting other dogs off lesh and walking another way,but we still get odd ones running up to us owners out of sight lucky they have been friendly.

there is one dog on our walk 10 m choc lab male intacted very dominant,he pinned boomer down once when they were puppies(no fight)but boomer didnt like it and the dog wouldnt let him up i had to get the pup off,anyhow boomer does not like this dog both dogs hackles go up and boomer let out a growl the other day when it came over something he has never done before,boomer was on lesh this other dog not and the guy with him no where in sight.i shooed him away he didnt care keep coming at us

my question is what to i do when other dogs come over? i want boomer to know i can protect him so he doesnt have to
its not all dogs as he has doggie friends but i can see trouble with mine and this lab happening
i want and try to stay in control but its hard doing that with some elses dog there
what do you guys do to keep unwanted dogs away?

the owner just lets him wander, if not with my dog i see this lab getting himself into trouble i know the guy thinks you let dogs sort out issues themselfs and its ok his is only 10m nothing will happen.Can a male on male intacted fight start this young?? its so frustrating when you try to keep your dog well behaved and others dont

thanks

[KarenSasha]

you have no control over other dogs. I would try a new route to avoid the issue. Call and report the dog that is loose in your neighborhood. Take your dog for a ride to the park or someplace you can walk without that problem. Do you have a fenced yard for your dog?

[hokisteph5]

Now that I walk mine pretty regularly in a downtown area, I'm also concerned about off leash dogs. I haven't seen any yet, but the weather's getting nicer so who knows.

I know some on here have discussed that they walk with pepper spray, a walking stick, etc. My concern would be to get the unknown dog to leave before he got to my dogs.

I also think I may start walking with a camera or camcorder to get picture evidence the other dog's loose.

[Cdn1050]

If you have a camera phone, bring it with you and keep it handy. This way you have proof when you call animal control on the owner of the chocolate lab. Also bring an umbrella with you and when the other dog comes charging open the umbrella and keep it between you and the other dog.

[lblax]

buy a cattle prod. available at any farm store for under 25.00 very effective.

[SABELLESMOM]

You can explain to this neighbor with the off lead dog, that the playing field isn't level (unfair) when one dog is leashed. His dog is being a bully. His dog is the problem, as he attacks other dogs. Therefore, is there is an injury...guess who gets to pay the vet bill? I'm not sure how things like this are handled in England. So I am not sure what flies here, flies there as well.

Tell me, what laws in England would help you? Can you call animal control? Ask them what your options are. Cities often require leashes, or at least that the animal is under direct control of an adult owner. In the country, a dog can be unleashed, preferably on your own property. But 2 unleashed dogs...well, they would have a level playing field, now, wouldn't they?

Your neighbor is acting irresponsibly, IMHO.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by kelking

...my question is what to i do when other dogs come over? i want boomer to know i can protect him so he doesnt have to...
what do you guys do to keep unwanted dogs away?

It's good you've developed an eye for scouting out loose dogs...that's your first best defense. If you see one 1/2 block away, turn and go another direction (I like to turn a corner if possible, so we're not moving away in a direct line with the dog).

You can usually tell how serious a charging dog is - whether they are bluffing or really want a piece of your dog. With this lab, you already know he's trouble, so if you can't avoid him and he charges, I would put your dog behind you and hold him there and then proceed to give the lab the "what for" in a deep, growly and BOOMING voice that rumbles the earth, and lean into it a bit (leaning forward "pushes" at the charging dog). "NO! GO HOME! GIT!!!!" I will also kick my foot towards the dog while doing this, and I start as soon as they begin their approach - don't wait for the dog to get to you to "see" what's going to happen. A trigger release umbrella is also a great idea - you have the element of surprise and it can also block the direct eye contact between the dogs. If you use that, also add the "what for" I mentioned at the same time.

Forget the camcorder.....there's no way you can film it, discourage the other dog, and handle your own dog all at the same time.

Do you have a leash law where you live? Animal control is really good here about knocking on doors and getting face-to-face with people who allow their dogs to harrass others off leash.

Absolutely a male on male fight could happen at this age.

Also, young dogs that are free to roam territory on a regular basis in their neighborhood tend to claim that territory as they mature, so I would expect this dog to get worse as he ages unless something is done to make sure he's under control.

[kelking]

thanks i think the umbrella tip will come in handy
this choc lab can be in the fields around us with his owner but again off lesh,am pretty sure we can let off the dogs there but its hilly so i wait untill am at the top where i can see for miles,unlike this owner he can be the other side of a hill will the lab running down the other side
anyhow am making sure that boomer is only intrested in me we are taking treats and toys on the walk so even if boomer see`s another dog he doesnt look twice,i want him to forget this lab so if it does come my way i can shoo it without boomer feeling threatened and then reward him for ignoring the dog
today all he wanted was his ball so it worked well we saw the lab and it was on lesh first time ive seen him on one wonder if the lab has had a run in with another dog,anyhow boomers hackles went up a bit i waved his ball for him and he forgot about the lab passing the i treated him

does this sound ok??

[BFoster]

Unfortunately, you cannot control the actions of irresponsible owners. I would suggest that you first speak with your neighbor about the issue (it is the neighborly thing to do). If it happens again, warn the neighbor that you will take steps (animal control) to insure you and your dog's safety. Then, if it persists, contact the authorities.

I have found that most people will respond positively to calm positive interactions, and will take steps to avoid causing discomfort to their neighbors. However, if you have one of those neighbors that does not respond well, don't be afraid to contact the authorities.

Good luck.

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by lblax

buy a cattle prod. available at any farm store for under 25.00 very effective.

He he, you crack me up ! A cattle prod would be VERY effective...I know from experience .!

What about mace? I have thought about buying some...can it actually hurt the dog if it gets in his eyes, or does it just burn?

[debbiej]

I wish I could find a cattle prod for under $25! I've been looking for a while, no joke. they are around $70+ everywhere I look. I'm not sure I want the dog getting close enough to use a prod on though. there is bear spray or "dog mace" too. I don't think it does any permanent damage, but I would be concerned about wind drift.

loose dogs coming at us walking are a big problem. my biggest concern is my dog's reaction. I have to keep him under control and worry about the other dog. so far, most dogs are not dumb enough to attack him, but they do cause him to get "defensive" and I have to pay ALL my attention to my dog. not sure I have the coordination to deal with the loose dog as well.

[JoJo]

I suggest the cattle prod also. They are long enough to keep the dogs away. Using mace can end up backfiring on you (as who knows which way the wind is blowing) and cause more havoc then what you bargined for.

Debbiej, have you tried Ebay or gone online? You never know what you can find that way.

[BFoster]

If you are truly in fear for either you or your dog, I can understand the whole cattle prod discussion, but I find it difficult to condone the idea of using such a violent weapon on a loose dog.

Surly there is a better way to get the attention of inconsiderate dog owners than using a pain inflicting weapon on their dogs. Now, if this discussion was about using the cattle prod on the owners, then I could get behind it more. Just kidding.

[debbiej]

yep, but continue to look. we tried a soft air gun, the plastic bee bees just kind of bounced off the bc that came out to nip our heels.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by BFoster

If you are truly in fear for either you or your dog, I can understand the whole cattle prod discussion, but I find it difficult to condone the idea of using such a violent weapon on a loose dog.

When a loose dog charges with a serious intent to have your dog for lunch, there is certainly a place for a cattle prod to change its mind.

Originally Posted by BFoster

Surly there is a better way to get the attention of inconsiderate dog owners than using a pain inflicting weapon on their dogs. Now, if this discussion was about using the cattle prod on the owners, then I could get behind it more. Just kidding.

Well, if it was the owner that was charging, I could agree with you. Unfortunately, the immediate problem is the charging dog - the owner is secondary.

Most dogs are bluffing when they charge, but certainly not all. And if your leashed dog tends to be reactive, which most are to a charging dog, then whatever is needed to prevent a dog fight should be used.

Me and my dog(s) have been charged a few times while out on a walk. Only once was the dog truly serious, but it was only by the grace of god that I was able to keep him from KILLING my dog. I would have liked to have had a couple cattle prods on that day.