What to Do about an unleashed dog attacking us?

[catress]

I walk Indy every morning on her leash, we have just moved in to our house that my partner and i bought (first house), anyway up the street is a terrier cross, it is always loose and comes tearing out of its yard straight accross the street and yaps at Indy, she is always very calm and dosent do anything. This morning the lady was walking her dog with no leash and her dog came tearing up again from about 200 meters away snarling and barking and running around Indy, the owner dosent seem to care that her dog is doing this

What would you do in this situation?

I feel like stopping and waiting for her and asking her what she would do if Indy took a chunk out of her dog would she run around saying a rottie attacked my dog...

P.S. I live in New Zealand and we have pretty strict dog laws now because of a spate of dog problems.... just trying to be a responsible owner and make sure that my dog and other dogs are safe :p :

[rotts and roses]

Me personally, I would try talking to the lady first, Inform her how dangerous it is for her dog to be off leash, Other dogs, cars, a possible bite to a child.... If she doesn't budge, I would research the leash laws and report her to the proper authorities.
Nothing is more frustrating then walking your dog and having some loose " lunatic" dog off leash come after your dog. I know.
Good luck

[Carina43]

I would have a friendly word with the woman and emphasize how tragic it would be if her yapper got within grabbing distance of your dog. Perhaps tell her you are trying to train your dog to behave on leash around other dogs and this makes it difficult...since you are new neighbors, starting out in a friendly fashion is probably best.

I also know how frustrating that is. If I'm out with my dogs and someone's dog is approaching off leash, I immediately call to the owner to get their dog NOW. Usually people comply right away when they see a Rottweiler!

If a little common sense & courtesy doesn't work with her, then I guess a call to the local authorities is your next step.

[sophie's-mom]

I'd punt the thing away as it was running towards me and then when the woman complained about it I would say, "I was in fear of my life.....I thought your dog was going to attack me!! If your dog CHARGES me again....I'll kick it again!"

[samanthac]

Um, well let's see drop kicking the little sucker comes to mind as well as carrying an electronic cattle prod or stun gun. All in defense of you and your dog of course.

Seriously I'd warn her once and then issue a nusaince dog complaint to the local ACO/Police Department. Then I'd drop kick the little sucker.

Sound like I've done this before?

[Miabella]

I think of it as my responsibility to protect my dog from a charging, aggressive dog. I want my dogs to feel they can rely on me, even if that means putting myself on the front line.

When an offleash dog charges us, I grab my dog's leash near to collar and put her behind my back, and then I fend off the charging dog by any means necessary. 99% of the time, body language and a loud voice is enough to get rid of the offending beast.

Now, I've done this for dogs up to the size of a large Lab. However, I realize that there is alot of potential for serious injury, and I'm not sure what I'd do if a 150+ lb.St. Bernard charged us. Perhaps turn tail and hope we could outrun it? :p

[spidey]

Come on guys - it's not the dog's fault it's allowed to run amok, it doesn't deserve to be kicked unless it's actually attacking. (mutter...it's the owner that deserves the kicking...mutter)

I'd talk to the owner as rotts and roses suggested - be polite and friendly, but firm "I wonder if you could please leash your dog in future?"- it's not acceptable for her dog to be off-leash and threatening you and your dog. If that doesn't work, call your local animal control (or whatever the equivalent is) and make a formal complaint.

[alexav]

Laws vary of course, but here a loose dog that runs at you is considered an attack whether it bites you or not.

Go ahead and flame me but I have resorted to carrying a spray bottle with diluted ammonia. I'd like to spray the owner but at least I can teach the loose dogs who NOT to bother with....:(

Next, I will have my hubby follow me on walks with his video camera to document what happens...

[sophie's-mom]

Originally posted by alexav
Laws vary of course, but here a loose dog that runs at you is considered an attack

same here. AND if your neighbor's dog CONTINUALLY charges the fence and barks it's fool head off every time you step outside.......you can call the authorities on them, it doesn't even have to BE an attack!!!!!!

:D

[Trinitii]

If owner is present then I would speak to them. I do carry a spray bottle of vinegar and water for those moments.

Trinitii

[los1]

Well,I get you have not yet tried to talk with the owner approach yet right?So maybe until you get his /her reaction to the problem .It may not be a problem they my realize it's totally wrong and that's that.I have incounterd a Alanskan Husky who charge after my dog and myself while he was off leash but as far as carrying spray or telling it to go away.Let me tell you none of those opts would have worked at that time he came full force.I did try to run away with my dog but he caught us and well let's say theres a time and place for your dog to defend his or herself.I don't like it but guys let's face it our breed of dog can do just that if that's the last option you both have.Well thought I would share my terriable in counter

[moondog]

catress,

I would call to her to get her dog when you see them out without a leash. Once she actually has the dog (if she can even catch it!), then I would start talking about leashing. "Aren't you worried your dog might run in front of a car?" "I'm trying to train my dog to be polite, and when your dog charges at her she feels a need to defend herself and can't learn to be be polite". If she refuses to cooperate on the leash issue, file a report with animal control and ask them to come have a talk with her. If she blows them off, after a few visits they're not going to be so nice about it. And, if for some reason her dog gets hurt, it will be on record that this dog is allowed to run loose and challenge other dogs.

The little dog charges are the hardest to deal with. I do the same as Miabella, where I will yell "NO!" at the charging dog as I back Luna up a step and sidestep halfway in front of her. If it's a big dog, at least I have a decent sized target to block, but those little ones go right through your legs!

Charging dogs that are really serious about wanting a piece of meat are a whole other story, I just have to fly by the seat of my pants when that happens. Thankfully, not often. And when it does, they get reported. No playing nicey-nice with that!

[Mary Bouchard]

My first impulse would be to calmly let the owner know of the situation.

However, you have to realize every reaction you have may have a negative reaction. So if you complain directly to the owner will it cause problems in a neighborhood you just settled into?

If the dog is constantly or daily doing this then chances are pretty good the owner knows and I bet you are not its first victims of chase.

I would check with animal control and see if there are any previous complaints on the dog and how they suggest you handle this situation as they are the professionals that may have had passed dealing with this dog.

If not they would be alerted of a potential problem and document, pictures note of times this dog is loose, what the dog looks like, tags and where it lives etc.

On a lighter side I was walking our three on seperate leashes seperate handlers and the two older ones muzzled and a pitbull charged out of a yard came around the corner and all three took that, "Don't mess with us stance and the male let out a menacing growl". The pit bull turned tale and ran back into his yard to his owner who apologized! He is now fenced in.

[lblax]

3 simple words------- electric cattle prod ---------- about 29.95 at any farm store

[SABELLESMOM]

I would yell, "EXCUSE ME...WOULD YOU MIND GETTING YOUR DOG UNDER CONTROL OR USE A LEASH PLEASE?"

I've done it before, when faced with a similar situation. I then put my dog in a "stand stay" with a "leave it". Just to show off? Maybe, that's partly true, but it's also safer for my dog. When mine is standing, others generally stop in their tracks well before they get there.

Now, I realise not everyone has a dog who will do this. Believe me it took a long time and still requires a good deal of practice, but it works!

If I didn't have a stand stay-leave it! I might start to carry a spray bottle attatched to my belt -or- as someone put it fly by the seat of my pants...

If it happened again, I'd call authorities PDQ!