Beware: Non Owner Dog Walkers

[moz205]

I know it's been posted here before but just wanted to remind how dangerous it can be having someone else walking your dog. Last night, my friends 4 mo puppy (female) was in front of her house with owner's hubby when a twenty something yo guy came over with 2 pitt bulls (2 males). The dogs seemed fine with the pup, tails wagging etc when all of a sudden one of them lunged at the pup, grabbed her by her throat and started swinging her around. The pups owner grabbed her and for some reason the pitt let go. The pup has suffered a broken leg and tissue damage due to the puncture wounds. The kid walking the pitts swore they never did anything like this. Well, he is not the owner and the one pitt has attacked others in the area including an Akita. (This happened with the same guy walking him). The owner does not allow his dogs to mingle with others but this kid that walks them seemingly does. He obviously hasn't learned a lesson. This is the 3rd time this pitt has attacked. Sorry so long but just wanted to remind all about a very real safety concern.

[Gunsey'sMom]

Wow. and this dog is still alive because????? I am so sorry this happened. I was anxious about even boarding my dog- very hard for me to trust others with my dog. I dont think I would ever have a so-called dog walker. I think I am probably over-protective/overvigilant, - more so than I need to be, but I feel like I have a huge responsibilty that goes further than keeping myself, family , and dog safe. I need to protect the reputation of the breed. So a dog walker would be pointless for me basically -cuz I would be walking my dog with them-LOL. And I guess you hire them cuz your too busy to walk your dog?

And stories like this just confirm my fear. The person you entrust and PAY to follow your instructions (for a reason obviously) completely direguards them with grave consequences. Although here, I think after the first "incident"- you would think one strike would be enough to tellthe guy to hit the road....

[AlphaLeader]

One of my neighbors has asked to walk Tavi or Lakota at the park... there is NO WAY!!!

I have suggested that he get his own dog to walk... his reply...??? But yours are so well trained... sheszzz... right... and like I'm going to allow someone to mess them up after doing that work??? I don't think so... and besides... I love my babies!

[moz205]

I am not sure if this is the owners' roomie but I know the owner is very vigilant. I am not even sure if the previous incidents were reported to the owner. When the incident happened with the Akita, the pitts were off leash again with this kid. Thankfully, the Akita owner was able to diffuse this and his dog is extremely obedient. Not sure of the circumstances with the 2nd dog. My friend is now looking at over $1,000.00 in vet bills. She is going to approach the owner and report the dog. Her husband was there when it happened and was so upset he didn't get info. I am glad their 6 and 4 year olds were in the house when this happened. At least this is a very small neighborhood and everyone knows everyone so...
I hate when hubby walks Buddy! I have even followed him or told him we'll do it together, something romantic- lol NOT! I'm worried about my Buddy!
AlphaLeader, I feel the same way! Hubby hasn't been to any classes and I try to train HIM in how to walk him properly- what is expected from Buddy and him. I don't want him messing things up on me either.

[rainstorm]

In our area if the dog attacks another animal and its unprovoked they are fined and if they do it again the court orders them to be put down.

We have petsitters that take dogs to our local dog park here. They take their own dogs plus the ones they are pet sitting for. The signs posted at the dog park say you can only have 3 dogs per person which I think is too much and you must have verbal control over them and have their leash in your hand at all time. They are on the board for this park and I guess they think the rules don't apply to them because they often take their dogs without leads & I never see them have leads for the others in their hand.

One of the petsitters held an obedience class at the park in the separated area for small dogs and we attended that class for a while with our older Rottie but I didn't like the classes. The trainer would let the other pet sitter watch all of the dogs they brought including hers while there. They often had as much as 10 dogs at the park running and playing under the supposed supervision of them.

I figure this is an accident waiting to happen.

[Dimitri]

this is a sad story... was the walker bonded? I would go after both the walker and the owner of the dogs for payment of the vet bills.
through my own personal experience with my past rottie, for some reason almost everytime we came across a pit bull, the pit bull(s) wanted to fight my boy...

[moz205]

I don't think this is a hired walker, just either a roomie or friend. As far as anything being legally done, I am 99% sure nothing was ever reported on prior attacks. We don't know where they live but that is only a matter of time as we do know the street- don't forget this is NYC. I see these dogs quite often walking past my house but usually with the real owner. Funny, these 2 dogs were the first ones that walked past our house and got a somewhat aggressive response from Buddy. I wasn't even sure Buddy was capable of barking like that! I NEVER heard him do this. This is also the reason I don't do doggie playdates, dog parks etc. One second all was great and then all %$# breaks out. This pup is soooo lucky.

[warlord0]

I have been on the reverse end of this kind of situation

I offered to do a friend a favour whilst he went away for a week. We looked after his friendly boxer. She got on great with out dog and apparently was more obedient for us than for her owner. Roxy's a good role model.

Whilst walking both dogs off the leash at our very local park. It was getting dark and Roxy the rotty was off playing in the stream. Missy the boxer was chasing a ball I was throwing with a chuckit (man those things go for miles).

Well I figured this was my fault as I didn't see the guy with his Staffordshire Bull Terrier. I threw the ball and Missy raced off for it. She got to it a second or two later than the staffy. The staffy decided "I'm not giving it up" and they got into a scuffle.

Nothing too serious - and I was happy Missy parted and came away without the ball. I let the guy and dog go with their trophy and they disappeared without any acknowledgement!

It wasn't until on the way home that Roxy kept sniffing at Missy I discovered a tooth sized hole in her side. It wasn't bleeding at all but I was gutted. I was trusted with a friends pet and I was giving him it back wounded.

Of course I paid all the vet fees and got her sewn up (well a single staple). She's fit and well, but it still doesn't assuage my guilt.

But then I tried to think of if the shoe was on the other foot. If I'd let him look after Roxy. What would he do if she was attacked and injured or she injured some one else's pet?

It didn't bear thinking about. As much as I thought I was helping a friend it's just not worth the risk.

We decided no one but Roxy's mommy or daddy take her out.

[moz205]

I was also wondering if this dog would attempt doing something unsavory if he was with his "real owner". I've seen this guy walking them and they seem obedient and don't pay attention to any dogs near them.
All dogs involved were on leashes which is probably what saved this pup and I don't think the 2nd pitt got involved, another blessing.
All around, this was very lucky all things considered. I really wanted to remind all of the dangers that could arise in a second.

[cerulean]

Originally Posted by moz205

I was also wondering if this dog would attempt doing something unsavory if he was with his "real owner".

I'm not convinced that this matters one whit... the owner is responsible no matter what. Why should the dog care about "owner or roommate"... it only knows who is alpha. And "Alpha" let it go walking with "Beta". I hope you are going after this in every way, contacting neighbors, trying to find the previously attacked dogs, reporting to authorities, talking to local vets in case there are cases you haven't heard of.

If allowed to behave this way, the pits will think it's ok, and children may be the next targets.
Good luck....

[Karyn]

Yes, I know however - my usual dog sitter/walker ended up in the hospital with encephalitis. His brain has gone down to normal but they don't know what or if any brain damage has occurred. He will be out of commission for awhile at least. I work full time at an office then part time at night at Macy's. So some days I leave at 8:30 a.m. and don't get home till 10:00 or 11:00p.m. I called my grooming people and they are sending out someone for me to interview tomorrow. Joy had a rotti who died of cancer this summer. The groomers know Winnie so I am hoping for a decent match.

[moz205]

Originally Posted by cerulean

I'm not convinced that this matters one whit... the owner is responsible no matter what. Why should the dog care about "owner or roommate"... it only knows who is alpha.

I do know that Buddy definitely will try to get away with more when with my son and hubby than with me. Was just curious about this.
Of course, the owner is responsible. This walker, especially with 2 previous attacks was totally wrong- he brought the dogs over to the pup who was still on their own front steps, get this- to say hello!
My friend is looking into this further and there are a lot of people tracking the owner and dogs down. It will take a few days I am sure but it's a small area so eventually...The owner of the Akita has passed away, he was the one present when the attack happened. The second attack I don't know the people involved but again wouldn't be too hard to find out about when feelers are put out on the street.
There is only one friend that I totally trusted to walk Rommel. He was a handful and couldn't be trusted with other people or animals. With Buddy although he has had obedience and is friendly, she will be the only other one trusted to walk him outside myself or hubby. There are just too many people and dogs on the streets here in NYC.

[jlaack]

The only people I allow to walk my dogs are very close friends or family that know how I expect my dogs to behave and are able to enforce it. They all know me well enough to obey my instructions per the dogs and if they ever screwed up they would probably change zip codes if not states... We also allow trainers and Wisconsin Rottweiler Rescue to watch, walk our dogs. When we kenneled our dogs I would only allow them to stay at a place with webcams. I thought since they knew I had access to see my dog every second of every day that the surveilance would ensure top notch care. To my dismay most the people that work at these places make $8 per hour and in the care and attention they don't provide it shows...

[webangel2b]

I have ONE friend I can trust. When I say I can trust her I mean both the dog and the friend, because they get along great together.

Dixie loves her as much as she loves us. Of course this friend has spent lots of time at our home. She now has dogs of her own and is even better and house/dog sitting for me then ever.

If something unforseeable happened, I could not hold it against the friend. I know she would do everything in her power to make sure it all goes well. But sometimes... things do happen that no on expects.

I tried to have a not so familiar friend house/dog sit once. Disaster - Dixie didn't like them in her house at all. My ONE friend had to come over and settle the dog, once she did Dixie gave the house/dog sitter friend no more problems.

[Gunsey'sMom]

I think a very close friend is different. But for me personally, I would have want them to meet, know my dog well and have walked him before with me. I dont this this will ever happen though- I am just to particular when it comes to my dog.