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Report to dog warden or not? Long.

17 replies

TakingTheStairs · 22/09/2013 14:04

Can you please help me decide what to do? My dog was attacked in the park today and I dont know whether to report it to the Dog Warden or not. As background, my dog has fear aggression and if scared will run up and bark at people which we are working really hard on. For the record, he is muzzled because of this for his and other people's protection. He is not allowed off lead if i think there will be any trigger to his behaviour. I am saying this to demostrate that my dog is no angel but his behaviour has nothing to do with what happened today. I can honestly say it was 100% not his fault.
What happened today is that I and my dog were at one end of a very large enclosed area in the park. It is used mainly by dog owners as it is fully enclosed. I noticed a group of dogs (maybe 4/5) with adults all off lead at the other end of the area. I am at the other end with my dog who is not bothered by the other dogs at all. I am practicing some sit and stays with treats with my dog, with my dogs back to the other dogs.
All of a sudden one of the other dogs runs from the opposite end of the area (about 250M)
He tries to play with my dog, my dog not interested and just ignores him. The other dog won't leave him alone.
I shout to the owner to call his dog off. He starts calling but dog is ignoring him. Dog is getting more wound up and start playing rough at my dog. My dog growls back and tries to indicate he is not interested. Other dog starts getting aggressive and trying to bite my dog, I have to use my foot to push him off my dog. I am holding my dog by the harness. Dog owner is walking across park but in no hurry. The other dog is getting more and more aggressive and is now full on attacking my dog. My dog is yelping and trying to get away. Dog owner starts to run but when he gets there keeps telling me to grab his dog instead of getting him himself. I try but am nervous. I am also seven moths pregnant id that makes any difference. I eventually manage to grab his dogs collar (he is full on baring teeth ans is quite scary) and pull him off. The other owner is a little defensive and says my dog is fine. I said that he should be but I'm going to get him checked at the vets anyway. I say that my dog is muzzled and away from other dogs as he is a nervous dog and that if his dog has no recall he shouldn't be off his lead. Owner said he normally has recall and just wanted to play. I said that he wasn't playing. He agreed I took his phone number.
He has called me about an hour afterwards and checked if my dog is okay which he seems to be (have spoken to vet and gone though all we need to watch for)
Now, my dog is no angel but I try to be as responsible as possible and keep him under control as well as ongoing training to change his behaviour. Part of me thinks don't report it as your dog isn't perfect and has tried to nip if he feels threatened (which is why he is muzzled) and the other part of me thinks that the other owner had no control of his dog that was at the other end of the behaviour spectrum and that it should be reported. If my dog was a small breed or I had a child with me it could have been a whole different story.
What would you do?
Sorry for short sentences, typing on phone.

OP posts:
TessTackle · 22/09/2013 14:08

Being a "dangerous" dog owner, I would report. Our Pit was horribly abused (used to bait other dogs) so v. Nervous and has been attacked while muzzled because of this. The first time we didn't report and then the same dog attacked our poor boy again and he nearly lost his eye.

I feel as dog owners (and responsible ones at that well done for muzzling) it's out duty to report these people that think they are in control of their dog but clearly aren't!
Hope this helps and your dog is ok Thanks

tillyo · 22/09/2013 14:20

Yes report it, next time the other dog might not be so lucky. My poor dog is nervous around other dogs and when we was over the park recently this big dog coming running over to him and jumped on him my dog silly as he is just laid on his back, lucky he is small enough so i kicked the other day and picked him up, this other dog kept jumping up at us and owner was no where to be seen, after a few minutes i saw her and she just causally walked over. i really let her have it and her excuse was we didn't think anyone was in the park otherwise i wouldn't have let him off we know his bit nasty to other dogs! well F';?ing check next time. wish i had reported her.

TakingTheStairs · 22/09/2013 14:22

Thanks Tess. You're right, what if he does it again? I don't know if the owner realised what a big deal it was and how little control he had. I don't expect every dog to be perfectly behaved but the lack of control in the situation was quite frightening.

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LesserSpottedNeckSnake · 22/09/2013 14:28

Is your dog injured? I'd be bloody furious with the other owner for not getting a rocket up his backside and getting his dog quickly. I'd report if I felt that the dog was genuinely a danger rather than just a gobby sod.

TakingTheStairs · 22/09/2013 14:30

Thanks Tilly. That's awful. Hope your dog is okay

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TakingTheStairs · 22/09/2013 14:39

Thanks Lesser. My dog is okay but is (understandably) a bit shaken up and very clingy this afternoon. I honestly think that if the other dog got so aggressive so quickly that he would do it again
:(

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mrslaughan · 22/09/2013 14:41

I would report - even if its just so the other owner gets a talking too.....why on earth did he expect you to grab his dog?

TakingTheStairs · 22/09/2013 14:48

The only thing I'm slightly wary of is that he now has my mobile number. What if he gets really arsey about being reported?

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Floralnomad · 22/09/2013 15:57

I don't think I'd report unless your dog has actual injuries , dog 'fights' can sound pretty horrendous and be scary but if your dog hasn't actually got broken skin I wouldn't class the other dog as 'dangerous' IYSWIM . It may have been better to have not kept hold of your dog as TBH you probably put yourself in danger although admittedly you are in an awkward position because your dog is muzzled and hence less able to defend himself . It certainly is a difficult one !

vjg13 · 22/09/2013 16:12

I wouldn't report unless your dog had an actual injury, dog 'fights' do sound and look awful but sometimes it is just handbags.

The other owner should have got his own dog and not expected you to.

Whoknowswhocares · 22/09/2013 16:13

Whilst it was a scary situation, if your dog has absolutely no marks on him, I'm not sure it was an actual 'attack' and dangerous.
Improper play and crap recall from a total numpty, yes without doubt. The owner has shown concern for your dog by phoning and checking too. Not the actions of someone who is unbothered. Total arse for expecting you to intervene for him though!
So no, I don't think I would report it. I don't see it would achieve anything.

TakingTheStairs · 22/09/2013 16:27

Thank you. They are all very valid points too

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Scuttlebutter · 22/09/2013 20:28

Personally I would report it, for several reasons. From the other end of the park, this guy had no way of knowing what your dog's state of health, age etc is. What if your dog was very elderly or just recovering from an operation? Also, with a thin skinned sighthound, for instance, this sort of behaviour can and does result in expensive injuries. Also, what if your dog was with someone (elderly, frail, disabled) who wasn't able to wrestle with his growling beastie? Again, from the other end of the park, were his psychic powers in operation?

This type of incident can also wreck weeks of training work with reactive dogs - we're doing BAT with ours and I know exactly what it's like to be in this sort of situation.

This is lazy dog ownership at its worst - zero recall, not keeping an eye on his dog and then not being bothered about the consequences. A visit from the dog warden might be just the rocket he needs to ensure he does pay attention when he's out and bothers to train for recall, or if he can't do that, keeps his dog on a lead.

As you say, if you had a small child with you, they could well ahve been frightened or upset - not a good model for responsible dog ownership. I'd also add that the law is likely to be changing soon on dangerous dogs - it's probably going to be much tighter - and is likely to be more specific on dog on dog attacks - this sort of owner is going to be getting a nasty surprise when that happens.

digerd · 22/09/2013 20:41

A dog off the lead in an area for dogs must not only be excellent at recall, but also not be reactive when another dog obviously does not want to play with him/her.
Young dogs/puppies don't always read the signs until they are snapped at, but an adult dog should be able to and not get aggressive.

It is shocking that the owner demanded you get hold of his aggressive dog Shock.
Some dogs run up to my little non-aggressive/reactive dog but always recognise when she is wary/aloof and they just lose interest and return to owners.
I don't know if the dogwarden could warn the owner. Your dog won't be the only one the other could run up to who doesn't want to play with him.

LesserSpottedNeckSnake · 23/09/2013 09:28

I'd only be wary of reporting if I thought the dog might cop the consequences. Is that likely to happen does anyone know? The owner getting fined or a bollocking I'm all for, but so often the dog seems to end up punished for the owner's fuckwittery.

JaxTellerIsAllMine · 23/09/2013 10:00

I would be contacting the owner and telling him to get a bloody large grip of his dog!

1 - asking you to get his dog off yours
2 - not getting a wriggle on to remove his dog
3 - potential damage to your dog, training etc
4 - suggest he gets to dog classes, muzzles his dog and gets a long line for recall.

Not sure that reporting will do any good. Although I seriously doubt that your dog was the first to have gotten the wrong end of the teeth. Sad

TakingTheStairs · 23/09/2013 12:28

Thank you all very much.

It's been a very very emotional weekend to do with our dog and we have decided along with his trainer/walker that we need to try and re home him as we can't provide the best environment for him. NOTHING to do with this other dog issue, but it has kind of pushed this to the back of my mind.
We are heartbroken but know it's the best thing for him.

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