Wwyd - dog fight situation

[goodasitgets]

Walking a dog, on a harness and lead plus collar and lead (can't be off lead ever, added just so it shows the situation)
Loose dog comes running up and won't leave, my dog is trying to launch itself at loose dog and both are getting aggressive. Dog owner nowhere in sight. What do/would you do?
Oh and already shouted for dog owner and tried to walk away from other dog

[LEMmingaround]

In that situation id have been tempted to let my dog off the lead as aggression can be made worse by being in the lead. Imagine feeling attacked and not being able to get away? Is your dog a fighter? Doesn't really help in this situation but many people with dog aggressive dogs put a yellow coat on their dogs to indicate this so other owners can see and put their dogs on the lead. It is scary when dogs fight but often looks and sounds worse than it is.

[goodasitgets]

I never have dogs I can let off lead
This happened today with one, I'm actually dog sitting so a) she isn't mine and b) she's a husky with a massive prey drive and wouldn't return if off lead
The other dogs I have are when I dog walk for a rescue, so they are doubled leaded, again can't be let off lead and I don't know what they are like with other dogs usually

[goodasitgets]

Oops posted too soon. Most people are v good as the rescues wear a high viz jacket and they realise when dog is on a lead it's usually for a reason
The dog owner today was actually inside a house so nowhere to be seen

[ClaimedByMe]

I have a dog aggressive dog and I have no idea what I would do in that situation and I dread it happening if I know we are going somewhere with dogs offlead, I do try avoid places with lots of dogs. My dog wears a gencon lead that means she can't open her mouth if she pulls away from me and I would like to think that would stop her harming another dog.

What did you do?

[goodasitgets]

Shouted various nearby people none of who knew which the dog belonged to. Tried to move away and it followed, ended up kicking it. Put myself in between loose dog and my dog and it went a few feet away
Tied my dog up, took spare lead and went to grab it as it was in the middle of the road but couldn't as it was snarling at me. Owner eventually opens nearby house door and says nothing just lets dog back in
I shouted to him his dog nearly got run over but he obviously didn't give a shit

[Floralnomad]

Personally I would have just kept walking and if it followed so be it ,it's not your problem .if you cannot walk away with your dog then TBH you shouldn't be walking the dog as you cannot control it .

[goodasitgets]

I did walk away with her, but it kept following and going for her. I can walk with her but she will launch at other dogs, I ask her to sit when other dogs walk past. I couldn't get past the dog, it was on the road leading to the road which I live on, and it was sat in the middle of the road snarling, every time I tried to get past it, it went for her

[goodasitgets]

Only on MN would I be the one to blame for the loose aggressive dog that would leave my dog (harness and collar) alone

[ClaimedByMe]

I would probably panic and cry wimp I do similar to you, if a dog is walking towards us on lead I make her sit, keep her calm and reward her, she doesnt cope at all with face to face. I was just out with her and 2 friendly dogs but with no recall came bouncing over to her and I just made her sit and thankfully her lead means she cant really lunge but she was really uncomfortable and growling as they hovered around her until the owner came and grabbed them.

[Floralnomad]

I'm not blaming you ,I'm saying that you should keep walking , if necessary until you get home ,the other dog following is not your concern . You said when you put yourself between your dog and her it went a few feet away ,so you put your dog on the other side of you and keep walking . The fact that you have a collar and harness is irrelevant - all that says to me is that you are worried about the dog you are walking . The world is full of idiots ,lots of them have dogs ,you need to be able to deal with it .

[goodasitgets]

I shoved her on the other side of me and tried to carry on but it wouldn't leave. She was on my right at that point, other dog on my left. Moved a few steps and loose dog was back in front and lunging at her again
Explained up thread why I use collar and harness, it's a requirement from the rescue along with never letting them off lead

[Hedgeless]

I'd keep walking and probably kick the other dog if it kept attacking my dog. I am sure that is v bad. I hasten to add I am not a dog owner in real life!

[SpicyPear]

Very hard to know what I'd actually have done but would probably have turned back and waited. If there was an alternative route home, even if it was quite a bit longer, I'd have take it.

[Fcukfifa]

What dog do you have? A few times dogs have bounced over to my shar pei (quite large) but because he has been attacked a few times himself I get nervous and have on occasion picked him up.
Which I'm sure looks strange!

I can't think of a different way you could have handled the situation and at least it's all ended ok.

Oh I'd probably have shouted some more choice words to the owner who opened their door!

[goodasitgets]

Typically there is an alternative route but the two routes meet at the point where I was so bloody stuck with only one way to go.
The dog had actually come running up from the shops which is maybe 100m away, I had moved back down the road, across into the car park, back onto the other side of road and it was still following
The man just wasn't concerned his dog nearly got hit by a car, and there were children on the carpark too - luckily had an adult with them who took them just inside the door of a centre. Thinking on it now if it happens at that spot again I will probably go inside the community centre

[goodasitgets]

Dog I had today was a husky. Generally from the rescue I walk staffies or staff type crosses or GSD dog
I think it bothers me more because they aren't my own, so I can't let off lead to run away and obviously I worry about how they will react as majority aren't dog tested in that situation

[SpicyPear]

What a nightmare. I think trying to avoid is the best bet if at all possible.

[Floralnomad]

Sorry ,I thought you said that you usually walk dogs for a rescue but this dog you are house sitting - I didn't realise you were house sitting it for the rescue . I must say I find it a bit strange that you say you walk dogs for the rescue that you don't know what the dogs are like ,IME most rescues make sure the dogs have been properly assessed before they allow them out and about with the general public and the walkers know lots about them .

[goodasitgets]

Sorry I phrased that wrong. The one I have at the moment is a friends, it's not from a rescue

The rescue dogs have often just come in from the pound, I emergency foster when there is nowhere for them to go. Sometimes they can say they are friendly with other dogs, or like small ones not big ones. But in that situation with an aggressive dog they wouldn't be able to say what they are like. Not all of the ones I take have been dog tested, some have only been with the rescue for a v short while (like two weeks)

[Booboostoo]

Oh come on floranomad that is all completely unfair! The OP was walking a dog on lead and completely under control, how could the actions of loose, aggressive dog be her fault? It's a very difficult situation to be in. Walking away will only work if the loose dog lets you get away, some would see the dog's back as further invitation to attack.

There isn't much you could have done OP. You can try stepping between the two dogs as the other dog approaches and keep yourself between them but be careful it is dangerous and you may get bitten. You can also try putting a barrier between the two dogs that breaks eye contact like a large bag or a coat but it depends on what you have handy and again be careful not to get accidentally bitten. If you are worried about your safety the only thing to do is to let go of the lead because you need to keep yourself safe.

I would report the incident to the Dog Warden if I were you. It may be the dog has done this before and maybe he/she can use this further incident to persuade the owner to take better measures to stop it from happening again.

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

I guess I'd try to just keep walking and shove the other dog away ignoring it as much as I can.

I have a fearful rescue dog and walking him is hard enough without out of control off lead dogs. Poor thing was attacked and really nervous of other dogs running at him. He visibly shakes and starts barking. But idiots with lot of control ff lead dogs always say I'm the one in the wrong with my on lead and harness dog. And yes I do actively avoid peak dog walking times and areas.

[goodasitgets]

I'm quite used to ones off the lead but never had one like that before. I live in an area where there's a lot of "staff types" (ahem, pit) that run loose, are seen dangling from tree branches etc. Generally they just run past and no problems at all
I definitely avoid peak times, we have a quiet place nearby where v few people go with dogs

[Floralnomad]

I never said it was her fault ,OP asked what she should do ,I would have kept walking and not bothered whether the other dog was in the road ,getting lost or whatever - my concern is my dog . If you have control of your dog you should be able to keep walking unless the dogs are already actually in a fight ,which I assumed from the OP was not the case ,they were just growling and lunging at each other. The fact that the OP says the dog backed off when she got in between would not to me indicate a dog that was going to attack me if I walked on . I have a friend who was badly bitten by a husky on a lead in a similar situation and it could have been avoided had the husky owner had actual control ,not just had the dog on a lead .IME there is a difference between having a dog on a lead and having a dog under control .

[Booboostoo]

So you are saying the OP had to have her dog on a lead AND so well trained that it will completely ignore another loose dog lunging and growling at it otherwise she shouldn't take the dog out for a walk? That sounds very reasonable then!

[Confusedandazed]

My dog is reactive dogs and I walk it with a gencon. The way I look at it is if another dog comes near lunging, I warn owner, owner does not call dog back and other dog gets bit as a result.... then tough. You should have the right to walk your dog along a path in town/city (not in a dog walking area of course) without having to worry about other dogs. I think dogs should be on a lead in built up / residential areas, unless it has excellent recall or will not approach another dog

I am so sick of hearing the classic 'oh my dog is friendly, he just wants to play.