Sustained dog attack- owners just watched :(

[valteri]

This happened yesterday but I only feel able to talk about it now. We were nearing the end of our walk when this dog (Weimaraner) appeared from around the corner. My husband and I could tell his body language was quite aggressive so dp slowly held on to my dog's harness (no jerking movements etc). All of sudden this dog lunges at my dog and starts to bite him. I scream at the two women with the dog to grab their dog but they tell me to let go of my dog as that is what is causing the aggression. NO FUCKING WAY. DP holds onto my boy and I do my best to shield him. The whole thing lasted for about 2 minutes. The sounds my boy made simultaneously breaks my heart and boils my blood. I have no idea why they didn't intervene/grab their dog who would go away for a second and then come back. At the end I was hysterically crying but also shouting asking why theydidn't grab their dog. I get called a dyke and told I need a dr for MY aggressive behaviour. THE NERVE. Somehow she tries to blame the whole thing on us.

As we walk back we meet a dog walker who heard the whole thing and also had a confrontation with the woman (sworn at etc). Apparently the dog went for one of his. We learn that this dog is "evil" and has a reputation.

I'm just heartbroken, my dog is fearful and we've worked so hard (and spent a lot of money) to build his confidence and socialise him. He's close to perfect. Took him immediately to the vet but thank god he was okay! We're very very lucky we held on to him- thereby protecting his neck and also that his coat is thick.

Just wanted advice on how best to handle the aftermath. He is PERFECT on walks. It would break my heart if this has long-lasting consequences. I can't believe this happened. I can't believe they did nothing.

[valteri]

I keep playing it over in my mind. Maybe I should have hit the dog etc

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

I’m sorry this happened to you and your poor dog. I think firstly you should report this to the police, that was a dog dangerously out of control and it’s sounds like other people know about it too. As for your dog I think behaving ‘normally ‘and walking him as usual (though maybe a different location) to see how he is will be the first step. Do you know anyone with friendly dogs you could meet on the way to gauge his reaction?

[User5trillion]

That sounds so distressing for you, I hope your boy is ok. I would have 100% kicked the other dog in those circumstances and screamed at the other owner, how irresponsible of them.

Sorry no advice on how to manage the aftermath, I am new to dog ownership.

[Dandybelle]

Christ some dog owners are just beyond belief. Hope your ddog is ok x

[valteri]

Thanks for your messages. I'm still in shock and I'm sure ddog is too. Thankfully he walked past approx 5 dogs on the way to the car and was the perfect gentleman. God he's lovely. I just wish I shielded him better.

[Ploppymoodypants]

Ah bless your poor dog. Those other owners sounds very irresponsible.
It’s hard to tell without being there what you could have done. I have broken up a fair few dog fights in the past via various means. But a weimeraner is big and he may have turned on you. The fights up I have broken up have been between friendly well known dogs who are fighting over a dead rabbit or something, so I knew I could confidently pick up the smaller one or kick them apart without them attacking me. Obviously a strange unknown large dog is different 😕

[Spudlet]

Definitely do report this. Next time this dog goes for another it could do serious damage, and what if it was someone like me, with a toddler to manage - and potentially be caught in the crossfire too?

Your poor lad, bless him. I would advise looking for a training class with a good, understanding trainer. Classes are good because there are other dogs but they are all under control and your dog has other things to focus on besides their presence - they can be a great confidence builder. Although it sounds as though you have already done a great job on that front.

[valteri]

Coincidentally we had a behaviourist come last week to work on him barking at people who approach/enter the house. In the report, the behaviourist wrote:

"X is a delightful dog"
"When outside of the house X behaves very well around people, in fact he largely ignores them"
"Overall X is a wonderfully balanced dog whose only real issue is around visitors to the house"

I hope this remains the same .

[valteri]

Spudlet Absolutely I shudder to think what would've happened if DP didn't have the day off

[LizzieBennettDarcy]

I'm so sorry. This happened to our dog in the summer, from a dog that's attacked him 3 x times now. It was in the NDN's garden and escaped as we were walking off our drive on our evening walk. It was so horrific I couldn't sleep for days, I just heard my dog screaming. Do report to the Police, they can't take action as such but will talk to the owners and every report made against the owner will stack up. If you have an area dog warden, even better.

We were "fortunate" in that my hand was injured in the attack, and the Police are prosecuting the owner through the civil courts on our behalf under the dangerous dog act. The aim is that they have a dog behaviour order put on them to always keep it muzzled in public. I don't ever feel safe walking in the village now, and only do so when DH is with me. I have to go further afield in the car, and it angers me hugely to have to do so but until that dog is muzzled, I'm not chancing it. It would have killed mine if there hadn't been DH and myself, and our 2 neighbours pulling the attacking dog off . The owner was drunk and hid in their garden . As it was, mine ended up with a haemotoma (blood clot) that appeared a week later and needed extensive vet treatment so keep an eye on yours for any lumps that appear.

It's so so hard but you have to be confident around your dog, and show him that walking isn't something to fear

[Mumtothelittlefella]

It’s horrible when this happens- honestly, there are some very odd dog owners out there. We’ve had it happen and it makes you more wary.

Don’t beat yourself up about what ifs. You should never get between an attacking dog or a fight or you could get injured. We now take a stick out walking with us (never had to use it but it would be helpful to try and wedge between any dog fight. Not to hit the dog with of course). Much more effective though is a bottle of water. We’ve stopped a few incidents between our own dogs by throwing cold water on them. They stop instantly. It would be worth projecting yourselves with these things in the future.

[MarcoPoloCX]

WTF.
If their dog is not friendly, is unpredictable or aggressive then WTF they didn't recall him and put it on a lead.
Totally irresponsible.
I wouldn't have let go of my lead either.

[MarcoPoloCX]

Also worth reporting.
If enough people report they will be served a community protection notice.

[Miladymilord]

It sounds horrible but your dp should have let go of your dog and unless you have a stick or a riding crop the other owners shouldn't have tried to pull their dog off.

I've learnt this the hard way - got bitten badly in a similar incident.

If it's any consolation my dog was fine and not bothered after.

Did your dog growl?

[MarilynsDressOnAVent]

There was a dog in this area who had attacked a few dogs over a couple of months. The various owners went to the police yet nothing really happened. Eventually it came to a head when it attacked another dog and this time, because it was a small Pomeranian, tore it to pieces in front of its owners. As a PP said when something similar happened with them, "fortunately" the owner was injured trying to protect his poor dog and the police used that to legally remove the dog and prosecute the owners.

I would carry a big stick from now on.
I do wonder if my fur baby was getting attacked whether I would use the stick it to lever them apart or to take the vicious effing thing out.......

[Miladymilord]

Dog on dog attacks aren't reportable.

[MarilynsDressOnAVent]

From the gov.co.uk website:

Out of control
Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:
• injures someone
• makes someone worried that it might injure them
A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if either of the following apply:
• it attacks someone’s animal
• the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal

[Miladymilord]

Our local police couldn't have cared less. And I got bitten!!

[DartmoorDoughnut]

@Miladymilord this is what the RSPCA says

[DartmoorDoughnut]

Sorry link and photo didn’t post!

www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/dogownership/bsl/dda

[Miladymilord]

Yes I know that's what they say, which is why I reported it. The police didn't make a note of it. They said most fatal dog attacks are family dogs that suddenly turn.

[valteri]

Miladymilord no way in hell would I let go of my dog. Although my boy is a German Shepherd he is fairly timid and relatively small for his breed. That dog would have pinned him down and savaged him. In fact, the vet said one the reasons we were so lucky was due to the fact my boy was kind of held up at the front by his harness (therefore his neck was protected).

We have reported this to the police who were very sympathetic.

Fingers crossed my boy is unscathed by the incident. The vet said my boy is the loveliest GSD that comes into the practice- hope it stays that way because he is my everything!

[DartmoorDoughnut]

@valteri really hope you’re all ok and your DDog recovers ok

If I’m concerned about a dog when I’m out with my two (plus normally both children but at least one!) I put them on lead but I’m prepared to drop the leads if something happens, I put myself between them and the dog and shout a really aggressive Oi at it. Most of the times it works, if it doesn’t I stick my boots between them as a dog bite would probably not get through those (leather ones) and will kick the other dog if needed.

[AlpacaLypse]

A method I have used to separate two dogs needs two reasonably strong people, but does work. You grab the dogs hind legs, lift them up and walk backwards. Without the purchase from the hind legs the dogs can no longer get together, and also they can't turn enough to bite you effectively either. I have thankfully only had to do this once, it was scary, but it won the owner of the other dog and I time and space to get our dogs on lead and away from each other. If I'd had a water bottle and/or a walking stick at the time I would have tried those first though.

Meanwhile I do hope something can be done about the utterly useless owners of the Wiemaraner and that your dog recovers both mentally and physically from this experience.

[MarleyMooChick]

So sorry that happened to you. Is the dog by any chance one the two weimerana's walked by two women in an area of North London? I had an encounter with a friend and her 4 month puppy who we were walking on a long line in a clearing, when these two weimerana's came flying out off lead from the wooded area towards us, with the two women shouting they don't like fast moving puppies!
We picked the puppy up & just stood still while they sauntered over to collect their dogs.
These dogs should not be off lead especially when coming out from an enclosed path into an open area, or vice versa where you can't see what is ahead!
I find the people who give verbal abuse are the ones who are always in the wrong & know it!