My dog was attacked yesterday

[BwanaMakubwa]

...and I am angry about it.
6pm walking on established pathway in a small copse that borders extremely popular dog walking area of fields and disused railway. There were easily 20 dogs in the vicinity on the fields etc, within 500 yards.

I rounded a bend on the path and saw a couple with a large, muscular bull breed dog. I instantly knew we were in trouble by their reaction. They panicked and started calling their dog back and trying to grab it. My dog was off lead, snuffling in the undergrowth just off the path. He is only a puppy, just 11 months old. He looked up and saw the dog; he is usually a social guy but my dog ran towards me, only 6 feet or so. He's a tallish cavalier so not tiny but 1/4 the size of the other dog and not a nasty bone in his body.

The other dog spotted him and launched at him soundlessly, like my dog chased a squirrel. She caught him between my legs and attacked him, he was squealing and crying. The owner ran over and they grabbed their dog, he managed to pull his off, I picked mine up. The owners were very apologetic and were asking if my dog was ok and said their dog is muzzled which I looked and saw it had like a lead type muzzle (not a full box type one) and thankfully the muzzle must have stopped her biting my dog properly as he was wet around the scruff and shoulders but not torn open or bleeding.

I have never seen a dog silently attack like that before. This dog wasn't reactive; my dog went nowhere near it. It (the owner said "she" so I assume a female) ran at him for the purpose of attack. It wasn't interested in me it went for my dog. And the owners obviously have had this before judging by their panic when they spotted me and the fact that they muzzle their dog for walks.

I have two questions: first, if you know your dog is dog aggressive (not just reactive but downright attacking) why walk it at peak time in a hugely popular dog walk area?
And if you know your dog is aggressive to the extent that you muzzle it, AND it doesn't respond to you when you call it when it is in attack mode, why the fuck would you let the dog be off lead in a public space?

[billybagpuss]

Should be muzzled properly and kept on lead, but judging by their reaction they know this.

Hope you’re little fella is ok.

[BwanaMakubwa]

billy I couldn't own a dog that was aggressive AND strong and muscular like that. They knew it was dangerous. Why didn't they have it on a lead?

What do you do if your dog is like that? It was terrifying. My Fitbit thought I was doing a cardio workout!

[Yokohamajojo]

very strange behaviour! hope your dog is ok, did you need to see a vet? We had similar when mine was about 7 months old, no visible injuries but he screamed and since then has hated that particular breed unfortunately

[lifeisbetterinpajamas]

Im so sorry this has happened to you and I hope your pup recovers from the ordeal. Similar happened to me when my boy was 7 months old, 2 dogs off lead with 'NO DOGS' harnesses on came running for my pup (who was on a lead). He suffered 8 bite wounds and one of the dogs was trying to rip his ear off. His screaming is a sound I will never forget. It really ruined owning a dog for me for a good while, and even now (nearly 2 years on) I shit myself when the same type of dog comes close.

[Imissmoominmama]

Their dog should be properly muzzled and on a lead in a place where there are likely to be other dogs.

We have a dog who could attack other dogs- she is always on an extendable lead, and is walked at 5am (we have a large garden where she plays all day).

If we have to walk her later, she has a full muzzle. Her problem started when she was attacked at 9 months old- she was absolutely fine until then.

[heatseeker14]

Sounds awful @BwanaMakubwa, they should have had their dog on lead and fully muzzled. I hope you and your dog are okay.
I have had several incidents where other dogs have gone for mine for no reason and have been left feeling shaky. Only the other day a large dog came stalking over to mine and starting snarling, growling and lunged at him. I tried to put my body in the way to block but the dog kept coming. I ended up shouting several times at it to stop until the owner came and put it on a lead. The owner asked if my dog liked other dogs! I was so mad. My dog loves other dogs. Eventually he admitted it must be his dog that had a problem then joked that I’d need a brandy when I got home instead of a cup of tea. 😒Some people are just utterly clueless.

[fivedogstofeed]

They've probably been told by some 'expert' that they should take their dog out to socialise. It's infuriating, dangerous and not enjoyable for their dog either.
As for those people who own a dog they're capable of holding....

[sunglasses123]

I have had a cavalier before. The soppiest dog ever and they are known to be hopeless guard dogs!

I have also had a rottie. She wasnt good with other dogs. She kept herself to herself. We never gave up on her but it meant walks in very quiet places and at stupid oclock where you could see way in the distance if anyone was around. Shouting out to anyone we saw that she wasnt good with other dogs etc. Lead saying no dogs as well although occasionally I would get someone who would try and test this out!

So, yes, if you have a dog that isnt good with other dogs then you need to go somewhere really really quiet. We now have a lab and I cried when I saw him playing with other dogs and then just coming straight back to me when I called.

[User43210]

Are you both ok? That's horrific!

My heart was pounding until I got to the bit with the muzzle, I let out a sigh of relief!! Could have been so much worse.

No, the dog should not be off lead

For future reference please read the dangerous dog act! This is illegal, if you think a dog is going to attack you or your dog, therefore you are also within your rights to report it.

A bit similar dog attacked mine (not bitten) when he was with DH. DH kicked the dog like I had instructed him to do, it didn't affect the dog!! But he got ours away (I think he picked him up by the lead and harness! You're not supposed to pick them up but it was the safest thing at that point)

I hope your pup doesn't incur any lasting anxiety!!!

[User43210]

@lifeisbetterinpajamas

Im so sorry this has happened to you and I hope your pup recovers from the ordeal. Similar happened to me when my boy was 7 months old, 2 dogs off lead with 'NO DOGS' harnesses on came running for my pup (who was on a lead). He suffered 8 bite wounds and one of the dogs was trying to rip his ear off. His screaming is a sound I will never forget. It really ruined owning a dog for me for a good while, and even now (nearly 2 years on) I shit myself when the same type of dog comes close.

This breaks my heart! I'm so sorry

[Borderstotheleftofme]

I have run into dogs like that before unfortunately.
The silent ones are by far the most dangerous imo.

I find that the vocal growly/air snappy ones usually don’t really wish to cause harm, they want space and put on a ‘show’ to frighten the other one away.

It’s the silent ones that intend on doing actual harm.
I have had run ins with two, if you know what you are looking for it’s usually easy to tell that you need to get the fuck out of there.
Though sometimes the body language is brief before it charges forward.

You are looking for stiff, rigid posture, direct stare, closed mouth, ears forward, tail either raised up poker straight or out horizontally.
If it’s wagging it’ll be a very stiff slow wag or the tip of the tail going fast in short wags.

I no longer allow contact with other dogs and I wouldn’t allow contact with strange dogs for any future dog of mine either.
You just can’t trust other dogs or their owners in my experience.

[Puppywithattitude]

I have a 3 year old boy who was bitten 5 times before he was 12 months old, all but one while he was on lead.
It has caused him quite a lot of on going anxiety unfortunately.

[Borderstotheleftofme]

@heatseeker14 I have had several incidents where other dogs have gone for mine for no reason and have been left feeling shaky
I may be thinking of a different poster, but your dog isn’t by chance a border collie is it?
Mine is too and I have also had dogs go for her unprovoked for ‘no reason’.
A lot of dogs don’t seem comfortable with the way they carry themselves I find

[BwanaMakubwa]

I found this article: I do feel like this was a truly dangerous dog. There was no bluster or noise. She was on a mission. If that muzzle hadn't been on she could have killed or seriously injured my dog.

He seems fine; was shaking on scene but his usual bouncy self by the time we got home. I if course am now frightened to let him off lead (though tbh even if he had been on lead this wouldn't have prevented this dog. Those owners need to keep that dog on a short lead at all times).

thebark.com/content/beware-silent-stealthy-aggressors

[vanillandhoney]

That's awful, I hope you're both okay.

My dog was bitten a couple of times as a puppy - he was pinned down by two terriers and he squealed something awful and unfortunately he was reactive for a while. However he's 2.5 now and a million times better.

I know it's the hardest thing in the world but try and get your dog back out there ASAP and try not to let this experience cause either of you too much long-term anxiety.

[heatseeker14]

@Borderstotheleftofme, no that wasn’t me. One of the dogs that had a go at our dog looked like a collie or collie cross. The owner’s son told me it wasn’t the first time it had happened and had told his mum to get the dog neutered. Our dog is now terrified of collies. He keeps away from them with his tail tucked under.

I hope the incident doesn’t put you off letting your dog off lead @BwanaMakubwa. I totally agree that the silent stalking type dogs are the ones to really worry about. A lot of dog fights are all noise. Hopefully your dog will have some really good interactions with other dogs to counteract the attack.

[heatseeker14]

That sounds absolutely horrendous @lifeisbetterinpajamas 🙁.

[Borderstotheleftofme]

no that wasn’t me. One of the dogs that had a go at our dog looked like a collie or collie cross. The owner’s son told me it wasn’t the first time it had happened and had told his mum to get the dog neutered. Our dog is now terrified of collies. He keeps away from them with his tail tucked under
Ah, perhaps that is where I got confused then!

[heatseeker14]

@Borderstotheleftofme no worries 🙂

[lifeisbetterinpajamas]

@User43210 thank you x

@heatseeker14 it was, luckily he didn't become fear aggressive, although I didn't help because I tried to keep him away from all dogs at first. He is mostly ok now, just dislikes that breed and others that look like it x

[BwanaMakubwa]

Fingers crossed, my dog appears to not have suffered any ill effects. He is still bouncing, still keen to sniff other dogs' bums, still chasing squirrels. So hopefully he isn't scarred.

Having said that it's much more a spaniel, Labrador and collie kind of area than a bull breed place so he hasn't seen a similar dog since. Fingers crossed...

[heatseeker14]

That’s really good news @BwanaMakubwa. 🙂