Another dog attacked my Labrador puppy

[Kickinthenostalgia]

I was just out with my 5 month old Labrador, a popular walk during summer, so loads of dogs. She’s very friendly, we made sure to socialise her well due to our late older dog who wasn’t very friendly. It’s a massive park area along the cliff top about 1/2 mile wide, 1/2 mile long. We were down one side and as there were no other dogs I was working on recall, saw him talking to another dog owner at the entrance so immediately put my dog back on the lead and carried on walking, next thing his dog has spotted us (his dog not on the lead) and come barrelling over from the other side barking, he called it 3 times and still it came charging over, my puppy then thinks it was playing until it starts attacking her, she was squealing, luckily no marks on her.
He finally managed to grab hold of it. In fairness he did say sorry and asked how my dog was but I was so livid I didn’t answer, just checked my dog over and carried on walking, we live on the same road so he was in front of me, he carried his dog home like they were the ones been attacked, pretty sure he didn’t even have a lead with him.. what makes me more fuming is we saw him a few days ago, whilst he was with his wife his dog started going nuts at us and a few other dogs whilst walking down our street so it’s not just us it has a problem with. His kids go to the same school as my daughter and he’s always given off wanker energy so I’ve never really talked to him, my daughter went to thier house years ago for a party and he wasn’t coming across great then either. I’m absolutely fuming. I’m doing everything I can to train my dog properly and then people like this could potentially undo all the work we’ve done because they are too stubborn to walk thier dogs properly. I almost just reported it to the local council, I’m gonna see if he’s learned his lesson and if it happens again I will absolutely without hesitation report it.
tbf my puppy is absolutely fine, it’s like it never even happened. Shes running around the garden like a mad women right now.
anyone else been in a similar situation? Just needed a rant, my blood is boiling, I need to calm down before I take the kids out for the day.

He's not in control of his dog. I'm not sure what you can do but he shouldn't be letting it off the lead at all.

Similar happened to our lab boy when he was little. He was so playful he couldn’t tell the difference between a dog wanting to play and aggression.
He isn’t traumatized. But it wasn’t nice to see.
And you absolutely need to keep the recall training up, if anyone says dog on lead at all times. How can your pup expect to learn something if she has never done it.

Report to the dog warden, especially if you know where he lives. Each time it happens and a report is made it builds a case for them to fine and put restrictions on the owner (muzzling). Sadly we waiting to report something similar and when we did report, after other dog bit through our labs ear, they didn’t do anything as it was the first report. I’d be very wary as now it’s done it once it will likely do it again if given the opportunity.

It is horrible to witness. One of my pups was attacked at that age by a bully that broke free of his owner, luckily it was muzzled as I dread to think what would’ve happened if not.
For the rest of that day she was quiet and a bit wary of other dogs (we saw several on the way back to the car) but she went to sleep and by the evening walk she was happily playing with other dogs.

Thanks everyone, told DP, he was fuming. I didn’t tell him which house they lived in as I know he would have marched around there, which would be no good for anyone. He took pup out this evening as I was busy and seems she’s not been affected at all, has been running around with a few dogs. So totally oblivious. Irresponsible dogs owners piss me off more than anything. Worst bit about it is that’s the first time I’ve even seen him walk it by himself, he’s usually with the wife or she usually takes it.

To previous poster. She’s doing fantastic with recall, seems dogs are not a distraction for her because she could see the people behind us and she wasn’t bothered as the other dogs were not bothered…. She is however obsessed with feathers at the moment and for some strange reason we seem to have a load more than usual appearing around the neighbourhood… caused a few problems with recall in terms of she knew I would take it off her so moved whilst eating it everytime I got closer. Worked out the sound of treats is a good distraction.
but this guy is now on my shit list. She’s literally not had a problem with any other dog in the 2 months we’ve been walking her. Shes a been a bit lively (still on the lead) with some dogs who’ve literally turned around and walked off because they were older dogs and probably couldn’t be bothered with her enthusiasm.
I am a bit cautious anyway because my late older dog was friendly as a puppy and we were both attacked when she was 2 and after that she wouldn’t let other dogs come near her other than 3 she was friends with. 3 husky’s. So I’m always on alert. Especially with dog walkers walking multiple dogs as it the dogs who attacked us, she was dog walking except she was too busy talking to notice until it was too late.

There is little you can do with useless dog owners. There is lots you can do with how you and thus your dog responds.
We have had 6 dogs over 20 years. My advice is to downplay any bad behaviour from your dog or another dog. Be low key, move away with little fuss.
Your dog will take your lead.
Out current dogs (lab/collie/rottiebcrosses) have the potential of being quite anxious and/or aggressive but completely ignore dickhead dogs because we do. Just walk on after a nasty incident with as little stress as possible. Obviously if they have been punctured then get details otherwise. Walk away talking calmly and distract.