a question about dogs and what to do

[JJ]

I'm going to preface this by saying that the following was an honest mistake by my neighbour and has been taken care, but for next time, what should I do?

Yesterday I walked out of my house to get the mail and, halfway down the steps, the huge untrained dog from next door ran out the garage and stood at the bottom barking at me like mad. If I backed up a little, he advanced. He had his tail tucked under his legs and wouldn't let me move. I stood there, petrified, for a few minutes then slowly (very slowly) made it back toward the door. When I was a couple of steps from it, the dog ran halfway up the stairs. I panicked at this point and jumped inside. He kept on barking for a little while, then stopped and went back to the garage.

I'm sure this won't happen again with this dog -- the people next door feel terrible and he had jumped out of his pen when no one was home. But what should I have done wrt the dog? What's the best way to handle a dog like that.

I'm somewhat scared of big dogs and this was terrifying.

not a lot you can do really- you shouldn't risk doing anything to aggravate the dog- the only thing you can do is try to get away and phone for help- the police if you don't know who owns dog. very irresponsible of the owners to let that happen imho

Not totally sure JJ but the few suggestions id make are;
1/ dont run... dogs like to play chase.
2/ maintain eye contact, dont put your back to the dog its more likely to feel dominant.
3/ make your self big and loud? kind of act all dominat and more important that the dog? works with horses but not tried it on dogs b4!
hope that helps,
hope they bought a long chain or a muzzle for the dog?

poor you JJ...
it sounds to me like the dog was scared of you (tail between his legs) and aggresive deffending what he thinks is his territory. As said earlier, do not attempt to approach him in any way in such a situation as you never know hoe he might react. I would say a composed and superior appearance on your part might detter him sligtly it would not stop him doing his job (i.e. head up straight, no running away etc). You did very well in your reaction. I know it's more difficult if you're scared of big dogs. Try and find out the dog's name and some commands they use with him (like "quiet" to stop him bark or "go to your bed" to send him in the house) so you can communicate with him this way. perhaps go for a walk with your neighbours and the dog and make friens with the dog this way. All this is no guarantee he won't defend his territory in the future but you'll feel more in control. Other than that I don not know of any advice on dealing with dogs in such situations. If he was naturally aggressive he would have bitten you easily, but he was scared by the sounds of it and trying to impose his 'authority'. 'eye contact might not help eaither , I believe dogs can see right through us and know how we feel. And aparently, the chemical composition of human sweat when afraid/scared changes in such a way that it actually irritates the dogs and makes them bark/attack further. so nothing one can do about that. Read this somewhere ages ago.

Dogs are driven by the pack and will try to assert themselves as the Alpha dog. So I would crouch down to his eye level and don't maintain eye contact, don't bare your teeth either - it will think you are sizing up to him/her. Just sit quietly with your hand out and don't show fear, I once wandered into a garden with a German Shepherd there and chatted to him without a thought - he didn't move at all until the owner came out yelling "don't panic, he is fully trained!", luckily the penny dropped once I was behind the gate!

That was what we were taught at dog training anyway.

Thanks for all the tips. I'd be too scared to put my hand out, though. :( Next time I'll feel more prepared. Well, if there is a next time. Hope not!

I think I have a bit of contradictory advise, I wouldn't crouch down, they see you as the lead dog if you stand taller, actually to control our little beasts the trainer asked us never to let them sit at a higher position than us (the staircase or the back of the sofa) as that makes them feel powerful which I think it is true, you should see how brave my little yorkie is when I'm carrying her in my arms, she would try to pick a fight with a dobermann.

But don't turn your back to the dog, call him by his name and if it happens again make a serious complaint, is your neighbour who must care for his dog behaviour not you.

I'll ask them what commands to use -- if it happens soon, can I just say "Go away" in a loud voice?

It's a new dog and they had no idea it could jump out. They keep it inside now when they're not there. And they are very good about things like that and, most likely, getting it trained. Most dog owners are nuts about training their dogs here! It's great.

My big dog (Ridgeback) is terrified of strangers. We've just had someone round this morning who hasn't been here before & the dog reacted as we expected- lots of barking & bravado. The visitor has had these dogs & knew what to expect so she ignored the dog completely, & it soon settled down. The only time she got upset again was when the visitor started gesturing with her hands!

With a big dog that is scared itself, the worst thing you can do is make eye contact (they see it as a challenge/threat). I really wouldn't recommend crouching down either; if it did attack it would get your face. Our dog gets really upset when strange people put their hands out to her..

Don't know what I would do in that situation, as a person who is also terrified of big dogs! I think you probably did the right thing at the time.

Most dogs know the word "SIT" said in a very firm and loud voice! I know it sounds daft, but a firm "Sit / Sit down" can stop a dog in its tracks.

Well, I think the first thing to happen is for your neighbours to take their dog to training classes. If it is an adult dog and they have only just got it, they shouldn't be taking any chances with it. Saying they didn't know it could jump out of its pen is a bit disingenuous. They didn't know that it couldn't jump out and therefore should have taken better precautions.

We have a rescue dog and he is a big dog. Even though we have now had him over a year I still don't take any chances with him, because I don't know his history and what might trigger a reaction in him.

JJ, that sounds so scary. I think I'd have been petrified even though I've always had dogs in the past! As others have said, it's best not to make eye contact, as dogs see it as a threat, and don't smile as it would see it as a barring of teeth rather than a friendly expression. Don't bend down as it exposes your face to danger as well as making an anxious or aggressive dog think you may be an easy target - act demure, not entirely defenceless! In dealing with nervous dogs in the past when I helped at a vets, I found a low calm voice could work wonders and found it helped calm me too! I think backing off and getting inside was the best thing you could have done in the circumstances. It would take a lot of bravado to aproach a dog who was displaying obvious signs of warning!
There are also pocket sized units you can buy which emmit a high pitched sound to ward off dangerous dogs when activated. I have to say, I haven't come accross them here in England, so hope I'm not suggesting anything illegal! I would be concerned about units like this being misused on harmless pets, though wouldn't hesitate to get one if it meant I could safely leave my own house!

something like this