Dogs off the lead and out of control - what to do?

[tubsywubsy]

For the fourth time in the last year or so, my dog has been attacked by another dog. She's a 4 year old JRT with a very strong chase instinct and, despite lots of training, just will not reliably come back when called, so is always on the lead, albeit a long retractable one. Each time this has happened the other dogs concerned have been off the lead and have run up to and attacked my dog without any provocation from her. Fortunately only one of these attacks has resulted in any injury, and that was fairly minor (although it left me with a £70 vet's bill and the dog with a big bite mark on its back).

The third time it happened the owner of the other dog implied that it was my fault - 'it's because she's on the lead' - but if these owners can't control their dogs and call them back when they are tearing towards us - surely their dogs should also be on the lead?

I've had to give up walking in some of our usual places because of the number of out of control dogs. It's left me and the dog very nervous of encountering other dogs when we are out. If any dog comes running towards us, she takes cover behind my legs.

The owners never seem to apologise, or even care about what their out of control animals are doing. And no, they are not chavs with Staffies, they are Boden-esque women doing the dog walk once they've dropped the kids off at school.

Please tell me I'm not doing anything wrong - suggestions for what to say at the time would be useful.

You're not doing anything wrong. I can't believe these women say its your fault, how awful! I'd be mortified if my dog attacked another dog.

I'd take photos of the other dog and owner if mine was atacked and follow them home/back to their car and then inform the police and dog warden. I'd be demanding vet bill payment.

They are at fault the law is very clear on this dogs either need to be on a lead or under close control in a public place. They are 100% in the wrong. A personal bug bear of mine due our previous dog having serious issues about other dogs.

They are at fault. In one sense, you've answered your own question - be very selective about where you walk them. Like you, we now simply don't go to certain parks in our city as the hassle factor from out of control off lead dogs completely outweighs any pleasure from the surroundings.

If the area is a park or other public open space, raise the matter with the dog warden and the park warden/manager. Do this in writing and insist on it being recorded, investigated and actioned. If, god forbid, it happens again, photograph the dog and its owner with your mobile phone and kick up an almighty fuss with Council and police. Dog owners like this do it because they can get away with it - a few stern words or even a prosecution might encourage them to get their dogs trained or even invest in a lead.

I'd also consider a petition with other sensible dog owners in the area to force the Council/land owner to have more regular patrols of dog wardens. The nuclear option is to press for Dog Control Orders which can enforce dogs being on the lead.

Thank you - we're in a small market town with no dog warden and only a couple of PCSOs around intermittently, but might be worth talking to them about it. Don't normally take my mobile with me on dog walks, but will start doing so in the future. The problem area is a nature reserve adjacent to a recreation ground. Dogs are supposed to be on a lead on the rec. (but rarely are) but not, I think, on the nature reserve. I guess I'm going to have to say something to the owners myself next time it happens - providing I'm not too shocked/flustered.

Can't you be sneaky and suggest to the manager/owner of the nature reserve that ground nesting birds are being disturbed by off lead dogs and that therefore they should introduce a lead policy? This is actually a valid reason for dogs to be on a lead, and I wouldn't dream of letting ours off in a reserve, in fact many have (understandably) a no dog policy. You could also "find" some rare plants or badgers that don't need to be disturbed?

How awful that your dog is actually being attacked. One of our dogs used to rush up and bark at other dogs on leads. Because it is hugely embarrassing and could lead to very real problems, we have managed to use distraction techniques with considerable success, or we put him on a lead. It is not acceptable to feel threatened by a dog rushing up and lungeing at yours. Attacking and causing damage is very serious and the attacker risks being put down for such behaviour. I guess the owners don't realise that they NEED to keep their dogs under control or they may lose them.

It may help you to think about your own behaviour in the circumstances. It is horrible feeling afraid, but your fear may be getting transferred to your dog. It may be worth a chat with your dog trainer about how you can deal with the situation. Sometimes on walks, I used to carry a cola can with stones in it to shake at dogs who didn't appear to be under control, to keep their distance.

I hope the owner paid for your vet fees.

If people can't control their dogs and prevent them from approaching other dogs (whether on OR offlead) without permission, they shouldn't have them offlead.

It's not your fault, IOW.

Re: the advice about the shake can; hmm... the only trouble there is that you risk scaring your own dog. Also, you risk making the approach of other dogs even scarier - your dog now fears other dogs approaching because on top of everything else, a horrible noise happens.

Personally I'd prefer to take a water bottle out with me, to squirt at other dogs to get rid of them if necesary. Again though, make sure you don't squirt your own dog by accident. Do a bit of target practise without the dog first!

If she wants to hide behind your legs, let her. Sometimes if you put yourself between your dog and another dog, and stare down the other dog and firmly say "NO!!" it'll bugger off and you won't even need the spray bottle.

You might also want to go to some training classes - a) To teach a reliable recall (it's not too late, and dogs with a strong chase/prey drive can still learn a reliable recall) and b) To allow her to mix with (carefully selected) other dogs in a controlled way, so she learns to be more confident around them.

I have the same problem as mine is walked on a lead and if I see an out of control dog heading right for us I call out in a loud but friendly voice 'can you call you dog off please?' - tends to do the trick and then if their dog doesn't respond it makes it very clear who is at fault.

If the dog is 'attacking' or dog and wont back kick it with the upper part of your foot , not toe, in the soft part of its chest .

The dog could be classed as being 'dangerously out of control' if you fear it aswell .

'Dangerously out of control' is defined as being 'on any occasion on which there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person'.