What should you do when a dog attacks yours?

[tooearlytobeup]

I have a lovely Springer. He's 18 months old, castrated, friendly, well socialised and soft as butter.

Last week I was running with my dog and another runner passed us going in the opposite direction with two dogs (all 3 off lead). they both made a beeline for mine and they seemed aggressive, growling and snapping at him. He tried to avoid them but they kept chasing. They were both greyhounds/lurchers so outran him easily and one pinned him down growling and wouldn't let him up. Eventually their owner noticed, called his dogs, I called mine and we all carried on. My dog was fine so I didn't think much of it.

Tonight we were in the same place and met the same dogs. The same thing happened. Owner ignored and carried on running until I shouted at him to call his dogs back. He shouted to them they ignored for a bit, then let go of my dog.

30 minutes later we passed them again. Same thing happened. This time I screamed at him to call his fucking dogs and keep them under control.
He did, but the dog was more reluctant to let go and kept coming back to mine.

I walk or run in this area virtually every day (its a beach by the way) I am reluctant to stop going there, but know we are likely to bump into these dogs again. How should I deal with it? I dont want my dog to think he has to protect himself, and I dont want him getting hurt

I really dont want to keep him on a lead and think this might make things worse anyway so need a way to deter the others

I think some owners struggle to understand a reactive dog if they've not had one (mind you, I struggle too and I've got one!). Gymdog is now fine if he's looking at me and eating sausage and the other dog doesn't come and bother him. The trouble starts when the other dog does come over and doesn't take the hint that Gymdog isn't interested, even when he's staring at me intently and not interacting at all. Some dogs will mither and nudge and invite and sniff and that's when it starts to go wrong. There's only so much sausage can do! Sometimes it's just not possible to walk away cleanly and effectively.

The other thing that drives me mad is mentioned upthread. 'Don't worry, he's super friendly!' trill other owners as their dog comes hurtling towards us and sticks their nose up Gymdog's bottom. Friendly is exactly what makes Gymdog unfriendly

Just out of interest why don't you muzzle your dog? (I'm asking as the owner of a newly diagnosed reactive dog, and everyone's been telling me the Baskerville muzzles are very good and not uncomfortable for the dog.) Wouldn't it just save a lot of anxiety and potential heartbreak?

I have this problem with my dog, it's 3 who gang up on her, I used to just say 'fuck off' repeatedly through gritted teeth and almost run home but realised this wasn't helping so spoke to the owner of the 3 dogs only to be told ' they won't do anything they are friendly'

My Dad too the dog out sure enough the 3 dogs started following him, I'm not sure it if's legal but he hit the dogs with my dogs leash, I have never had a problem with them again just one of them, I won't lie, I just swear at it and walk away quickly!

I would try report him, I have done this too, but the dogs get picked up then eventually the owner notices they are gone and she get them back.

Hatti does your pup approach dogs on lead whilst she is off lead?

I don't muzzle my dog because he doesn't bite. I was told by a behaviourist that muzzling my already anxious dog might make him worse rather than better. If he ever actually bit, I would muzzle him. I hope, with a lot of training, it never comes to that tbh.

topknob, not any more, she will lie down quite far from the dog (at least 50m) and wait, this gives me chance to get her lead on too.

SHe is also pretty good at recall in case we come across a doggy unexpectedly.

sounds like a great dog then :) I can't stand the ones who allow their pup to approach my dog, who is a miserable fecker especially with spaniels...it always ends up in a bad way yet they have no recall on the pup...and my dog is always on lead for the reason she is grumpy.