What would you do in a vicious dog attack? [MNHQ warning: distressing content]

[MarcoPoloCX]

If your dog was savagely attacked by another, at what point would you intervene and how much force would you use?
Would you wait for the owner to recall/pull his dog away or would you go straight in with all your might?
Would you just try and pull your dog away or would you hit and kick the other dog?
I am asking because this weekend I witnessed a little terrier being ripped apart by Mastiff.
The owner was of the terrier was screaming while the other guy was recalling and trying to pull it away.
It was over in seconds.
Was the worst thing I seen happened to someone’s pet.

I always wear good, solid, walking boots when I take the dogs out, in case of situations like this and carry a pop up brolly. If you are under threat of attack, point the brolly at the aggressive dog and press the button. The shock of the brolly opening should give you enough time to get away and don't take the brolly with you as it gives the dog something else to attack.

Also carry an extra lead. If the dog is attacking your dog or another person, you grab it by the back legs, tie the lead around it's leg and tie lead around a post, tree, railings, or give to someone to hold, etc. Be very careful and be aware that the dog can turn on you so think of it as a wheelbarrow with teeth. If the dog turns to the right, you go in the opposite direction. Only attempt this if you have the strength to hold the dog and remember their adrenaline will give them extra strength.

You can also carry a corrector spray that makes a loud hissing sound, that should distract the dog long enough for the owner to grab it. The can will state that you shouldn't spray it towards the dog, but to be honest I wouldn't care what the label says.

My Dog is huge, but where we used to walk there was one staff with a very stupid owner - it would see a beeline towards us and would approach looking fine (first time, I learnt after that) and but quickly change and fly at my dog, I didn't kick it - but each time (it happened 3 times) blocked it with my leg (my push it away with my boot) and very deep growly voice. Stupid owner got the idea that there was going to be serious problems if she let it happen again. She was always miles away - and it was always my fault (once I caught up with her) because I had called my dog back and put him on lead...... I suggested we see if the dog warden and police saw it her way and she seriously avoided me after that.

So I think I would intervene - not because that is the plan, but because I think that would be my natural instinct.

Really really awful what you witnessed today, I hope that the owner of the terrier is going to report the owner of the mastiff to the police and dog warden.

They are known around for having dogs not under control. They have three of the same breed and they have attacked four other dogs on my street. Hence the reason they walk them in the park in the early hours of the morning long before sunrise. I don't think they realise just how much harm their dogs can do. I heard rumours that they are getting a pup of the same breed. Mad!

I intervene! My dogs are my responsibility and its my duty to protect them. If they were attacked, I wouldn't think twice! Equally, if mine attacked (and my roar didn't quell them!), I'd act to protect the victim, by whatever means necessary.

Pick the aggressor up by the back legs and step backwards. This is definitely the most effective and least perilous way to break a fight. The thing is, you often need two switched on people to manage it, because once the aggressor is disabled, the other dog can sometimes try to re-engage, if not restrained.

If to hand, the sound of a fire extinguisher is extremely effective, as is a bucket of icy water.

Using your feet is dangerous, however stomping down is more effective than kicking. We generally have a stronger stomp!

Obviously, avoiding an attack is key and preempting a possible attack, blocking where possible is ideal. Sometimes even a strong NO. GO AWAY. with yourself between your dog and the aggressor can deter an incoming dog (although don't get in the middle if they're inches apart!). Sadly, it's not always effective or possible.

I intervene! My dogs are my responsibility and its my duty to protect them. If they were attacked, I wouldn't think twice! Equally, if mine attacked (and my roar didn't quell them!), I'd act to protect the victim, by whatever means necessary.

Pick the aggressor up by the back legs and step backwards. This is definitely the most effective and least perilous way to break a fight. The thing is, you often need two switched on people to manage it, because once the aggressor is disabled, the other dog can sometimes try to re-engage, if not restrained.

If to hand, the sound of a fire extinguisher is extremely effective, as is a bucket of icy water.

Using your feet is dangerous, however stomping down is more effective than kicking. We generally have a stronger stomp!

Obviously, avoiding an attack is key and preempting a possible attack, blocking where possible is ideal. Sometimes even a strong NO. GO AWAY. with yourself between your dog and the aggressor can deter an incoming dog (although don't get in the middle if they're inches apart!). Sadly, it's not always effective or possible.

My dad broke a walking stick over a rottweiler's head once when it attacked our border collie, it still didn't let go. Only thing that saved our collie was his enormous ruff of hair around his neck, if it had been a smaller or less hairy dog it would definitely have been killed.

I know this is an unpopular view but I just don't see why people have these type of dogs as pets. It's terrifying.

Marco, have the owners been reported? You could report this as a witness. I used to have a mastiff - owners like that give the breed an undeserved bad name

Southpaws - my Rottweiler has needed veterinary treatment after being attacked while he was on the lead 3 times...do you think it's any less terrifying because they were different breeds?

I know this is an unpopular view but I just don't see why people have these type of dogs as pets. It's terrifying.

Out of interest, what type do you mean, Southpaws and why?

All these people saying they intervene physically, seriously be careful a french mastiff could very easily kill you, you are not invincible. There is a difference between a terrier and a dog of this size. You would have to be very strong to pick it up by it's back legs, you could not overpower it physically.

I have stopped a dog using my body language and voice that was very obviously heading to attack my mums two dogs. Luckily it worked and fighting didn't break out.

My mum walks with a walking stick incase an aggressive dog attacks her small dog. So she can try and head off an attack before it starts or hit an aggressive dog with it if necessary.

I've had much lower scale attacks and shouted and kicked dogs which has stopped it.

I know a number of rottweilers that are soft as putty. I have a big dog with a big head, and people think he must be vicious - he is not, he is as soft as putty.

The problem with these dogs are the owners not the breed itself.

No way can anyone overpower a French mastiff and lift it's hind legs. The terrier owner has reported it to the police and I offered as a witness if required. They live in a small semi so why the hell get four of this breed! I don't think they get the exercise or the socialisation and they're enclosed in their own group. Getting a pup will just make the problem worse.

All these people saying they intervene physically, seriously be careful a french mastiff could very easily kill you, you are not invincible. There is a difference between a terrier and a dog of this size.

I've have one version and had the other. I'd have no qualms whatsoever about stopping a fight involving either. I think it's pretty obvious that doing so carries a risk. I think that risk is for people to judge for themselves and I'm pretty certain that ^no-one on this thread has implied they feel themselves to be invincible... Or that they aren't aware of the size difference between a DDB and a terrier! (...which terrier do you mean though? Airedales are vastly different to a JRT, after all!)

No way can anyone overpower a French mastiff and lift it's hind legs.

Lifting the hind legs of a mastiff and stepping backwards, to successfully break a fight is entirely do-able and generally effective. I've done it. It worked. You don't have to be strong enough to overpower the animal head on. You do have to be confident, quick and determined. Fortunately, adrenaline helps with those!

I'm so glad the incident has been reported and horrified that it happened at all

I'm seriously worried about taking my puppy out in case a dog attacks him, he's very small.
My lab has been attacked only once, thankfully, by another lab being walked by an old lady who couldn't control it.
I just hope if my dogs ever were attacked it is by a small dog so I've got a chance to save them.

Was that on a real fight situation? On a dog with no resistance, maybe. But in real situation the mastiff would be kicking with its hind legs, twisting his torso, rolling on the ground to get you off.

Was that on a real fight situation? On a dog with no resistance, maybe. But in real situation the mastiff would be kicking with its hind legs, twisting his torso, rolling on the ground to get you off.

Of course it was I wouldn't pick a dog up like that otherwise! No kicking, twisting or rolling. He wasn't an alligator!

Pick up near the top of the back legs (without crouching), step back, move in a semi circle. It's worth researching this technique, if you're interested in understanding how it works? It does work and honestly is worth knowing.

I've always been told to either stick your finger up the agressors arse or twist its testicles - not sure of the effectiveness or doability. I'm sorry you had to witness this op

Well I have been in a situation in a veterinary practice where a 90 kg mastiff that had always been perfectly amicable turned and it took three of us to control it so Amantes you must be very strong. Yes Airdales are very big as is my Bull Terrier but that is obviously not what I meant.
I don't think people realise what damage dogs can do or think they will be ok. One of clients intervened between dogs and was hospitalised for a long time. Whilst some people may know what they are doing others may not and may read this thread and get involved and get seriously hurt. I love my dog but I would not want to get in a situation whereby it means my ds growing up without a mum.

When the mastiff you mention was attacking another dog, indeed, did any of you use the technique to break fights, which I (and others) have described?

Honestly, I'm not particularly strong! It's a pretty well known method. As I said earlier, it is worth researching, if you're interested. There's plenty of info available.

I think it's completely irresponsible of owners to not know how to break up a fight - or to not be willing to. As you said yourself, even a dog "that had always been perfectly amicable" can turn. If your Staff did, what would your approach be? OTOH, if a large breed attacked your dog, WWYD?

Just stand there? I just couldn't! And I wouldn't. Particularly given I know how to break up a fight, as safely as possible. Of course there's a risk. No-one has denied that but there are safer ways than kicking and I'm quite glad that awareness of those methods is being raised.

I walk alone in a forest every day with my completely soppy lab. I go where I do because I hardly see anyone and generally know the people we do come across. I always put my dog on a lead if I don't know any dogs we do meet.

I carry a huge stick and I would use it in an instant if anything attacked, whether I would do much good, or enough good, remains to be seen but I would use it without hesitation.

Sadly an old man has just started driving to where I walk to walk his lovely, very old spaniel because it was attacked by a Staffie in a park in our local town.

We had three farm dogs chase us on a road in Hereford a few months ago, a terrier, collie and husky cross looking thing. They ran out of their farm yard and were really trying to go for our dog - very worrying, DD was with us. DH launched the small one to the other side of the road in the air with his foot under its tummy and they retreated enough for us to open the gate we needed to to get onto the footpath. They were on a public road.

I walk for an hour most days, deep into the woods, my only worry is meeting an aggressive dog.

The mastiff wasn't attacking another dog it was attacking us, two vet nurses, it's owner and a vet. I wasn't there in the other dog fight situation I just knew the owner who was severely injured and the dog.
I just worry that people may read this thread and think 'oh that's what you do' and then end up getting hurt.
I honestly don't know what I'd do, I know i wouldn't stick my hands or feet in there. I have been lucky in all my years with dogs i have never been in that situation.
I have an English bull terrier and love him to bits but I'm not sure I would risk myself for him, things have changed for me since I've become a mother. I wouldn't jump in a river after him either.