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.

Need - my horse was chased by a dog many moons ago (actually 14 years now I think about it), I fell off and my lovely horse ran home which was only a mile away at that point but would have involved her running along a road for the last 200 yards.

DH was out running and by a stroke of luck was running towards us - he had no idea we were on that track. He caught her, I was still swearing at the stupid woman when he caught up with us.

Her dog only wanted to play.

Horse is 20 now and still hates dogs (oddly has got used to my lab) which is can be an issue.

let me preface this by saying this is not what I would do....but at the stables I used to ride at a guy there had a very bold horse, one day out riding on a local common started getting hassled by an airedale, guy riding asked owner to please call his dog off, to be told " he only wants to play....the riders response was "ok we'll play then, whereby he chased the dog around the common on horseback....dog owner was none to pleased, but riders response was "but you said he wanted to play"? I would hope the dog owner has learnt his lesson.

mrs I had hoped that one of her leaps/twists/bucks had made contact but sadly not, the only thing that made contact was my arse with the ground!

Mrs, I did laugh at that! One of ours was a kicker and a damn good shot too - fortunately most of the local dogs knew it!

"They only want to play" seems to be a fairly consistent claim by owners of aggressive dogs. If a dog play bows, the chances are it does want to play! Funny that none of these incidents have included the aggressor displaying that global canine body language for 'Can we play, please?' ...and every one has included every warning sign of an impending attack

Yes that "They only want to play" is something I have actually only ever heard said by owners of out of control/aggressive dogs, over the years I have walked my dogs. If someone says that before the dog does anything, I now assume the dog is probably aggressive.

Years ago I had a very reactive dog. She only got walked on a lead. So I don't get what is difficult about that concept. Why owners of dogs like this (most of which must be repeat offenders) still are deluded enough to let them offlead, I'll never understand.

Re. horses... my late staffy (the one attacked by the black lab well by quite a few labs, funnily enough) used to meet the same horse every day on his walks. The horse went the same circuit we did but in the other direction. His rider told me that he had an obsession with dogs and if he saw one even as a speck on the horizon, he'd break into a trot to catch up with it... Only thing was, staffy was scared of horses! He met this lovely, friendly horse almost every day of his life but always looked like he was bricking it when the horse stopped to 'chat'.

I read somewhere that you should stick your index finger or a long item lile
lighter

Has anyone heard of the 'Yellow Ribbon' that is worn on a dog's collar to alert people that the dog is nervous or unpredictable?

I don't own a dog but there are a few posters in local shops near me about the 'campaign'.

I was walking my mums lab x on a lead .Going over a narrow footbridge but was obviously in sight lady with 2 westies off lead one westie charges straight in at mums poor dog trying to bite her and who is desperately trying to hide beside/behind my powerchair . i yelled to woman to grab her dog as otherwise I am going drive forward and it be squashed her response you run over my dog I report you .to clarify i would not run a dog over deliberately but since it was getting close to snapping at my legs which can move out way i would have nudged it with wheels

Then said well he not like other dogs.My face did the look and pointed out why was he not on a lead when saw us and or muzzled.i already shortened mums dogs lead as i saw others coming and she needs reassurance .I got told well he only small like it not matter.

Admit something I am going be wary of when walking the new puppy are other peoples dogs

Can I also add in my hate that people allow their dogs to yap and bark at my powerchair forcing me to stop so I dont run it over as its a big chair and I hate to hurt a dog ( aware some think fun thing to chase ) ,

It happens I can deal with that but please don't bloody stand there chatting to friend while I cant move or take time wandering over. when I am wondering if your dog is going to launch self at me .( twice been bitten but luckily had new rocks on both times so not go to skin )

I mentioned this thread to DH who produced an alpine tip from somewhere and put it on a free reclaimed from the woods) stick.

I think I prefer Amantes mini fire extinguisher

at the pen nib spear! You'd have to stab quite deeply for that to have an effect on a dog who'd essentially lost the plot. They feel little when in that state and hear even less. A 'poker' is far more likely to escalate their fury than quell it! Because an extinguisher sounds like an angry goose hiss, it breaks through the rage - without causing escalation, harm or death. again!

In case anyone takes the pen nib spear seriously - it's an offence, to carry a weapon. The carrying of 'pointed articles' are included along with knives, blades and 'offensive weapons' as a serious crime. A pre-made weapon implies further intent to harm...

I don't think an alpine tipped walking stick is a 'weapon' is it?

I walk with a stick, be it a club type or a nordic one, wouldn't walk without a stick ever.

Every walking stick shop online sells alpine tips.

Our greyhound was attacked by a Staffy / pit bull cross. Dh had to kick the other dog in the head to get it to let go. Our DDog needed 41 stitches. He was always terrified of other dogs after that.

I once put 20 stitches in a dog whose face had been split open by a hurley(wooden stick similar to a hockey stick used for the irish sport of hurley)its quite a weapon to be honest but we use them to launch balls for fetch etc so not uncommon to be out in public with one.

the owners were furious that someone had hit their dog and talking all sort of legalities and cruelty threats to the person who hit the dog.

I put the same dog down before we took the stitches out.

owners had gotton a visit from the guards and dog warden for having a dangerous dog off leash.
what the furious owners neglected to mention was that said dog got a wallop from a furious father who was trying to get the dog away from his daughter who had picked up their jack russel to protect it. said dog jumped up.knocked her to the ground and split her face open and wouldnt get off.he had a hurley for fetch so he used it.

Owners of the stiched up dog still think they should have been compensated for the dog having to be beaten off a small child trying to protect her pet....because he was only trying to play and the child should have known not to pick up the other dog(their words).
they now have a dead dog a couple of hundreds of euro of a vet bill and that child has facial scars.never heard if the case against them made it to court or not.

Playing or not if your dog isnt reliable off leash dont let it off the lead.not everyone likes "playing" dogs.