Bad day today - dog got attacked twice. Feeling very shaken up.

[JaneEyre70]

Took dog out today, around midday - later than usual. Was walking along footpath when we met two huge staffies, off lead. Mine stopped and looked at me, I called him back but as he turned towards me and started running, the dogs took off after him. They were with 2 young teenage girls who starting shout "oh shit oh shit" which didn't fill me with confidence, so I pelted towards my dog and managed to lift him out of the way (thank god for his harness and the fact he's a small cocker) with these two snarling at his legs. I was a bit taken aback but we carried on walking. I spoke to a fellow dog walker this afternoon who told me these dogs have attacked others and are supposed to be on leads. Turns out to be the least of my worries.
Later this afternoon, I got my DDs dog (springer) with mine and my 3 yr old grandson to go for a walk in the field behind their house. We're walking along in the sun, enjoying looking at the flowers when we meet another local walker - she had her large springer off lead, and I was a bit concerned as this dog has gone for mine before. It seemed OK at first, we said hello, nice weather etc then we went to carry on. Her dog was sniffing mine, and then just attacked him. It was absolutely terrifying, I couldn't get near either, my dogs mouth was pouring with blood and the other dog just wouldn't let go....his owner was stood back not really helping and I had to scream at my 3 yr old grandson to run up the hill towards the gate so he was out of their way. Thank god DDs dog was terrified and stood well back . Eventually I managed to grab my dogs harness and was literally screaming at the top of my lungs at this woman to do something!! She grabbed her dog and clipped his lead on - and stood watching me while I mopped the blood off my dog and I stood and shouted at her that her dog was not safe to have off a lead. She then just walked off, and I was left shaking and crying, telling my grandson how brave and sensible he was, and trying to make sure my dog was OK.
I'm still on the verge of tears tonight, luckily the dog seems OK if not a bit subdued and I've checked his mouth all over, he has a couple of puncture marks in his tongue which was why he bled so profusely. I've reported it online to our local Police as I gave up trying to phone 101.
I'm just so upset and angry that I can't seem to walk my dog locally now without him being pinned down and bitten. He was attacked by another dog last year and I'm really worried that he's starting to show signs of fear around other dogs. He's a very gentle loving little dog, his only crime is being an unneutered male and this seems to have made him a real target. I've not had him neutered as he's never shown any sign of humping, I'm very nervous about general anaesthesia and was worried about his growth plates and cruciate ligaments as our last dog tore both. I feel really sad that I now feel I have no choice other than to neuter him as other people can't control their dogs .

OP that must have been horrible. I try and walk mine as far away from other dogs as I can but it's not always possible. Hope DDog recovers

Oh Jane, that sounds horrible.

How awful for you and your wee dog.

People need to control their dogs!

Those two Staffies need to be reported to the dog warden, especially as there's been other similar incidents. That's a bad attack just waiting to happen.

As for the springer attack, definitely report it to the dog warden as well. They'll probably need the woman's name and address, if she didn't leave you details then get the incident posted on your local Facebook community pages and you'll find you'll get someone telling you details you need and possibly other victims of her dog coming forward which you can include in your report to the dog warden.

I have a wee Spaniel too and I'm absolutely terrified of her being attacked so am very cautious of where I walk her.

She was bitten by a horrible Staffy a couple of months ago, fortunately it didn't cause any real damage but I can't stand them.
It's not just bad owners, they're a low threshold breed with highly aggressive tendencies with other dogs.

I hope your dog is alright.

Aw Jane that sounds horrific. :( you must be really shaken up by it, I was with my parents dog when he got attacked and it really knocked my confidence.

I mainly walk him down quiet lanes/fields and woods now but that has its own problems as people with aggressive dogs can prefer those places too. My parents had a few attacks too, one where my dad had to kick the other dog repeatedly as the owner wasn't interested.
Since we got him neutered we've never had a similar problem, would neutering be an option for you? I found it made a real difference but I can't say if that's just a coincidence as I'm not clued up on dogs really.

I'm so sorry for you, what a horrible day you've had. Hope your poor little dog is ok. Facebook is a good idea, spread the message far and wide and hopefully you'll find out who she is and can report her and prevent anyone else being attacked.

I wonder if you're on to something about your dog being attacked because he's entire. My boy is still unneutered and like you I see no reason as yet to neuter him. We haven't encountered an attack yet but there have been a couple of close calls. I'm reluctant to put him through anesthetic for no reason.

I've just been talking to DH saying I feel I need to talk to the Vet and see if it is something to do with him being entire. I feel so bad for him, he's very gentle and I'm panicking already about where I can walk him. Thank you for your kind words, I feel absolutely horrid tonight and very shaky still. Dog is glued to my lap even more than normal

I am so sorry for the day you've all had and I hope your cocker boy is feeling better now. Definitely take him to the vets and get him checked over and report what you can to the warden.

Neutering might help but it is not a quick fix as it can take months for the testosterone levels to settle, but it is something dogs can feel threatened by, mine definitely does.

I just wanted to add as an owner of a reactive dog not to look at all reactive dogs the same, I muzzle and keep him on the lead at all times he is not allowed to say hello to any on/off lead dogs (unless we are sure of his reaction and the other owner agrees).

Give your pooch a hug from me

It probably has nothing to do with him being unneutered , my dog is neutered and he was attacked by a staffy (neutered) and a bulldog (bitch) last year . I'd get him checked over at the vets though as when mine was attacked it looked like a superficial nick to his ear was the worst of it but when we got to the vets he'd actually been bitten quite deeply down his ear canal as well. Hope your dog is ok .

Please be so careful - it's incredibly dangerous to pick up your dog in this scenario - you make it more likely the threatening dog will go for him, and you in the process.

I picked mine up on both occasions , in the staffy attack I'm fairly certain I'd be dogless now if I hadn't , my safety was the least of my concerns at the time . During the bulldog fight I did get bitten but I wouldn't like to say whether it was the bulldog or mine that caught me as it wasn't deliberate by either of them .

This is why I don't allow mine to approach other dogs at all. Recall and lead until we have passed every time, I don't trust random untested dogs or their owners.

I actually spoke to my behaviourist who said short greeting can be stressful to some dogs and it's not necessary to allow them to interact. In fact it's better to have your dog focused on you than making 'friends'

Hope your dog is okay OP and the owners have learnt a lesson!

How horrible for you and your dog I would definitely take him to the vet, my boy has been bitten a few times and with puncture wounds he's always needed antibiotics, dog mouths are not the cleanest of places. Hope he's feeling better very soon!

I'd struggle to pick my dog up, he weighs about 30 kilos. I don't know what I'd do if he got attacked.

bkackfellpony , my dog doesn't approach random dogs but that doesn't stop other dogs approaching us unfortunately .

I have the same problem Floral and I have two german shepherds, one muzzled

I think there should be some sort of dog law to be honest!

persevere with 101 I expect online reporting falls into a black hole

I go out with a metal walking stick. I have a large 40kg who has been attacked and is nervous, and if a dog comes off lead towards us, out of control, then the stick held aloft tends to make them go away. I would have no hesitation clouting a dog over the head with the stick either if the owners are too stupid to put out of control dogs on lead to protect myself and my dog.

Been to the vets today, he had a raised temperature and has been very quiet..they've given him a painkiller and some antibiotics just in case. His mouth looks ok, just a little swollen and he's got a horrid upset tummy that the vet thought was from swallowing blood and shock.

I had a phone call from the local Police station, she was very kind and sympathetic but said there was very little they could enforce. She had visited the dog owner (luckily my DD works at the local pub and soon found out who they were), but no one was there so she left a card and asked for them to contact her. She said she'd then be back in touch to let me know what she agreed with them. Normally they recommend a muzzle or keeping on a lead. We'll see I guess.
I do intend to drop the owners the vet bill , I would assume that is acceptable under the circumstances? I have to take him back on Wednesday for them to check him. My poor boy. Felt very nervy walking today, and was constantly looking over my shoulder .

Hope DDog makes a good recovery. Poor thing :(

Poor you and your poor dog. Second what pp said about reporting both to the Dog Warden as well, Councils do have powers- if the Staffies have had a dogs on lead order then I think it's a criminal offence if they were out without them.

I'd drop the vets bill round to the owner as well. You might not get it back but it makes the point.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you. Worth sticking to places dogs have to be on leads or even hiring a safe field where you could have alone time.
Not sure neutering is the answer. I would stay well away from any dogs that have attacked before.
FWIW be v careful re grandson. If he runs the worst case scenario is the dog leaves your dog and takes him down.
Bloody scary.
Hope your dog recovers well.

I carry extra dog biscuits to throw as a distraction, and a 'Pet Corrector' aerosol that makes a loud hissing noise - just hoping that if I find myself in your situation OP, I've got a bit of defence. And I've also just bought a walking pole to carry, like Madbengalmum.

None of is has been used yet but after my daughter's Cockerpoo puppy was viciously attacked in a park it's made me very wary.

I hope your dog is feeling a bit better now - what a horrible thing to happen

My dog became a target for other male dogs from when he was about 8 months or so - it was almost as if there was a sign (invisible to humans but not dogs) above his head saying 'entire male, come and have a go'. He was never badly hurt, just a couple of minor wounds, one on his nose and one on his ear and I think his thick fur saved him quite a few times, but he was badly frightened on several occasions. It started to happen virtually every time we went out and I was getting worried about the psychological effect it was having on him.

We ended up getting him neutered when he was coming up to a year old - earlier than we'd planned but he's only a medium-sized dog and was fully grown by then.

The effect was almost instantaneous - other dogs obviously saw him completely differently post-neutering and stopped having a go at him.

He's still a bit of a wuss but very rarely gets in any kind of bother, mainly because he's extremely non-confrontational - if he's carrying a ball or toy in his mouth he will instantly drop it as soon as another dog comes anywhere near him, no matter how small the other dog might be ...

Don't think neutered/unneutered makes a difference, having had both types attacked. As for growth plates, the testosterone encourages the growth plates to close and a small breed like a cocker should be fully grown by a year, so neutering at or over that age shouldn't make a difference to growth. Some people might argue that neutering will make the dog more fearful once the testosterone levels are reduced.

Cruciate ruptures are sometimes genetic, more likely to be accidental. My entire dog snapped both of his, pure bad luck.

You can ask the owner of the springer to pay, but I don't think you can make her. She should be made to keep on the lead and muzzle her dog, but I think the law is not black and white on that. The rcommendation can be made. Keep following up with the police/dog warden. The staffy owner in particular could have the dogs removed if they are known to be regularly attacking other dogs. Bloke near us had all of his dogs removed for similar.

Make sure your dog is well socialised and frequently walked with other friendly dogs to keep up his confidence.