Could anyone help me find an information leaflet to give to a dog owner whose dog has bitten mine please?

[Badgershy]

We walk a regular route about 3 times a week. In the past 6 months my dog has been bitten 3 times by the same Jack Russell.

The first time the owner seemed very shocked that it had happened and very apologetic. Today, the same thing happened. I didn't recognise her or the dog as the 1st incident had happened 6 months prior. I spoke to DH this evening and he now tells me the same thing happened when he was out walking our dog a few months ago so thats 3 times in total.

If I see her again I will obviously be clear to her that she needs to let us pass safely (its a very narrow footpath) but I know where she lives and I'd like to put a leaflet through her door giving her some advice on what she should do (ie muzzle the dog, buy a lead/harness with a warning, verbally warn people approaching etc) instead of acting shocked as if its the first time its happened!

I can't actually believe that someone can continually walk their dog without taking any action knowing it bites!

Our dog is fine, no marks and he quickly bounced back from it but I hope it hasnt effected him in the long run.

Contact the dog warden.

You'd be wasting your time. Some people are just shit dog owners.
If you've got a local dog warden, report to them. Or if you don't have one, report it to the local Police.

We live in a quiet village. New people moved in, with their dog. 1st time it attacked mine, they were walking back from the village pub which is why I gave them a free pass for not really reacting to it. The 2nd time, the dog really meant it, badly injured my dog around its mouth and leaving him on antibiotics and with a bad stomach from the blood he swallowed. The owner was all apologetic, but didn't seem overly concerned so I reported it to the Police and they were advised to keep the dog on a lead............. the 3rd time, it nearly killed my dog. I got badly bitten separating them, and the owner still didn't take responsibility. Magistrate slapped a control order on the bastard, thankfully, meaning the dog has to be muzzled and on a lead at all times. It only went to court because I'd reported it previously.

What would they do? I don't want the dog taken off her, she's an elderly lady. I just want her to protect other dogs. I also feel very sorry for her own dog, he's obviously very stressed when close to other dogs and she's doing nothing to stop him being put in those situations.

I've just done a quick Google and we do have a dog warden. It says they're involved in educating the public on responsible dog ownership. I'll give them a ring tomorrow, see if they can go around and give her some advice.

I don't think this will achieve anything. If someone randomly posted dog leaflets through my door I'd just assume it was junk mail and put it in the bin.

Dog on dog attacks aren't anything the police will act on, either - it's considered a civil matter as dogs are property in law.

If I were you, I would just protect your dog, even if that means doubling back on yourself or walking a different route. Don't trust other people to keep your dog safe, you need to do that, however unfair it might seem.

Is her dog on a lead?

Do phone the dog warden, and make sure you report it as 3 attacks.

Dog wardens are usually very helpful, I'm gutted we don't have one in this area. I'd report to them in this case.

And I'd stop walking anywhere near her home, tbh. It's not fair on your dog, and yours could end up like mine being very reactive to others

I'll definitely speak up if I see her again, I know exactly what she looks like now.

We could have passed safely, both dogs were on leads. We meet lots of dogs, often owners will say not to let ours approach as they're not friendly. Her dog was up nose to nose with mine so quickly and then reacted instantly, I just didn't have time to think or speak, I was just about to say hello and pass comment on the lovely weather. If I ever see her approaching again I'll call for her to keep her dog close and let us pass at a distance and I'll also say she should muzzle her dog after its bitten ours 3 times now.

I would never even let my dog go up to another dog without asking first and mines not reactive so I just don't understand why she would be so relaxed about it!

I’ll come across quite unpleasant I imagine but if my dog had been bitten three times and I knew where it lived, I’d deliver a threatening letter stating the dog has injured my dog three times, they are lucky I haven’t insisted on payment for veterinary care and if it happens again it’ll be their dogs last time.

And I wouldn’t give a shiny shit that she’s elderly either.
If your dog bites you keep it leashed or muzzled. The end.

What do you mean exactly when you say your dog was bitten @Badgershy? You also say there were no marks - so was it a growling scuffle or did the other dog actually hang onto yours? Both still on leads?

I've known some lovely JRTs, there's a couple of sweethearts on my current dog walk, but have experienced lots of snappy, grumpy ones - so it's a breed I do watch out for. A remarkable number of them are uneutered males from what I've seen.

The first time my dog had 2 marks on his snout where the other dogs teeth had grazed his fur off. The next 2 times he'd gone for his neck. I couldn't see any marks and certainly no blood but it looked like the other dog made contact. It happens so quickly. I've seen other dogs that growl and bark or snap but never one that's made contact like that which has made me call it a bite. Whatever it was, the owner needs to do something about it.

There's still bite inhibition although the dog is making contact so i can't imagine a dog warden doing anything with this, we've had an awful series of dog attacks near us with one dog actually dying and even though the owner is known action hasn't been taken. That's not to excuse the owner or suggest that it can't escalate btw.

I would just avoid and if they approach, ask the owner to keep their dog on a short lead as it keeps snapping at yours which neither dog will be happy about.