Page 2 | Wwyd if you saw a huge dog running straight

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 2021-04-03T06:35:39+00:00

for your small on lead dog? Had this happen yesterday and interested to know how other people would have handled it? The big dog had zero recall, owners were far away and it was running straight towards my (already nervous) dog with its head down.

GoWalkabout · 03/04/2021 08:22

But assuming is an important tool in managing risk?

IseeScottishhills · 03/04/2021 08:26

Interesting thread in my village someone owns a very large dog which is often roaming unsupervised that has it appears out of character recently attacked two small dogs both need stitches. I advised my DS to firstly turn and walk in the opposite direction if he saw it in the distance fortunately it’s very distinctive. But as it has a habit of appearing at your side from from no where and as our dog is small enough to be easily picked him I told him to pick him up and keep walking perhaps this is the wrong advise?
I

midnightstar66 · 03/04/2021 08:26

My jack Russell if scared would take the dog on rather than run away so I wouldn't drop the lead. She's very vocal with no action (she's the size of a cat so even if she did add in the action it wouldn't bother a big dog with this mind set) but the noise she makes would definitely egg a dog on I think. I tend to just pick her up and turn away from the dog. She at least doesn't bark when picked up so doesnt add fuel to the fire

Original poster

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 03/04/2021 08:26

@BiteyShark

There is a difference between dogs meandering with owners who might wander over for a sniff and then go back again and bounding out of control dogs running at you.

Exactly, this dog was running at full belt with its eyes fixed on my dog.

OP posts:

UhtredRagnarson · 03/04/2021 08:28

OP you can report that dog as an out of control dog. Chances are the owner walks there regularly so give a good description of owner and dog.

midnightstar66 · 03/04/2021 08:29

@IseeScottishhills I do the same but it's maybe not the best advice, especially for a child. That's a hard one my daughter walks my little dog too and I've not actually discussed with her what she should do.

UhtredRagnarson · 03/04/2021 08:29

@blowinahoolie

Let's try that in reverse. Wee dog running at my big placid pup. It's rubbish either way, tbh.

Why are you wanting people to try it in reverse?

the reverse isn’t the situation OP was in and wants advice on.

Moondust001 · 03/04/2021 08:29

@Sittinonthesand

Cwy - unfortunately I live in a rural area that has seen a huge increase in walkers recently, many of whom don’t seem to have well trained dogs. Three genuinely frightening incidents just this year!

I also disagree with you, and live in a rural area (not that that makes any difference). Most dogs will sort it out amongst themselves without incident, but if that is not the case, the last thing that you should do is find yourself in the middle of a dog fight.

There is no excuse for having a dog of any size out of control, but most dogs are simply curious / sociable about others of their kind. And it is not restricted to large dogs either. Small dogs are no different.

I would agree to drop the lead, or take it off if you can. Leads often make dogs more nervous and can precipitate a fight that wasn't going to happen. Ignoring is better than becoming aggressive yourself. I would generally just continue on. Keep a weather eye on the dogs, but let them do their dog thing if that is possible.

If you can't do that, I would just keep going and ignore - only if the situation starts to escalate would I intervene, and that is what the walking stick is for - to gently move the other dog away without putting bodily parts at risk.

IseeScottishhills · 03/04/2021 08:31

Just to add my dog is not generally nervous but in any sort of confrontation wouldn’t take this huge dog on and the advise up thread about dropping the lead wouldn’t work as the big dig lives close to a busy road.

UhtredRagnarson · 03/04/2021 08:32

Personally I would let my dogs lead go and let the dog run while trying to divert the big dog. Small dogs can be fast and can get into hiding spots that large dogs can’t. Much better than being attacked for the the dog in your arms.

UhtredRagnarson · 03/04/2021 08:33

But letting go of lead goes against all instincts to protect your dog.

Cindersrellie · 03/04/2021 08:34

The safest thing to do is to release the small dog.

midnightstar66 · 03/04/2021 08:34

Size doesn't equal aggression and lack of recall often means nothing except poor training on the owners part

Big dogs can cause more damage to small dogs than other small dogs. My dog is only scared of big dogs for a good reason. When they've played rough they've hurt her. If a smaller dog ran up to her she wouldn't react as she's not scared of them. Same as I'd be less scared to see and angry ten year old running at me than I would a 6 ft rugby player.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 03/04/2021 08:35

Exactly, this dog was running at full belt with its eyes fixed on my dog

Lots of young dogs play like that, especially if they've not been well-socialised - it doesn't necessarily mean it was going to do any kind of harm, though I do appreciate it's scary.

As a professional dog walker I shout to owners to call their dogs off. If they won't or can't, I'll turn around and walk away - then generally panic then lol. If that doesn't work, scattering treats at the oncoming dog can cause a distraction too.

itslategotosleep · 03/04/2021 08:35

This happened to me when I was 8 months pregnant and I got knocked over.
When I challenged the owner he said that ‘there are loads of dogs round here’. I could hear him shouting the dog frantically like he was worried and was nowhere in sight.
Another time a woman with Saint Bernard actually encouraged it to charge at me and my on lead nervous dog to ‘play’
I wish people who’s dogs didn’t have recall and weren’t trained would keep their dogs on the lead.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 03/04/2021 08:37

@midnightstar66

Size doesn't equal aggression and lack of recall often means nothing except poor training on the owners part

Big dogs can cause more damage to small dogs than other small dogs. My dog is only scared of big dogs for a good reason. When they've played rough they've hurt her. If a smaller dog ran up to her she wouldn't react as she's not scared of them. Same as I'd be less scared to see and angry ten year old running at me than I would a 6 ft rugby player.

Absolutely agree, but my point is that a big dog won't necessarily even try to hurt yours, and dogs can pick up on your feelings. If you show fear and panic, it can cause a problem that wouldn't have occurred otherwise.

All the dogs who have gone for me or my dogs haven't even reached knee height - the smallest being a Jack Russell and the largest maybe a collie.

Original poster

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 03/04/2021 08:39

@midnightstar66

Size doesn't equal aggression and lack of recall often means nothing except poor training on the owners part

Big dogs can cause more damage to small dogs than other small dogs. My dog is only scared of big dogs for a good reason. When they've played rough they've hurt her. If a smaller dog ran up to her she wouldn't react as she's not scared of them. Same as I'd be less scared to see and angry ten year old running at me than I would a 6 ft rugby player.

Exactly. I have nothing against big dogs and certainly don't assume they're aggressive however it's a very uneven fight if a large dog goes for my small dog. Plus I think there's an increased risk of accidental injury from a large dog bouncing on a small dog.

OP posts:

KarmaNoMore · 03/04/2021 08:40

I lift my dog up and get prepared to give the other dog a good kicking if it shows to be anything other than friendly.

Thankfully, lifting my dog up does the trick, they tend to respect anything that is higher than them even if it is due to be on someone’s arms.

midnightstar66 · 03/04/2021 08:43

We aren't talking about what's gone for you though, we're taking about going for other dogs which is an entirely different thing. I'm not nervous or scared of any dog, I'm not giving off any vibes but my dog has been hurt by enough off lead larger dogs, often not even aggressive but just playing too rough to now be defensive when approached. Her reaction absolutely can escalate a situation so it's easier to pick her up out the way of a potentially just playful dog than her to get defensive and it end up a fight. She used to just run but you can often see the dogs demeanour change when this happens as I think a tiny dog running very fast often kicks in a prey drive. They tend to get on top of her and pin her down to the ground by the neck. Smaller dogs simply can't do that.

Fargonauts · 03/04/2021 08:45

I take my pup to dog exercise areas regularly to get used to other dogs off the lead, he now knows how to greet dogs properly and I've learnt to assess a dog's manner and differentiate play from aggression (loads of YouTube videos also teach this)

The first few times I was really nervous especially big dogs running up to greet him but made an effort not to show it so now our pup is v happy playing with other dogs.

I realise it's not the same when out walking but it's definitely helped me relax when out and about.

NiceTwin · 03/04/2021 08:49

I would do the wrong thing, which is pick my dog up.
He is a tiny 5kg but an absolute gob shite who would make the situation worse.

I would also shout and make a racket to try and discourage the dog to come to me.

DartmoorDoughnut · 03/04/2021 08:50

My well socialised and well trained border terrier (10 this summer) is now dog aggressive thanks to big dogs charging at him and wanting to play as they’ve hurt him, he’s 8/9kg and simply no match for a lab that “just wants to play” I keep him on lead as he is chopsy at dogs to tell them to keep away and as others have said his reaction escalates a situation. I don’t care what the other dogs want to do I want them to leave us alone and I’ll tell them to back off. I am good at reading other dogs body language but I also know my dog and he doesn’t want to play so any dog is a threat really.

KarmaNoMore · 03/04/2021 08:51

a tiny dog running very fast often kicks in a prey drive. They tend to get on top of her and pin her down to the ground by the neck.

That is so true, the prey drive gets strong in these situations. My dog was pinned down by the neck by a friendly whippet and my friends was wounded by a staffie in the same way. It all started with a friendly run around, they were not aggressive dogs.

Which is also the reason I found so many owners who claim their dog is friendly and won’t hurt a fly when they are scaring your dog off stupid and irresponsible. The dog maybe friendly, but nature is strong.

HappyThursdays · 03/04/2021 08:56

Just one thing about dropping the lead - we did this once and unfortunately the dog chased ours for well over 2km and eventually out of the field, into the next field and back over a main road. Our dog actually ran home, the other dog returned to its owners about 20 mins later. Took us 20-30 mins to find our dog and realise he had returned home - it was absolutely dreadful and we've never dropped the lead since then.

Next time that dog went for mine, I picked ours up and (I'm sorry to say) kicked out at the dog to get it off us. He's never done it again!

Tempusfudgeit · 03/04/2021 09:00

I was walking my nervous GSD (on lead) in a lonely place. Two huge dogs came straight for us and a man a fair distance away bellowed 'Run, love, they'll kill it!' I made myself as threatening as possible and roared at them (I didn't know I could make that sound) They stopped and looked back at the owner and I marched away.

Absolutely terrifying situation, I didn't go back there for a long time.