So frustrated - dog attacked again

[eyeslikebutterflies]

Out running this morning when another dog went for mine - totally unprovoked. The couple walking blithely carried on until I called them back to tell them that their dog had hurt mine. "Oh, really? We didn't see anything." Which wasn't true, as their dog attacked mine in front of them, clearly made contact, and my dog was then limping away.

My dog now has two big grazes and puncture wounds. She's been attacked 4 times this year now. And the worst thing is that this was the one time I WAS able to report it, because I was able to get the couple's registration number and take photos - except even though both the RSPCA and my local council website say it should be reported, the police have told me there's nothing they can do unless a dog attacks a person or an assistance dog.

It's so frustrating. I get that dogs can be unpredictable. But unprovoked attacks are never isolated incidents; this dog will have attacked before, and will attack again. Its owners only put it on a lead after I pleaded with them to do so.

So I basically have a traumatised dog and vet's bills and they get to romp off home like nothing's happened. With so many more people getting dogs during lockdown this really has to stop: we have to start enforcing responsible dog ownership. I've spent so much time training my dog, putting her on a lead when I need to, making sure she doesn't bother on-lead dogs, getting reliable recall, socialising her etc etc etc. Why should I bother, when it feels like no one else does?*

Aaaargggghhhhhhh. Rant over. (*I know this is an exaggeration, I'm just fed up of having to stand there while other fecking dogs literally tear pieces out of mine.)

Being attacked 4 times in one year is awful.
I've had multiple dogs for over 12 years and I've only had 2 dog attacks. Sounds like your dog is seriously unlucky. Maybe keep your dog on a lead as you cannot trust other people people have socialised or control their dogs.

Was your dog off lead ?
I now put mine on the lead if I know a dodgy dog is coming my way, and I keep an eye out on who’s on the park. I tend to walk away from other dogs to keep mine safe.

Another thing that really annoys me is when owners of medium/large dogs think it’s ok to let their dog chase my toy size dog.
No, your dog is not ‘just playing’ it’s terrifying my dog and could kill it with one shake.

She is off lead, yes.

Thing is with my girl, she goes out of her way to avoid other dogs. She's skirts away and around other dogs; she never goes up to greet them. The ones that attack her literally launch themselves at her - they make the effort to go up to HER rather than her being all up in their faces. (Unlike my last in-yer-face dog, who would get snapped at and rightly so sometimes.)

So it seems grossly unfair to keep her on a lead when a) it makes her a sitting duck for any attacker (I've read it's a bad idea to put your dog on a lead in an attack as it means they can't get away - she's very good at getting away) and b) she literally does nothing at all to warrant an attack.

We live in a very busy built-up area. We used to see dogs here and there on our longer runs but because everyone got dogs during lockdown, there are so many now ... she'd never get the chance to be off lead if my response to other people's badly behaved dogs was to leash her. And she IS really really really well trained. That's what is so frustrating: her recall is insanely good, unlike all my previous dogs (!), so I know I can trust her. I hate the fact that other people - if they can't be arsed with the training - can't keep their little shit bags on leads.

As for the attacks: 3 were by the same dog (so probs not quite as bad as it sounds). The thirds time it happened I yelled at the owners of that dog, filmed them, and only then did they start keeping their dog on a lead. I am a very polite, reasonable, middle-aged woman who looks like someone's mum (because I am), and I am not proud of the yelling, but up until then they ignored my requests to leash their dog.

Why did it have to take me losing my shit with them before they did anything? Oh yeah, that's right, because there are zero consequences for badly behaved dogs until they attack a person. It's not the police's fault, but something needs to change.

You need to start running somewhere else. It’s clearly too busy with dogs where you are. Also you and your dog running are going to cause excitement in other dogs. Other owners will see your dog is off lead and probably think it’s fine for theirs to be off lead then.
Could you change your route and run somewhere quieter?

That's awful OP.

Unfortunately I have learnt you cannot change others so now walk in places where I am less likely to encounter out of control dogs but even then we have still been pestered by dogs where the owners are no where in sight.

Have you reported to the dog warden?

My dog (always on the lead as his recall is not reliable) has been attacked twice in local parks by off lead dogs, both times needed a vets visit. I now only walk him on lead around the streets where the risk of meeting an off lead, uncontrolled dog is much less. Yes, it’s a bit boring, but it’s not worth the risk. I don’t think he really cares, as long as we vary the route, it’s long enough and there is stuff to smell he is happy..

I don't have a dog but can empathise, was walking with my parents and my DC with my parents dog (very timid cockapoo on lead). Dog ahead off lead, jumped up at elderly lady then my dd, dog was soaking wet too. Anyway I knew my parents dog would be really distressed but didn't have time to pick her up, so dog ran straight up to her quite aggressive, barking and jumping, parents dog whimpering. My mum asked the man to recall his dog twice, he didn't bother until he got to us. My dad said your dog should be on a lead, man said it does not, my dad said you have no control over it at which point man said I do anyway he is only 8 months old! It was quite a big dog like a lab cross.

These people give dog owners bad names. Also we were walking along a foot path busy with kids/elderly people and cyclists. What is wrong with people?

I've no doubt other dog owners think it's fine for their dogs to be off lead, @MissyB1: they are after all the ones allowing dogs they can't control to attack other dogs. It's not really the point that my dog is off the lead, if theirs is the aggressive one, is it? And LOL at the idea that our running somehow 'excites' other dogs: most dogs seem to manage fine with a middle aged woman jogging slowly past, her dog trotting along beside her (at a pace which is typical for most dogs: dogs don't walk, they trot, all of them, whether you happen to be running alongside them or not!).

And no, I don 't really have the option of going elsewhere for our runs. As I said, busy urban area. City. For miles and miles and miles. We have a few parks and a river to choose from; they're all busy because it's lockdown.

Sorry if I sound frustrated but honestly - why do we have to change our behaviour, when we have done nothing wrong? Why do we have to be on lead, in fear, curtailing exercise or finding quiet places to run (which means stomping miserably around traffic-choked streets, basically), because some dog owners think it's OK for their dog to tear chunks out of another? Why can't we say: your dog, take some responsibility? Because those same owners would sure as shit come after me if, god forbid, I hurt their dog, wouldn't they?

There is no dog warden to report it to, btw. Our council says report it to the police. The police say there is nothing they can do.

You could try carrying something to kept the dogs away from yours.
I’ve heard a golfing brolly with a metal end mentioned, and a spray of some kind. Not nice for the dog and you shouldn’t have to do it, but it’s the selfish, lazy owners fault.

Well don’t change anything then and keep encountering the same problems. You are the one complaining but you don’t want to do anything about it that might inconvenience you!
It’s not a case of “why should I” it’s a case of this isn’t working for me or my dog (and it must be quite distressing for your dog). Change the times you run maybe? Go very early morning? Make sure you have a personal alarm (might be useful in a dog attack too). You need to look for solutions rather than just ranting.

I totally totally feel your pain. It is becoming much worse and owners are too blame. If I hear the lockdown puppy excuse again........

why do we have to change our behaviour, when we have done nothing wrong? Unfortunately we do have to change our behaviour because there are so many numpties who are willing to put my dogs in a dangerous situation because they cannot control their dogs.

There are places I will not take my dogs and there are times of the day I will not walk my dogs due to this.

Education is needed and the law changed but in the meantime I am not willing to put my dogs at risk.

to blame !

@MissyB1 you seem to have misinterpreted my post and I am sorry if I have annoyed you. I have already varied our routes, I run at different times etc. as much as is practical. The solutions you offered, however well intentioned, don't work. I know this because I have been through them all a million times. Eg. keeping her on a lead is directly against recommended advice, while carrying an alarm is a good idea but the attacks are so sudden (with no warning) that by the time I would have set it off, it'd be too late.

Just a note, though: the line about me not wanting to try things because it might "inconvenience" me is really quite a hurtful thing to suggest. I love my dog. It is EXTREMELY distressing to see her attacked, and then to build her confidence back up again afterwards. As I said, I've done a lot already, but still the attacks occur.

And that was the point of my post and the reason I am so frustrated: people don't take any responsibility for their dogs simply because they know they don't have to. I was able to report this attack, and yet still the police won't take any action.

The dog that attacked mine will do so again. It'll attack another dog, another animal, and it may then progress to people. Things need to change. Police powers to intervene. Dog wardens in every location. Public information campaigns. Because until the perpetrators of this behaviour - always the people, never the dogs - are forced to take responsibility they'll just carry on.

You're right of course @PollyRoulson and @MissyB1 but I'm just so fed up of taking aversive action. I honestly thought this time the police would give the owners a warning - their dog drew blood! and I have the owners' details for once - but ... nope. It worries me so much, the increase in the number of dogs in the past year, and the amount of owners who are beyond clueless and can't even seem to do a bit of basic Googling about dog behaviour.

Anyway, I'm going to take the dog out again now. Sorry for ranting. Not sure what the answer is. DEEP SIGH.

I’m Sorry I know it must be frustrating, I’m so lucky that my dog has never been attacked. Also we live close to open Countryside so a 15 minute drive gets us out of town, and I’ve learnt where the less popular walk are. If you don’t have that option it’s hard.
Have you thought about running with a deterrent or alarm actually in your hand (attached to your wrist) so you can activate it in an instant? And you are right, you shouldn’t have to.

Rant away - you are with people who do understand and it needs to be voiced.

Did their dog nick you in any way? Because the police are interested then plus having a dog that is dangerously out of control is an offence

Thanks both, I'm going to try with the alarm in my hand, it's a good idea. Even if a dog does attack, it'll scare it immediately it does it, so it may act as a deterrent for them in future, who knows. I usually run with a couple of treats in my hand for training, so adding an alarm won't make much difference ;)

Sadly not, @EatTheRich (can't believe I'm sad that I didn't get bitten too!!). The policeman I spoke to was lovely and very apologetic, but said the same as you: until it actually harms a person (or an assistance dog), they can't do anything.

I completely sympathise but after all these attacks please put him on a lead!

it's no consolation but a) the 'we didn't see anything' is the classic 'our dog is dangerous but we can't be arsed' - been there with an attack on a human and b) the police may do nothing unless the dog tears the face off a kid.

put yours on a lead, go somewhere else and carry whatever defensive measures you can get away with. Sooner or later the dog will attack the owners. Hopefully...

The problem with carrying an alarm is that it will also traumatise your dog as well as the approaching dog

Something needs to be done, I’m tired of people letting their dogs run out of control when I’m out with mine. One of my dogs has been attacked twice now once by a greyhound and once by a staff. He bears scars from the greyhound attack, when the staff went to attack him it got a swift kick as it had barged into him to knock him off his feet and was about to grab his throat. The greyhound owner paid the vets bills but it’s not the point. Dog owners need to be liable for the damage their dogs cause to others there needs to be consequences for bad owners.