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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

So frustrated - dog attacked again

47 replies

eyeslikebutterflies · 10/04/2021 12:32

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.)

OP posts:
HappyThursdays · 10/04/2021 16:54

Putting them on a lead doesn't stop them being attacked though - I have done that and in many ways it makes it worse as your dog can't escape the attack.

@eyeslikebutterflies is your dog a black dog? Someone told me they get attacked more (I don't know if that's bull - mine is black!)

My pup is only 8 months old and has already been attacked 5 times - in fact it may be more, I've actually stopped counting- it's v demoralising

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 10/04/2021 16:56

Put your dog on a lead.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 10/04/2021 16:58

Sorry but you need to put your dog on the lead.

PurpleMustang · 10/04/2021 16:59

In case it helps at all. I have been told if a dog attacks yours, one option is to grab the tail of the dog attacking, to distract it. Another option is again to the attacking dog, grab both of its back legs and lift them up off the floor. It can't attack and be unbalanced

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 10/04/2021 17:02

@PurpleMustang

In case it helps at all. I have been told if a dog attacks yours, one option is to grab the tail of the dog attacking, to distract it. Another option is again to the attacking dog, grab both of its back legs and lift them up off the floor. It can't attack and be unbalanced
Correct, also in drastic times if attacking dog won’t let go of your dog,,then finger up the arse! Another good thing to carry is a safety spray, it sprays up to 5mtrs and is citronella so clears any oncoming dogs away quickly, tis brilliant stuff.
Happytentoes · 10/04/2021 17:05

Wear a camera and film it. Shame them. Sadly dog on dog aggression / attacks are not regarded as criminal and if both dogs are off lead it’s hard to prove who provoked the attack.
Sorry that’s happening, my sweet black male was always a target, but now he’s older he gets left alone. Plus he has his bitch ‘sister’ to protect him.

Helenluvsrob · 11/04/2021 13:21

Body cam ? Dog “ away “ spray.

You can also get a red dye spray that I’ve read you can use on an attacking dog but also if you think your dog is going to be stolen, on them ( your dog ) to make them “ too hot to handle “

PollyRoulson · 11/04/2021 13:47

There are some pretty desperate methods being suggested here.

I agree that as dogs owners we should not have to do any of this but I will do anything to keep my dogs safe and unharmed

Do remember any sound spray etc you are using on a dog attacking your dog will cause major traum to your dog as well.

The best way as in all dog instances is prevention:-

Walk in areas with a lot of space

Avoid close interaction with all dogs you do not know.

Be prepared to change your route and path you are taking

Really look at dogs body language

Very few dogs will be calm and then go for your dog (and if you have distance you have time to change this anyway)

Stiffness in any part of a dogs body avoid the dog

A dog approaching straight on to your dog avoid the dog

A dog with hard fixated eyes avoid the dog

The bounding over he only wants to play dog - remove you and your dog from this situation.

Dont try to educate the dogs owner of the attacking dog - they are idiots and will not be receptive. Telling them to put their dog on a lead will just usually result in a mouth full of abuse. (Personally I do not want a walk ruined by this and it will not change anything)

You can ask them to call your dog and then remove yourself asap.

IF a dog does charge up to the your dog immediately U turn and walk away calmly and at a normal pace. Most dogs will stop or increase distance if you walk from them, expecially if you have done this before they have got too close to you and your dog.

Practice a u turn with your dog in an area away from dogs so this behaviour does not trigger your dog into an anxious state.

If you are able to do the above most dogs on dog attacks will be avoided and not allowed to escalate.

There is no way on earth I am sticking my finger up the arse of a dog ever ever ever! Also I am not going to lift a dog up by its back legs if it has its teeth sunk into my dog.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 11/04/2021 15:42

Sadly, Polly it would be great if life went to plan all of the time like you suggest, and 99% of the time it does. However, for the times it doesn’t i prefer to be prepared, and the citronella spray i use makes no noise and doesn't traumatise my dog and is a safe way of heading off danger at a distance. As for the drastic finger up the arse, i am sure none wants to do it, but if it was a choice between life and death then it has been suggested as a distraction technique.

NeedingCoffee · 11/04/2021 15:58

I completely sympathise because my elderly dog has now become a real target for other male dogs; it must be something to do with him smelling different due to painkillers or similar.
I’ve become quite adept at protecting him by body language; me against the other dog, plus use of my legs and feet to block and push away if nec - but that does rely on seeing them coming and being able to get in between them.
I have also had strong (and loud, deliberately, in earshot of the other park users) words with the owners making analogies as to how acceptable it would be for a teenager to knock over an elderly lady.

I’ve since noticed that two of the main culprits now actively avoid me if they see us at the other end of a field, or put their dogs on a lead.

But I’m under no illusions that even if they avoid me and my dog, they won’t do anything differently with the rest of the dog population. And I completely agree that you can’t easily prevent a first time attack in this way - it relies on seeing the usual culprits on their approach.

PollyRoulson · 11/04/2021 16:14

WowIlikereallyhateyou How many times have you had to used the citronella spray?

How does it work if the dog is not frightended to move away?

I imagine my experience with dogs has helped me never to put my dogs in the situation of life and death from another dog attack but to observe the situation and take action before it escalates.

If you are at a distance I would use other alternatives than a spray but if it gives your confidence to walk your dogs each to their own.

A finger up the arse would add to the situtation, that is if you were even able to do it tbh. If the dog is biting chances are it will bite harder or rip the dog it is holding. In a very high emotional state the dog will not turn around to see what is happening.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 11/04/2021 16:32

Polly, you said the spray made a sound. I have used the spray a couple of times when my elderly dog was being run at by an off lead dog showing its teeth, the spray made the oncoming dog retreat, and we moved on. The spray doesn’t make a noise.sprays about 5metres.

BJHair · 11/04/2021 17:10

This was a few years ago If both dogs are off the lead generally there isn’t much either of you could do as they are seen not to be under control .
If your dog however was on the lead then you could possibly have a stronger case .
Give your local RSPCA a shout our dog warden worked closely with them so they might be able to assist you
And it’s bollocks that they can’t do anything. I was taken to court for a dog on dog attack where my 1 dog was on lead and three other dogs were on the lead and the stupid owner panicked and caused her dogs to kick off .
But because my dog was much more powerful and bit one of the dogs quite nastily I was taken to court by the dog warden and the council.
However the court will only fine the person with the dog on
They don’t have the powers to make them pay any compensation for vet bills
In the end I wasn’t fined as the magistrates agreed that my dog despite biting the other dog was under control as he was on a lead the others dogs weren’t and it was a case of dogs will be dogs .

BJHair · 11/04/2021 17:12

Oh and if your not brave enough to put a finger up the dogs ass
Grabbing both back legs and raising them up high will pretty much do the same - minus any shitty finger . 😂

PollyRoulson · 11/04/2021 17:36

It is not a matter of being squeamish about putting my finger up a dogs arm ( I have livestock I have done much worse!) It is the fact that it will do nothing or will make thigs worse.

I am amazed at all these MN's that seem to have personal experience of soving their finger up their dogs arse! Shock

PollyRoulson · 11/04/2021 17:38

correction!

I am amazed at all these Mn's that seem to have personal experience of shoving their finger up a dogs arse

Shambolical1 · 11/04/2021 17:38

OP carry a plastic sports water bottle - the disposable type you can give a good squeeze.

Next time a random dog comes charging at yours, shout 'No!' and give it a good squirt with the water bottle. Repeat if you need to. Get the squirt(s) in before the other dog gets contact.

Non toxic, does no harm but give the dog enough of a surprise to interrupt the behaviour and allow you to take control of the situation; the other dog's owners obviously aren't, so it's up to you to show that this behaviour isn't acceptable.

Don't bother with all the dyes and sprays and whatevers.

If you have the owners' details, ask them to settle your vet bill and if they don't or won't, go through the small claims court.

FeistySheep · 12/04/2021 13:57

Yeah, I second squirting water at an attacking dog, most don't like it. If it came within range of my foot it would get a kick too.

Just wondering if there's anything you could do to help your own dog be more sociable OP? Not saying it is in any way your dog's fault, but I think sometimes they give off 'grumpy vibes' to other dogs which you can't see. I had an old girl with a sore hip, and she'd been fine with other dogs her whole life, never attacked. Then once her hip got sore she got attacked all the time - think her body language was antagonistic to other dogs, like she was warning them to keep away to protect her hip (but it actually had the opposite effect).

Assuming your dog is not old/in pain, maybe she is just giving off antagonistic vibes because (understandably) she is nervous, having been attacked before? If so, how much positive socialisation does she get with other dogs? Do you have dog friends who you meet in your garden or go for walks with? Or are there local dogs you recognise who are friendly ones? Maybe increase her positive dog time and build her confidence. Not saying it'll be a magic fix, but it might help.

Helenluvsrob · 12/04/2021 20:26

My wee cavvie was attacked by a bloody Dalmatian. Apparently it was my fault as I called my dog to me.

The Dalmatian came to me faster than my own dog did , said hello to me , then turned and attacked my dog who had “ got too close to him”. Of course he had I’d called him to me 😱😡why did your bloody dog come to me ?

ralphi · 15/04/2021 16:29

Sue them for the vets costs. Take plenty of photos, and go through the small claims court.

Sitdowncupoftea · 19/04/2021 12:02

Most people have a mobile so take a photo of the dogs owners next time if there is one and report the incident to the council dog warden. My advice is to take a walking stick with you. I'm not sure what size dog you have but I usually find issues with the smaller breeds. Just because they are small it's not acceptable that a small dog runs up to a big dog and has a go at it.

eyeslikebutterflies · 21/04/2021 17:10

Hello everyone, thank you for all your considered responses - I do really appreciate them.

To clarify a few things: my dog does NOT approach other dogs, so we're never in a position where we're up close to another dog. The attackers go out of their way to come to us, which is what is so odd.

I've done a LOT of research on dog body language, and am constantly scanning the horizon when we're out, so we avoid dodgy situations most of the time. These attacks are those very rare ones in that there is literally no warning, no body language, nothing. So weird.

She's white (someone asked if she was black), but quite unusual in terms of her breed. Perhaps that's triggering in some way? The first few attacks, the owner of the other dog tried to blame it on the way my dog looked... which felt daft at the time but as there was no warning, there could be something in it.

I have looked into sprays. The noisy ones would deffo traumatise my girl, so they're out. The 'smelly' harmless ones seem better and I have ordered one. I have also read up and watched some videos on how I can place my body between her and the attacker, and effectively block the attacker. And use my Big Momma voice, and shout NO. (I did actually use this on some French dogs that chased me years ago when I was running in Cannes (without my own dog), it worked a treat. I did however change it to 'Non' so that they'd understand better!!).

Throwing a handful of treats at the attacker can also work, apparently. I almost always have treats in my hand as I'm constantly training my girl, so it's easy to do.

I have also booked a session with a behaviourist to teach my dog to run between my legs when attacked or threatened. She is also going to teach her to play with other dogs: she is avoidant (and the attacks really don't help with that!), so this could perhaps be triggering the attacks also.

And we're doing all the things suggested, like varying our runs and so on. It is pretty much impossible to avoid other dogs given where we live - god, how much would we love to live in open country, or in places with quiet parks. Everywhere we go is packed to the gills with furries. But I'm doing my best.

I'm very reluctant to put her on a lead, as I think this is the wrong approach. Given that she is NOT going up to other dogs (they're running at her), then her being on a lead will not help and may put her at a disadvantage, as in, she won't be able to get away. So I am focusing on getting her to come to me instead when threatened.

I'd love to hit the attackers with sticks, boots, fingers up bum and so on, but honestly? Everything I have read says that won't work and may well make things much worse.

The RSPCA says to report to the dog warden. We have no dog warden. The council says report to the police. The police say they can't do anything. I have film, photos and registration numbers but that's apparently not enough for anyone at all to take action. This is the bigger and more worrying picture: I do fear that the explosion in lockdown dogs, untrained, with clueless owners, and with no recourse to any sort of legislation, is going to lead to an escalation in attacks. But no one wants to hear that, at a civic or legal level.

Anyway, I wanted to thank everyone for their advice. I have listened, I am taking action. And I really wish you all safe and happy walks with your lovely and clearly well behaved dogs!

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