A dog attacked my dog, hand hold

[coffeewithmilk]

Was out walking my dog (on the lead) minding my own business when a (what I think was either a pit bull or staffy) came bounding out the open door of a nearby house and came straight for my dog. My dog was yelping and the other dog was very aggressive, I was of course (heavily pregnant) hysterical and screaming and the owner managed to get his dog under control and apologised.

I don't know what else I could have done in this situation but I've been crying ever since. I got such a fright.

My dog thankfully has no cuts or open wounds but is shaken.

Don't know what I want to gain from this post but just wanted to vent.. I've been so emotional all day since it happened

You poor thing. Dog attacks can be very scary. You did all the right things.

I am glad your dog is ok. Do take time to get over the shock and look after yourself it is no wonder you are feeling emotional. A horrible situation for you both

Oh God, that's horrible! I hope you're both okay.

I would personally take a day or two off from walks so you both have the chance to decompress, and then go back to taking your dog out as normal.

It's horrible - I've had it happen to me (mine was on lead too) and it really shakes you up. Mine unfortunately sustained bite wounds to his neck and chest though luckily he didn't need vet treatment.

Take care of yourself - you didn't do anything wrong

Please report the dog to police/dog warden.
Is your dog still at the vets?
OP, take a breath and have a cup of tea, please keep us posted

Sorry just seen no injuries

That's surprising - have you checked her closely for puncture wounds? They're often small but can become infected.

If not she may just be bruised and sore

It’s absolutely terrifying.
Having been literally traumatised by a local dog on 5 different occasions, I started carrying this (recommended by my postman): www.police-supplies.co.uk/k917-dog-deterrent-spray?gclid=CjwKCAjwyvaJBhBpEiwA8d38vJ84W-Y8dXzjmzWQHV0TDYMYsRRBMCVx65dGZMUunsPJ8cFZvNZ5ShoCXh0QAvD_BwE

The last attack was bad and I believe the owners no longer have the dog. It was traumatic for them as well. I haven’t seen that dog (thank God!) since I bought the spray! But I carry it on every single walk.

Your poor thing. That must have been terrifying!

Lots of fuss, cuddles & treats for you both. Does she normally sleep with you?

What's the plan for tomorrow? I'd rearrange things so I could spend the day with her. Have another very good look over her & definitely take her to the vet if you're in any doubt that she might be in any pain

You didn't do anything wrong & I don't think there's anything else you could have done, but I'd look into getting a spray now.

Unfortunately I think we'll see a rise in this kind of thing.

Thank you everyone for your replies.
I'll definitely get one of those sprays.

My dog has had lots of tlc and I checked over him again this morning and thankfully cannot see any wounds (which is surprising because it really did look like the other dogs teeth were gripped around this neck at one point)

I fear for the children living closeby if that dog is to get loose again. I'm pretty sure there were kids out playing on the road when this happened too. How frightening for them

I’m so glad there are no open wounds and sorry this happened. Can you walk a different way for now?
Definitely report. A dog must be under control in public by law. This wasn’t. Maybe a visit from the dog warden or even the police will make them ensure the dog can’t get out in future? We use a tall stairgate in the hall. Just so we can open the door and know the dogs can’t dash out for any reason.
Lots of snuggles for you and your dog today OP. And

Unfortunately the police and dog wardens don't really take dog on dog aggression seriously. It's only when humans get hurt or attacked that it seems to matter.

Yes, dogs have to be under control by law but this doesn't appear to extend to their behaviour around other dogs.

Personally I would report it as the dog came out of a house you were walking past therefore the owner was not watching the dog. It could happen to someone else. A dog was taken by dog wardens near where I live as this type of thing happen on a regular basis. You have every right to walk down the street with your on leash dog without this happening.

I'm so glad your dog is ok, and so sorry this happened to you! It's happened to my dog quite a few times (he's a small, somewhat nervous spaniel, and this seems to set some dogs off!). It's horrible. I totally get shaken up too.

Definitely lots of calm and love and snuggles in order for the two of you!

@dustofneptune my small, submissive spaniel also seems a target. One bad attack by a Jack Russell and a couple of others that came close. Despite that he's still very confident and playful with all sorts of dogs. It's me who has become nervous. I've never had this with previous dogs. he's still only 6 months but as he's getting bigger and less submissive it seems to be easing off, I hope so anyway. I am definitely getting the spray recommended by pp.

@Veterinari

Please report the dog to police/dog warden. Is your dog still at the vets? OP, take a breath and have a cup of tea, please keep us posted

Unless the dog has attacked a human there is nothing the police will do. Shockingly.

This happened to me a few years ago with our elderly dog; and my dog did have lots of puncture wounds. He was really traumatised and urinated etc during the attack and obviously I was hysterical and the other owner did her best to pull her dog off. After the event I rushed our dog to the vets and he had some treatment; I put the bill in the neighbours postbox with a letter and they paid us the cost. I also reported their address to the vets, and the police, incase it reoccurred to someone else. We moved soon after but that dog also attacked my parents dog when they came to see us once, and my dad also lost his rag with the owner and had to hit the dog to stop the attack. The neighbour also moved and they had a baby- frankly I think their dog is dangerous; and i don’t think it’s needs are properly met. I love dogs and am generally confident with them but that attack plays out in slow motion in my mind even now and when we meet other dogs I find myself fixated on their body language looking for those subtle signs of agression and I know it’s a habit from that attack. I would take your dog to the vet and get them checked out thoroughly, and also report the incident. You don’t know that you are the first or last, and if it repeats it might be serious for someone the next time. Xx

If you haven't already told the dog warden, definitely report it. We recently reported an out of control dog (lunging, snarling, barking, air-snapping very very close), loose on a footpath and he promised to visit the owners.

We'd already tracked them down and spoken to them and honestly they didn't GAF, which was why we took it further.

Dog wardens don't deal with dangerous or out of control dogs where I live, only the police and they only deal with dogs who have bitten humans. Madness

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

Dog wardens don't deal with dangerous or out of control dogs where I live, only the police and they only deal with dogs who have bitten humans. Madness

That’s really shocking because biting other dogs is the step before biting a small child. The police would be better to try and prevent attacks on humans surely. It really makes no sense that they don’t take it seriously. My friends small dog was attacked recently and ripped all around its neck, which became infected and ill be surprised if she doesn’t have to be pts, she reported it but I bet they do nothing.

Hope you are ok now OP, I imagine it’s really quite terrifying.

That’s really shocking because biting other dogs is the step before biting a small child

Horrifying isn't it? I was told by the police that a dog can kill another dog and the police will do nothing because they would be dealing with issues like that all day long and it would take up too much time- even more shocking.

That’s really shocking because biting other dogs is the step before biting a small child.

It really isn't

Canine-directed aggression usually has different motivations to child-directed aggression

It's not remotely acceptable of course, but spreading false information is unhelpful also

@Veterinari

That’s really shocking because biting other dogs is the step before biting a small child.

It really isn't

Canine-directed aggression usually has different motivations to child-directed aggression

It's not remotely acceptable of course, but spreading false information is unhelpful also

This. I have a canine aggressive dog however I have no issues with her around humans.

I understand there's a difference but my family member was bitten because of canine aggression, she was holding the lead and the other dog attacked and the only way she could save her dog was to scoop him up and she got bitten in the process.

That’s not the same @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor. That’s someone getting in the way of dog aggression. Not a dog deliberately attacking a human.

@Wolfiefan

That’s not the same *@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor*. That’s someone getting in the way of dog aggression. Not a dog deliberately attacking a human.

But the result was still that someone got badly bitten.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

I understand there's a difference but my family member was bitten because of canine aggression, she was holding the lead and the other dog attacked and the only way she could save her dog was to scoop him up and she got bitten in the process.

That's because she put herself in the middle of a dog fight.

You're bound to get bitten if you stick your hand in the middle of one - it's why all advice is to pull the dogs apart from behind, spray them with water or do something to distract them that doesn't involve putting your hands anywhere near their mouths.

It doesn't mean the dog is aggressive to humans. It means it was still trying to bite the other dog and bit your friend by accident because it was so worked up it didn't realise what was happening.

It's not helpful on these threads when people spread false information. I've been bitten and yes it's horrendous but it really doesn't mean the dog is about to go on and maul a toddler.

I think that there is less of clear dividing line between dog aggression and human aggression than we sometimes like to believe. I've read about quite a few cases where a dog with a history of biting other dogs has ended up going for a person. Dogs will also sometimes redirect. And as for putting a hand into a fight, it's bloody hard not to when it's your dog who is involved (voice of experience).

In any case, it is NOT okay for a dog warden to take zero interest in a dog-on-dog incident.