Dealing with aggressive dogs

[Womenandwomenfirst]

I’m thoroughly hacked off, having encountered yet another aggressive dog when out and about. In all my years of dog owning I have never encountered so many as recently.

I was walking my young dog this evening, on the lead, when round the corner comes a vizla type, which starts snarling at my dog, then leapt on him growling with teeth bared. I was forced to drop the lead as the dog was turning on me. The owner ( dressed in full smart “dog gear” ) sighed and just said “I’ll have to put him on the lead.” I was shaken and my poor dog was limping a bit. I just walked off quickly, but what can one say?

This is not a one off, either. The nice park I used to go to is now populated by rough dogs (with very much not rough owners) and my dog last week was bitten and scratched. He loves to run free, but not be set upon by bullies!

is it in order to say anything?

You can contact the dog warden if you still have one, and you can report it to the police, they’re not hugely likely to do much, but they should if it was trying to get you as well.

But honestly, there’s no much point in saying much to someone like that as all you’re going to do is have an unsatisfactory argument.

I’m at my wit’s end. I really don’t want to report anyone, as the council is itching to make the park leads only.

I just feel mightily disappointed that the number of dogs locally has ballooned, and so many are not just out of control, but very rough and even aggressive.

I don't really have any advice, but I know what you mean. My dog, who likes to keep herself to herself (unless she meets a spaniel or terrier?!!) is often having to put up with the same. I think it must be lack of training/socialising from the owners. It really is noticeable these days. I have though, also noticed a lot more dogs on extendable leads too - again I think a lot of that is down to lack of training (no need to train a stay/recall if they are on a bit of cord...).

Why wouldn’t you want the council to make it leads only?

Never understand why anti-dog people come on The Doghouse threads

I was only thinking this the other day as I walk in the forest and typically most dogs off lead are fine and those that are reactive walk very early and are on lead (so I know instantly to put mine on the lead as we pass by).

However the last 6 months I have encountered many more off lead aggressive dogs and recently had to literally stand in front of one dog to protect mine who had run a long way to get to us snarling and barking.

I often think I would love to walk in a park that is dogs on lead only. My dog enjoys to sniff and walk by me. It would be so much less stressful if other dogs were all on leads we could walk peacefully! Maybe it’s not a bad thing if park becomes a lead only park

My puppy was attacked by a Dalmatian in the same way. He was on a lead by my side, and the off-lead and incredibly aggressive Dalmatian was apparently guarding its ball (according to the pathetic owner), as it threw my puppy to the floor. Owner took no action so I punched it hard in the angle behind its jaw. I told her next time it will be my steel-toecapped shoes and it'll be so hard its eyes drop out. I used to work in quarantine kennels so I wasn't scared of her dog, though she was. I wouldn't normally use that degree of force but puppy needs to know I have got his back.

aggressive dogs create more aggressive dogs , so it’s becoming a bit of a cycle.
most often they are owned by twats, so you can’t say anything else you’ll get a load of abuse. Not sure what’s to be done really

My poor lurcher is reactive now due to being attacked by off lead aggressive dogs, three times by “don’t worry he’s friendly” types. I now muzzle my boy (he’s never bitten but it makes it a clear visual for people to leave us alone) and he is on a lead unless the area is empty. It’s a real shame, but I agree there seem to be more and more aggressive or just badly mannered dogs about, with very clueless owners. Just this morning I witnessed two off-lead “pocket bullies” with cropped ears attack an on lead Bernese mountain dog who was just minding its own business. Owner of the bullies was useless. We just turn round and walk the other way when we see off lead dogs with owners on their phones or not fully paying attention.

Unfortunately there's very little you can do apart from

• spotting the signs a dog is uncomfortable early on
• walking away, with your dog following, from interactions that are starting to go south (obviously this doesn't work with those that are bad from the outset)
• keeping an eye out for avoiding those dogs that are problematic
• if there is a scrap, hauling the two dogs out; harnesses are great for this as they enable you to grab something away from its mouth. Most scraps are all noise and no blood.

I nearly forgot to say that, counterintuitively, the busiest parks at the busiest times of day are generally the safest. Only nutcases take an aggressive dog there at those times.

I'm much more wary of other dogs if we're somewhere very quiet or walking especially early / late, as those are the times and places those with dodgy dogs go to avoid others

It's a horrible combination of first time dog owners ( thanks to covid and wfh) buying large breed dogs and said dogs not being socialised and owners not attending puppy classes and hence getting any help ( covid again )
We have more reactive and frankly scarey dogs at work than I've ever known. Particularly scarey as the owners can't be trusted to handle them and don't seem to realise how dangerous the situation is.

Yes I agree @NotMyCircusNotMyCircus

I walk mine in the early morning and now only walk him on open land where I can see what is coming

There's a forest near us that he loves but I don't go there early now due to the fuckwits with their aggressive dogs off lead who really don't give a shit

Having more lead rules won't help. Its not about restraining them, its about training. I think there should be more requirements for owning a dog and I say that as someone with a dog who is male aggressive. He's never hurt anyone because I won't allow it. My older dog never wears a lead and doesnt approach other dogs or people unless she knows them. Ddog2 is never off lead unless on private land. He's much better than he used to be, doesn't lunge and snarl anymore but he will always pose a risk. Ddog1 doesn't. She doesn't have it in her and never has.

People know their dogs. This guy must've known that dog was a risk but had it off lead anyway because he doesn't care. People like that won't abide by any law you bring in because they just don't care.

one woman said to me accusingly, “Is your dog an unneutered male? Because my dog doesn’t like them.” Of course my dog is not neutered - he’s 7 months old! We expect to be able to walk along without his being set upon randomly by a dog who dislikes certain types. If your dog gets enraged by entire males/puppies/children/people in blue trousers…. don’t let them run free