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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dog Attack

28 replies

anna114young · 02/09/2022 15:49

I am so shaken. I took my 6 month lab for a walk this morning just through the housing estate I live on. I was 5 houses away from mine, end of walk in sight and I noticed a dog, no collar or lead, no owner. It spotted me (it was about 10-15 metres away) and ran towards me and my lab (who hadn't spotted it before it was up close). Small dog, maybe a terrier? I panicked. I knew it was going to attack from it's body language. It bit my dog hard on the back leg and she yelped.

I didn't know what to do, I've heard you should never pick up your dog in that scenario but I just panicked. I screamed and shouted and eventually the dog let go and we went home where I promptly burst into tears. Lab seems okay, a little quiet but no obvious injuries.

On speaking with neighbours (I'm relatively new to the area) they said that the house the dog came from there are 4 dogs and all have been known to be on the loose and the owners don't seem to care. There have been at least 5 incidents in the last year including biting a person who needed medical attention.

I have contacted the dog warden but I have been left feeling like I can't walk my own dog!

What should I have done? What would you do?

OP posts:
Hyperion100 · 02/09/2022 15:56

Imagine your going to kick a rugby ball from the half way line.

Now imagine the ball is the attacking dog.

Original poster
anna114young · 02/09/2022 15:58

@Hyperion100 my other half said the same! It all happened so quickly I just didn't know how to react. It's not in my nature to kick a dog and I don't know if I did that if I would be in trouble for harming an animal? I just wish I had protected my puppy better....

OP posts:
livelyinthemuff · 02/09/2022 16:01

Call the police and report the dog as dangerously out of control in a public place.

Your poor puppy might well suffer with issues from this incident as they move forward.

SirenSays · 02/09/2022 16:03

Make yourself seem as large and imposing as possible. And shout rather than scream. I hope your dog is OK

Windbeneathmybingowings · 02/09/2022 16:06

I’d have booted it, then found a way to have rounded it up and had it taken to the dog warden.

everytime it’s out, dog warden. I’m sure eventually they’ll get fed up of the fines and keep it in.

Beamur · 02/09/2022 16:08

Physically intervention is a good way to get bitten. I often take a walking pole with me - quite handy for giving something a poke from a safer distance.
I'd choose to walk your dog in a different direction in future. Report to dog warden and maybe Police? They won't do anything about a dog on dog attack but it might be useful if the dogs are also biting people.
Your poor pup though. Hope you are both not too shaken. This is one of the things I don't miss about having a dog - other people's dogs!

Unforgettablefire · 02/09/2022 16:09

Get an air horn or something or something else that's loud, or a can that sprays compressed air and use it if a dog runs at you.
Or carry a stick, you don't have to hit an animal but you can fend it off if you can keep calm.
Hope you and your girl are ok.

Els1e · 02/09/2022 16:19

Carry a dog attack spray. I think it’s citronella or something like that. It doesn’t cause long term damage but will shock the attacking dog into letting go.

mountainsunsets · 02/09/2022 16:24

Ideally I would use a stick or something to separate them, but honestly, I have no qualms with kicking an out of control dog if it's attacking my dog and there's no other way of separating them.

In terms of walks going forward, I would maybe keep her in for the rest of the day and let all the adrenaline die down, but otherwise the best thing to do is to back out like nothing has happened. I know that's really hard, but dogs feed of us. If you feel nervous, she will too. Back out, walks as normal and lots of reassurance if you think she's scared.

It's horrendous but you can certainly come back from this. My own dog has been bitten a few times while he was on his lead unfortunately but he's okay and your girl will be too.

picklemewalnuts · 02/09/2022 16:26

It won't catch you out again- you'll be ready to intervene next time. I'd recommend a combination of the roar and the kick.

To comfort and reassure you and your dog, do you have some reliable calm dog friends you can meet up with for your next few walks?

Original poster
anna114young · 02/09/2022 16:30

Wow. Thank you so much everyone for all your supportive comments - I really appreciate it. I've bought her a new toy and she's had some nice treats today (so spoilt...!) and I'll take her for a walk in the fields where we don't tend to bump into dogs.

She's slightly over friendly with dogs, being a bouncy labrador puppy so I've been careful to not let her say hello to every dog she meets but we have a couple of older calm dogs that I might organise some walks with to help her. I really hope she isn't affected by this!

OP posts:
Spanielsarepainless · 02/09/2022 16:33

When my on-lead puppy was decked by a loose Dalmatian, with an owner who didn't give a toss, I told her next time I'll kick it so hard under its jaws that its eyes will drop out. Then I shall ring the dog warden and say I was frightened.

mountainsunsets · 02/09/2022 16:35

I'm sure she'll be fine. I don't know any dog that's never had a bad experience on a walk - honestly, it happens to all of us at some point!

At the end of the day, dogs aren't robots and accidents happen.

pilates · 02/09/2022 16:36

Sorry you’ve been through this. A similar thing happened to me but my DS 14 jumped in and did the wrong thing and picked puppy up but it was a natural thing to protect him. It scared the hell out of me. The owner didn’t even apologise. Have you had your puppy checked out at vet?

Original poster
anna114young · 02/09/2022 16:39

I haven't had her checked out, she's eating and sleeping normally and doesn't seem in any pain. I've checked where she was bitten and can't see anything either.

I totally agree that accidents happen but this household according to neighbours often have their dogs loose around the village and this is the fifth incident in about a year.

OP posts:
mountainsunsets · 02/09/2022 16:44

I totally agree that accidents happen but this household according to neighbours often have their dogs loose around the village and this is the fifth incident in about a year.

When I say "accidents happen" I'm not trying to dismiss it, but it's highly likely this isn't the last time a dog will come up and attack yours. It's unfortunately incredibly common, so it's important not to build it up as something massive in your head.

I know that's much easier said than done but bad experiences with other dogs is an unfortunate part of being a dog owner.

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 02/09/2022 16:46

Call the police and in future walk your dog carrying a stout stick in hand. We had to do this with my dog as a teenager. Our dog always on leash and warned other owners my dog was not friendly "oh it's fine. Mine loves other dogs" UNTIL our dog started growling and theirs (usually off lead) would attack.

We would walk the other dog with a stick. Ideally in the nose/face. Our dog was a massive softy unless around other dogs. Loved cats tho!

Original poster
anna114young · 02/09/2022 16:46

@mountainsunsets not at all, sorry if it came across that way! It's a really hard part of being a dog owner, my puppy (definitely not perfect!) but wouldn't hurt a fly....actually she ate a fly recently but anything larger than fly maybe....!

I guess I just need to be more prepared for another time but I was so unprepared and there was no owner to come and get their dog back either!

OP posts:
rnsaslkih · 02/09/2022 16:51

I would pick the lab up and shout NO at the small dog.

Snoken · 02/09/2022 16:55

My teaction would also have been to pick my dog up and kicked the terrier. Probably not the right thing to do but I’m not sure I would have be able to act rationally.

mountainsunsets · 02/09/2022 16:56

anna114young · 02/09/2022 16:46

@mountainsunsets not at all, sorry if it came across that way! It's a really hard part of being a dog owner, my puppy (definitely not perfect!) but wouldn't hurt a fly....actually she ate a fly recently but anything larger than fly maybe....!

I guess I just need to be more prepared for another time but I was so unprepared and there was no owner to come and get their dog back either!

Yeah it's a horrible situation to be in, and honestly no matter how prepared you are, you still panic when your dog is on the floor screaming!

I would maybe start carrying a stick so you can stick it between them, or a bottle of water you can dump on the aggressive dog to try and distract them if that's possible?

Sunflowers765 · 02/09/2022 22:49

When a dog would have a go at my lovely placid lab bitch I would lose my rag and scream at the top of my voice"don't you bite my dog" and invariably, because I'm obviously very very scary it would run off pronto. I would instinctively shout so loud it hurt my throat. Always seemed to work though. I also think that if I was ever in a situation where it didn't run off I'd have booted it into next week. Because nothing was going to hurt my girl. End of.

Soxford · 03/09/2022 12:05

I do sympathise with you in this situation. When I got my first dog I had a similar thing happen and I took the dog out in the car to be able to walk somewhere safe as the aggressive dog was so close to my house it couldn't be avoided if the owners were in the ungated front garden, so was the dog. Even if they weren't in I was afraid to go out in case I couldn't get back!!!!
Eventually they moved away (after 5 years or so).
I would definitely advise reporting it, and in the meantime carry a pet corrector spray which is a good interruptor without causing physical harm.

marmaladepop · 06/09/2022 08:40

You could try taking a small can of Pet Correction spray (or can or air cleaner et for keyboards). They make a hissing sound which is quite loud and startling. Not always practical but if it gives you some reassurance it could be a thought. Good luck

marmaladepop · 06/09/2022 08:41

Apologies the Pet Corrector spray has already been mentioned in previous post

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