If you were to get attacked whilst walking your dog what do you think your dog would do ?

[summergone]

I walked my dog on a usual route yesterday thinking I would get to the end of the unlit off road bit before it got too dark but I didn't . I came across a man who spoke to me but he made me feel really uneasy and my heart was actual racing . This is not like me I'm not an anxious nervous person at all . As I walked away I was thinking if he had attacked me what would my dog do? I'd like to think she would know I was in danger and would pounce on him and protect me but it got me thinking . What do you think your dog would do ?

This is something I've wondered myself, so I'm interested to see people's responses!
I think my dog would try to defend me, but she's quite small so I'm not sure she'd be very effective.

I think my dog(s) would leap up to try to separate us - assuming it looked like we were fighting. Not sure how effective they would be ( Labs) - they are not exactly aggressive.
However they are big and black , with deep barks, so I work on the theory that they are quite naturally intimidating to unfriendly types.

I think mine would bark, but as she’s a soft lab so I’m really not sure she would do anything else. She’s very vocal and a bit intimidating when delivery people come but when she gets to them just wags her tails and expects lots of fuss.

I live semi rural and think about this on early morning dog walks where I don’t see a soul.

If I talk to someone (or someone talks to me) - anyone - that he doesn't know my dog inserts himself between us and stares at them. I didn't teach him to do that, he just does it. He's a large sized border collie, so you figure out which part of the anatomy he's closest to. It's never been tested, but I am fairly sure I know what he'd do - and it may never have been tested because of what he does!

Probably lick them to death and mug them for biscuits

I've wondered this myself.

My dog is a big GSD and he looks like he'd protect me but I wouldn't count on it. He's incredibly gentle and never barks, even when people come to the house.

I just live in hope that his appearance would deter anyone from trying to intimidate me in the street.

Run away.

I actually prefer they did this since they are tiny dogs anyway

That’s a good question! My spaniel is quite protective of me but is also easily sidetracked by food. So I think if there was the remotest possibility the stranger had food he’d probably be far more interested in that than protecting me.

He'd bark, but he's a Cavalier so I doubt anyone would be particularly bothered by him. Tbh I'd hope he'd just run away rather than get hurt trying to defend me.

My mum used to have quite a big, powerful Staffy cross, and when she was harrassed by a couple of horrible men, the dog went ballistic, snarling and growling and barking, and scared them off. Mum said she'd never seen anyone move so fast.

@Quveas I think you're pretty safe there , that would definitely put someone off.

Tiny Pom so would bark ferociously which might at least draw some attention but all bark and no bite. Might try yanking on the assailants' sock.

One of mine would wag their tail and think they were playing the other would bark and run around in a useless circle.
I've had dogs for years and everytime I'm in a situation like you were I grab hold of one of their collars and say "easy, easy it's OK" (as if she is about to kick off) to the dog and say to the bloke "sorry they are a bit of a dick". Always hurries them away.

Rookiedog is a much hated on mumsnet cross breed of Golden retriever and poodle ( Goldendoodle for short).

He's normally a real softy, but I've seen him barr his teeth and snarl when the captain's dog ( old man owns a dog and basically it stays in the forest all day) tried to take his treats, and he likes to randomly bark at men with no dogs. So I think I'd be protected- unless they had liver treats.

Mine would bark and growl like crazy and would probably attack and bite also. She once rousted a drunk man out of the bushes and forced him to leave our local park by barking and jumping at him when she was off lead. He wasn't bothering me and in fact I hadn't even noticed him but she immediaty sniffed him out as a wrongun! She's medium/large, border collie size I would say, but is a mixed breed Romanian rescue. Given her attitude I think she is street dog mixed with guard dog. She definitely has a bit of German shepherd in her.

One of mine hates men especially strangers so she would definitely pitch in. My bigger dog - I don’t know what he would do. He’s quite nervous but also friendly towards people

Mine is half lab half kelpie and isn't a barky dog at all , on the odd occasions where she has had a barky session I could see if you didn't know that she is completely soft you might be intimidated. Last night I was really willing her to take a dislike to this man and bark but she didn't .

I think about this too! Not long ago there was a man acting strange at the end of this little path we were on, there was no one else around and he was just pacing back and forth at the end where the little path met a bigger path. When we got close to the end of the little path he started walking quickly towards us. My dogs hackles went up, she stood firmly in front of me and started barking at him. He turned around and went the other way. I don't know what she'd do if some actually went for me but she made me feel better that day.

Mine would probably have a go at tearing his throat out.
She's easily wound up anyway and has currently just come off fluxotine!

She's a medium dog with GSD markings- a bit smaller than an average GSD, but yeah she'd probably lunge if she felt I was being threatened.

She's kept on a leash at all times as shes unpredictable with both adults and dogs, she's a rescue and not sure exactly what has happened to her.

Mine are very suspicious of men without dogs and already bark at them. I think they'd bark a lot and then bite. Good!

My dog would bounce up between us probably, she might try and catch their clothing and pull them away. She's a lab and not an aggressive dog atall. Comes from working stock and her bark is a bit rubbish as she never uses it. I didn't hear her bark till she was 9 months. I wasn't sure that she could tbh.

I frequently wonder this!

I've 2 labs, one is quite musclely and pretty heavy so if he reared up there is a good chance he could take someone down. However, on walks he usually is about 20 paces behind me sniffing every blade of grass and usually not in any hurry to keep up so I'd be murdered by the time he'd cottoned on.

And if the assailant had a ball, then my girl lab wouldn't be arsed and I could be hung, drawn and quartered and she'd be happily chasing a tennis ball.

Both of mine would go for the assailant, but as one is a miniature poodle, I’m not sure how effective they’d be at seeing them off.

Our late lurcher would’ve had the person pinned down (he did that with a burglar).

I have very loyal dogs (all rescues), who are as gentle as anything, but if my husband is playing too rough with me (in their eyes), they will warn him!

@MissCrowley and @Foolsandtheirmoney I think you 2 are safe . Love the idea someone just mentioned of holding their collar and making out they are unpredictable to potentially scare someone away if need be .

@kirkandpetal mine is ball obsessed too so yea I wouldn't stand a chance either

@Imissmoominmama what happened with the burglar? Did the dog alert you to the burglar ?