Dog keeps getting attacked by other dogs

[brownbear201]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has any advice for this because it's driving me up the wall. My dog was seriously attacked in August, he was lucky to survive and needed a lot of vet treatment.

Since then he seems to have become a bit of a target for bully (behaviour not breed) dogs. Twice now, since August, he's had dogs go for him unprovoked. The first was just a few weeks after his attack, a Labrador on a forest path was stalking towards us with its hackles raised. Owner tells me its friendly. I moved away but the dog rushes us and jumps on him snarling. I yell at the dog very loudly and run at it and it backs off and the owner put it on a lead.

Today something very similar happened. Walking him at the nature reserve, which is his favourite walk. Lady with a poodle cross had it on the lead but for some unknown reason, unclips the lead as we got closer. Dog rushes him whilst snarling and launches at him. Again, I split it up quickly (whilst the owner stood still several hundred metres away...) and the dog returned to its owner.

They are 'just' scraps with no injuries sustained but its still very unpleasant and I feel awful for my poor dog who doesn't fight back. My theory is that the dogs can sense his lack of confidence. I have no idea what to do. He's 11 years old. I do my best to avoid other dogs, but they're impossible to avoid completely and if one rushes us I have no idea how to get rid of it. I've tried grabbing the dogs collars and returning them to owners- that wouldn't have been possible today as the dog rushed us too fast but when I have tried that the owners have refused to put them on a lead so when I've let go of the dog its come back. And when we get rushed by someone walking multiple dogs it's impossible. I've tried carrying a walking pole and using it to block other dogs. When I tried this on one dog the owner verbally abused and threatened me. I've tried various sprays, but again, you get abuse from the owner and I've not found them very effective.

I'm at a loss. I don't think it's fair to restrict him to road walking. He causes no bother to anybody, he's on a lead around other dogs and never approaches them. And with dogs loose in front gardens with low fences he could be attacked on road walks too.

Any ideas for deterring these dogs? Their owners are normally at best, useless, and at worst, aggressive and abusive, so asking them to put their dogs on leads does not work.

There was some colour coded leads for sale, I can't remember where I saw them ,but you got a yellow one for if your dog was nervous, green for friendly and red for unfriendly (don't come near)
Would that help? It would warn other owners perhaps to steer clear?

I just checked and eBay sell them , nervous lead is yellow,and there are collars and other things too. No Dogs lead is red, if he wore that then other dogs should not be allowed up to him.

You could try chemical castration to see what effect it has. I have found that neutered dogs do tend to grumble at entire dogs.

As for owners not calling their dogs back, it's very frustrating. I would suggest that asking them to call their dogs back is largely ineffective, as you will usually get "it's OK, he's friendly" or some other such bullshit.

Try shouting "can you call your dog back please? Mine has mange", it will likely get a more satisfactory result much more quickly.

Our dog was set on by intact dogs until he was neutered.

He was always friendly and submissive- this didn't change - but after neutering male dogs just didn't bother him anymore. We were both happier.

Sounds like you’ve been unlucky. There are so many badly behaved dogs out and about with little recall.

I arm myself with K9 spray. Not had to use it yet because a stern voice and shouting had worked in deterring any unwanted behaviour from other dogs but it was recommended on here a few month ago and has good reviews. I don’t hurt, just confuses the approaching dog long enough for you to put space between them.

Bloody hell, don’t neuter him at 11 years old when he’s already timid!

Has he had a vet check to rule out any illnesses? Dogs can smell when another dog is unwell and react bizarrely. Or does he breathe heavily/limp? Some dogs see that as a threat if they don’t immediately recognise a dog as a dog. My dog broke his foot earlier in the year and when he was eventually allowed out for short walks, dogs who had previously been very polite and friendly with him were growling at him, we assumed it was because he was still hobbling a bit! His gait is back to normal now and his doggy friendships have resumed. He’s also faster than 99% of dogs he meets so if he ever gets into any bother, he just legs it! Hopefully we never encounter an unfriendly greyhound as they are the only dogs that can outrun him

@brownbear201 Please don't feel silly for carrying a stick or what other people will say to you, I also carry a stick and will do worse than poke a dog that ignores a sharp NO and my unhappy dog! Seeing you take steps to protect him will last forever in your dog's mind, a stupid owner's disapproval will last a week or so in yours. Always put your own dog's safety over other people's feelings.

I have a submissive spaniel bitch who dogs try to attack, it's not that other dogs don't like it, they're just very dominant nasty creatures (said as someone who loves dogs!) with strange dogs and will take any easy dopamine hit through easy domination and a good scrap they can get. I don't let it happen to her, if they ignore my no and they're too heated for me to grab their collar they'll get my boot or my stick.

What a great idea re Mange comment!

@brownbear201 Carry a heavy stout stick.
I have arthritis so need a stick, I use a stick to deflect other dogs and also to stop dogs jumping up at me ( don’t make any contact)

More owners and walkers without dogs are carrying sticks or walking poles I have noticed.

I would love to claim it as my own, however I got it from someone else. It works really well, although I have received some verbal about having a dog with mange out in public. That's easier to discuss once the other dog is under control though 🤣

It is funny how quickly the "it's OK, he's friendly" brigade suddenly find the ability to catch their dogs.

i had a lovely unneatured dog who got on with every dog he met until he was about 11 and then dogs seemed to randomly attack him. The first was a large lab whose owner assured my had never done anything before, then a dog in our village went mad when he saw him growling and snarling from the other side of the road nearly pulling his owner into a on coming car then another dog again did a similiar thing. I was assured by their owners this was completely out of character. And there were other episodes.
I wondered if it was an age thing he was an easy going type of dog non confrontational always got on with any dog he met not an in another dogs face type of dog, but maybe as he got older his body language slightly changed and some dogs didn’t like it? I don’t know maybe I’m talking rubbish but something changed.

Some Dogs can be ''nasty''
They sense vulnerability and weakness in old or unwell dogs.

You are an astute observer - you are not talking rubbish.

Years ago we had two dogs together.. When the 'boss' female got ill at the end of her life, the subordinate male began to push his luck.

Never aggressively though, just in small ways, like jumping onto her place on the sofa, and trying to get to the garden first.

My friend currently has a pack of well mannered dogs, but the oldest female {15} has to be supervised at meal times so the younger ones don't take her food.

None of my dogs have been neutered, and none of them have been "magnets" for other dogs attacking them.

I suspect that what is more likely is that the dogs can sense / smell his nervousness and are reacting to that - many dogs are driven to assert their dominance over dogs they perceive as weaker. Rebuilding his confidence around other dogs may help if you have friends or other dog walkers who have calm dogs who can be trusted with him.

@oakleaffy interesting I had a feeling it was other dogs sensing his vulnerability and slow age related weakening.

Could it be age? My friend found this when her dog got older. It's as though other dogs sense weakness.

I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience in August. It must have knocked both of your confidence. Perhaps some time with a good trainer (and some other friendly dogs) might give you and your dog a boost.

The neutering idea sounds very wrong to me. Just another thing for your dog to endure.

People who allow their dogs to run up at other dogs are a bloody nuisance. They can have no idea/care how worrying it is for nervous dogs and their concerned owners.

Yes, you are probably correct in that sense.. The day before our 12 yr old Lurcher was PTS at home, {Cancer} she literally 'pulled' me gently to go and see an equally old Golden Retriever male who was lovely with her.
Some dogs are 'good eggs' and some are more inclined to be nasty bullies {Just like people I think!}

She definitely felt vulnerable come the very end, as she liked to lie under my desk on a soft duvet, just being 'protected' from above made her feel safer I think.
{an instinct?}

Old dogs are lovely.

@Dapbag Dogs definitely sense weakness.
Humans have to intervene to protect, as old or unwell dogs can be targeted by 'Nasty' unknown dogs {there are some very sweet natured dogs about though}.

Some dogs are just vile.

Rude, obnoxious bullies- {whether it is because they were never disciplined by their mother and siblings , or have been allowed to bully their owners I don't know..but dogs like this are an absolute pain.

My old dog went on a lived another two years following the above incidences he would sometimes growl at certain dogs especially those coming towards him to warn them off and this was usually sufficient.