Dog aggression … what to do

[Radiodread]

I’m a bit shaken up after today’s happenings and could do with some advice. Mainly I’m looking for what I should do if a similar thing happens in future.

Was walking my youngish female golden retriever off lead today and we were nearly back to the car park when another off lead dog, similar size, appeared out of the scrub and really went for her - teeth showing, pinning her down. My dog sounded pretty distressed, loads of yelping, I’d not heard those noises before from her.

This other dog was surprised at the appearence of mine, clearly, and it was not an open area where there was clear visibility but mine was within 5m of meat the time. It’s an area where there are loads of off- lead dogs.

At the time I was scared, and told the other dog owner to put, and keep, her dog on a lead (quite crossly, but after the main event) and we just left it at that. The owner seemed shaken also, the dog was new to her and she seemed a bit clueless to be honest.

i suppose what I want to know is how I should prepare for similar instances in future.

Maybe I’m lucky to have got to 3 years without similar!

Unfortunately there's not a huge amount you can do in situations like that, as if you stick your hand in the middle you're likely to get a very nasty bite.

I normally make a loud noise or, if possible, put my leg in the middle to split them up as I'm normally wearing wellies any injury will be limited.

Most fights are just noise but they are awful to hear. I hope you and your dog are okay.

Kick , hit , make loud noises etc. take the dog and pull it away from yours. Sounds cruel yes but it’s getting the dog to back off .

Carry a spare lead. Wrap it around the other dogs throat and cut off its air supply. I was taught that growing up and never walk my dog without a spare short lead.

I’ve had to do it once. Worked in seconds and I’d do it again in a heart beat.

Yelling/tugging/hitting do fuck all.