My dog just attacked by Rottweiler....

[Artemis6]

Was out with our 2yo Lab in a popular area for walking dogs off-lead.
Our Lab approached the Rottweiler as he would any other dog, sort of asking to play and the other dog just went for him.
My dog ran into the bushes with the other dog in pursuit, still growling and going for his neck.
The owner shouted at her dog to stop, which he did.
I said, Can you put him on the lead? She didn’t answer me and didn’t put him on the lead.
After a short while, my dog came out of the bushes. He seems fine, think I was more shook up!

No apology from the owner.

Did I do anything wrong? This has never happened before and my dog has often plays with another Rottweiler who is lovely.
Both dogs were off the lead.
I feel a bit worried about visiting this area again.

I know there’s not an answer to this...just needed to rant.

Both dogs were off the lead and your dog approached a strange dog with poor manners and was reprimanded by the other dog. The owner called the dog and it stopped and went to the owner. I'm sorry but this is on you, you should have called your dog and stopped him approaching an unknown animal .

I agree you should have your dog on the lead if it runs up to other dogs, otherwise it is a risk you take. I have a lab myself and she's always on the lead around other dogs, for her own safety incase of situations just like this.

Also it doesn't sound like your poor dog was attacked, but given a stern warning.

Your dog approached another dog who was under control but didn’t want to be approached. The other dog scared it away with no damage done. They were dogs communicating with each other, but please god stop your dog approaching other dogs without asking the owner first.

IMO any dog off lead should be 'friendly' to humans and other dogs if approached. If your dog is known to show aggression to other dogs, keep it on a lead/muzzle it on walks, or take it to a secure dog field.

Sorry op, but this is a risk when letting your dog approach other dogs. My dog is off lead but he doesn't want other dogs approaching him. He tolerates it for so long, but he has been known to tell playful dogs to fuck off.

Is your dog OK?

I don't think you would call it an attack, more of a warning. Keep your dog on lead when passing strange dogs, and always ask if the other is happy to be approached before letting them socialise. Just be aware that your Lab may associate this encounter with other Rotties in the future.

He is absolutely fine now, snoozing on the sofa.

Your dog got the warning it deserved.

As much as I love Labradors, they can be incredibly rude in dog language and tend not to introduce themselves politely.

Sounds as if it's your dog that needs a training refresher tbh, you really shouldn't be letting it approach strange dogs willy nilly.

I get really annoyed when people say "attack" there is a huge difference between an attack and a bit of a squabble.

You're both in the wrong. Your dog should not be approaching unknown dogs and this dog also shouldn't be offlead if unfriendly- even only to certain dogs or sometimes. Both your dogs would have been considered out of control.

That must have been scary - I'm glad your dog is okay.

However, both dogs were off the lead and your dog was the one to approach hers so I'm not sure I would really call it an attack, especially if nobody was hurt.

Personally, I wouldn't let your dog randomly approach others, even if they are off the lead. Not all owners are responsible and not all dogs want to be approached.

But that said imbglad your dog is ok. It's a very scary thing when this happens. Maybe don't go there for a while.

TheMixedGirl
It was scary and, as I said, has never happened before.

But I will definitely ask owners from now on.

This.

The Rottweiler was actually quite well trained and not aggressive at all. It was telling your dog off.

I'm sure it was scary, but it wasn't an attack. Count yourself lucky and learn from this, please.

Devilshands
What do you mean, “Count myself lucky?”

I assume she means be glad your dog just got a telling off and didn't walk away with a nasty injury.

I really think when both dogs are off lead there is no 'blame' as such. In fact as your dog approached the other dog I would tend to say yours was at fault. Obviously if the other owner knows her dog is aggressive then it shouldn't be off lead either but for all you know it has good recall and was spoked by your dog approaching it.

Ours always stay on leads in public places. We only let them off in areas where we are certain no other people or dogs are about. It doesn't solve the issue completely as we still have other peoples annoying dogs approaching ours but if anything were to happen at least we know it wouldn't be on us.

Fwiw I think all big, powerful dogs like Rottweilers should be on lead at all times in public places because of the damage they can do. I say that as the owner of a large, strong breed. It's really unfair to put them in a position where they could do serious harm to another dog.

If the Rottie had wanted to seriously hurt your dog he would have done. Glad your boy is ok, it’s horrible when a dog encounter goes wrong. But I’d be recalling to heel from now on until other owners say their dog is ok to be approached and even then exercise caution as some owners are a bit clueless about the signals their own dog is giving off.
I wouldn’t let it put you off walking in that area, just make sure your dog doesn’t approach that dog (or preferably any dog) again.

Yep. This is what I mean.

OP is incredibly lucky that their dog was told off and not seriously injured. OP was even luckier that the owner called their dog and the dog stopped - again, not all dogs do (even when they're just telling another dog off and not being aggressive).

Now OP can learn from this, train the dog not to bother random dogs, and ensure this doesn't happen again.

You were in the wrong. Your dog may want to play but the other dog did not. It really annoys me when other dogs approach my dog 'wanting to play'. She is 18, deaf, almost blind and has dementia! We just want to be left alone.

The other dog owner recalled their dog and it responded. You need to teach your dog recall. For the safety of your own dog you cannot have it approach dogs you know nothing about. To use the word 'attack' is a little strong. Your dog was not attacked. It received a warning.

Unfortunately this is the chance you take when you allow your dog to approach every dog they see. It's really risky behaviour and dangerous for everyone involved.

Doesn't sound like the other dog or owner did anything wrong.

I agree that this was a young dog being "told off".

I appreciate you said that this came out of nowhere but the body language of the other dog probably had already indicated it didn't want to interact or play.

Some young dogs seem completely oblivious to these signs from other dogs and leave no option but a stern warning. If your dog had no injuries then it is very unfair to call it an attack!

Your dog was being told off for poor manners, perhaps a little more forcefully than necessary, but no harm done.

One of mine is a bit of an enforcer and has told off a fair few young labs, goldens etc who come bounding over and get in her face. It's all very much 'Piss off and come back when you've got some manners!'. She bounces forwards a couple of strides, barks a few times and that's it. She's doing the young dog a favour, because if they don't learn, one day they'll get up in the grille of a dog who will properly go for them.

If you were in the wrong then you're in good company, as probably 50% of the off-lead dogs that we encounter come over to my dog for a sniff, sometimes hoping for a play, and my dog is mostly on a lead. That percentage would rise if she was always off-lead, as some owners are clearly worried that she's aggressive or scared and keep their dog close when they spot us (she isn't, she just has a high prey drive).

Fwiw I don't mind dogs coming over as my dog doesn't mind, I'm glad she gets positive socialisation instead of thinking other dogs are something to be scared of and bark and lunge at. If she was scared, I'd make it obvious with a bright yellow lead saying 'AFRAID' or something, and I'd call out, and in that case would be unimpressed if the owner didn't try to call their dog back. I also think aggressive dogs should be on a lead. So I really don't think you have done anything that wrong.

A dog telling another dog off isn't necessarily aggressive, though. A Rottweiler could do a lot of damage if it wanted, but it didn't - just told the dog off and came away when called.