Oliver got attacked last night (a little long)

Oliver got attacked last night on our walk.

We walk pretty much the same route every night, about 2 miles, a little more when Oliver feels good, a little less when we've been playing hard. There is one house on our walk that has a boxer (about 1/2 mile from our house). The boxer always jumps on the 3 foot fence and barks at us, but we never really pay much attention to him. The same house also have a couple little dogs that get out every one in a while, but usually leave Oliver alone, so we leave them alone too.

But, last night the little dog came up to Oliver barking and growling. I wasn't too worried as I don't think this dog could even open his mouth wide enough to bite Oliver. The owner came running out and grabbed the little dog. Just as the owner was walking back into the house, the boxer gets out! I yelled at the owner "Your boxer is out" and the reply was "he's okay".

So, Oliver and I just stand there, staring as the boxer makes a mad dash toward us. The boxer starts sniffing, but I am very uneasy at this point, the boxer's behavior wasn't very friendly. The boxer growls and grabs ahold of Oliver's neck, then goes for his ear. I am screaming bloody murder at this point. I had no idea what to do. I didn't want Oliver to get hurt, but I didn't want to bit either! Oliver is whining, I am screaming, and the owner just walks up, grabs the boxer and walks off. No apoligy, no "is your dog okay". I'm standing there in shock (and yes, I was crying :roll:

), Oliver is just looking at me like "what the heck did I do to him?", and all the owner has to say is "he's fine".

I checked Oliver over, then we made our way home (crying the entire way). A few neighbors had heard the commotion and wanted to check Oliver over to make sure he was okay. Thankfully his hair was his saving grace, and he just has a small cut on his ear.

I am still so mad about it.

I realize that sometimes dogs get out, but the owner's behavior was out of line. I try to be a responsible dog owner and just wish everyone else would try to be as well.

What would I have done if the owner was not home. How could I defend Oliver and I from an attacking dog? I told hubby we are walking Oliver together from now on.

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I'm glad Oliver's okay!

You need to report the incident. By the sounds of the your story, the owner seems pretty nonchalant about her dogs escaping and possibly hurting someone. Reporting it now could save someone else or their dog later. It's bad enough to just have dogs escaping but when they start getting aggressive, it really has to stop. The only way to stop people like that is to get police involved. Our last neighbor started getting so many "Dog at Large" tickets that he started getting really serious about keeping his dogs contained. Not only that, I think after a certain number of them, the animal gets taken away. It's terrible but sometimes that's the only action people will respond to.

You definitely need to file some type of complaint. Oliver hair saved him the next time it may be another type of dog, a child or an elderly person.

File a report!! She had two dogs at large. Plus you have witnesses! Your pup had the hair for protection, what about a short haired dog or child for the next attack. The boxer is a danger....as Cesar Milan would say, a red zone case. Report the incident.

Do not let any dog come near you or your dog...if they show any aggressive actions. Tell them in a stern voice to back off. Distracting the other dog for a moment might be enough to knock them out of the attack mode and you can make your escape.

Oh my gosh, how scary was that!!! Poor Oliver and poor you! For starters, I would NOT go past that house again. Pardon me, once more to make sure that dog is up to date on shots!!!

This is only partially the dogs fault, that owner needs to have better control over their dogs or someone or some dog is going to be hurt.

I was at a dog show once and heard that the best way to stop a dog fight is to grab both dogs by the hind legs and pull them apart. This requires two quick acting and fearless people and I wouldn't recommend it.

This happened to Simon once and was totally unprovoked. The dog had Simon pinned to the ground in a nano second and the owner grabbed the loose skin on her dogs neck and pulled her dog off of Simon. Yes she did apologize, and told me to check for blood and that her dog was up to date on all shots.

A long time ago, I was walking my two dogs when two big dogs came running from a yard and I grabbed my dogs close to the collars and as the dogs came closer I took a giant step forward and yelled "GET OUT OF HERE" in a loud and deep voice and it worked because the dogs veered away.

One thing you could do, if able, is to try to put yourself between the dogs before a fight breaks out. Holding Oliver behind you(I know..Hard) and the offending dog would have to go through you to get to Oliver. Just a suggestion...

And Yes, I would file a report!

I already filed a report. There are too many children in the neighborhood to take any chances.

I was in shock when it happened, and couldn't think of what to do. I guess I was hoping the owner would intervene.

Quote:

Do not let any dog come near you or your dog...if they show any aggressive actions. Tell them in a stern voice to back off. Distracting the other dog for a moment might be enough to knock them out of the attack mode and you can make your escape.

This sounds great, but is hard to do when I am the only human there, and the other dog is running at large. I've had instances where I've tied Oliver's leash to a light pole while I grabbed the other dog and a neighbor to help me, but that is when the other dog was friendly. Do you carry anything with you, such as a squit gun, for "just in case"?

ButtersStotch wrote:

I agree with Jill. You need to report him to protect all the other dogs that may have problems with him as well.

im glad that you filed a report....and also glad that oliver is okay...when panda was attacked by a neighborhood german shepard a few years ago, i was pretty much in the same state...we now take a different walk route!

WOW I can't believe that happened to you I would deffinatly carry somethin with you and avoid that house that is so scary. I'm sorry that happened to you :cry:

I just had a thought .. maybe we should carry some sort of a pepper spray to break up a fight?

I know your dog will probably get sprayed in the process, but isn't that better than being badly bitten?

Would it work to break up a fight, and would it work on a pit bull?

Just thinking out loud.

Ron wrote:

I've been thinking the same thing. Do animal control officers carry anything along these lines?

I just want to have a plan, in case it happens again. This is the second time Oliver has been attacked, the first was in a dog park. Luckily no bad injuries with either. But, I shouldn't have to be scared when I walk my dog in my own neighborhood!

I'm so glad everyone is okay! That's one of my biggest fears! I'm sorry you had that happen!

How scary! Glad Oliver is OK!. I've started walking Willoughby in a new park (new for us) where dogs run off leash. We met three dogs on our first walk all OK and two who made me nervous: a german shepherd and a boxer. Carrying a spray sounds like a good idea. Take care!

Ron wrote:

Yes. I actually do carry it (when I remember to grab it). I don't particularly worry about the boys getting hurt (they're a pretty tough team and have their hair as armor) but I don't want to deal with breaking up a possible fight and having to touch someone else's dog and get bit myself. I'd rather spray and walk away.

ButtersStotch wrote:

Awe, the good thing of having hair over the eyes. He may run into things, but he will be protected from the pepper spray!

OMG, how scary for you and Oliver! I hope he doesn't get too scared of every dog he sees now, since he's been attacked twice.

The pepper spray is a great idea. If you see an attack coming (as you did), you could spray before they get close enough to Oliver so that Oliver will be spared.

Geesh! Some dog owners! :twisted:

If possible and presented with the scenario, I wouldn't hesitate to fire the pepper spray at the agressive-looking charging dog before it made contact with us. It won't permanently hurt the dog.

Locally, we just had a recent case where a fellow afraid-of-dogs pepper sprayed an off leash dog that was NOT acting aggressively in any manner, but because the dog was off leash the man held no liability for his action, so there is legal precedence supporting "preemptive strikes".

This is from the URL listed below, I've edited it:

A: This is something I have thought about a lot, as I have been in the same situation myself many times. My solution is to carry a dog prod that is capable of shocking a dog when the dog sniffs the two tips of it. It is guaranteed to cause no harm to the dog. However, it's heavy, you have to use it in just the right way with perfect timing, and it would not affect more than one dog at a time. Since you live in an area with multiple loose dogs, it might not be much help.

Another handler uses a large umbrella and opens it into the faces of the approaching dogs. Note that for this, as well as for the use of pepper spray or anything else, you have to be able to totally control both of your own dogs with only one hand, leaving you only one hand free to repel the other dog(s).

...As far as the pepper spray, my feeling is that some dogs would need the care of a veterinarian no matter how safe it is supposed to be. Some dogs are not totally healthy in the first place and this could make them more sensitive to it. However, this is something you need to ask a veterinarian. I would expect your vet will answer this question for you on the telephone at no charge. There are various preparations sold to spray and repel an attacker and they are not all the same. Be sure to ask the veterinarian which one, if any, is recommended on dogs.

...I wonder if it even occurs to people that they probably lower their own property values and those of their neighbors by letting their dogs roam! Loose dogs do not always remain friendly. The more they roam, the more territorial they are apt to become in that larger area. They also extend their area and mark it, as time goes by, which is normal behavior.

The first targets of aggression are usually other people's pets, including yours when you try to take them for a walk. However, humans are not safe from this territoriality either. A dog who wasn't a threat this month may become a threat next month, or in a few months, or a couple of years from now. Children are of course the most vulnerable, and their behavior often makes them targets.

You might want to consider getting involved with other neighbors in removing this threat from your neighborhood. If it's a cooperative group effort, neighbors are less likely to resent being required to properly confine their own dogs. Some people will get the hint when they see you out with your dogs and see that their dogs are bothering you. However, some will not see and some will not care until law enforcement gets their attention.

Loose dogs are probably the greatest risk anyone going out for a walk with a dog on leash faces. Because of this risk, and just how horrendous it can be, I am always reluctant to recommend that anyone send a child out alone to walk the family dog. Isn't that a crying shame?

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=939&S=1&SourceID=60

Umbrella! What a great idea!

Great info, thanks!

When Barney was attacked by a GS several months ago, I was advised by our local police to carry a canister of pepper spray. All of our mail carriers carry it. If you have an army surplus store nearby you might be able to get it there, otherwise go on line. The cost is about $10.

How about carrying a 5-iron and clubbing the owner??

I'm with Nita!!!! :lol:

Walk softly and carry a big golf club!....to use on the owner.......

I'm sorry this happened to you and Oliver and I am glad that you are both okay and that you reported it.

I used to walk our first sheepie, Quincy, past a house that had a dalmatian and a chocolate lab in the backyard. Everytime we would walk by, the dalmatian would go crazy and attack the chocolate lab! I started walking on the other side of the street, to spare the poor lab from being abused, and it worked, as the dalmatian was deaf and only went nuts when it saw us. But I knew that dog was trouble.

Once, we were across the street and the dalmatian got loose. It came barreling across and went after Quincy Bear. Luckily, Quince was in full coat, so he was covered with alot of drool when it was over, but wasn't hurt. Like you, the owner yelled for the dog, got it back, and went into the house like nothing happened. I reported the dog, and they were cited.

Then the lab passed away, and they got a yellow lab puppy for the dalmatian to attack.

Like Ron White says, "You can't fix stupid."

Laurie and Oscar

I am glad Oliver is okay. Give him a hug from me.

Oscar's Mom wrote:

Once, we were across the street and the dalmatian got loose. It came barreling across and went after Quincy Bear. Luckily, Quince was in full coat, so he was covered with alot of drool when it was over, but wasn't hurt. Like you, the owner yelled for the dog, got it back, and went into the house like nothing happened. I reported the dog, and they were cited.

That probably worked pretty well on a deaf dog, huh? :evil:

I, too, am glad Oliver is OK.

I guess I would have started kicking and pulling on the other dog (I am not saying this is right) If he had a collar on grab it and swing.Then I would have grabbed the owner and gave him a swing.

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