Question for those of you that walk your dogs?

[lizbud]

The one thing I would never do is run from the strange dogs. That's
just an invitation for them to chase you. I do something like Queen Of
Poop said. I also always carry a few dog bisquets that could be used for
distraction. It can get pretty scary if the other dogs seem agressive but
you have to remain cool & in charge when it's happening.

[Jadapit]

The one thing I would never do is run from the strange dogs. That's
just an invitation for them to chase you. I do something like Queen Of
Poop said. I also always carry a few dog bisquets that could be used for
distraction. It can get pretty scary if the other dogs seem agressive but
you have to remain cool & in charge when it's happening.

Your right, I dont know why in the world I started running from them. I thought I was going to have a heart attack, I'm to old to out run anything. Lol.

I will start carrying dog treats with me. Thanks for the help everyone.

[Giselle]

We talk about this issue all the time on GreyTalk. The general consensus over there is: If you are in the right (your dog is leashed and on public ground), you should do whatever is necessary to protect your dogs.

Bring a big walking stick, a PVC pipe, a rock, spray bottle, pepperspray, Direct Stop, mace, whatever. You have every right to protect your own dogs from loose and aggressive dogs.

FWIW, we have a dog aggressive/territorial dog at the end of our street who we sometimes encounter. Because Ivy is leash reactive, I use any means necessary to push that dog back. One time, I had to throw a rock near it (not actually "at" it), and I didn't feel an ounce of guilt. That dog had attacked us before and I was NOT going to give it that chance again.

[wolf_Q]

I've had that happen so many times. There's a lot of people that let their dogs roam around here. I don't care if there dog is loose if it stays in their yard...or even if it comes over for a friendly sniff...its when it comes charging up to my dogs snarling and growling that I have a problem. I have been known to act like a crazy person when this happens. The first thing I do is get in front of my dogs and yell "Go home!" to the other dog. Usually a bit of yelling/waving my arm at them is enough to get them away. I have had to use the end of the leash and swat them with it...I've had to be meaner than that too, I don't like to, but I can't have my dogs attacked. Nebo tends to not be very friendly to dogs running up to him growling either. If the owner is nearby and doing nothing (you wouldn't believe how often this happens...they sit on the porch and watch ) trust me they will hear about it. I have never tried to outrun the dogs, I stand my ground and get the other dog to back off.

[Chilli]

You've recieved some great advice. Everyone has already stated just what I was going to say.

No matter, the same problem occurs in my neighborhood aswell. A firm "Go Home" seems to always work, but I always remember my dad bringing a heavy walking stick when he went on walks with me. He was ready to do whatever was needed to be done to protect us.

Hopefully you won't run into a situation like that again!

[beeniesmom]

That has happened to me a couple of times when I walk Beenie and Frankie.
Both times, the dogs that were running toward us stopped a few feet away after I started yelling NO really loudly and stimping my feet.
When They were pups, I could pick them up but now, at a combined wieght of 55 lbs, that's not possible.

I wanted to add that once, when Frankie was a pup, he was in the back yard and started running toward the side yard barking. He was running toward the meter reader. She quickly opened a small umbrella before Frankie reached her and scared him! That was a genious idea and you may want to do that even though I'm not sure how fast you could open an umbrella while walking 3 doggies! I know I probably couldn't with the two of them... but just an idea.

[Canis-Lupess]

I just stand still and keep a firm hold on the leashes of my dogs and remain quiet. Yes, thats happened to me loads of times and our Jess and Mist did give the others dogs more than they bargained for but they were on leashes and, generally, when the other dog realised they had bitten off more than they could chew, they'd walk off in a huff with no damage caused to either party.
I wouldn't worry about the owners of the other dogs because it's theirs that are out of control in a public place and so would be them that got into trouble if it came to it.

Our Jess and Mist were both capable of standing their ground and even winning with most other dogs so I didn't need to protect them myself...they tended to get rid of the other dog themselves....lol.
I would never have started shouting at the other dog because that would just rile our Jess and Mist up even more and that was the last thing they needed. I had to remain calm and quiet in these situations so as not to send the wrong message across to them. They were already mistrustful and aggressive with other dogs as it was, especially our Jess. I'd only have to stamp my foot at another dog and she'd go barmy wanting to shred it to bits.

[K9karen]

This thread gave me the willies. Given what happened to me, I haven't walked Logan in ages (although we're fenced, there's nuthin' like a good, long walkie!) I daren't venture out without John. The day I got Logan, I took her for a nice long walk. We encountered a girl with her black lab. After they passed us on the other side of the street, I heard a blood curdling scream. The lab pulled so hard, his leash unhitched. The girl screamed like a lunatic that her dog hates other dogs. (that would have been the old me), I wasn't sure what Logan would do, so I stood still, as did she (yay). As calmly as I could, I told the lab to "SIT" as the owner came racing over in tears. Nothing happened, but I was petrified. I learned my lesson with Cody (1st time owner) and no longer run..like, duh, I can barely walk.

Thanks for the idea of an umbrella! Good idea. I also agree that I would do whatever it takes to defend Logan like I did the puppy.

[cyber-sibes]

I hate when this happens. I try to get between my dogs & the strange dog, & do something menacing - yell, wave arms, stamp foot forward. doesn't always work because Star thinks she should be the one out front protecting us! She did get bit by a loose golden I was trying to fend off. I couldn't believe the owner stood there watching saying how dogs will be dogs. I hope she took it more seriously when the Animal Control officer visited her after I called & he came out. I called them to go check if that dog had a current rabies vaccination, since it bit Star.

[jackie]

That happened to me once, I threw my dogs leashed on the grown and ran at the dog shouting. Probably not the smartest thing to do, but it worked, but the dogs looked at me like I was crazy after that.

[Twisterdog]

I have small dogs. The largest is 30 pounds, and the smallest 8 pounds. They are very friendly dogs. I don't worry about them. I worry about the other dogs. If my dogs are on a leash in a public place, I consider myself and my dogs to have the absolute right-of-way over a loose dog.

I just pick up the little ones. But that doesn't guarantee your dog's safety, or yours, if a large dog wants to get your little dog.

I carry Mace with me. I would not hesitate for one second to Mace an aggressive dog. I've never had to do it, but I would, in a heartbeat.

[lute]

Living in what I think is *the stray dog capitol of the world*.....I see this all the time. As dorky as it is I stand my ground. Hold the dogs behind me, hold my hand out and say "NO!" Stomp my foot at them. Anything to let them know These are MY dogs and I don't want you here! I would never run from a dog. Makes the dog think I fear him and could make him actually attack me. If I do what I normally do it makes the dog think twice.