Vicious dogs

[Pam]

This stirs up some uncomfortable memories. About a year after I was married my parents moved away and took my childhood dog with them (I was going into an apartment and couldn't take him). My dad was out walking him as he did every day. An unleashed (much larger) dog came up to him and attacked him. It was a serious attack and my dad was so shaken up. My mom said he was shaky and pale when he got home. After a vet visit which required stitches and antibiotics my dog was OK. I don't think any dogs should be off leash anywhere. Just my humble opinion.

[Cookiebaker]

Originally posted by Pam
This stirs up some uncomfortable memories. About a year after I was married my parents moved away and took my childhood dog with them (I was going into an apartment and couldn't take him). My dad was out walking him as he did every day. An unleashed (much larger) dog came up to him and attacked him. It was a serious attack and my dad was so shaken up. My mom said he was shaky and pale when he got home. After a vet visit which required stitches and antibiotics my dog was OK. I don't think any dogs should be off leash anywhere. Just my humble opinion.

I agree with you Pam...when Malone was still a baby we were out for a walk, and this huge dog came running up. (I don't know the breed, but he certainly didn't look friendly) He growled at me, and went after Malone. I was *so* scared. I just whisked my baby up, and started praying that he wouldn't attack us or anything. He followed me for probably half a mile, and then turned around. There was no owner in sight or anything, and it was especially scary because we were in the middle of nowhere (no houses).

[COCatMama]

It only took mere seconds for me to understand what a....er nasty person she was. And as I said the dog ACTUALLY bit and attacked another dog about 30 minutes earlier. I am not talking growling etc, I was told an actual bite. What if a small child came up to that dog when the lady wasn't looking? Scary!

[KYS]

I also have a different take on this:

Before I owned AKita's I too, would let my dogs loose,
but they always came back on command.
(I also never let them up to other dogs or people with-out
their permission)

Now I own Akita's.
My dogs are very much loved, basic
obed. trained, and socializd. As part of their socializing I take them to public places almost daily. They both are far from being vicouse. I dread when I am walking ROcky on leash, and I see a loose dog that is not under control.
Rocky has "dog" fear aggression.
(should I keep him locked up in the back yard with-out a life?)
NO! that would take away my freedom, and I keep him
under control with a leash which is the law.
So since my dog is under control that means the loose
dog that runs up to us, is not.
I have nothing against off leash dogs, as long as the owner
has them under control for their safety and others.
Believe me, It's no peice of cake to own a dog that does not
get along with strange dogs. Make it easier for both sides,
keep your dog on a leash or make shure it's under
your control so accidents can't happen and both
owners can enjoy the park.

P.S. Not all dog are dog friendly.
Now if a dog is vicious around humans. That dog should
be leashed and muzzled in public places.
.

[Cheshirekatt]

Originally posted by Lalania
It only took mere seconds for me to understand what a....er nasty person she was. And as I said the dog ACTUALLY bit and attacked another dog about 30 minutes earlier. I am not talking growling etc, I was told an actual bite. What if a small child came up to that dog when the lady wasn't looking? Scary!

Just because a dog isn't dog friendly does not mean it would bite a child. While my dig *may* bite another unleased dog that ran up to us I have absolutely no problem saying that she would *never* bite a person, especially a child.

[boscibo]

Originally posted by Lalania
It only took mere seconds for me to understand what a....er nasty person she was. And as I said the dog ACTUALLY bit and attacked another dog about 30 minutes earlier. I am not talking growling etc, I was told an actual bite. What if a small child came up to that dog when the lady wasn't looking? Scary!

I guess I'm a nasty person too, because I would have the same reaction if someone with an unleashed dog let that dog run up to mine. Not all dogs like other dogs. I think you are being unfair heaping all this blame on this lady when you were the one at fault. She was only looking out for her dog's safety. Was the other dog off-leash too?

[moosmom]

Okay, here's my take on the whole thing. I just hope I don't offend anyone.

I think your dog should've been on a leash. That's why there are leash laws. I dog sat one year for a friend in Vermont. He had a HUUUUUUUUUGE G.S. named "Striker" who was a great dog and very well behaved, except when it came to other dogs. One day I was walking Striker on leash, and another dog came out from his yard and tried to attack Striker. I panicked because I didn't want to get in the middle of it and the owner was nowhere to be found. Fortunately, I was able to get me and Striker away before it got REAL ugly.

So, IMHO, you were wrong to have your dog off leash in a public park while there were other dogs around. *sorry*

[aly]

I agree with boscibo, Amy, Pam, and everyone.

My dogs are wonderfully socialized with other dogs, especially Reece. BUT if a dog was running toward me off-leash and I had a dog aggressive dog at the other end of my leash, I'd start yelling like a crazed maniac!!!! She was concerned about the safety of the other dogs, as well as her own. And in emergency situations, sometimes people are gonna yell. It was you guys, afterall, who were breaking the rules.

And as Chesirekatt said, a dog biting another dog does not mean he will also bite a child at all. I've met so many dog aggressive dogs at work who are complete marshmellows with people and children.

Also some dogs are just plain dog aggressive, no matter how much they are socialized. I have a friend I've been volunteering at shelters with for years. She knows a ton about dog behavior and training and socilization. She has a dog aggressive dog despite her every effort. She loves him very much and he was never abused or in a bad situation.

Oh yeah and even if your dog is voice controlled really well, there's still that chance that the other dog just may be more interesting than your command. So you can't depend on that 100%.

[ramanth]

I was walking Kia around a State Campground when this little Cocker Spanial came flying out from under a nearby trailer barking, growling, and snapping.

If Kia wanted too, she could of grabbed the dog and snapped it's neck, but instead she tucked tail and tried to run. When she got to the end of her leash and realized I couldn't keep up with her, she threw up her hackles and growled at the dog barking it's fool head off at her.

I got very close to kicking the dog to keep it away from Kia. But the dog stopped when it saw me taking a threatening stance and soon the owners were running out after their dog appologizing.

The law in MI is that all dogs need to be leashed in State Parks. No exceptions. I wish I had complained, but I let it go.

I am always wary of dogs that are loose when my dog is on a leash.

Just as I am extra careful with dogs that are on a leash. I realize not every dog is dog friendly.

"Vicious" or not, her dog was on a leash and yours were running loose. Call your dogs to you next time if you don't want them bit or keep them on a leash.

Had the "vicious" dog been running loose and then attacked one of your dogs, it'd be a different story.

[moosmom]

Kimmy,

Amen!!!!

[COCatMama]

In any case, There are literally dozens of dogs ON LEASH in that park on a nice day. That woman was stupid to bring a vicious dog into that public park knowing there is alot of dogs in there. If Juneau was dog aggressive, I would steer the heck clear of that place.

[COCatMama]

As I said, the park is FULL of dogs, most on-leash and the paths are not wide.
It's a by-law, not a law about off leash dogs. Only a fine if the dog narcs catch us.

THE DOG WAS VICIOUS!

[boscibo]

Lailania, how do you figure? I would have the same reaction to an unknown dog running up to me and my dog...my dog is not vicious, he just doesn't like other dogs. You overreacted in this case, and you were at fault. If you don't like this type of situation KEEP YOUR DOG ON LEASH! I and many others here have siad they would react in the same way to this so called "monster".

Way to backpedal and say "maybe" it was an off-leash site; was it or wasn't it? Is it an off leash dog park? If it wasn't, you should have kept your dog on-leash.

I don't place one bit of blame on the "monster" dog owner, she has just as much right as you and your dog to be in the park. Not all dog owners welcome strange dogs in their dog's face - I for one do not. What if it was your dog who got hurt? It would be *your* fault if your dog was off-leash. You should be thanking her for the warning - it could have been your dog injured in an altercation, and it wouldn't be the person who has their dog on-leash's fault.

[Twisterdog]

Yep, I agree with most people on here. Unless it is specifically an off-leash dog park, anyone who has their dog off-leash there is in the wrong. I take my dogs out running in the prairie off-leash all the time ... but I go waaaayyyy out, where there is not another person for miles. I would NEVER let my dog off-leash where he was supposed to be leashed. It is irresponsible, blatant defiance of leash laws that make legislatures pass even stricter leash-laws, and give the anti-dog groups more ammunition. You are hurting ALL dog owners when you defy leash laws.

My dogs are very friendly, but I don't know how they would react if they were on a leash and two off-leash dogs came running up to them. They might take a chunk out of one of them, too, and they would be within their rights to do so, IMO. A dog on a leash is in the vulnerable position, in their eyes, and often view the other dogs as a threat to them and/or their owners.

I HATE it when dogs off-leash come up to my dogs when they are on-leash. I am obeying the law, the other person is breaking it. My dog is in a sit/stay by my side, on a leash, and here comes this out-of-control dog with unknown intentions bounding up full-speed. It's not fair, and it's not right.

[Soledad]

unknown intentions bounding up full-speed

Exactly! There's no way of knowing what's going through an animal's mind as they come toward you and I think it's unfair to expect other people to know that your dog is harmless.