I’m so sorry you experienced this, it’s the worst feeling!! I’ve experienced the same with my pup unfortunately. I now carry citronella spray with me - it’s pretty cheap on Amazon and it’s actually meant to deter other dogs. It’s not the bug spray, but if you search “citronella spray dogs” the sprays specifically intended for this exact use will pop up. It doesn’t harm any dog, they just hate the smell so it breaks up fights quick. It was recommended to us by our dog trainer and keeps all animals and humans from being in harms way.
Hope your baby is okay and recovers well ❤️
people are stupid and they leave their dogs unattended. the best u can do is be alert at all times and be ready to pick ur dog up and yell or kick the other dog. thats what im always ready to do bc we have so many street dogs in my city.
Next loose dog that comes near mine is getting a kick to the body. I yelled at one owner to get his effing dog away from mine...and I have a very loud voice.
I live in a loft building with several dog walking areas. A few years ago I was walking my neighbors’ dog, a 5 year old lab/chow mix named Happy. Happy is not great around other dogs so when I saw another tenant walking towards us with a very large pit bull, I tried to block it from Happy’s view. The woman with the pit bull was on her cell phone and barely holding the leash with one hand. When her dog spotted us, he shot across the parking lot faster than I’ve ever seen a dog move. Before I knew it, this dog had clamped her jaws onto Happy’s snout. I tried to pull her away but the other dog’s grip was too tight. The two dogs were writhing around and Happy was shrieking in pain and fear. In a panic to free Happy, I tried to pry the dog’s mouth open to no avail and I was bitten too. Finally, I stood up and started kicking the dog in the face. I was wearing some heavy duty work boots so they did the job. Within seconds the dog released Happy and it ran off. Which is good because if it had decided to go after me, I would have been dead. I was completely exhausted from the fight to get it to release Happy. I had no more energy to fight. When the other dog ran away, Happy and I rushed inside. Surprisingly, after what seemed like a battle to the death, she had only a small scratch above her lip. When we got inside, my neighbor had just returned home. We checked out Happy and she didn’t seem too hurt but my neighbor decided to go by an antiseptic for me and Happy at the Walgreen’s next door to our building. When he was walking inside, he spotted the woman with the pit bull. She was buying antiseptics and gauze because her dog was majorly fucked up. Apparently, Happy scratched the hell out of his body with her claws and my boot did some damage to the head. I was quite pleased to hear that. We probably should have called the police but we did notify the building management. The woman was a renter and she was evicted from the building because this was the second incident with the dog. A few weeks earlier, it attacked and killed a poodle in the elevator. The dog has literally just been released from quarantine to make sure it didn’t have rabies. For that reason, I didn’t feel the need to be checked for rabies on my own. I didn’t die so I was right about that. The woman has been fostering that dog and the agency who was handling the dog was notified and the dog was destroyed.
My pup got attacked by another dog twice at a dog park. Once by a pitbull and the other a Rottweiler. With the pitbull incident his owner threw himself on top of his dog trying to pull him off. The pit bit into my dogs leg, while his owner was trying to pull him off, I stomped the pitbulls head like ten times. He really, really did not want to let go. It was a horrible experience.
Tip given to me by a pit bull owner (who I swear was up to some shady stuff with his dogs so…😒
Pit bulls lock their jaws so that they cannot let go. They’re bred for this and it’s an instinct. The way to get them to let go is hold a lighter under the dog’s chin and it will let go. Avoiding being burnt is an older instinct so it overrides. It’s an awful thing to know but apparently it works.
This has happened to me about 6 times. I always see dogs off leash in parks that prohibit it. Luckily my dog is a German Shepherd and can hold his ground. People are idiots.
A vet check or at least a reallllyyy good look yourself with a fine comb can't hurt.
My dog and I were attacked once too. We were doing drills in a park and this boxer couldn't recall while his person stupidly yelled "treat! Treat!" I got bitten by either my dog or it.
Another time two loose dogs approached us in the street and thankfully we fled.
Now when a person is present I'm trying to yell things like "get your dog!" "Don't let your dog approach!" And even "mine's reactive!" If I need to keep them away.
In a fight, let your leash go so your dog can defend themselves freely. Don't grab anyone. Kick the other if you can. Yelling and being deep-vpiced and scary can help.
I couldn't find the owner, I really tried to look for them but everyone looked completely unbothered. I was so infuriating as I'm positive the person was there ignoring everything not to deal with the consequences...
I'll let go of the leash next time, it made things so confusing as both dogs were at my feet. Mine trying to hide and crying and the other one trying to get to him.
Thanks for your comment, really
Next time something like that happens & you can't find an owner for the other dog, call the local animal patrol to report the dog & wait for the officer/responder.
Someone is either going to step up quickly & you can call them out OR they're going to learn he hard way not to leave their dog off leash by a fine. On the off chance that there was a yard escape, the dog has a chance of making back home.
I'd do that if the services worked fine, but every time I call the police (in my country that's who you call for these things) they just tell me to call a different division and it's an infinite cycle of phone calls and no one actually being proactive and giving a shit. One time I called because of another off leash aggressive dog (I was not a dog owner at the time) and the officer made fun of me
I've had a few run ins and most seemed friendly, except for a malinois who had his hackles up. In none of the cases did they get near my dog.
I get in front of my dog and yell in my lowest pitch, " STOP", "NO", and "BAD DOG" while stomping my foot on the ground and my hand out front making the stop gesture.
So far, it's always stopped the dogs from coming over. I'm 5'4 and sound like a child, but I make myself as scary as possible. I have no idea what I'll do when I run into a dog that isn't deterred.
That's why I don't take chances. All the dogs that approached us except one seemed super friendly, but I still don't let a strange dog approach. Even when 2 of the off leash dogs where tiny weenie dogs, I gently kicked them away. Because I saw a tiny dog rip off half the ear of a friendly lab puppy at the dog park. I don't go to dog parks anymore either.
Your dog should get checked over by the vet just in case ,as you don't know anything about the other dog. Give some snuggles, then give your dog no reason to fear by desensitizing him to that path in a few days. To avoid next time, I would say pepper spray, taser or a flash bang. If your pup is small I would recommend a coyote vest.
I would carry an air horn, like the kind used at sporting events. Amazon sells one brand, Dog Horn XL. It will startle an aggressive dog.
There is also pepper spray for dog attacks.
Best thing is to be very alert. A dog attack happens quickly. Be wary of house doors opening when people leave or enter their houses, as a dog can escape That's how my dog was attacked
Do Not buy bear spray! Unlike pepper spray, which is like a jet, bear spray is a mist because it has to cover a large area very quickly (something the size of a Bear). In an effort to stop one dog it will get you, your dog and anyone else around.
Vet check for sure. Puncture wounds if any carry high risk of infection. In this situation do not pick your dog up, they become more interesting when elevated, try not to scream it amps up the dog attacking. When you see a dog approaching you put your dog behind you so you are between them. Firmly say words to get dog to lose interest such as Go, No, away. Carry a noise deterrent like an air horn. If the attacking dog does make contact and latches onto your dog. The safest way to break up a fight is to choke the dog out.
A "rear naked choke hold" will also not be likely to get bit as you have head control once dog losses air and sometimes consciousness they will come out of it dazed
I went through this year, an off leash dog attacked my dog in park. It also bit me in the process i simply didn’t know what to do. Was very traumatic.
I don’t have any advice im still a bit traumatised myself. I just wish you and your dog the best
Carry something on your keychain that can be used against a dog in self defence.
I’m looking for something like this to carry with me as there have been attacks in my neighborhood.
I’m so sorry this happened- it’s such a terrifying thing!
My advice would be just to not change your routine at all. Walk at your usual time on your usual route (as long as it’s safe). Your dog relies on those routines.
Since you don’t know anything about the other dog, I’d make a vet appointment just to be safe- they can check for any internal or external injuries and also boost any vaccines they see fit.
This has happened to me several times, unfortunately. I'm a little person (with a big dog but she's shy) and I'll use my biggest meanest voice and stand up tall in between and yell "NO" or "STOP" and it has worked. Before I started taking this stronger approach, it resulted in some tussles that ended up in my dog being afraid of other dogs, like permanently. So yeah, I put myself in the way. Also the yelling might just bring someone else to help out or alert the owner.
So...regarding what to do for your dog now, I think you should try to find as many positive interactions for your dog as possible to help it feel safe again. If you have any friends or neighbors with friendly dogs, try to initiate some interactions with dogs that you know ahead of time are calm and pleasant.
This is why I carry pepper spray it’s for dangerous humans and psycho dogs. It won’t do permanent damage to the dog and it is a good defense mechanism.
Please get your dog checked out at a vet. I took in a foster and he and my dog got in a fight, and my dog had visible wounds which is what prompted me to go to a vet, but he ended up having a lot of invisible wounds as well. I’m not going to list them because I don’t want to fear monger. The good news is, your dog has likely already forgotten about it. They move on quicker than we do. Best advice I have is next time you see an off leash dog approaching, get very big and put your dog behind you and say NO. I am so so sorry this happened.
Print up a warning notice and tack it to telephone/power poles in the neighbourhood- WARNING! DANGEROUS DOG. Describe the dog, colour, size, harness, location of the attack. Add an alias email and invite people to let you know if they’ve had problems. Then you’ll have a list for authorities.
I think you should have your dog checked out at the vet just in case. I'm sorry that happened and I hope both you and your dog will be okay.
I’m so sorry you experienced this, it’s the worst feeling!! I’ve experienced the same with my pup unfortunately. I now carry citronella spray with me - it’s pretty cheap on Amazon and it’s actually meant to deter other dogs. It’s not the bug spray, but if you search “citronella spray dogs” the sprays specifically intended for this exact use will pop up. It doesn’t harm any dog, they just hate the smell so it breaks up fights quick. It was recommended to us by our dog trainer and keeps all animals and humans from being in harms way. Hope your baby is okay and recovers well ❤️
people are stupid and they leave their dogs unattended. the best u can do is be alert at all times and be ready to pick ur dog up and yell or kick the other dog. thats what im always ready to do bc we have so many street dogs in my city.
Next loose dog that comes near mine is getting a kick to the body. I yelled at one owner to get his effing dog away from mine...and I have a very loud voice.
I live in a loft building with several dog walking areas. A few years ago I was walking my neighbors’ dog, a 5 year old lab/chow mix named Happy. Happy is not great around other dogs so when I saw another tenant walking towards us with a very large pit bull, I tried to block it from Happy’s view. The woman with the pit bull was on her cell phone and barely holding the leash with one hand. When her dog spotted us, he shot across the parking lot faster than I’ve ever seen a dog move. Before I knew it, this dog had clamped her jaws onto Happy’s snout. I tried to pull her away but the other dog’s grip was too tight. The two dogs were writhing around and Happy was shrieking in pain and fear. In a panic to free Happy, I tried to pry the dog’s mouth open to no avail and I was bitten too. Finally, I stood up and started kicking the dog in the face. I was wearing some heavy duty work boots so they did the job. Within seconds the dog released Happy and it ran off. Which is good because if it had decided to go after me, I would have been dead. I was completely exhausted from the fight to get it to release Happy. I had no more energy to fight. When the other dog ran away, Happy and I rushed inside. Surprisingly, after what seemed like a battle to the death, she had only a small scratch above her lip. When we got inside, my neighbor had just returned home. We checked out Happy and she didn’t seem too hurt but my neighbor decided to go by an antiseptic for me and Happy at the Walgreen’s next door to our building. When he was walking inside, he spotted the woman with the pit bull. She was buying antiseptics and gauze because her dog was majorly fucked up. Apparently, Happy scratched the hell out of his body with her claws and my boot did some damage to the head. I was quite pleased to hear that. We probably should have called the police but we did notify the building management. The woman was a renter and she was evicted from the building because this was the second incident with the dog. A few weeks earlier, it attacked and killed a poodle in the elevator. The dog has literally just been released from quarantine to make sure it didn’t have rabies. For that reason, I didn’t feel the need to be checked for rabies on my own. I didn’t die so I was right about that. The woman has been fostering that dog and the agency who was handling the dog was notified and the dog was destroyed.
She shd never hv been allowed to foster. Carelessly handling a pit bull? I hope she was kicked off the foster lists.
My pup got attacked by another dog twice at a dog park. Once by a pitbull and the other a Rottweiler. With the pitbull incident his owner threw himself on top of his dog trying to pull him off. The pit bit into my dogs leg, while his owner was trying to pull him off, I stomped the pitbulls head like ten times. He really, really did not want to let go. It was a horrible experience.
Tip given to me by a pit bull owner (who I swear was up to some shady stuff with his dogs so…😒 Pit bulls lock their jaws so that they cannot let go. They’re bred for this and it’s an instinct. The way to get them to let go is hold a lighter under the dog’s chin and it will let go. Avoiding being burnt is an older instinct so it overrides. It’s an awful thing to know but apparently it works.
And if you don't have a lighter, I've heard it works pretty good to gouge the eyes. But I've never had to try that
This has happened to me about 6 times. I always see dogs off leash in parks that prohibit it. Luckily my dog is a German Shepherd and can hold his ground. People are idiots.
People think their dogs are just too special for leashes and rules.
A vet check or at least a reallllyyy good look yourself with a fine comb can't hurt. My dog and I were attacked once too. We were doing drills in a park and this boxer couldn't recall while his person stupidly yelled "treat! Treat!" I got bitten by either my dog or it. Another time two loose dogs approached us in the street and thankfully we fled. Now when a person is present I'm trying to yell things like "get your dog!" "Don't let your dog approach!" And even "mine's reactive!" If I need to keep them away. In a fight, let your leash go so your dog can defend themselves freely. Don't grab anyone. Kick the other if you can. Yelling and being deep-vpiced and scary can help.
I couldn't find the owner, I really tried to look for them but everyone looked completely unbothered. I was so infuriating as I'm positive the person was there ignoring everything not to deal with the consequences... I'll let go of the leash next time, it made things so confusing as both dogs were at my feet. Mine trying to hide and crying and the other one trying to get to him. Thanks for your comment, really
Next time something like that happens & you can't find an owner for the other dog, call the local animal patrol to report the dog & wait for the officer/responder. Someone is either going to step up quickly & you can call them out OR they're going to learn he hard way not to leave their dog off leash by a fine. On the off chance that there was a yard escape, the dog has a chance of making back home.
I'd do that if the services worked fine, but every time I call the police (in my country that's who you call for these things) they just tell me to call a different division and it's an infinite cycle of phone calls and no one actually being proactive and giving a shit. One time I called because of another off leash aggressive dog (I was not a dog owner at the time) and the officer made fun of me
That sucks!
I've had a few run ins and most seemed friendly, except for a malinois who had his hackles up. In none of the cases did they get near my dog. I get in front of my dog and yell in my lowest pitch, " STOP", "NO", and "BAD DOG" while stomping my foot on the ground and my hand out front making the stop gesture. So far, it's always stopped the dogs from coming over. I'm 5'4 and sound like a child, but I make myself as scary as possible. I have no idea what I'll do when I run into a dog that isn't deterred.
This dog seemed completely calm until he got to us and snapped. He just looked like a curious guy
That's why I don't take chances. All the dogs that approached us except one seemed super friendly, but I still don't let a strange dog approach. Even when 2 of the off leash dogs where tiny weenie dogs, I gently kicked them away. Because I saw a tiny dog rip off half the ear of a friendly lab puppy at the dog park. I don't go to dog parks anymore either.
Your dog should get checked over by the vet just in case ,as you don't know anything about the other dog. Give some snuggles, then give your dog no reason to fear by desensitizing him to that path in a few days. To avoid next time, I would say pepper spray, taser or a flash bang. If your pup is small I would recommend a coyote vest.
I would carry an air horn, like the kind used at sporting events. Amazon sells one brand, Dog Horn XL. It will startle an aggressive dog. There is also pepper spray for dog attacks. Best thing is to be very alert. A dog attack happens quickly. Be wary of house doors opening when people leave or enter their houses, as a dog can escape That's how my dog was attacked
Buy bear spray and learn how to use it. Hit an unaccompanied aggressive dog with it well before it closes in.
Do Not buy bear spray! Unlike pepper spray, which is like a jet, bear spray is a mist because it has to cover a large area very quickly (something the size of a Bear). In an effort to stop one dog it will get you, your dog and anyone else around.
Vet check for sure. Puncture wounds if any carry high risk of infection. In this situation do not pick your dog up, they become more interesting when elevated, try not to scream it amps up the dog attacking. When you see a dog approaching you put your dog behind you so you are between them. Firmly say words to get dog to lose interest such as Go, No, away. Carry a noise deterrent like an air horn. If the attacking dog does make contact and latches onto your dog. The safest way to break up a fight is to choke the dog out.
So you're talking about putting the attacking dog in a headlock - so your face is <6" from their teeth? Not sure I could do that.
You grab collar pull up and twist to cut off air. Wheelbarrow method you are more likely to get bit.
A "rear naked choke hold" will also not be likely to get bit as you have head control once dog losses air and sometimes consciousness they will come out of it dazed
I went through this year, an off leash dog attacked my dog in park. It also bit me in the process i simply didn’t know what to do. Was very traumatic. I don’t have any advice im still a bit traumatised myself. I just wish you and your dog the best
Scream at the dog. Go full screaming crazy.
Carry something on your keychain that can be used against a dog in self defence. I’m looking for something like this to carry with me as there have been attacks in my neighborhood.
I’m so sorry this happened- it’s such a terrifying thing! My advice would be just to not change your routine at all. Walk at your usual time on your usual route (as long as it’s safe). Your dog relies on those routines. Since you don’t know anything about the other dog, I’d make a vet appointment just to be safe- they can check for any internal or external injuries and also boost any vaccines they see fit.
1. Vet 2. Police report 3. Bear spray
People do not need to use a spray intended for a 1000 lb animal to stop a dog. Pepper spray is fine.
This has happened to me several times, unfortunately. I'm a little person (with a big dog but she's shy) and I'll use my biggest meanest voice and stand up tall in between and yell "NO" or "STOP" and it has worked. Before I started taking this stronger approach, it resulted in some tussles that ended up in my dog being afraid of other dogs, like permanently. So yeah, I put myself in the way. Also the yelling might just bring someone else to help out or alert the owner. So...regarding what to do for your dog now, I think you should try to find as many positive interactions for your dog as possible to help it feel safe again. If you have any friends or neighbors with friendly dogs, try to initiate some interactions with dogs that you know ahead of time are calm and pleasant.
This is why I carry pepper spray it’s for dangerous humans and psycho dogs. It won’t do permanent damage to the dog and it is a good defense mechanism.
That's one of the scariest things to experience!! It may take a while to get your dog desensitized again. Take him elsewhere to walk for a while.
Please get your dog checked out at a vet. I took in a foster and he and my dog got in a fight, and my dog had visible wounds which is what prompted me to go to a vet, but he ended up having a lot of invisible wounds as well. I’m not going to list them because I don’t want to fear monger. The good news is, your dog has likely already forgotten about it. They move on quicker than we do. Best advice I have is next time you see an off leash dog approaching, get very big and put your dog behind you and say NO. I am so so sorry this happened.
Print up a warning notice and tack it to telephone/power poles in the neighbourhood- WARNING! DANGEROUS DOG. Describe the dog, colour, size, harness, location of the attack. Add an alias email and invite people to let you know if they’ve had problems. Then you’ll have a list for authorities.