my worst fear just happened - loose dog

First topic message reminder :

Just took Densil for his afternoon walk and a loose wire haired terrier came flying out of nowhere and went straight for Densil. Densil just got him flat on his back and grabbed him by the throat. I tried to get him off and couldn't. Luck'iily a man nearby came to help and we were both trying to get Densil to drop him as we had him up on his hind legs and the other dog was in the air. All of a sudden another wire haired terrier appeared but obviously with the owner who managed to grab his dog - f'ing and blinding saying "get that ....thing off my dog". The man who had helped me more or less told him to keep his dogs under control as my dog was on a lead and also told him to take him to the vets to get checked out. I hurried home with Densil to check him out but he seems ok, we are both a bit shook up though. This is the second time this has happened - about a year ago a jack russell loose in a front garden just jumped the fence and came straight for him. I am so glad that someone was there to help - I don't know what I would have done if I had been on my own, I am always worried in case there is a loose dog running around - they seem to go for dogs on leads. Also I am worried that this will now set Densil back - when we first had him he was always reactive to other dogs on his walks, but he has been a lot better and even ignoring some dogs recently. So annoyed at people who let their dogs on the streets and not on a lead.

OMG cannot belev I found this here, the exact same thing happened to me and Mog Dog the other day, caused me a load of anxiety and a fortune in vet bills. Hold on, this is gonna b a rant...

We were out minding our own business and a loose labrador (no lead no collar nothing) came running over to us from the other side of the park. Mog gets nervous of other dogs cos she was attacked before so I tried to shush it away but it wasnt havent it, so i tried a bit more, flapping the end of the line i used to walk with in its face...errr nothing. Runs straight at her face, she warns it away. It goes backwards and then comes at us again and bang! there we go. It ended up in a full on dog fight that lasted ages, with me and this stupid woman trying to seperate them. The other 'owner' went to pieces and was screaming and crying, then screaming in my dogs face (who had now stopped listening to everything) and I was literally forced to smack my own dog to get her to let go of this stupid labrador. The woman was apologetic but it really peed me off that I had to take control of the situation, checking she was OK and did she know a vet blah blah blah. I had to take Mog to the vet cos she got an infected face from the scabby things mouth, but thats clearing up thank god, still not impressed tho. The woman never asked about me, it took another dog walker to check I was OK. Aaaannnndd I wasnt. I love my dog dearly but I sufffer from anxiety and panic attacks which means sometimes I cant see past whats just happened, and this really frightened me. I was so stressed out that evening I literally cried myself to sleep. I hated myself for hitting my own dog, even tho I know I had no choice in the situation as she just wouldnt let go. I even contemplated having her put down the next day and 'trying again' with a different breed. Anyway, I calmed down, spoke to some sensible people who helped sort my head out. They pointed out it wasnt my fault and the dogs just acting naturally when faced with a threat. OK, so shes not fond of other dogs (at all now, thanks stupid lady) but shes a paragon around people, including children and is otherwise a well trained and loving family member. Shes also chased of a burglar, so she earned her weight in gold there. Now Im walking her in the park on a short lead with a muzzle and Iv started taking a walking pole with me. I figure if you wont control your dog I will, and i must say its been really effective so far. I also get less mouth from ppl when they see me with it which is also helping and I feel like Mogs calmer too (I think shes feeding off me lol). So, all in all I feel better now, it just really annoys me the stupidity of some ppl.

That must have been very frightening for you. It's good that you have some friends who could help you over this.

How old is Mog?

Shes ten now and although I hate admitting it I think this behaviour is really gonna b engrained now, she was first attcked as a puppy by a travellers dog : ( and it took hard work to get her to be more patient with other dogs. Now shes really nervous of them running at her, ut like I said the poles helping and weve been more relaxed. Im determined to not let other ppl stop us from enjoying our walks!

Wow some people just need to be banned from owning dogs, glad you and Mog are okay!

Just one thing though, never hit your dog if it does get into a fight it tends to make them more excited and pumped up. You're meant to grab the back legs and walk backwards but both of you have to do it at the same time. Easier said than done I know but yeah, glad you're okay

Ah thanks, I didnt know that, thats a really good tip!

we are doing a lot better, her bite infection has nearly cleared up and we even stood the other day and had a conversation with a dog grooomer and 2 off lead and UNDER CONTROL dogs and she settled so well with them. I doubt shell ever be 100% but she sat and was chilled out and they were pretty close, I told the lady we needed a bit of space and instead of giving me a load of mouth ( the usual for my area unfortunately) she kept them close to her, turns out her mum has a rescue staff who is very anti-dog and we had a proper 20 minute chat, she even complemented me on my well behaved dog! it did the both of us the world of good cos I learned that not every dog owner round here is out to make my life difficult, and Mog learned not every dog is after running at her face and chewing on it , soooooo much happier!

Ah, so happy to hear that things are going better and that you and Mog are feeling happier. 

This happened to me not long ago. I always keep or put my dog on a lead when I see other dogs (even if they are on a lead, as my dog will run up to them to play). We were in a field of sorts and there were other dgs off their leads but they stayed away when their owners told them to. However, a black poodle came bounding over to my pup and wouldn't go away, with no owner in sight we tried to walk and eventually run away from it but it continued to follow us and by this time my dog, sensing my anxiousness about the other dogs presense became protective of me and tried to go for the poodle. It scares me alot as i have witnessed dog fights and have had to break them up. I am now fearful of other dogs going near my own, even though my dog loves other dogs.

That really is one of my biggest issues. Annoys me to think that it would be the staffy to get looked at in a bad light even though your dog was on its lead. If people have no recall on their dogs they shouldn't be let off lead even in a park. Even though my staffys pretty good with other dogs there's always the odd one she'll react to and it can be scary if the other dogs off lead.

I was the originally poster for this. My dog was on the lead but a smaller terrier type dog just jumped out on us from a garden when we were walking by - all teeth and fur, and in a matter of seconds my dog had it on its back and locked onto its throat and then he froze. There was nothing I could have done to prevent it. The owner admitted his dog had got loose, and as you can see from my original post we had some problems regarding this. the outcome was that the police fined him over our broken window, but he had to have his dog put down. I am not sure why but assume it was some type of internal injuries which could have been caused when they released the dog. the unfortunate thing is that he and his family have lost their pet and also the other dog in their family must be missing his companion. It has taken my dog a few weeks to settle down in his walks again, as it has me, although we are still both a bit jumpy at times. I have never let my dog off the lead and never will do, but now I take pet corrector spray, a whistle and my phone when out on walks and if I see a dog I even think might be lose I just turn around and walk the other way, as this episode has really shaken my confidence. I know that my dog is not dog aggressive as he has met other dogs on and off lead in the past and these dogs have been friendly and he has been fine with them, but I am just not taking any more chances.

This has been traumatic for you and Densil and it's not surprising both of your nerves are shaken. Time and calm walks should help you both improve.

It's a shame that the attacking dog had to be pts but it could just be that it had been an aggressive dog in the past and this was the last straw for the owners. That's the theory that I would comfort myself with anyway.

I admire you for having sympathy for the dog's owners, not everyone in your position would.

Now get on with your lives, and we look forward to hearing about happier times from you and Densil.

My heart goes out to you. My dad also has NHL so I know how stressful it can be.
As for the idiotic dog owner he doesn't deserve them. This is my problem with jess and other dogs - it scares me as she is such a softie. I hope you are both ok and action is taken against the prat. Is there not a charge for him being irresponsible??

Sorry to hear.
This is also my number 1 concern as alot of aggressive breeds I fear may set my pup to be fearful and aggressive towards others.

Gonna have to keep a strong eye out for other dogs.
Hope your dog is all well now.