horrible encounter advise

We have just come back from the most horrible walk....
Things have been amazing with Millie since rehoming her. Yep she hasn't got used to our cats but we are working on/living with it. With dogs she's fine if left alone but then saying that sometimes doesn't bat an eyelid at others but we walk on a harness everywhere unless in an empty field when we let her off which she loves. She's great on recall and we are all smitten. However tonight we walked her to the park entrance when a French bulldog on a harness came around the corner with a lady and her son. The frenchie barked like a loon and lunged which made Millie bark back so we pull Millie away and walk the other way. The frenchie slipped its harness and came barking and snapping towards us so Millie spins round.... the frenchie snapped at her so she retaliated at bit and held the scruff at the back of the neck. I felt so awful. My partner had to prize Millie's jaw open to separate but even then the other dog tried to come back and have another go. I asked the lady who was not the owner if it was ok and I looked from a distance but saw no wound. She walked away saying it wasn't her dog and the owners previous dog had been killed by a staff so she felt bad as the harness obviously wasn't on secure enough.
All this said.... walk was royally ruined and we were completely shook up. We continued to walk her a bit but felt so uncomfortable as other dogs and owners were on the park and paranoia set in feeling the "oo its a staff" thing.
Has anyone else encountered even remotely close to this, how have they handled it and do others feel there's judgement because they have a staffie? Last thing we want is to have people think we have a dangerous dog when we know we don't....I wonder had we had a lab or collie would we feel like this.

Ive gone through it over and over since getting home and I know we did all the right things and know the other dog was the initial aggressor.... horrible feeling though.

Poor Millie is sitting here very confused looking now.

My Lexi is lovely with other dogs. I socialised her well from a young age. However, much like us humans- a placid person would probably throw a lunch if they felt they were in real danger and dogs are the same they will protect themselves and their family's. Lexi isn't aggressive at all but I have no doubt in my mind she would go for a dog if it went for her or me. It's nature. Don't worry your self about it. Sod what other small minded people think. If u look at breed of dogs like race people wouldn't (well they would but shouldn't) say it's because they are white, black etc. rang over lol x

Rant*

Yorkshire terrier on and on and on at Rupert two years ago. Attacking him and not leaving it lie. His owner kept telling him not to but he kept going, despite the fact that R was ignoring him. But finally R had had enough and went for him. I through myself at R - must have looked insane - and prize him off the Yorkie: there was a bit of blood but it was mine - thank God. I was devastated and very shaken but the owner has always maintained that it was her Yorkie's fault and we are now very good friends. Yorkie keeps his distance.

My neighbour's labrador goes for any dog that causes any trouble at all. This seems like a one off - do you know what sex the Frenchie was? And whether it was neutered. They can be quite "in your face" as far as other dogs are concerned. I think a lot of dogs would have behaved like yours did - you have to remain confident and calm in the most difficult moment: it is dangerous for any dog to try and attack another dog repeatedly. They are all dogs, in the end, not toys. And they will behave like dogs.

Any dog fight is unsettling so don't be concerned that your not feeling what an awful lot of people have felt, regardless of breed. If it doesn't upset any owner then that owner is very hard hearted.

It wasn't your fault or come to that, Millie's fault, but sometimes these things happen. Thankfully it sounds like no real harm was done.

The above post, especially the last paragraph is so very true in my own experience and there in lies the key, we learn through experience and if you find yourself in a similar situation again I'm sure you will take steps to avoid a repeat.

And no breathe and relax

I don't see why you should feel bad when someone else was the cause of it. As for their last dog being killed by a Staff, well that's only their word for that and even if true if their last dog was brought up by the same idiot as this one no wonder, if it hadn't been a Staffy it would've been something else. You feel bad because that's not what you went out for and didn't deserve that, nobody does. Don't think badly of Millie either, she was defending herself and her family just as any other dog would if they cared. What else could she do, just stand there and be a chew toy? If it wasn't their dog then where was the lazy owner?
Let it fade mate and move on, unfortunately if you let people like that dominate your does and don'ts you'll go nuts, it won't change them and they're not worth your wasted time.

From what you have said I would imagine it wasn't a proper bite that Millie gave it as in teeth sunk in and blood drawn but more a warning to the the other dog to back off and don't mess.

As it is, both came away unhurt which is the main thing and what can look aggressive to us isn't in a dogs world to a point. Best thing to do is remain as calm as possible if it happens again.

Don't worry unduly about what happened, sometimes its part of dog ownership where two dogs are not going to get on with each other.

Thanks very much guys..... its reassuring reading your comments.
We've calmed down a bit now..... she's been out today, calm and relaxed, walking near other dogs without much notice so its been a good day.
We have however, decided to not go to that particular park much anymore. Not because we feel guilty but so many dog owners there don't have control of their dogs and it puts Millie at risk. We want her to enjoy her walks and have fun.... there are plenty of other places we can go and enjoy her

Its sad you have to go to another park your dog was just protecting you. If you come across this same dog id avoid it at the earliest opportunity to avoid any other incidents .

Have to say I think you have made a very wise decision. I do exactly
the same with my boy so that he is never in the position he has to
suffer those sort of incidents.

So glad you feel better about things today

Mia05 wrote:Its sad you have to go to another park your dog was just protecting you. If you come across this same dog id avoid it at the earliest opportunity to avoid any other incidents .

 we'd never seen this dog before either though.... one of those things where he/she was up for agro. We just came together in a fork entrance to the park so we couldn't see who was round the corner. Wont be entering from that part in future..... open spaces at all times. In fact we never normally go that way....I took a wrong turning.

Break it back to basics, your dog was on lead... end of. both my two are on lead for a reason and small fluffies are a chase drive. you are the responcible owner so forget it and move on

Dog scraps are horrible to witness. You were right in what you did...you were the responsible one, your pup was on a lead and under control. Its unfortunate that the other dogs harness hadn't been put on properly. You will probably encounter this again at some point, you just need to make sure you can safely say your dog was under control. You will find a lot of uneducated people will avoid and judge you and your dog purely because they have chosen to listen to the media. You just need to shrug this off and carry on with you walk. A prime example is this morning when I was coming off the beach, I put my boy on the lead as we were approaching the entrance...some guy had a well trained spaniel off the lead and called him away as it came to us and id told him my boy was friendly...he wasn't fussed on the nature of my dog, hes a staffy so it didn't matter. its frustrating but what can you do.

Had that this morning. I said it's ok she is lovely she picked her dog up and said "are u sure"

Your dog was on the lead their dog was not appropriately restrained so not your fault! Just be very aware of other dogs cats etc in your surrounding area! A lovely walk can turn into a nightmare in seconds been there done that! Learn from it but just because your dog is a staffy don't be intimidated that you will be to blame any dog can be aggressive it's usually the owner not the dog that's at fault!

Hi please don't beat yourself up over this, you were in control of your dog, they were not. it's never nice when 2 dogs fight and it shakes you up, believe me iv been there more than once. We take out Gordons favourite treat so when he starts getting agitated when other dogs approach we distract him with the treat until we have passed or iv told the other idiot dog owner to put their dog back on the lead, that may be something you could try