<p>Busdriver How frightening! I’m glad your dog wasn’t badly injured. I would call animal control today and let them have a chat with the dog’s owner. </p>
<p>I walk my mini-goldendoodle several times a day and there’s a rotty on the next block who concerns me. He’s behind an invisible fence and his owners tell me he’s a sweetie, but he barks aggressively when we walk by (and we stick to the other side of the street). I always worry he’ll come flying through the “fence” and I won’t know what to do.</p>
<p>Based on suggestions above, I’m ordering citronella spray today! Thanks!!!</p>
<p>My mother-in-law’s dogs were attacked and killed by two large dogs that were let loose to roam on their own front porch with my mother-in-law fighting for their lives. No one had bothered to report the dogs before. The attacking dogs were then killed so everyone lost. It was so traumatic my mother-in-law moved. </p>
<p>Whatever happened to your dogs, it’s really important to make sure this doesn’t happen to another dog … or to a child. If that dog attacks again, it will be killed. So reporting the attack helps everyone.</p>
<p>I agree with the others in this thread who discussed the probability that it was dominance behavior versus a true intent to attack. That does not make your experience any less traumatic for you or your dog though. </p>
<p>I walk my dog almost every day (by the way, churchmusic mom, I’d love to know how you accomplish the “no pooping” rule, that must be one well disciplined dog! :)). Because of the area I walk we encounter 10-15 dogs each time we go out. Some of them are friendly, and some are canine aggressive. Fortunately most responsible owners know if they need to take a wide berth with their dogs. </p>
<p>However, some do not, and for that reason (and also because there are coyotes in my area) I always carry a mace-like spray called “Muzzle”. It is specifically for dogs and I think it’s a form of pepper spray. (DO NOT buy bear spray, that stuff will knock everything flat withing 30 yards including you and your own dog!). I have never had to use it (knock on wood) but I have it in my pocket and when we are approached by an unfamiliar dog, I have it at the ready. Throwing yourself into a dog fight is not a good idea and even if some of the spray gets on your own dog, you will presumably have had enough effect on the attacking dog that at least the fight is over.</p>
<p>Needless to say it is a LAST RESORT option because more than likely your dog will get some spray, and other people in the area will as well, but in the end if you are preventing the serious injury or death of your dog by an attacking animal it’s worth it.</p>
<p>I will definitely get some spray to carry around! That is a great idea. Yes, I will call animal control today. Honestly, I don’t really have a desire to go confront someone that I don’t know, about how they take care of their dog. I don’t recall ever reporting someone for doing anything in my life, but I guess this is the time to start.</p>
<p>I feel certain that this dog intended to kill mine. I’m not sure what kind of a dog it actually was, now that I think about it. Racing across the street, flipping a dog over and going straight for the throat while it is shrieking can’t possibly be rough play. I think it just couldn’t get a grip because I was kicking it, hard. I am still worried, though she seems fine. I just cleaned up two piles of puke that must have happened last night.</p>
<p>I really appreciate all of your advice and am sad to hear about the stories of dog attacks. Have to go to work now, but I’ll keep reading when I can. Thanks!</p>
<p>I obviously wasn’t there, but I’m quite certain it didn’t. It didn’t lay a tooth on your dog, did it? </p>
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<p>Dominance behavior isn’t “play.” (Although it could indeed be rough play, in another context.) The thing about dominance behavior–in <em>normal</em> dogs–is that it does’t turn into a dog fight if one of them submits. It is when two dominant dogs decide to duke it out that things can rapidly get nasty. I think this is your fear of dogs speaking.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, reporting it to Animal Control is not a bad idea, although given her initial response I think that speaking to her directly would be preferable. Presumable they will speak to the owner, which will motivate her to act on a fence or take other measures. I also think that carrying the spray is a good idea.</p>
<p>I can’t say it didn’t lay a tooth on my dog. It didn’t break the skin. It looked like it was trying awfully hard to do damage, perhaps it didn’t accomplish the mission because my dog was trying very hard to get away, rolling and yelping, while I was kicking. I feel certain that without human intervention, my dog would have been dead. This dog was on a mission. It didn’t even look at my other dog, we weren’t even close to its yard. I’m not really sure what dominance behavior is, why a large dog would attack a harmless dog that wasn’t even near it without warning. I don’t think that is normal in any realm. There is something seriously wrong with that behavior.</p>
<p>I did call animal control, but they didn’t pick up. Maybe later. The problem is, I think that no matter what someone says, they can say all the right words so you don’t report or sue them…and then they will still do whatever they want. I am pretty harmless, but the county sending them a warning or fine is much more effective. Who knows how many complaints they’ve had already? Letting a dog out that you know might attack another dog or human, is one time too many. You can’t ever screw that up.</p>
<p>I am also not at all convinced the dog was trying to kill anyone. I once had a dog for a little while before he went onto his permanent home, a really nice, friendly dog, who never ever harmed anyone and was even bitten by a couple different dogs (one a tiny one) and never retaliated even in those situations. However, he acted really oddly with other dogs. He didn’t grow up with me, so I don’t know where the habit came from. He would just rush to every dog he saw, and nothing else matters. He also tended to mount dogs (yes, he was neutered, but when he was excited he would try to mount). One time, I was walking him in a proper off leash area at something like 4 in the morning. And sure enough, we ran into another dog. He rushed over and tried to mount. Because the owner did not know that, the owner, he was terrified and was rolling around on the ground trying to do something. No one got hurt. My dog was not trying to hurt anyone. I learned a valuable lesson on not walking him off leash even that early in the morning. But there was no violence there - none at all. I would talk to the owner. If the dog were aggressive, it probably would do the damage, either to your dog or the person kicking him. </p>
<p>Also, I am extremely annoyed about the assumption of what the breed is as well as all the dangerous breed posts. What one rottweiler (and you aren’t even sure whay the dog is - that’s how these breed things get out of proportion and every news report about a dog attack turns into a “pit bull” attack when the dog literally has no pit bull/rottweiler, or whatever else in him - and this is not a hypothetical - it happens a lot) or pit bull or German Shepherd does does not define the breed any more than what a black or Asian person does define the race. Breed Specific Legislation is disgusting and wrong.</p>
<p>busdriver11: I can comment on this, because I had a nearly identical experience, also in King Co. outside Seattle. I was walking my German shepherd and my schnauzer on leashes and a pit bull ran out of its yard and attacked us. He had the schnauzer on her back with my shepherd trying to bite the pit bull. It was probably the scariest moment of my life. I was trying to hold on to both leashes, kick at the pit bull, and scream at the owner to get over there, and while I was doing all that, I fell down on the ground! I was sure the pit bull would eat me and the schnauzer. </p>
<p>However, there were no bites, and I’m sure the pit bull could have bit if he wanted to. The teenaged owner of the dog came and got him and said the dog wouldn’t hurt anyone. I called the police and they told me to call King Co. Animal Control. Leave a message if they aren’t there and they will call you back. They sent a uniformed employee to the pit bull’s house and the complaint is then on record. If there are multiple complaints, they will take further action. Let the official employee take care of this; it’s their job. </p>
<p>The episode traumatized me and I no longer walk my dogs without my husband. We live in a different area now, but we have had two dogs rush out of yards at us while walking our dogs on leashes. I only walk my dogs a short way just in front of our own house.</p>
<p>My old chow was attacked by a much MUCH smaller terrier who had run out of a house and across the street in order to do so. He definately drew (minor) blood biting my dog’s rear legs and belly and I was so shaken. I didn’t report it but should have. The teen who was watching him and crying said something to the effect of that was just how he was.</p>
<p>I haven’t read all the comments, but did you take pictures? Were there visible injuries? I would document anything you can even if it doesn’t help you, it might come in handy for anyone else who has issues with this dog.</p>
<p>My BIL found a small dog with tags outside his home recently, so walked it up the street to return it. When he knocked on the front door (no fence around front yard), 2 pitbulls jumped the back fence and attacked him. A neighbor heard the noise and came to help. My BIL had his arm ripped open to the bone as well as a number of smaller bites. The neighbor was bitten severely on the back of the leg. The people at the house were just looking out the window at first and finally came out and pulled off dogs. The police were called, and one of the owners was arrested on an unrelated charge. It turned out that the dogs had attacked a neighborhood dog recently but the owner never filed a report with anyone. In this case, the 2 dogs were eventually put to sleep as they continued to be very aggressive towards animal control. If someone had contacted animal control previously, at least there would have been a record of aggression. What is scary is that they had several little kids living at the house. I just can’t understand why anyone would take that risk!</p>
<p>Busdriver, I am sure that if you hadn’t been kicking the dog, your dog would have been attacked further. My neighbors’ dog had attacked other dogs, including mine, in much the same way as what happened to you. No one reported the other more minor offenses because we all were trying to be nice neighbors and not start trouble. When my dog was attacked more violently, animal control said that if they had been called for the other milder attacks, more steps could be taken against the mean dog. Such a scary situation to be in. I had bad dreams for weeks, I hope you fare better.</p>
<p>I could have written your post except my dog was a cockapoo and was attacked by a Weinmariner. The exact same description of the attack would apply except that my dog required $5000 worth of surgery because the other dog did bite down hard on my dog’s belly. I’m impressed at your efforts to defend your dog - - I think that probably helped prevent the injury. I was petrified and just basically screamed (even though I’m not afraid of dogs normally). The owner was literally paralyzed in fear and shock and also did nothing to stop her dog. The dog just missed the femoral artery - - otherwise my dog would have been dead.</p>
<p>Thank goodness, the owner was responsible and had homeowners insurance.</p>
<p>In Maryland, there is a one bite rule. The dog basically gets one free bite before liability kicks in, but once an owner is aware that their dog bites, then they are on the hook going forward.</p>
<p>Homeowners often covers dogs - - even off of their property - - so if this happens, you want to make sure to get the owner’s information and their homeowners insurance information.</p>
<p>We filed a formal written complaint with animal control as well.</p>
<p>We also insisted on knowing which vet the animal went to and verifying that it was up to date on its vaccines.</p>
<p>This dog had never attacked any dog before, but the owner described her as skittish/fearful.</p>
<p>It was a total nightmare. I’m so glad your dog wasn’t hurt at the end of the day.</p>
<p>I do carry pepper spray now, but not sure if it would be effective. There are these mini stun guns which I think would be much, much better, and I would totally carry - - but they are illegal in MD. However, many states permit them, and I would check it out. They are low powered and look like a tiny taser. I saw them on Amazon for sale, but I’m sure they are available from other retailers as well.</p>
<p>Just an awful experience. So so happy your pup is okay!</p>
<p>acollegestudent: Nice try, associating breed identification with racism. Some breeds ARE inherently different from others. Aggression can be and is bred into some dogs.</p>
<p>The Center for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data and found the following breeds are implicated in a majority of dog-bite fatalities:</p>
<pre><code>Pit bulls
Rottweilers
German shepherds
Huskies
Wolf hybrids
Malamutes
Doberman pinschers
Chow-chows
Saint Bernards
Great Danes
</code></pre>
<p>It’s worth noting that no matter how these data are arranged mixed breeds versus pure breeds, injuries versus fatalities pit bulls consistently rank at the top of the list for attacks, and by a wide margin. (Rottweilers generally rank a distant second.)</p>
<p>My kid has a German shepherd. Kenny is a great dog but she has to watch him around other dogs because he can get snippy. He won’t attack but he is what he is and he doesn’t like being pestered. </p>
<p>My mother-in-law’s dogs were killed by Rottweilers. </p>
<p>I repeat: it’s important to report because the attacking dog’s owner must be made aware that further problems mean the dog dies. Assuming the dog’s owner will do more on his/her own is assuming you are that person, which is dumb. You have no idea if the person will act to protect his/her own animal from being destroyed.</p>
<p>If this is a dog you know and it knows your dogs I would definitely change your walk. If you don’t know the dog and it came out of the blue, definitely call and file a report. We had some strangers that all of a sudden started taking a walk down out lane with a dog. I’m not sure where they came from, but their dog would start our dog growling (inside the house). One night our door went right through the screen door. We flew out the door and whistled the dog back (he came back) and the people were terribly upset and I asked them where they lived and (it was quite a distance away) and I asked them to change up their walk. I told them that our dog had been growling and becoming agitated everytime they walked by which was unusual and unusual enough that we noted the people and their dog. They flat out told me they were going to call the police and I simply said “that’s your right.” The officer stopped later that night and told me they had called and that he had stopped to see them and suggested they change their walk. Interestingly enough he noted that their dog had growled at him and our dog wagged his tail. But I digress, the point is that our dog knew something about that dog and that dog did not “live” in our neighborhood. Now, busdriver, I’m not saying this is what you should do, because it sounds like this dog is in your neighborhood and you aren’t starying into some other dogs turf. I’m only telling this story because sometimes people just think they can walk anywhere anytime and sometimes you need to use common sense. Generally dogs in a neighborhood get to know one another and the individual barks. Strange dogs can rattle up dogs.</p>
<p>My uncle was walking his 2 tiny little dogs on leashes a couple of months ago when a neighbor’s pitbull came after him and the dogs. The pitbull almost tore one of the dogs to pieces, the little dog lost a bunch of teeth and had to get stitched back together big time. Cops showed up, the pitbull was taken to local dog jail by animal control and I think he was put to sleep after a week or two. My aunt and uncle’s dog is still recovering. The owner of the pitbull was a dirt bag, his dog was always running loose, and of course the dog wasn’t vaccinated…the pitbull owner has no money or liability insurance of course too. A neighborhood friend of my uncle got wind of the incident and took it upon himself to go over to the pitbull owner’s house and confront him…told him in a round about way he would make the guy’s life miserable (or worse) if he didn’t move…the guy moved and left town.</p>
<p>Most of the dogs I’ve known who actually bit people or harmed children repeatedly were small or toy. The list above involves fatalities, not biting incidents. Obviously, a large dog that bites can inflict a lot more damage than a Yorkie, although I found this of small comfort when our neighbor’s Yorkie tried to take my face off. (I was bending over pushing a lawnmower under a tree at the time.) Of course, if he had been one of the breeds mentioned above, he would have had less difficulty achieving his goal.</p>
<p>I agree that traits can be bred for. That’s obvious. It is also true that it can be difficult to separate such traits from the tendency of certain types of people to buy certain types of dog and treat them in certain ways. The legions of owners of peaceful pit mixes can attest to that. That said, since I do not want to deal with dog aggression, I would not get a pit or pit mix.</p>
<p>I had a high school acquaintance whose 2 *** ****s killed his girlfriend. Just saying.</p>
<p>There I was a few years ago vacationing on St.John with family, renting a villa in the peaceful verdant hills. Discovered I could not hike the local roads because people let their mean dogs loose in front yards to chase away anyone walking on road. Driving was only safe option.</p>
<p>There I was, a young adult riding my bike home late at night from restaurant job and several times a week engaged in life and death race to outrun black *** mix running at my heels, growling and snapping for over a mile before he gave up and turned back. No alternative route home as fairly out of city and few streets.</p>
<p>momof3boys, as the kids say ‘no disrespect intended’, but are you out of your mind?!?!??! People have a right to walk/bike on public roads with their leashed dogs, babies in strollers, etc. without being harassed by vicious unrestrained dogs. How dare you tell them to take their walks elsewhere? You have an obligation to control your animal, not chase people off the street that your dog doesn’t like the looks of.</p>
<p>That’s how tragedies like Trayvon Martin happen. Because some people don’t understand the concept of ‘public streets.’</p>
<p>I’d say that not all dogs are created equal as far as aggressiveness and whatnot, but I do think it’s a little unfair to assume all pitbulls are vicious and ready to kill…it’s a shame that they have an even worse reputation than they should because of dog fighting.</p>
<p>We own a pitbull, and our neighbors have two dogs, one of which is a small Jack Russell Terrier, who’s VERY yappy and likes to start trouble. On a couple of occasions, the dog has come onto our property and slipped through the rails of our gate to our deck and gotten into spats with our dog. Our put bull is really sweet and mellow in general, not like the general pitbull rep. </p>
<p>Back in June, the Jack Russell Terrier once again came over to our property, slipped through the deck rails, and got onto our deck, where our dog was at. The Jack Russell Terrier then pretty much started a fight with our dog, and was biting and trying to grab onto our dog; it was actually quite comical, considering how little this dog is and how our pit bull is really big. My mom and I tried to break it up (huge mistake) and when I went to grab for my dog’s collar and drag her away, she turned around and bit my arm; 3 little punctures, and I still have small scars. Yeah, it was my dog’s fault, and I was pretty mad, but it wouldn’t have happened if the other dog hadn’t started it.</p>
<p>We called animal control and they said if the dog came onto our property again and if our dog happened to kill it, we wouldn’t be held responsible or anything. Other than that, they couldn’t do anything since it didn’t bite me.</p>
<p>busdriver, sorry that happened, I know what it’s like (literally too ha) and it can be frustrating. Hopefully that dog won’t bother you or your dogs again.</p>