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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 30, 2010 7:02:52 GMT -5
Hey I'm Back. anyway my husband quit smoking YAY! he is now going for eve walks with me as he gained some pounds. He hates taking Rocky with us because Rocky has this new habit of marking.
I had done a good job of stopping that on my walks but for some reason now that my husband walks with me it is like Rocky forgot the rules.BTW I am handler on walks.
Anyway on our last walk right in the middle of town people talking on front porch with door open and out comes a dog. The owner was freaking in a way that I feared what was about to happen. The dog ran up to Rocky and began sniffing. (looked like a fat possible pit/lab mix) guessing a her as the name was HOney. Her hackles were very raised. Rocky did his usual stance and allowed her to sniff. I stopped walking so the people could get their dog. I was afraid she would go in the road. That's when I realized she had no collar. Everything was ok ROcky let her lick his ya know whats. THe owner was trying to grab the collarless dog and asking friend to go get leash. Owner seemed very worried, she grabbed dog under chest and took her away. But before entering house she let her go. Of course she turned around and ran back towards Rocky this time she got close again and Im not sure but think she growled or barked and that was it. Rocky lost all control of himself. Snarking like a mad man. Not like him at all. My dad says its about time he learned to tell someone off. Im sure it is something I did because when I saw her coming I probably pulled him away then when he was growling barking lunging I grabbed him by the collar to keep in order to block them from each other. Of course made him worse. Although he did look to me for help. owners came and got a hold of their dog and I easily got Rocky to walk on while he watched his back I rewarded him for calming down quickly.
Off lead dogs while he is on has been very tough for him as he was once bitten by another dog that approached him sniffing. And one that attempted going in for the neck.
If the other dog is on lead he is never defensive.
So my question is what am I to do if an off lead dog approaches. with or without owner. I tend to tighten his lead out of my own fear which I know is wrong. BTW he was on sensation harness only with collar not attached. My husband said if that dog went at Rocky he would have kicked it. Which I would never do but we have different values. When we walked home I mentioned I wanted to come home and ask the proper way to handle. He told me to cut the crap. Its over and I worry too much. Aint that the truth!
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Post by maryellen on Jul 30, 2010 8:25:28 GMT -5
i bring dog repellent on walks now. if someone is going to be stupid and let their dog offleash they will get blasted with repellent or kicked by me. i dont care how much i love dogs, if your dog comes after mine i will protect my dog from yours.. no matter what the cost.
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Post by sugar on Jul 30, 2010 8:28:49 GMT -5
Hey, as pitbull owners we ALL worry way too much, but if I was in your shoes I would still be terrified and livid all at the same time for days to come. I can't tell you the best course of action, but I can put in my two cents.
In the 6 months I've had Chubs, we have encountered 4 off leash dogs (three little fluffy yappers and one large shepard-y looking one). The Chubs is fairly mellow so with the little ones he just sorta leaned his face away from them and looked at me and I would either step on the leash and call over the stupid owners (if the dogs acted semi-friendly) and two littleyappers were very nasty and tried to bite Chubs in the face so with those I stomped the ground right near them very hard and yelled "Hey! Back Off!" (because sadly we all know if if Chubs wanted to fight back those little dogs wouldn't have a chance and he and I would be in very deep trouble). With the larger dog it was different (same case as you, came flying across the street sans leash OR collar!) and he was taller than Chubs. this dog also run right up to Chubs' face all hackles raised and everytime Chubs tried to step back the dog would invade his space again. I got myself in between the two dogs and kept my hand on Chubby's martingale (I walk him with a Easy Walk Harness but since his tags are on the martingale he never takes it off). i wanted to make sure I had his head under control in case a fight broke out (which I was expecting considering how pushy/demanding this other dog was acting. The owner was running towards me screaming "He's friendly! He's friendly!" (seriously?)
Anyway this dog then rears back with a growl coming up and my reaction (stupid as it may sound) was to throw the full force of my hip into this dog while he was alittle off balance. The dog stumbled back and when the owner saw this she slowed her pace (idiot!) and obviously her dog came at Chubs again (Chubby stayed behind me). I again threw my hip into this dog and knocked him back a little. The owner then scoops up her dog under his armpits (because he had no collar or leash to hold on to) and was like "Oh, I'm sorry, he's actually very nice". I told her her dog tried to attack my dog twice and if I ever saw it off a leash again I was going to call the cops and report an dangerous animal on the loose. She gave me a dirty look and Chubs and I walked home.
The way I feel is that it is my job to protect Chubs and if I have to get phyiscal with another dog to get it to back the hell off I will (again, I doubt my reaction was the wisest but its just how it happened). I know that if Chubs defended himself (no matter how justified it would have been) the fact is pitbulls are always at fault. Always.
I'm sorry it happened to you and poor little Rocky (who by the way was a champ at keeping calm if that darn loose dog hadn't come back for round two). And no offense to your hubby, but I just find that no everyone understand dogs (especially pitbulls) the same way and he probably doesn't fully get all the implications that would have arisen had the situation turns ugly. I doubt I could ever outright kick a dog, but if I see one going after my Chubs you bet your bottom dollar that I will protect my dog how ever I need to.
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Post by sugar on Jul 30, 2010 8:29:09 GMT -5
ME, whats dog repellent?
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Post by RealPitBull on Jul 30, 2010 8:38:13 GMT -5
My thoughts on protecting my dog from other dogs is NO HOLDS BARRED!!! Sorry! I've kicked and swung at loose dogs coming at Luca. I really don't care, and will do whatever it takes.
CA, the tight-leash training along with the emergency u-turn from Click to Calm are two really good behaviors to have down pat for quick exits, and some sort of defense spray as a backup would be my suggestions.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 30, 2010 9:11:50 GMT -5
dog spray repellent you buy at stores, its like mace but for dogs.its supposed to repel a dog that is coming toward you (like pepper spray or citronella spray) so that the dog gets sprayed and runs away. a friend of mine gave me 2 repellents and i now carry one with me . havent used it yet, hope to never do, but at least i feel better if any stray dogs come up to us.
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Post by michele5611 on Jul 30, 2010 9:30:53 GMT -5
I am pretty fortunate that where I live no one walks their dog off leash and fortunately no dog has ever gotten out while I have been walking Harley. We do have the occassional clueless owner who somehow thinks Harlye's hackles raised and her growling seem to be signs that warrant them bringing poopsie over to play with Harley!  |
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Post by sugar on Jul 30, 2010 9:37:51 GMT -5
www.cooldogtoys.com/directstop.phpFound this online, may get one considering how many times Chubs and I encounter off-leash dogs. Michele, I had that problem with my last dog. Chubs is scary-looking but very friendly to people and dogs. My last dog Bunny was very friendly looking (shepard/lab mix) but not good with strangers or other dogs. People tried to come up to us all the time to let their dogs play or try and pet her even though her hackles were raised and she was growling or trying to back away. Hate when people just don't get simple bodt language like that. I used to warn people and sometimes got the "You don't understand, all dogs love me" people.
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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 30, 2010 18:27:51 GMT -5
gave click to calm back to ME maybe she can scan that page for me and email it. (:
Rocky stops dead and puts the breaks on when a dog approaches. He is very cautious. Always has been since the shelter. He did have martingale on and I also kept him away from that dog. He ended up sounding scarier then her. I feel better knowing some of you would kick another dog away. I might have to get this spray repellent stuff.
We are going for a walk now. Hope everything goes ok.
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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 30, 2010 18:29:23 GMT -5
P.S. this is why my dad does not walk his dogs in public. They are always exposed to other dogs at agility and tracking where people supposedly are dog smart. But I enjoy walking through town with Rocky. I wont be terrorized.
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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 30, 2010 20:43:54 GMT -5
Yeah see I do need to not let it go. Glad I cam on here to ask what to do. Happened tonight on our walk. This time a yorkie yipping. went down a street dont usually go down to avoid the other dog from other night. THe yorkie was behind a fence so figured no problem. But when I heard someone yelling I realized this yard was not completely fenced. I think they were visiting. Well yorkie ran across road and I remembered what Mary said. So we did about turn and I pulled rocky in oposite direction. Woman yelled she wont hurt your dog. LOL then owner yelled stay and yorkie almost ran in front of a fed ex truck that just came flying around corner. When I saw the truck I firmly said stay put my hand up. Yorkie waited for truck to pass and ran back to owner. Rocky seemed very proud of himself for being a good boy. Stupid me forgot treats so just gave him lovin and talked to him. Owner yelled sorry.
What the hell is going on around here? I hope some of these people come to my pet care program in the fall. I mean I could be guilty too. Im not saying Rocky would never get out. He has and he could but now I know to tell anyone walking with their dog on lead to turn around opposite way.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 31, 2010 16:34:15 GMT -5
carolann what pages do you want me to copy for you?
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Post by loverocksalot on Aug 1, 2010 6:34:48 GMT -5
I dont know what pages. What Mary referred too was tight leash training and emergency u turn. l But Jesus what is going on around here. Last night I went to talk to my mom at the beach a play was about to start. First thing I noticed a pit bull on lead so had to go say hello. Dogs not allowed but after hours even the Mayor brings their dog so people assume it is ok. I did not bring Rocky and never have. Although I have thought about it but after last night probably wont. There is one couple that always has their off leash slow moving quite sweet little dog. THen another woman showed up with a small dog. And a regular I wont mention lab dog who has a leash on but is often roaming. Well little dog says hello to big dog and owners think so cute. Owner of big dog puts leash down sets up chairs. I am talking w my mom and carefully watching. BIg dog starts getting growley and jumping on the lady handler of small dog. I went and got leash and pulled big guy away. I wanted to go warn owners of pit bull to watch out. But since i found out from them the family adopts rescue pit bulls they seemed to know to watch. I left to go home. I hope everything ended up to be ok.
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Post by maryellen on Aug 1, 2010 7:11:26 GMT -5
ill just give you the book again next time i see you
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I look forward to learning much here