So Bloody Angry!

[3Woofs]

Once again my pup and I have been rushed at by offlead dogs!

I seriously feel like crying. I can't seem to walk my dogs anywhere without being approached my dogs offlead.

This time it was down my street where I was rushed by 5 yes 5 staffords.

They seemed shocked at my screaming at them in a deep voice and stomping up and down which gave the owner's enough time to grab them.

Oh but then "I" get abused for asking for them to have the dogs on lead or locked up when I walk past on the way back.

Apparently their dogs are friendly so it's OK to let them run free posturing and rushing at other dogs!

And I was trying to be nice and say it's not about how friendly their dogs are and then silly me thought one of them said sorry but no it was more abuse being hurled at me.

Then they stayed out the front of their house and I got mimicked and laughed at as I returned home.

I'm fuming right about now and I didn't think to look at what the house number is so will have to wait until the morning to call the ranger.

[persephone]

pics on your phone of dogs on footpath.... house number..and keep calm , so they don't get the idea to be nasty

Best of luck with it - how scary

[3Woofs]

Thanks.... I didn't have my phone with me

Yeah I didn't get smart back because they live too close.... I'm actually wondering if I should report them or not since they know where I live and will know it was me if the ranger turns up.

[superminty]

I feel your pain, although me and my dog were only approached by two dogs, and I know the dogs pretty well (enough to know that they aren't real nasty).

Unfortunately, the owner is a right nut. I too was abused when I asked her to put her dogs on lead and keep them away from mine.

I have reported it to council and will be taking my phone next time to video any further exchanges.

At least you know the house number.

[Staranais]

That sucks. If possible, I'd be driving pup a little way away to a nicer/safer area, then walking her there.

If you're worried about reporting them in case they guess who you are, you could wait a week or two to do it so they forget all about you?

[percyk]

very scary you poor thing

sure can curtail your walks

shame

[3Woofs]

I can't avoid this house because I have to go past it to get out of my street.

I usually drive to the local bike track and walk there, but I've been short of time lately so I thought I'd take each dog for a walk around the block.... looks like I'll be going back to the bike track.

My poor pup hasn't really been for many walks due to an injury that needed time to heal, so it wasn't a pleasant experience for her to be rushed by these dogs.

[Adnil444]

Thanks.... I didn't have my phone with me

Yeah I didn't get smart back because they live too close.... I'm actually wondering if I should report them or not since they know where I live and will know it was me if the ranger turns up.

Really awful for you. I would report this - on the same note, they would also know you would be onto them if anything did happen to you or your dog. You can ask the ranger to advise that the complaint was made without letting on who made it - there must be others that this happens to, it could be any number of people who have made a complaint. Good luck.

[corvus]

I can't seem to walk my dogs anywhere without being approached my dogs offlead.

That's exactly why I socialised the heck out of my boys when they were puppies. They don't care if they get rushed as long as the dogs aren't going to kill them. Takes a lot of the anxiety out of getting them out of the yard.

[supercharged]

I can't seem to walk my dogs anywhere without being approached my dogs offlead.

That's exactly why I socialised the heck out of my boys when they were puppies. They don't care if they get rushed as long as the dogs aren't going to kill them. Takes a lot of the anxiety out of getting them out of the yard.

That is the problem there thought Corvus, you never know when you ARE going to get a dog that DOES want to hurt you or your dog. I too am so sick of being rushed, I have a cattle dog who is friendly enough to tolerate (to an extent) and a PWD who at the moment loves everyone thank doG! But when will the day come that an accident happens and we come across a nasty one - who attacks my loving friendly dog and turns her into a terrified fear biter?? Sorry about the dramatics but do you know where I am coming from? Its not nice to be worrying if today will be that day...... I dunno socialisation will only get us so far then you rely on the dog having positive experiences for the rest of its lift, it sometimes only takes one BAD experience to undo all you have done right....... JMO:) I feel for you 3 woofs, been there, doing that at the moment.....

[dasha]

Just take a nice length of persuader with you........Like a walking stick or sheperds crook thing.

Start using it to protect your pup from other dogs approaching.....You will be surprised how many people will recall their dog if they think it may get a whack out of it.

Obviously use common sense and use it as a blocker not a weapon.

[B-Q]

I always hate this, it hasn't happened with Quinn yet which I am SOO greatful for because she is so shy and I've done so much work trying to get her confidence up with other dogs and when out and about. A dog only has to give her a hard stare from across the road and she's on edge. I don't know if she could come back from being rushed like that.

Buster ont he other hand will fight anything and everything that gets within his striking distance, thats why the "he's friendly" excuse shits me to tears, I don't care if they are friendly, Buster is not ... mainly due to so many "fiendly" OTT dogs rushing him when he was a baby.

[sas]

Contact your Council, you really do have to report it for your safety and for the safety of others, if you're worried about reporting it, just let the Ranger know what time of the day the dogs are usually out and ask them to drive down the street at that time.

If your area isn't suitable for walking your pup, perhaps get in the car and go somewhere better.

Edited December 8, 2010 by sas

[corvus]

Sorry about the dramatics but do you know where I am coming from? Its not nice to be worrying if today will be that day...... I dunno socialisation will only get us so far then you rely on the dog having positive experiences for the rest of its lift, it sometimes only takes one BAD experience to undo all you have done right....... JMO:)

Yeah, I know where you're coming from. My previous dog was attacked several times on our own driveway by the dog next door. It was a battleaxe block. Every time we walked up the driveway we had to go past this dog we knew would try to nail her if he got the chance. Never knew if he would be chained up or if we would have to rely on the owners to stop him. He eventually bit my mother while she was trying to protect my dog and a fence finally went up. That dog was nowhere near as thoroughly and extensively socialised as my current two boys, but it didn't turn her into a fear biter. She was always on the cautious side with big dogs after that, and it took her about a year to start being comfortable around bigger strange dogs again, but she did it, and for the rest of her life behaved quite normally around strange dogs. Cautious, but only a little bit. Very confident and collected. I trusted her 100% to stay out of trouble and she always did me proud.

I know someone whose dog was nearly killed by a much larger dog they met on the footpath. It took them over a year, but eventually that dog was relaxed about strange large breed dogs again. Even after such a traumatic event. If the unthinkable happens, it needn't be the end of everything. A well socialised dog has a lot of buffering. They know not all dogs are dangerous. They don't instantly forget every good experience they have ever had. They can and do recover.

[pipsqueak]

According to the Companion Animal Act, the maximum number of dogs a person can legally walk is FOUR.

[Henrietta]

Contact your Council, you really do have to report it for your safety and for the safety of others, if you're worried about reporting it, just let the Ranger know what time of the day the dogs are usually out and ask them to drive down the street at that time.

If your area isn't suitable for walking your pup, perhaps get in the car and go somewhere better.

I definitely agree here. Yes report to the council. But consider giving your area a miss and scout out some safer areas. I haven't walked around my neighbourhood for years. It's not really fair that you have to do this, but in a fight between fair and my dogs' safety the dogs' safety won.

I actually find it fun to scout out new areas and rediscover areas that we haven't been for a while. But I'm a bit weird.

[3Woofs]

Thanks guys... I noted the house number this morning and will be calling the ranger but will also not be walking around my area in the near future.... I'll stick to the bike track

[megan_]

A well socialised dog has a lot of buffering. They know not all dogs are dangerous. They don't instantly forget every good experience they have ever had. They can and do recover.

Not all well socialised dogs are mentally "hard" and stable. Breeding has a lot to do with it.

I have to drive my girl down my street due to an idiot walking three dogs off leash every night. Sick of it.

[Rebanne]

I can't seem to walk my dogs anywhere without being approached my dogs offlead.

That's exactly why I socialised the heck out of my boys when they were puppies. They don't care if they get rushed as long as the dogs aren't going to kill them. Takes a lot of the anxiety out of getting them out of the yard.

not the point, you should be able to walk your dog along a foot path without being rushed. Mine ar enice socialble dogs as well but being rushed by 5 offlead dogs would intimidate me let alone the dogs. And you have no way of knowing if you or your dogs are about to be bitten.

[mita]

pics on your phone of dogs on footpath.... house number..and keep calm , so they don't get the idea to be nasty

Best of luck with it - how scary

Yes, making it clear you have pics, is a great deterrent to treating such an incident as a joke or an excuse to abuse you.

The right is on your side. You were in a public place, dogs are not allowed to be off-leash in a public place.

There's provision in the newer Qld laws to cover situations where dogs just rush you to cause considerable fear. Not a bad thing.

It must have been terrifying for you....with so many dogs coming at you.

I'd report it. In the circumstances you've described, I'd bet it wouldn't be the first report.