Yet another dog attack

[BarbedWire]

I know this has been done many times before and sorry to bore you but I need to vent and I need to understand why I feel as I do and what I should be doing about it.

 

This morning I took my two smaller dogs for a walk along one of their usual routes when I saw an offlead dog ahead on the path. It was a yellow dog, the size of a shepherd. Normally I would assess its body language and harm potential and make a decision about continuing or a detour. I had also noticed a man shovelling wood chips into a barrow and I thought the dog might be his so I decided to continue expecting him to call his dog if there was a problem. Then the dog noticed us and immediately sprinted towards us. Both my dogs were on lead and I waved my arms yelling at it to go away. It paused for a moment and I picked up my smaller dog so that she at least would be safe. Then it lunged at my old dog and I started yelling and pulled her away calling out to the man asking if it was his dog and could he please come and get it. The man then came over and said he only wants to play and obviously I didn't know the first thing about dogs. If he had wanted to hurt my dog he would have ripped her to pieces.  I was now extremely agitated and I asked him to control his dog deciding that I wanted to escape asap. The dog then bared his teeth and lunged at my old girl again and she yelped. It was all so quick. I am not sure what happened next but I said to the man that wasn't his dog wanting to play and he said that his dog didn't like my cranky voice and a few other choice things which I have forgotten. I then took off expecting him to restrain his dog but it kept following me until it finally went off into someone's front garden and I turned a corner hoping it wouldn't know where I had gone and we got home safely. My dog is not hurt physically but I guess her anxiety about other dogs has just been reinforced yet again. I am okay but that's just one more area I now have to avoid and I have just eaten a packet of biscuits.

 

My thoughts about all this: What should I have done? I know I got upset which I shouldn't do but my old girl has been attacked before and I was very afraid. I am also very fearful because I am elderly and unsteady on my pins and because I know that if I had tried to intervene I would probably have fallen over. I am also feeling so guilty that I let my old girl take the brunt of the attack while my smaller younger dog was safe in my arms, but I can't hold them both at once. I am also angry that a lot of what was said to me was a male bullying a female and I am so over all of that. When I got home I thought about reporting him to the ranger but the area is actually an offlead area and also it wouldn't be hard for him to find out where I live and there could be repercussions.

 

Thoughts welcome.

[Rozzie]

Report to council. You know where he lives. Tell them exactly what happened. 

[CHA]

I cry for you and your puppers, it is so unfair to be worried about where we walk them. Don't blame yourself, you did what you could. I'd be reporting him if you could...

[twodoggies2001]

There are so many irresponsible a holes around and I just don't get it that they think all is OK.

The day Jasper was put down, hubby, me and our remaining mini schnauzer drove past our local park and decided to take Elliot for a short run after saying goodbye to our beloved Jasper.  

There was a young fellow with a staffy a fair distance from us but I had a bad feeling about this dog.  He bolted over to Elliot who growled and showed his disapproval.  The owner of the staffy came over and yelled at us that our dog was very aggressive and should be on a lead.  Mind you his dog wasn't wearing a collar!!!!   I told him that my boy didn't like his dog and the way he approached.  I was told that he didn't like me, the owner, not the dog. He also commented that if my dog made another sound, he would crack his neck.  That's when i replied that's the reason I didn't like him.  No wonder his dog was aggressive.  Like father, like son. 

You have to wonder why some breeds get a bad reputation.  I must add that my mini schnauzer often plays with staffys at the park with no problems whatsoever and is a very sociable and gregarious boy.  He just didn't like that particular one.

[Loving my Oldies]

Yes, report.  

 

As to your comment about a man bullying an elderly woman:  this is so true and I too am so sick and tired of it.  I have been bullied by men as I walk my dogs and also by tradesmen who come to my house.  I know that they would NEVER speak to me the way they do if I were a couple or another man.  On the other hand, I meet plenty of men and women who are decent and caring, but sadly the ugliness of bullying is something that leaves one so shaken and horrified at the nastiness and aggression of some people that it is hard for it not to take the upper position in one’s heart and soul.  

 

 

[Loving my Oldies]

8 minutes ago, twodoggies2001 said:

That's when i replied that's the reason I didn't like him.  No wonder his dog was aggressive.  Like father, like son. 

Never a truer word.   So damned sad.  

[Little Gifts]

Oh this makes me angry! Your dogs were totally under your control! The loose dog bought the fight to them! We should be safe to walk down our streets. What if it was children fearful of dogs? Would he also tell the children it was their fault.

 

Yep total arsehole who tried to turn it back around on you. You sensed concern and your gut was right. Report his useless arse.

[Loving my Oldies]

Just now, Little Gifts said:

Would he also tell the children it was their fault.

 

I would imagine the answer to that is, “Yes.”  That sort of a/hole always would blame others and aggressively as well.  

[Lhok]

Report it. Most off lead areas still require the owner to have effective control over their dog and it sounds like the guy didn't.

--Lhok

[BarbedWire]

Thank you so much for the supportive comments. I have just been for my regular blood test and I told the nurse about it and he said that the other guy was being aggressive and being a bully probably because he knew he was in the wrong. What you say and what he said is so true. Unfortunately for me I always feel guilty. That's just who I am. I need to change me and stop eating so many biscuits. Thanks again. I did so hate hearing my old girl yelp and I couldn't help her. 

[karen15]

Call council and report it. My staffy was attacked on a walk. On lead, unprovoked and I had to haul the dog off him. Luckily someone saw it happen. Brisbane council were excellent. I called them around 6.30 am. A ranger was at my place bt 8.30, but we were at the vet. He went and saw the dog and witness and returned around 12. Dog was declared dangerous in under two days.

 

not long after another dog raced out of its yard at him. I stopped that by stepping in front of him, between the dogs. If a dog bites a person consequences are way worse.....

 

recently outside of puppy park, off leash dog rushed my two. I went off like a fire cracker at the owner. Told her if she wanted her mongrel off lead then put it in the bloody park RIGHT THERE!!!!!! Otherwise she's breaking the law. She said dog wasn't doing any harm I yelled yes it bloody well was, jumping all over my leashed dogs. Called council, reported and requested ranger to patrol at peak times.

 

any off lead dog that approaches me is met with hostility and advice to owner that if it gets close enough I'll use it as a football.

[Pjrt]

I recently has a similar experience on the reserve across the road. It is an offlead area but the laws of effective control still dictate. 

I wrote an email to the council. I’ve been told this is the best way to make things formal and for records and follow up. 

Thought I’d share as an example. I tried to explain things in the order they happened and in a factual manner without too much emotional embellishment. 

 

On the afternoon of Wednesday November 22nd at approx 5.15pm I was walking my small dog on the riverbank bird reserve on Purnong Rd, just adjacent to the end of the caravan park. 
I walked first in the direction of the jetty and passed a couple eating takeaway on the grass. I kept my dog under effective control at a respectable distance. I then passed a group of 4 Black and Tan kelpie type dogs swimming it the river, accompanied by a man and woman on the bank. As we passed 2 of the dogs rushed over to us. They bounced around and got us wet and frightened my small dog a little with minor chasing etc. I kept my dog at my side under effective control and moved on. The 2 kelpie dogs returned to the man and woman and jumped back in the river. I continued on up to the jetty before turning around to head home. As we approached the area where the 4 dogs were swimming, the man had pulled his Ute up on the roadway next to the reserve and was attempting to get all 4 dogs to recall from the river where the dogs were, still with the lady. We held back around 50 metres to wait until the 4 dogs were clear of the park. 2 of the dogs went directly to the Ute and jumped on the back. 2 failed to recall. One raced about 50 metres in the opposite direction to where the couple was still sitting on the grass eating take away food. The dog failed to recall to the woman and the couple were forced to stand up with their food while the dog bounced around and shook water all over them. While this was happening the other dog still on the reserve spotted me and my dog and made a beeline for us. In an attempt to protect my dog I got down on my knees to protect him and yelled loudly “No” and “stop” at the dog coming towards us. It failed to recall and started menacing my dog, by which time it was joined by the dog who had been harassing the couple with the food. I also yelled at the second dog as it sped towards us. I was fairly confident the dogs were not actually savage, but my dog was not to know that as 2 dogs 8 times his size bounced around and menaced him. The man at the Ute with their other 2 dogs made it quite clear what he thought of me yelling at his loose out of control dogs and kept yelling at me that they were friendly, I tried to make it clear to him that this was not the point and that his 2 out of control dogs had managed to upset 3 other park users and my small dog, who remained by my side under control at all times. At no time did I strike out or attempt to strike away these dogs. I yelled at them and I yelled at their owners. At no time did they produce anything that looked like a lead, and lost control of 2 of the dogs on 2 occasions. Once the dogs finally recalled to the Ute parked on the roadway, the man once again yelled at me for yelling at his unleashed uncontrolled dogs. At this point I yelled back at him that it’s not good enough to stand 50 metres away and yell at people that your dogs are friendly, as they bounce around and menace people and other dogs. At which point they drove off with all 4 dogs unrestrained on the back of the Ute. As he drove off one was actually standing on the top of a silver toolbox on the side of the tray of the Ute well above the roof level! 
These 4 dogs all reside at 00 xyz Rd. I’m not exactly sure how they are allowed to have 4 of them in a residential yard. 

I’m not sure if or what can be done about this. As you can see, we all live fairly close to each other. This is not the first time I’ve seen them out and about not under particularly effective control. 
If my dog had of taken fright at these dogs rushing towards us on the park  and lost his nerve and bolted, the result may not have been as good. And who could have blamed him. He doesn’t know if these dogs are friendly, despite their owners yelling it repeatedly across the park! 
I probably would not have taken the time to submit this complaint if it hadn’t been for the attitude of the owner, chastising me, for attempting to ward of his dog by yelling loudly at them! 
And for the possibility of running into them again. I should not have to change where I walk my dog, which is directly across the road from where we live. 

Regards 
*insert name
Address 

contact details

[Dogsfevr]

So what was he doing in an offleash dog area with a wheelbarrow & woodchips?

[BarbedWire]

46 minutes ago, Dogsfevr said:

So what was he doing in an offleash dog area with a wheelbarrow & woodchips?

The council had cut something (a tree?0 down and left the chips for the locals. It is often done here.

[BarbedWire]

59 minutes ago, mingaling said:

I recently has a similar experience on the reserve across the road. It is an offlead area but the laws of effective control still dictate. 

I wrote an email to the council. I’ve been told this is the best way to make things formal and for records and follow up. 

Thought I’d share as an example. I tried to explain things in the order they happened and in a factual manner without too much emotional embellishment. 

 

On the afternoon of Wednesday November 22nd at approx 5.15pm I was walking my small dog on the riverbank bird reserve on Purnong Rd, just adjacent to the end of the caravan park. 
I walked first in the direction of the jetty and passed a couple eating takeaway on the grass. I kept my dog under effective control at a respectable distance. I then passed a group of 4 Black and Tan kelpie type dogs swimming it the river, accompanied by a man and woman on the bank. As we passed 2 of the dogs rushed over to us. They bounced around and got us wet and frightened my small dog a little with minor chasing etc. I kept my dog at my side under effective control and moved on. The 2 kelpie dogs returned to the man and woman and jumped back in the river. I continued on up to the jetty before turning around to head home. As we approached the area where the 4 dogs were swimming, the man had pulled his Ute up on the roadway next to the reserve and was attempting to get all 4 dogs to recall from the river where the dogs were, still with the lady. We held back around 50 metres to wait until the 4 dogs were clear of the park. 2 of the dogs went directly to the Ute and jumped on the back. 2 failed to recall. One raced about 50 metres in the opposite direction to where the couple was still sitting on the grass eating take away food. The dog failed to recall to the woman and the couple were forced to stand up with their food while the dog bounced around and shook water all over them. While this was happening the other dog still on the reserve spotted me and my dog and made a beeline for us. In an attempt to protect my dog I got down on my knees to protect him and yelled loudly “No” and “stop” at the dog coming towards us. It failed to recall and started menacing my dog, by which time it was joined by the dog who had been harassing the couple with the food. I also yelled at the second dog as it sped towards us. I was fairly confident the dogs were not actually savage, but my dog was not to know that as 2 dogs 8 times his size bounced around and menaced him. The man at the Ute with their other 2 dogs made it quite clear what he thought of me yelling at his loose out of control dogs and kept yelling at me that they were friendly, I tried to make it clear to him that this was not the point and that his 2 out of control dogs had managed to upset 3 other park users and my small dog, who remained by my side under control at all times. At no time did I strike out or attempt to strike away these dogs. I yelled at them and I yelled at their owners. At no time did they produce anything that looked like a lead, and lost control of 2 of the dogs on 2 occasions. Once the dogs finally recalled to the Ute parked on the roadway, the man once again yelled at me for yelling at his unleashed uncontrolled dogs. At this point I yelled back at him that it’s not good enough to stand 50 metres away and yell at people that your dogs are friendly, as they bounce around and menace people and other dogs. At which point they drove off with all 4 dogs unrestrained on the back of the Ute. As he drove off one was actually standing on the top of a silver toolbox on the side of the tray of the Ute well above the roof level! 
These 4 dogs all reside at 00 xyz Rd. I’m not exactly sure how they are allowed to have 4 of them in a residential yard. 

I’m not sure if or what can be done about this. As you can see, we all live fairly close to each other. This is not the first time I’ve seen them out and about not under particularly effective control. 
If my dog had of taken fright at these dogs rushing towards us on the park  and lost his nerve and bolted, the result may not have been as good. And who could have blamed him. He doesn’t know if these dogs are friendly, despite their owners yelling it repeatedly across the park! 
I probably would not have taken the time to submit this complaint if it hadn’t been for the attitude of the owner, chastising me, for attempting to ward of his dog by yelling loudly at them! 
And for the possibility of running into them again. I should not have to change where I walk my dog, which is directly across the road from where we live. 

Regards 
*insert name
Address 

contact details

Thanks Mingaling, I really don't want to report him because I think he lives in the house that every year around Australia Day has a lamb or sheep in the backyard which I assume is then butchered for their Australia Day barbecue. I would hate to have anything thrown over my fence. 

[BarbedWire]

1 hour ago, karen15 said:

Call council and report it. My staffy was attacked on a walk. On lead, unprovoked and I had to haul the dog off him. Luckily someone saw it happen. Brisbane council were excellent. I called them around 6.30 am. A ranger was at my place bt 8.30, but we were at the vet. He went and saw the dog and witness and returned around 12. Dog was declared dangerous in under two days.

 

not long after another dog raced out of its yard at him. I stopped that by stepping in front of him, between the dogs. If a dog bites a person consequences are way worse.....

 

recently outside of puppy park, off leash dog rushed my two. I went off like a fire cracker at the owner. Told her if she wanted her mongrel off lead then put it in the bloody park RIGHT THERE!!!!!! Otherwise she's breaking the law. She said dog wasn't doing any harm I yelled yes it bloody well was, jumping all over my leashed dogs. Called council, reported and requested ranger to patrol at peak times.

 

any off lead dog that approaches me is met with hostility and advice to owner that if it gets close enough I'll use it as a football.

Thanks Karen your dogs are lucky to have such a protective owner but I am not very mobile these days which is what makes it all more scary because I can't protect my dogs.

[karen15]

totally understand Sars. Unfortunately picking up a dog can make you a target, so I'd suggest leaving both on the ground if possible. Stepping between a rushing dog and their target can break their focus and back them off. However if they are determined to attack it can also backfire.

 

I never used to be concerned until the attack on my staffy. It was a wolf hound, so dwarfed him. I choked it to get it off. I was so lucky I'd spent so much time socialising Sam as the incident didn't see him become dog aggressive. He was the happiest friendliest dog. He was so distraught after the attack - uncontrollable drooling etc. If it had been one of the dogs I have now they'd be dead (cocker and westie). So it's well and truly stuck with me and I find the best defence is an early attack. I had Sam at the beach once, post attack and a random dog rushed on up. I sent it packing and it's owner said but your dog looks friendly. I said he is, it's me you've got to worry about. Dog was taken away.

 

[stellnme]

This is one of the things I hate (and fear) most.  I'm always on the lookout for a stray dog when I walk my little ones, and I hate that I have to feel that way.  When Basil was younger and we were walking him on lead in a park, he had two off lead dalmations encouraged by their owners to come up to Bas and check him out.  Poor little Bas tried everything to get away  and I asked them to put their dogs on lead - they replied - "Oh, your dog isn't very sociable, then" and I said that he was just fine, he just didn't like dogs in his face.  Imagine how a small dog feels with two large dogs intimidating him.    I spent a good deal of time and training to get a dog that I could walk nicely on lead and idiots like this can turn your dog into a quivering mess around other dogs and ruin every walk you take.

I'm not polite anymore and tell people to take their dogs away from mine.  It's the stray ones without an owner in sight that worry me.

Sars, I'm sorry that you had to go through that experience and he was completely in the wrong.  It's the owner that needs reporting - as well as the dog.

Also, eating biscuits (followed by a strong coffee) is an excellent way to calm down.   I hope you, and your dogs, are feeling a bit better.

[Roova]

These stories give me chills.  The worst thing is in an effort to protect your dogs safety and nice nature you end up appearing over the top in your reaction to get the other dog away.

 

I had my first off lead incident recently and it really shook me.  I think I reacted the wrong way but sometimes there's only seconds to make a decision and then the adrenaline starts pumping.

I was in an area opposite showgrounds which is over a km in length but not that wide.  Its grassy and mown and just lovely when no one else is around. Unfortunately more people are started to take their dogs there and beside the idiots leaving their dogs poo insitu, there are now plenty of off lead dogs.  I keep Poppy on lead (a lunge line so she still gets plenty of running) because we're still working on a reliable recall under distraction

 

So I'm on my way back to the car with Poppy's at the end of the line and a ute pulls up about 50 metes away.  They take a mini bike off the back and two large cattle dogs are let out. They  immediately start running flat stick for Poppy and I and my heart sunk.   I'd just finished reading an article on dog body language so to me it seemed they're weren't running and bouncing in a friendly way, they were running with intent.  I called Poppy and she immediately recalled God love 'er so I scooped her up, my first instinct with two of them almost on us.  One of the two leapt in the air and air snapped at her on the way past!  He then kept jumping trying to grab her as I turned circles and tries to walk on.  I'm sure if he was deadly serious contact would have been made but still it was scary. I yelled out can you put your dogs on lead please until I get past please and the guy yells back I didn't bring them.  I said well can you call them to you or hold their collar so I can put my dog down and get past?  He yells out to them and of course they completely ignore him.

 

He starts ambling over yelling out just put your dog down you're making it worse.  I'm looking at this circling, jumping red cattle dog and I say no thanks, this one has its hackles up, he's jumping up and I don't feel safe. He still trying to call his dogs as he gets closer and telling me to put Poppy down so then I get mad and say I deliberately come here to avoid dogs rushing us and now you're dogs are doing just that.  If you had control over your dogs I'd put her down but you don't so I don't trust them.   That definitely annoyed him because he yells back whateva and turns and walks back to his car. Arrrgh.  They eventually leave me alone as I get past them but I'm almost at my car when he does a drive by on the on the bike and the red dog jumps and air snaps at me from behind!!  Totally deliberately because he could have gone the other direction up the park.  Now I'm too scared to go back there because of him and his dogs   

 

I still don't know if I should have left Poppy on the ground and I know what I yelled didn't help, but I was so mad at him!!

 

 

[karen15]

generally I've been really lucky with my current two. I must look quite bristly as people with on lead dogs ask if it's ok to approach and say hello. It's probably because I see dogs approach and gather mine in to tight heel and people realise I don't welcome dogs in our space. We've had lovely interactions with on lead dogs and off lead dogs in appropriate places ie puppy park! It's the off lead ones with the totally ignorant owner where I get majorly cranky.