Rottweiler Attack

Lavazza1st, I'd want to know what action (if any) has been taken and, preferably, what time of day this Rottweiler is walked - if there's a regular time.

I tend to avoid early morning walks, except on the pavement, with my little JRT. There are just too many dogs about.

She was attacked by a boxer when she was two. It picked her up and shook her like a rat. She's been nervous of strange new dogs ever since.

The owner just said 'I didn't see you over here. She doesn't like other dogs so I keep her on the lead if they're about.'

It's always the owner's fault for not keeping their dog under control.

I carry a walking stick if I'm going for a long trek. At least I feel that I could distract another dog away from mine, if necessary!

You don’t have much luck with dogs lavazza I think you were given lots of good advice on the last thread you started about big dogs and you getting accidentally knocked over didn’t you ?

It¨s difficult at this time of the year, but try not to go out after dark with your dog.

Give him a good walk just before dark and let him out into your garden later.

If you don't have a garden, then only a short walk near home last thing to wee.

I was going to suggest that you take a walking stick every time you take your dog out Lavazza.

There is a spray you can get, I can't remember the name, which you can spray into a dog's face if they attack you or your dog. It doesn't do the dog any harm but is sufficiently unpleasant to get it to back off.

Our cocker was attacked in the summer by an old dog belonging to a farmer. I wasn't there but she and Mr. S. were quite shaken by the incident. Fortunately she was wearing her 'Truelove' harness which protected her upper back from the bite.

We'd seen the dog several times before, he always appeared very friendly so we were really surprised that this happened. The farmer and his wife were very upset. Mr. S. saw her a few weeks later and the dog had died from a heart attack just days after it happened. I thought at the time that perhaps he was ill which would explain the sudden aggression.

It sounds as if this rottweiler should be put to sleep. It makes me reallythat some owners don't keep their dogs under control as it's the animal that will pay the ultimate price.

It sounds as though your anxiety won't be helped by any simple solutions, such as the pet spray sold in many pet shops. Your dog will be picking up on the anxiety as it travels down the lead. Have you thought about working with a behaviourist? They will give you advice on how to remain calm, so you and your dog can enjoy walks together.

As for the Rottweiler, one problem is that dog on dog attacks are not usually police matters. it would be the local dog warden who would keep a careful record of any incidents. A neighbour was recently warned that if her dog wasn't kept under control, she'd be taken to court. the warning was effective. She got a trainer in and the dog's behaviour improved a lot. If a person has been injured by the Rottweiler, that is a police matter. They can investigate under the dangerous dog legislation.

I'm a two or three dog household. I'm increasingly careful with my own well behaved dogs. Lockdown has made our usual quiet walks much busier, its great to see so many people enjoying our countryside. However, many of them seem to have uncontrolled dogs, that have no idea about recall, or simple good manners. The allow their dogs to run up to children and other on lead dogs, often shouting "he's friendly". I responded to one recently, maybe, but mine is a killer - call your dog. Needless to say, the dog didn't recall and my big soft dog behaved perfectly (she isn't really a killer honestly)

I feel your pain.
My little terrier was attacked by a Staffie off the lead, it was awful.
If ever you are in a situation with fighting dogs if you lift the hind legs of the aggressor it will stop fighting immediately, it cannot bite you.
Obviously this will work best if there is another person present.
There is also a whistle you can buy that will deter dogs, it does work.

I would caution the lifting up the back legs, my mother tried that when her dog was fighting another, and her own dog turned round and bit off her finger. We never found it, she must have swallowed it!

Reminds me of a way to stop a dog fight. Which isn't for the faint hearted

Many years ago I was walking by the river at Richmond and a massive dog fight started. Bulldog of sorts against a small terrier. It was horrific. Fur flying, spitting, snarling. Nobody knew what to do. One chap was trying to kick them into the river but got bitten

A young lad was passing on his bike. He got off, foraged for the right side stick, went up to the dogs and carefully inserted stick into bulldog's botty

He stopped immediately. Looked very affronted and his owner was able to get him on away from his foe.

Both dogs survived the incident

Please contact your safer neighbourhood officer at your local council. Our dog was attacked and although we contacted the police and had a crime number etc he was the one that was most helpful. He said that no one should feel unsafe in their home environment and it was his job to keep people safe. We only met him by accident. He is an ex policeman and I got the feeling that he had had a lot of experience of dog attacks and, unlike the police who didn’t really do much (I know they have a lot on but they didn’t even tell the owner to muzzle the dog) we have kept in touch with him. It wouldn’t have occurred to us to contact the council. I still panic if another dog runs towards us and we’re always looking around. Thankfully our dog was unhurt and it hasn’t made her reactive but we still haven’t got over it.

Thanks everyone. Yes I'm pretty anxious. What you said Maybee70 makes me feel a bit more normal.

@smileless2021* So sorry that happened to your dog Poor Mr S and poor dog!

I am interested in the spray, if anyone here can recommend one? I don't want to buy anything harmful or ineffective.

How interesting that the dog who committed the attack died and could have been ill. So glad your dog is ok and I'll look into the Truelove harness. My little dog has been attacked before, so I'm nervous.

Lucretzia Yes I'd heard about putting your finger up the dogs botty to stop a dog fight, but personally would prefer a nice reliable repellant spray to prevent contact in the first place, if it's a dangerous type of dog.

The problem is that, even if you have a spray etc these attacks happen so suddenly. We once had a terrier walk past our dog then suddenly swivel round and go for her throat. We don’t let her off lead around other dogs because even though she was well socialised as a puppy she’s still a sighthound and we don’t know that she wouldn’t try to knock over a smaller dog and hurt it. We carry a metal stick.

You can buy the pet sprays on line or at any pet shop. There is also a small hand held Doggy Don't, you press the button and a loud noise is heard. You have to desensitise your own dog to this of course so you don't have it in a permanently terrified state.
As MayBee70 said, these attacks tend to happen very quickly and with little warning. My spaniel cross became reactive after unprovoked attacks, two on lead and one off. I now never allow people to "let my dog say hello to yours" by allowing nose to nose sniffing. I'm beyond caring whether people think I'm being unfriendly, I simply say no thanks, I don't let my dogs do that. Its one small and foolproof way of stopping on lead incidents.

@Maybee70 Yes a similar thing happened to us, so I know what you mean. I'm so sorry to hear that. I do have a lethal walking stick with a metal ducks head handle, but I got out of the habit of carrying it when my walking improves.

@Iam64
I am the same now, unless it is a similar small dog breed that I know my dog will like. If it is a big dog or unknown , I keep walking and I don't care what the owner thinks.

Because of lockdown I'm buying everything online, so that's why I was hoping someone could recommend a spray that's good.

A small dog came running up to ours the other week. I was standing in front of her to shield her. The woman called the dog away but it ignored her. I called to the woman to get her dog to move away explaining that our dog had recently been attacked and she just grumpily shouted to me that ‘her dog would never hurt another dog’. It never crossed her mind that mine might have been reactive (she isn’t: she just wants to play) and could have attacked hers. I’m on several Facebook pages. 50% of comments seem to be about dogs being attacked and the other 50% are about people’s dogs running up to other dogs wanting to play but the owners of the other dogs are just grumpy and unreasonable. I thought walking a dog was meant to be a nice relaxing experience. Sometimes I just walk the dog without the dog because it’s easier, especially as she’s quite happy on the sofa!

@MayBee70 Walking the dog has definitely got a lot more stressful lately.

My dog will often wait for another dog to get close and then she'll growl. Obviously I've never let her get close to a big dog, so this is dogs her own size. She is a reserved dog and absolutely hates other dogs sticking their face in hers, so now I just keep walking.

One of my friend's has a much smaller dog, who suddenly bit my dog on the tail completely unprovoked. So it's not always bigger ones. So hard to tell! I love having a dog, but don't let her off lead unless my husband is there too. Some things have really knocked my confidence.

A dog was attacked locally recently. The police were informed and warned the owner. The dog may only be walked with a muzzle on and if any thing similar should happen the owners have been warned the fog will have to be put down.

You can get a Dog Dazer which emits a high-pitched sound, beyond human hearing range and makes dogs back off. It does work. You should not feel tied to your house by this.

Here's one: www.amazon.co.uk/Dog-Dazer-II-Ultrasonic-Deterrent/dp/B000IBRI2Y?tag=gransnetforum-21

It's worth buying an animal taser.

EllanVannin

It's worth buying an animal taser.

Hattie says you can go right off some people EV ?

Thanks so much @Luckygirl that's really helpful.

An Animal Taser? I didn't know such thing existed! :O

MY little pooch has been trampled on so often by bigger dogs, she is quite nervous around dogs now. She tries to avoid them and barks at them as they walk into the distance. I prefer to walk her on the lead when my DH isn’t with me. We have a house on the beach and she loves to run free , minding her own business but other dogs always run up and annoy her. I get very nervous when taking her out and I don’t enjoy it as much as I should. I’m always on the lookout and on edge.

That’s why we never let our dog off lead on the beach unless there are no dogs around. We run her between us so she’s totally focussed then for other dogs before we do it again.

This is a depressing thread for those of us who love our dogs and train them to be the best dog they can be. I'm in the technically challenged group otherwise, I'd link to a BBC article on lock down dogs that I read on facebook yesterday.

The article confirms that many of the dogs bought as lockdown puppies have behavioural problems. My experience is many of these dogs came from internet sites, from puppy farms or so called back street breeders. Many of the owners haven't had dogs before. As MayBee70 says, read the facebook specific breed groups and be horrified by the lack of planning before a puppy arrives. So many pups "biting" owners and children, dogs that aren't house trained, dogs that are left alone for hours now owners are back at work and school, goes what, they eat the furniture and howl all day. I'm sorry to rant but it's just selfish.