Same situation...different outcome.

Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by Sven, Nov 10, 2017.

  1. Sven

    Sven Registered Users

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    Hi,

    Not sure if this is the right place (mods please move if required)

    Sorry long post with a story to add context.

    So we went for a walk on the beach last night, planning on letting Vanilla off lead once down there. I always wait until she is settled and have a look around to see who else is out and about. Just to makes sure that I am happy with the surrounds, dogs and people. Dogs have to be on leash between 10am and 8pm and other times under effective control (make of what you wish with that one).

    Vanilla still being a silly pup thinks every dog wants to be her friend and we are working on her not being allowed to say hello to every dog she meets. Easiest way is to either have her on the lead trailing and engaging with her or we go to a quiet part of the beach fully off leash and engage with her. If we see dogs on leash in an off leash area and we are heading towards/or they are heading our way Vanilla is always clipped back on.

    So last night was a bit different, as it changed very quickly compared to what was planned. We were walking past a couple of girls who were sitting on the beach who laughed and commented on Vanilla being all eager to get to the water. We must have been about 10or so meters away from them. Next minute this dog was charging towards the girls, still before 8pm but only maybe by about 10min., don’t know if the dog knew them or not, owner not to be seen.

    We had carried on walking towards the water’s edge, away from them towards a quieter part of the beach. I give her the cue to tell me when she is ready to want to be off leash once I am happy with surrounds and she will then sit. I was about out to unclick the leash, when this same dog came barging up to us. The first instinct was Vanilla looking at me as we have been doing a lot of ‘LAT’, I then C&T. we have got to a point where we can now either walk past dogs on leash, or require about 3m. between us and the moving object.

    The dog had no intention of moving away no matter what I or OH where doing to move it along. It then proceeded to become very aggressive, and I have to admit this was the first time where I have seen any real aggression towards Vanilla by any other dog in a way that I knew this was going to turn ugly very, very quickly. This dog was just going at her with, and I don’t know if it was because of Vanilla being on leash or not. Anyhow, owner must have been a good 20meters or so back casually walking up. I was blocking this dog the best I could whilst Vanilla was showing the typical signs of ‘get me out of here’. All I ended up doing was shouting at the owner to get their dog, now. This was a trickier thing to master for the owner as she really struggled to get her dog back, as it was just obsessed with Vanilla (plus I don’t think her recall was that brilliant looking at her engagement with it later). Anyhow she finally got it and we carried on walking, but it meant Vanilla was not off leash for the whole time on the beach, no biggy as it allowed us to do other training instead just more annoying as was looking forward to doing some water retrieves with her.

    On way back we walked along the esplanade, and saw this dog doing the same to a lot of other dogs too on the beach. Difference was all where off leash, but could tell from the stance this dog had and other dogs behaviour it was not a pleasant engagement. Some owners would push/slap with their leash at this dog to get it away from their dog/s.

    This situation did cause a discussion between OH and myself what would we have done if it actually had attacked Vanilla. OH said this was the first time she had seen me be really angry at another owner and close to losing my temper. Both off and on leash situation are different, I get that. If both dogs are on leash you can quickly (hopefully) pull them away, and also avoid it in the first placed by not allow them to say hello to each other. Off leash or like our situation (one off – one on leash), I have read to let dogs sort it our themselves, but also to break up a fight to squirt water in the face of the attacking dog or mmm how should I put this go towards their back end and stick a finger/or something you know where. I am sure there are plenty of other things to do to, some I just don’t get why.

    The one thing that I always hear though is kick the attacking dog. I am trying to really understand what the purpose of that would achieve (part from that it would hurt the attacking dog eventually), in that when I look on the internet about this it does not seem to do anything apart from make the attacking dog more determined/aggressive. I also know on the flipside I would not like anybody to kick my dog (of course I would avoid these situations as much as possible, I don’t allow Vanilla to run up to dogs she has never met and with dogs she knows she looks at me for a cue).

    Thoughts from people who have had their dog involved in these situations and what did you do or even your thoughts on what could I have done different.

    Thanks
     
  2. Oberon

    Oberon Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    These situations are the only ones that make me yell at people.

    If I’m by myself I try to get myself in between Obi and the perpetrating dog. If hubby is there he picks up Obi. My father in law was walking Obi once when he was attacked and he kicked the dog, who ran away. I don’t advocate kicking, but on that occasion it worked, and Obi had been bitten, so.....

    It’s a tough situation, and entirely horrible. Glad that you managed to fend off the other dog.
     
  3. Beanwood

    Beanwood Registered Users

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    A very difficult situation. I would have asked my other half to pop the spare slip lead on the dog and walk it back to its owner, whilst I was getting distance between dogs. I also have used treats, thrown away from the dogs, whilst asking mine to wait. I always carry a slip lead and usually have a limited slip with just a handle in my bag.
    I don't like the thought of kicking another dog, I would though in an extreme scenario, where serious harm was inevitable.
     
  4. SteffiS

    SteffiS Registered Users

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    I've seen someone throw their coat over an attacking dog to stop it, not quite sure how you get your coat back though :confused:.
     
  5. Naya

    Naya Registered Users

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    It's a really difficult one and situation I have been in a few times. It was suggested on here that I train Harley with a 'behind me' cue which we are working on. I have had to kick one dog in the past as he had already attacked Harley a few seconds before. I hated doing it, but couldn't see a solution at the time. It was awful as he had actually bit Harley. If my OH would of been with me he would either pick Harley up, or grab the other dog, put it on lead and take it to the owner.
    Hope you and Vanilla are ok
     
  6. lucky_dog

    lucky_dog Registered Users

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    I hope someone talks to this owner about how to manage her dog!

    If I'm worried about a dog before it gets to us, I herd Lucky away with me walking behind him in between him and the other dog, often walking away calms the oncoming dog. If there is a bit of tension in a greeting, I will walk in between Lucky and the other dog and herd him away.

    If the dog is really coming for Lucky, I hold him by the harness behind me, so he can't move to the left or right, and I hold the palm of my hand up towards the other dog and say "stop" and "stay" in German and English - just in case.

    Another option, is to throw a handful of treats toward the other dog. This might not work, but it's worth a try.

    This does happen to us quite often! Maybe because my boy isn't neutered he attracts negative attention from other dogs.
     
  7. charlie

    charlie Registered Users

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    It's awful when this happens and I really hope you and Vanilla are OK :( I had a Flat Coat attack Hattie twice, the second time I did kick the dog as he had Hattie on the ground round the neck and caused her an injury. I really hated kicking him but felt I had no other option :( The next attack I grabbed the dog round the scruff sat him up and shouted 'NO' in a loud voice, he didn't budge just kept looking at me. I know I shouldn't have grabbed him as he is a large boy but he was hurting my girl so I didn't think in that split second. The same dog attacked Charlie when Charlie was on lead, the FC was off lead, it also badly bit my husband. I had to report the owner. I know just throwing treats would not have worked on this dog as he gives no warning signs at all, he just attacks.
     
  8. blackandwhitedog

    blackandwhitedog Registered Users

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    I dread this happening - I'm not sure what I would do.

    I absolutely would kick another dog if it was aggressive and I thought that would stop it attacking Jess. I'm not sure it would work though - I suspect it's more likely that it would make the dog bite to defend itself. Kicking is more likely to be effective/necessary if the aggressor dog has actually latched on. But that is already a very bad situation and one that I hope I don't experience.

    On previous threads like this I think the consensus has been that a walking stick is quite effective at warding off an aggressive dog. I've also thought that I might start carrying a bottle of water on walks, as dumping a bottle of water on a dog's head might work too?! At least to distract it and cool it down before it attacks. Treats perhaps if the dog is just boisterous and bullying but not if it's intent on fighting.
     
  9. blackandwhitedog

    blackandwhitedog Registered Users

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    As another approach on this, do you know the "be a tree" advice for kids/humans faced with an aggressive dog? https://clickertraining.com/node/3535

    I wonder if that would work to deter an aggressive dog when we have our dogs with us? Any thoughts?
     
  10. Jazzmynn

    Jazzmynn Registered Users

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    I honestly don't know what I would do....but I do know I would be terrified. Although I hate the thought of hurting any kind of animal, if another dog was attacking my Ariel I do believe I'd kick it, hit it with a stick, anything to separate them. I know stepping between fighting dogs is very much frowned upon, but I bet my adrenaline would overrule my brain and do just that. I hope I never have to find out. :mad:
     

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