I took tiger to a public place, my old high school after school hours (evening)where I walk around a path and make a turn around the school. I decided to take him there after a long time since I always revisit places we've been to. He was very calm. Then, we turned a corner. A man let his pitbull run leashless thinking no one was there. The man had very poor recall and his dog ran to us. I told tiger to SIT. He sat. He stayed right next to me...except, the lab in him wanted to PLAY with this dog. I do not have anything against pitbulls but I do have something against negligent owners that do not bother socializing their dogs. Tiger got antsy. The dog came closer to sniff and as soon as tiger moved a little he nearly bit his face off, or at least tried to intimidate him in such. The man was thankfully closer by but he did not bother asking me if tiger was OK. Thankfully, tiger did not have a scratch on his face and was untouched. The man replied saying Sorry and that he did not know anyone was around. Tiger was calm, but I had screamed in the heat of the moment during that 1-2 second lunge from the pitbull. What can I do to protect both of us ?? Tiger seemed surprised by what had happened, perhaps alittle afraid but he did not yelp/scream or show any real reaction. He just 'understood' that the dog simply did not like him. I have had this happen with small dogs, a few times - a chihuahua and a small white shelter dog at petsmart - both obviously not socialized. Any comments or suggestions??? I worried so much about my being a bad trainer and yet look at this man who can barely control his own dog. As we were walking towards the parking lot I could see him runninga nd hollering after his dog again. The dog was not going towards us but perhaps the school custodian that was watching us at the time. She may have been trying to get out.
Re: Tiger Attacked & Good News Oh this is a recurring theme for the Forum dogs and owners and I'm really sorry you've had a fright and Tiger was almost seriously hurt....it's very very difficult.In a perfect world an owner that has an aggressive ,poorly trained dog would keep it leashed in public places but people don't unfortunately.You sound like you have a good understanding of the behaviours both dogs were displaying ...that is a great skill set to have for these situations ,you can anticipate danger if you can interpret signals....that doesn't help,when you are surprised though. On our walks I tend to be very watchful ....if I see another dog off leash doing it's own thing....I always call Dexter back ....I guess I'm anticipating that if there's ructions it will be close to me and at least I've got my dog under control.....we got rushed by a Great Dane last weekend in the desert,I'd seen it in the distance and I didn't know it so we turned the other way...it saw us and came galloping over .....it covered so much ground so,fast the owner had to come after it in his car....he was friendly to be honest and the owner was terribly Apologetic but even so it gives you a fright not knowing what's coming hurtling towards you.... I'm glad Tiger wasn't hurt and seems unconcerned about the encounter ....I'm sorry I can't give you any practical advice ....it's one of those situations where you can only control how you conduct yourself and your dog you don't have any control over other people and their behaviour.although I know in the UK you can contact the dog warden to make a complaint. Just to say I stopped walking in flip flops and changed to trainers because Dexter was nearly bitten by a cavalier king Charles spaniel...I wouldn't say I kicked it but I got my foot I between Dexter and it...and I could possibly have made contact :.....I thought if this ever really got bad I wouldn't hesitate to give a dog a swift kick but I'd stand less chance of sustaining a serious bite in trainers than flip flops....also,people think it's funny when a little dog is barking it's head off and wanting to kill us ....I see so many aggressive displays from little dogs...if our big labs behaved like that people wouldn't be laughing..behavior is behaviour whatever the dogs size and breed and can have serious results x
Re: Tiger Attacked & Good News Unfortunately I had a lot of similar experiences with my old lab. First you could try and put yourself between tiger and the other dog. This move is a calming signal which a third dog would do to split up two in a pack. It also breaks any eye contact. Getting your boot in may help but in a full on fight anything physical you do won't have much effect as the attacking dog won't feel it or may think its the other dog fighting back. I laid into a mastiff once that was really attacking my dog with no effect at all. If you have big pockets a water pistol is useful and another tip I read but haven't tried is an umberella. One of those small ones that you press a button and it shoots open aimed at the dog coming towards you. I found a website awhile a go with tips on what to do if loose dogs approach I will see if I can find it again.
