People Who Don't Train Their Little DogsQuestion:Today I was walking out to my car, and a neighbor 2 hours down was taking out their trash. They left their front door open, and just let their little dogs run wild all over the front yard, on the sidewalk, and in the STREET. When the dogs saw me, they ran over and attacked me (barking, jumping all over me and BITING my pant legs)! The owner just STOOD there and WATCHED! Didn't even ATTEMPT to call her dogs back. I glared at them and kept walking, and they lost interest in me briefly, so I could get in my car. I looked all around before backing out, to make sure I didn't hit one of them (since they were running wild all over the place), and they were next door, getting into somebody else's trash they had out, so not in the street. I backed out, turned around, and started driving down the street, when I glanced over and saw that the dogs were RUNNING next to my freaking car, CHASING it!!! Are these people nuts, letting their dogs CHASE CARS?! They didn't even do anything, just continued to stand there. If they had ended up running in front of my car, I wouldn't have been able to stop because I was driving on a sheet of ICE. Fortunately, before I had a chance to blow my horn at them, they finally lost interest and trotted back up the street out of sight. So, I have this to say: There is NOTHING more ANNOYING than an untrained, under-socialized, VICIOUS little dog!! Especially if the owner does not intervene! PLEASE train and socialize your small dogs! Although they are small, they are still DOGS and should be trained like any other dog, or they will grow up to be AGGRESSIVE and possibly put themselves in situations that could injure/kill them and/or hurt others! As for me, I'm finally convinced to buy some DirectStop, if only for this reason. >O\/o< Answer: :rolleyes: I just don't understand what is going through peoples heads sometimes. I work at a dog kennel and I can't belive how many aggresive little dogs we get in. Kudos to you not going over their and yelling at the owner, I would probally not take it as nice as you did. ;) Answer: Well, this was the first offense... next time I will let them know I don't appreciate being attacked by their furry little minions on MY property and that they need to confine them or keep them on a leash... >-\/-< It just annoys the crap out of me how people baby little dogs, and then the dogs grow up insecure and confused and bite people and go nuts. Answer: There is NOTHING more ANNOYING than an untrained, under-socialized, VICIOUS little dog!! I can think of one thing worse: And untrained, undersocialized, vicious big dog. LOL. Big dogs can really cause the big damage, the deadly damage. But I hear ya.....those neighbors sounds like total dopes. And little dogs are annoying too when they're untrained. And a lot of owners think little dogs don't need any training at all. I can tell you that I am much more diligent with my big dogs with training than I am with my little dogs. But my little dogs are well socialized, very friendly and well mannered and obedient enough....basics. Sorry you had to go through that worry of hitting them. Maybe these people need some hand outs on how to take care of dogs. LOL. Answer: Yeah, tell me about it. All the marks I have on my hands are from little dogs. I'm glad you didn't run over any of them though, that would have made for trouble than it was worth. Answer: I work really hard to train my small dogs so that they aren't out of control. I hate it when people assume because they're small, they don't need the same level of training as their bigger counterparts. :) Answer: I hate that because I have a small dog, people assume that he is completely untrained. As a plus benefit, when they see that Herschel is very well trained, they are doubly impressed. :) If I were you, I would go talk to your neighbors when you get home. You could make your little talk more about the safety of the dogs than the annoyance to yourself. Answer: I would have given those two dogs a face full of halt right in front of their owners. Answer: There is NOTHING more ANNOYING than an untrained, under-socialized, VICIOUS little dog!! I live with the above (sister's dog) and I agree. I have to add, in sympathy with Dober, that there's nothing more frightening than the same issues with a big dog. Definitely, big dogs are worse. Little dogs can be nerve-wracking, though. When my dogs were younger, they'd get so excited and hyper at a 'small dog at liberty, barking and zooming around' that they'd be nearly uncontrollable, twisting wildly to keep an eye on the darting small dog, and pulling out of their collars. That was bad enough, but if it happened near a busy street, I'd be half out of my mind with worry that my dog would pull out of her collar and run into the street before I could drag her far enough away that the small dog would go home. I could have murdered their owners, who were usually watching interestedly and without apparent understanding that had any responsibility for the events transpiring. Answer: Great point Cheetah.. unfortunately due to small dog owners misguided belief that they don't need to train, those are the dogs who when hit by a car, it's usually fatal. Or while getting loose and not minding a recall, they're then munched on by a big dog. The little guys suffer from lack of training, as much as big dogs. Answer: yes i believe those people ARE freaking nuts. Its a shame because the dogs will be the ones to suffer in the long run. They always are. Answer: I think that everyone should train their dogs, regardless of size. I have 3 chihuahuas... and so many people who disliked chihuahuas before meeting mine now want chihuahuas. Madison loves everyone, and loves "big" dogs. One of his best friend's is actually a boxer ;) They are great dogs. Socialized chihuahuas are great dogs... so many people just think that because their dogs are small that they do not need to be trained. I can't stand when people think like that. Answer: I have a friend with an absolutely out of control jack russell. To be honest, I don't even want to go there anymore. Nasty thing. Very mean, very spoiled and very destructive. You don't even have to do anything are even be looking at the thing for it to walk up and snap at you. I swear, you can't have a good time with that dog in the same room with you. You would think that she would get the picture that the dog is an unpleasant menace and get him some training. She just thinks it's cute. Well it's not. She thinks I'm too strict with my dog. Well yeah, I kinda think it's a good idea not to have your dog snapping at everybody and growling at them while they eat. But hey what do I know? Answer: Jessie, there's a thread here where I found a lost Chi not so long ago. He was verrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy sweet. I tell you I could have fallen in love with that little guy. Answer: Aggressive, untrained, undersocialized small dogs are bad, but at least they can't kill you. They're an annoyance, not a threat to your life. I have a small dog that isn't perfectly trained, though he's certainly better behaved than the majority. I have to make myself work with him sometimes because I forget just how easy it is to let him do whatever he wants. I tend to hold my Border Collie to much higher standards just because he's bigger. Answer: I would have given those two dogs a face full of halt right in front of their owners. Me too..........:) Answer: I know how the aggressive bigger dogs are as well. When I got Eevee back from my family, she came to be extremely dog-aggressive and it took me a year to completely curb it... >X.x;< Oh, and in my first post, I mean HOUSES, not HOURS lmfao... I get so emotional while I'm typing sometimes my spelling suffers haha... Answer: Oh yes. I do think I have written about JASPER in a thread previously. Our neighborhood Shitzu TERRORIST!!! Every time we walk in front of their house and he's out it's all out war. Jasper must weigh all of 10lbs. He snarls, barks very very loudly, growls and is so unfriendly he's even drooling and goes for you and your dog no matter the size. Bailey weighs nearly 80lbs.........doesn't matter to JASPER. Jasper bit Bailey's tail and chased us into the golf course cart path. Bailey just wanted to play with Jasper. :yikes: Jasper is doing this all the while ignoring his owners commands to stop and come back. Nasty little S*B. And the owners are not uneducated people by any means. But their dog is out of control. I even came home that evening and typed out a letter to them about, they need to contain their dog and so on. I didn't send it as I really don't want to get into "it" with my neighbors but I will the next time he does it. Which will be the next time I want to walk in the golf course. And oh yeah, they wanted to stud this dog out!!! My reply to that was, "yeah, you really want to pass on THAT lovely disposition!" Next time........THE MACE!! Answer: LoveThatCollie, ROFL on Jasper! Are you sure he's not my friend's Jack Russell? I won't even LET Tosca near him. Why should she take that crap just because she behaves better? The last time I took my dog there, I was absolutely amazed she didn't just turn on that little chit. Answer: I have a smaller dog who can get a little overexcited sometimes and we have a few issues we're working on with her but I take it very seriously to teach my dogs how to behave decently. Regardless of their size, I do my best to show them good manners earn them rewards. I know too many people who stick their little dog in a stroller or purse when they go out and don't let them face the world or even put their little paws on the ground. It's really sad because they have no idea what to do when they suddenly are faced by dog or human they don't know. . .so they just freak out and try to bite. Answer: I try really hard to have a well mannered dog. Partially cause it makes life nice and easy, partially to try to throw out the stereotype of the child eating cocker spaniel. Both are important to me. No family member has ever had a well behaved dog. I didn't know dogs could be well behaved till I went to Cider's first puppy class.. It changed my world. Training = good dog. You may say uh duh.. but I hadn't met a well mannered one, near ever.. Part of my issue though is the public needs to help me enforce the rules Cider is still working on like no jumping.. We've worked from puppyhood, family reinforces, everyone was awesome over xmas.. but we go out in public I say off she complies they say 'oh it's cute'. NO... it is NOT cute. It is my dog and the habit sucks cause not everyone finds it cute... In a skirt I sure don't... So my ramble is that in part others help to reinforce not nice behaviours cause the dog is 'small'. And I wish they wouldn't. I've explained it to people to hear but it's cute anyhow... Answer: MafiaPrincess, I can relate. I have the same problem. They say oh that's all right. It's cute. I BEG people to stop but they act like it's THEIR decision and that I am just loooking for their OK. They INVITE her to jump on them. Can you imagine? What part of DO NOT ALLOW THIS don't people understand? I recently cured one neighborhood kid of this by telling him flat out that he cannot pet or come near my dog unless he doesn't encourage jumping. The poor dog gets mixed messages day in and day out. Answer: If only my mom felt this way. Lucy can be an absolute terror at times but no amount of training I do works, because she is with my mom most of the time and my mom just lets her do everything I'm trying to teach her not to do. Biggest issue is her being allowed on the furniture--I am so sure this is where her dominance/aggression/seperation anxiety stems from. If I'm on the couch *I* won't let her up--but my mom does and ultimately what mom says goes. So Lucy ends up on the couch. :rolleyes: The things Lucy gets away with, Molly wouldn't get away with it in a million years. It makes me so sad, just because a dog is small doesn't mean it's okay for them to be untrained--they are still dogs, not dolls. Believe me--Lucy is the exact kind of dog that we vent about on here. She is the stereotypical yappy, aggressive little dog that pretty much runs the show. But yeah...part of the reason why I really, really did not want a little dog was because I knew this would happen. Any untrained dog is annoying but it's so common in little ones, the behaviors just get ignored. Answer: Ugh, I know about that too. The jumping up thing and when people come over and they're sitting down and eating or with tea or something and Lucy jumps on their lap and I tell her to get down and they say "No, no, she's fine" :rolleyes: I'm just thinking, "No, she's not fine, stop letting her do that!" Answer: ^^^It bothers me when people coddle their little dogs- like Virginia said, there are so many people who just put their small dogs in purses and strollers. When I walk my chihuahuas, there are always people who point and laugh, and think that it is just hilarious to see small dogs on leashes. Someone asked me why do I even bother to walk them... they are, afterall, small dogs (which I guess are not real dogs...). lol. Small dogs need exercise and socialization as well. Answer: I get the whole why do you walk them statement too. There are times that I have a doggie "purse" style carrier, but this serves a function and is reserved only for times i need it and not in place of a walk. Jessie.. I have a question for you :) How long did it take you to train your cute chi's to all walk together nicely? I'm having a hard time w/my 3 pups. Answer: Everytime I take my boy for a walk over the pond we frequent it never fails that some idiot has there little terrorizing dog off leash and they come running right up to Caiza. Luckily he is not dog aggressive but I just don't appreciate it. Sometimes I think that just because the people own a small dog that it can't be a threat or that its okay for them to be off leash..........Or on the other hand I have encountered alot of people with small breeds on those stupid flexi-leashes who let there little dog run rampant at the end of it and that includes running up to other dogs! I'll tell ya some of them little dogs have an attitude problem "small man syndrome" LOL! Answer: I get the whole why do you walk them statement too. There are times that I have a doggie "purse" style carrier, but this serves a function and is reserved only for times i need it and not in place of a walk. Jessie.. I have a question for you :) How long did it take you to train your cute chi's to all walk together nicely? I'm having a hard time w/my 3 pups. I put Rylie and Chloe together on a coupler attached to their harnesses, and Madison goes by himself on a leash attached to his harness. I take the girls in one hand and Madison in the other when I am alone (normally Ian walks with us so I get the girls and he gets Madison). It actually didn't take them all that long to learn to walk together. Madison has always been a really good walker, and when we started walking Rylie she just followed suit. Chloe is the problem child out of the bunch! She used to pull as a younger puppy, but once we started putting her with Rylie on the coupler, she has been staying next to me. She started walking with Rylie when she was around 6 months. Answer: I have a problem with any untrained dog. When the OP was talking about the owners just standing there and watching while their little terrorists ran out and did whatever they pleased, it reminded me of so many situations I've been through with my own dogs. It gets doubly bad when you're walking a dog with the potential for animal-aggression, and you're struggling to hold them to where they can't grab the interloper. Its one thing if the owner immediately tries to gain their dog back, but so many just don't care. I've even had one yahoo try to sic his Chow mix on my Pit Bull and Pit/Akita mix, who were both highly dog-aggro. (Maybe the fool was looking for free euthanasia. Who knows.) I'm sure some would find it funny to see someone hoisting a 50-pound Pit Bull up in their arms while another dog bounces around them. I don't. Its a lose-lose situation. Holding your struggling dog, you aren't free to defend yourself if the other dog is HA. If you put your dog down to handle it, then you put him at risk. Loose dogs are no joke anymore. People get hurt, sued, even killed over that crap. Ahhhh! Loose dogs are a sore spot with me. I can't stand it. Answer: I put Rylie and Chloe together on a coupler attached to their harnesses, and Madison goes by himself on a leash attached to his harness. I take the girls in one hand and Madison in the other when I am alone (normally Ian walks with us so I get the girls and he gets Madison). It actually didn't take them all that long to learn to walk together. Madison has always been a really good walker, and when we started walking Rylie she just followed suit. Chloe is the problem child out of the bunch! She used to pull as a younger puppy, but once we started putting her with Rylie on the coupler, she has been staying next to me. She started walking with Rylie when she was around 6 months. Thanks Jessie!! I've been debating over whether or not to purchase a coupler and I think I'm going to do it.. When it was just Bentley and Emma I'd put their leashes in the same hand at the same distance and they'd walk fine.. they'd pull.. but it would be better than crisscrossing dogs!! :) Answer: I really like the coupler- it makes things much easier :D Answer: We had a problem like this one day while walking Gunnar. Some lady had her 2 poodles out and they ran across the street and started in on Gunnar. He actually acted real good, only defending his "space" about 3' around him by barking when they got too close. Next time it happens I drop back and punt the dog back to the yard. I do everything I can to keep my dog in control, it's not fair to me or him to have dogs running at him simply because they are small. The "Oh isn't he a tough guy trying to attack the big dog" doesn't fly. If my dog happened to grab it and snapped it's back, who would be the bad guy, him, not the little dog who was untrained and out of control. Answer: Next time it happens I drop back and punt the dog back to the yard. Isn't that just a little bit mean? It's not the dog's fault. Go kick the owners who didn't train their dogs. Answer: Isn't that just a little bit mean? It's not the dog's fault. Go kick the owners who didn't train their dogs. I agree.. it's not the dog's fault, they're just being dogs. Answer: I don't understand that attitude. Yes, the dogs are ultimately not to blame, it's the owners' fault. But the dogs are the ones directly misbehaving, and the owners aren't addressing the problem. Short of kidnapping the dogs in the dead of night and retraining them not to be pests, what's DanL to do? Call AC and wait for hell to freeze over? Hope that the owners have a sudden change of heart and act responsibly? Personally, I think he has a right to deal physically with the dogs if they're a continuing problem and their owner refuses to deal with it. I don't think he should really hurt the dogs, but I would see nothing wrong with putting the fear of God into them the next time they come charging at him. If nothing else, seeing him threaten the dogs might make the owners come hurrying over. Answer: Well if the dogs are really small you could really hurt them by kicking them. Not that their intent isn't to hurt YOU. I don't see it as they are just being dogs. That kind of behavior is not acceptable in dogs in society. They are just being out-of-control dogs and if their owners think that's cool, it's not, and somebody ought to show them. Telling them won't work, especially since they have no problem watching their dogs be little beasts. To me, an attacking dog is an attacking dog. Nothing some pepper in their nasty faces won't cure them of. At least next time you personally walk by, the dogs will remember you just in case their owners don't. Instant "training" in the school of hard knocks. Any loose dog that comes near us when I am walking my dog is going to get a face full first, and I will ask questions later. Same goes for dogs I don't know on leashes that owners let run their show. Funny how when they see your little sprayer, they suddenly get control. I am not into reading body language or anything else. Time is short when something is heading for you and I am far more concerned with my safety and the safety of my dog than I am about other people's irresponsibility. Answer: C'mon, you know I wouldn't punt a dog! However, I wouldn't be adverse to giving it a kick if it was attacking me or my dog, after doing other preemptive things such as rushing at it, stomping, shouting etc. Answer: I agree with Dan. You gotta do what you gotta do, not only to protect you and your dog, but to protect the other dog if your dog could cause serious damage or death. Nobody wants that. A little kick which won't injure the dog too much, but will stop the behavior or some spray is better than getting killed or terribly injured. And it's not the little dog's fault. Dogs who are not prepared or conditioned by their owners to know how to be socially adept, who are socially naive about how to greet another dog are not at fault. It is the owner's responsibility to socialize and help teach their dogs how to act. They don't learn these things all by themselves when they're kept away from other members of their specie in a structured setting as they're developing and that, sadly is too often the case. Answer: I feel for you. I recently had problems with my neighbor's two little chihuahuas. They were nasty, unsocialized, aggressive chis, and the neighbor insisted on letting them run around loose. It caused a world of problems: the chis would harass Zeus and Voodoo through the fence, and Voodoo started developing dog aggression issues as a result. And the neighbor's excuse? "They're just little dogs! They can't hurt anyone." Answer: I don't think it's ok for dog owners to let their dogs run free and wild no matter what the size. But they ARE just being dogs.. wild yes.. but they don't know better without the proper training. But that doesn't give anyone the right to use physical action on someone else's pet. If the dog is flat out attacking you or your dogs that's different because it is in self defense. Answer: Little dogs like that would just terrify me if I saw one loose while walking my big dog. Normally he doesn't pay much attention to other dogs, though he might look their way if they're barking. But he has strong protective instincts, and if he thought the little dog was attacking me (or if it was :rolleyes: ) I honestly don't know what he'd do. I'm sure he'd bark and growl at it, but if it didn't run away . . . ugh. I need to start carrying doggie pepper spray or something. Luckily the little dogs around here are at least properly confined or trained. There's a little Norfolk Terrier down the street that's often in the front yard, but NEVER leaves it! And there's a guy who hangs out in his front yard with his Chihuahua, but whenever the little Chi runs over towards me he scoops him up and jokingly tells the little dog not to go and hurt my big one. :p Answer: But that doesn't give anyone the right to use physical action on someone else's pet. If the dog is flat out attacking you or your dogs that's different because it is in self defense. No offense, but if a dog runs out within kick range, they're also close enough to rush in for a bite. What about the scenario I described in my last post where I'm walking a DA dog? Is it better to let the little dog just run out and get chomped and say "oops?" I can't speak for everybody else, but I'd rather the accusations get leveled against me than my dog. People need to obey the leash laws. Period. If a dog runs out at me and the owner isn't right behind or taking action to get their dog back, they forfeit their right to expect courtesy from me. I wont kick or otherwise hurt a dog that's not behaving aggressively, but I will try to scare "overly interested" dogs away by any means necessary. I have a right to walk down the street without being harassed, attacked, threatened or otherwise molested by dogs. (Or so they write it in the laws.) Answer: No offense, but if a dog runs out within kick range, they're also close enough to rush in for a bite. What about the scenario I described in my last post where I'm walking a DA dog? Is it better to let the little dog just run out and get chomped and say "oops?" I can't speak for everybody else, but I'd rather the accusations get leveled against me than my dog. People need to obey the leash laws. Period. If a dog runs out at me and the owner isn't right behind or taking action to get their dog back, they forfeit their right to expect courtesy from me. I wont kick or otherwise hurt a dog that's not behaving aggressively, but I will try to scare "overly interested" dogs away by any means necessary. I have a right to walk down the street without being harassed, attacked, threatened or otherwise molested by dogs. (Or so they write it in the laws.) Well said. And honestly, if a little dog came running at me with my big dog, the little guy would be much better off getting booted aside or scared off by me than "chomped" by my big guy. Its certainly not an ideal situation, but it would be for the best. Not all big dogs are angels that will tolerate a strange little dog harassing them. I do love little dogs though! They just make me so nervous when they're left to their own devices by negligent owners. Answer: But that doesn't give anyone the right to use physical action on someone else's pet. If the dog is flat out attacking you or your dogs that's different because it is in self defense. No offense, but if a dog runs out within kick range, they're also close enough to rush in for a bite. What about the scenario I described in my last post where I'm walking a DA dog? Is it better to let the little dog just run out and get chomped and say "oops?" I can't speak for everybody else, but I'd rather the accusations get leveled against me than my dog. I agree. I wouldn't wait till the dog was in full on attack already biting my dog or me. That could spell disaster. No, if the dog is that close and coming at you aggressively you most certainly DO have the right to protect yourself, your dog or that dog from being eaten alive by your big dog. (or whatever) And by whatever means. If a big dog was charging me aggressively and I thought he was going to attack me, and I had a gun on me, I'd shoot it. Sorry, but I would have the legal right to do so. I love dogs but I love myself and my own dogs better. LOL. (I'd rather use pepper spray. I'd hate to kill a dog. But I'm just saying if that's all I had and I feared for my life or my dogs life, I'd do it. Big dogs can kill...even some medium dogs.) A little dog....well, that would be over kill. Pardon the pun. Kicking it away would do. Answer: No offense, but if a dog runs out within kick range, they're also close enough to rush in for a bite. What about the scenario I described in my last post where I'm walking a DA dog? Is it better to let the little dog just run out and get chomped and say "oops?" I can't speak for everybody else, but I'd rather the accusations get leveled against me than my dog. People need to obey the leash laws. Period. If a dog runs out at me and the owner isn't right behind or taking action to get their dog back, they forfeit their right to expect courtesy from me. I wont kick or otherwise hurt a dog that's not behaving aggressively, but I will try to scare "overly interested" dogs away by any means necessary. I have a right to walk down the street without being harassed, attacked, threatened or otherwise molested by dogs. (Or so they write it in the laws.) In my experience any dog that I've seen out w/o a leash has never been aggressive towards me or my dogs.. i've had a few run up to me... chase or bark at me and my dogs but i've never felt the need to physically touch a dog other than to grab a collar to check for an id tag. What happens if a dog gets out and their owners aren't aware of it, and the little dog gets injured? It might be your right to protect yourself, but if it was your dog.. I think you might feel differently. Answer: These dogs that attacked my legs were without leashes lol... My dog Eevee has been attacked by loads of dogs that were not on leashes (big and small). People were being idiots and letting their aggressive dogs just run all over... Answer: In my experience any dog that I've seen out w/o a leash has never been aggressive towards me or my dogs.. i've had a few run up to me... chase or bark at me and my dogs but i've never felt the need to physically touch a dog other than to grab a collar to check for an id tag. You were lucky that this was your experience. However, it does happen sometimes that dogs rush up and aren't just prancing around yapping. Some dogs are seriously aggressive and so rude in doggie language that it elicits an aggressive response from the other dog. And the problem is that even a dog which comes barking or snarling and gets too close to someone holding a GSD or Rottweiler or in my case, a Doberman or any number of large, strong breeds, who are often very protective and dog reactive can come unglued to fight back and it is NOT easy to hold onto a big, strong 100LB or more dog who is lunging at the end of the leash. It's not right that people allow their dogs, big or small to run around loose tormenting other people and their dogs who are on leashes. And if the only way to protect yourself, your dog or the other person's dog is to kick it, then so be it. If a vicious dog was rushing toward you and looked like he was ready and willing to bite, had gnashing teeth, are you saying that you wouldn't kick it out of the way? You would just stand there and let it bite you or let your 100 LB dog kill it because it got too close and you couldn't hold onto your dog? It's not always easy. Rushing, yapping, snarling little dogs can p!ss off another dog and the owner better hope that the person holding the leash of a big 100-150LB dog can hold onto it. Answer: What happens if a dog gets out and their owners aren't aware of it, and the little dog gets injured? It might be your right to protect yourself, but if it was your dog.. I think you might feel differently. If my dog got out and somebody kicked her, it would be my fault. I would owe my dog an apology and a fat knucklebone. It is far better than what could happen to her if she hurt somebody, or chased livestock. I'd rather a kick than a bullet or a euthanasia needle. People need to be aware. There's no excuse for not knowing where your dog is at. Answer: You were lucky that this was your experience. However, it does happen sometimes that dogs rush up and aren't just prancing around yapping. Some dogs are seriously aggressive and so rude in doggie language that it elicits an aggressive response from the other dog. And the problem is that even a dog which comes barking or snarling and gets too close to someone holding a GSD or Rottweiler or in my case, a Doberman or any number of large, strong breeds, who are often very protective and dog reactive can come unglued to fight back and it is NOT easy to hold onto a big, strong 100LB or more dog who is lunging at the end of the leash. It's not right that people allow their dogs, big or small to run around loose tormenting other people and their dogs who are on leashes. And if the only way to protect yourself, your dog or the other person's dog is to kick it, then so be it. If a vicious dog was rushing toward you and looked like he was ready and willing to bite, had gnashing teeth, are you saying that you wouldn't kick it out of the way? You would just stand there and let it bite you or let your 100 LB dog kill it because it got too close and you couldn't hold onto your dog? It's not always easy. Rushing, yapping, snarling little dogs can p!ss off another dog and the owner better hope that the person holding the leash of a big 100-150LB dog can hold onto it. I understand what you mean.. but by the time a little dog got within 'kicking' range... wouldn't the bigger dog already be close enough to snap at it? Answer: LoveThatCollie, ROFL on Jasper! Are you sure he's not my friend's Jack Russell? I won't even LET Tosca near him. Why should she take that crap just because she behaves better? The last time I took my dog there, I was absolutely amazed she didn't just turn on that little chit. LOL ToscasMom, JASPER!! ***grits teeth and shivers at the thought!*** Chloe (6 months old) hasn't met Jasper yet. Oh God! But I still have that letter on my computer. :D Bailey had the look on his face like, "oh, Mom he's just a little ankle biter!".......yeah, MY ankles possibly! And THEN Jasper got Bailey's tail and Bailey's like: "WHAT the H%$L!!, why'd you do THAT?" Seriously, February of 2005, I walked up to a door, knocked, the lady came to the door to answer it, I heard 2 dogs. She cracked the outer storm door to answer the door to me. The dogs burst through the crack of the door past her, went STRAIGHT for my leg. BOTH of them bit my leg, through my winterweight jeans in the SAME place on my leg. (tag teamed me) before I could say anything or even react, that's how quick it came on. These dogs were not big, about 25 lbs each. But bit THROUGH my jeans they did! The police came, and they ascertained that one of the dogs had NO vaccinations whatsoever since 2003!!! None. And this was NOT a home that was a dump or anything nor was it in a bad neighborhood but both the dogs were vicious even to the police office who threatened to shoot them if they bit HIM as they were acting vicious when the officer arrived. So, you never know what kind of care an owner of a dog you don't know has taken of their animals. That's why I carry my Mace or Pepper Spray. And I tell you what, they next encounter with Jasper WILL illicit my sending that letter to the owners (my neighbors) with the warning I have already put in the letter that I WILL spray him the next time. I think that's MORE THAN FAIR of me at this point. :mad: This dog is absolutely crazy! KrisyKris you are MORE than lucky you have not encountered an aggressive little or big dog while out on your walks and do be careful and thoroughly assess the dog before grabbing it's collar to check for ID. If I had done that with a Rottweiler that was charging me (no growl no vocal sound) then I would have been seriously hurt or killed had I not Maced him and dropped him like a sack of rocks. I hated to do it but it was me or him and I didn't have a dog with me. Some people don't know when a dog is charging them and when they are just rushing up to investigate and that can lead to serious injury. Doberluv is absolutely correct. You would have the absolute legal right to protect yourself from an aggressive dog, no matter what the size. And you don't WAIT for it to bite you then it's too late. You should see our mail carriers in my county, they have all kinds of protection hanging from their belt, almost everything except a revolver! Here, law enforcement do NOT distinguish size of dog if it's aggressive. Meaning that just because it's little doesn't mean it can't hurt someone, they know different. Answer: OMG LoveThat. I carry HALT too. I would have NO problem spraying anybody's dog coming at me. None whatsoever. I don't care what size the dog is. NO WAY I am going to tangle with the dog, check its ID or anything of the sort. As for my friend and her Jack Russell. Well, forget it. I invite her over and tell her not to bring her dog and I rarely go there anymore. I know she knows it's because I can't stand her snarly dog, and I know she knows others feel the same way. Now it's either up to her to do something about it, or one day somebody will get hurt and she will learn the hard way. It is NOT cute! Answer: its people like that that make me VERY angry! its THOSE people that give all us good little dog owners a very bad name. Answer: wouldn't the bigger dog already be close enough to snap at it? Yes, probably...better to have pepper sray. I'm lucky I don't live in a populated place...don't run into that at all. You have been lucky. Answer: I guess I have been. I've had to catch two stray dogs in my neighborhood that were both much much bigger than mine. They never seemed aggressive although one was really bark-ey and overly excited. There are a lot of dogs here that are off leash. There's a chi next door to me that is always let out in the front yard to potty w/o a leash, and a big black mix of some sort that's always out front unchained as well. Maybe I should start carrying pepper spray just in case. With only two dogs, they were easy enough to scoop up if there was trouble, but with three it could be more challenging. Answer: I understand what you mean.. but by the time a little dog got within 'kicking' range... wouldn't the bigger dog already be close enough to snap at it? Well, if you're like me, you reel your dog in right by your side when loose dogs come around. And I try to keep myself between my dog and the other. Like I said, I'd rather it fall on me than my dog. If I kick a pushy stray, I will likely have more rights than the dog if it got to the point of police intervention. If my dog grabbed the other dog and went to town on it, there could be serious repercussions for her. I wont let her near unless I'm seriously fearing for my own safety. (I have no illusions about who is more capable of handling a potentially dangerous stray. She's built and bred for that.) I remember reading 2 seperate stories within the last year about off-lead small dogs that ran up to on-lead big dogs and got mauled, and the courts actually sided with the owners of the small dogs. Its a gross perversion of "justice," but it happens. Answer: I agree 100%. My husband and I live in an apartment while we look for a house. Policy is not to take your dog out without a leash (common sense and respect for others IMO). We have a neighbor in the building over who has a Yorkie. She will open the door and the dog just runs loose, attacks other dogs when they go out to potty, attacks people walking up the sidewalk. My husband I have both kept this dog from being ran over many time. She will run after whoever she chasing (this includes the parking lot, garbage can (which is covered with skunks and raccoon's -- we have a huge field behind us), etc. So, I had finally had enough and called the office and made a complaint. She doesn't pick up after her dog, and no leash. They put a note on her dog stating that if she didn't contact them within 48 hrs she would be evicted. Suddenly, the dog is gone now. Grrrrrrrrrrrr --- it made me so mad. (This is why I put up with it for 6 months before calling, I knew she was that type). Since Christmas we have seen the dog over there again along with 4 other dogs who all do the same thing. Now, she takes them to the other side of the building so we can't see them from our side. We were not the only ones who complained. Her dog attacked a 8 week old puppy who was outside playing on a leash with her owner. /I'll step off my soap box. I can't stand people who don't want to be responsible for their pets --- they are like having children. Answer: We had a husky approach us in the dark last month. I had Cider reeled into my side. Stupid owner kept walking. Sort of called his dog and kept going. Didn't look back to see if it was coming. Got within 5 feet of me and started to snarl. I was really appreciative. I walked backwards slowly away from it... Seems I find more off leash dogs at night than any time else, and they are always more questionable personalities. Anyone who carries spray who has no issue using it. What do you do if the owner is 30 feet away in like a human park.. and pays no attention to their nasty dog coming way too close for comfort. And possible subsequently doing harm to you, your pet... Do you warn them spray the dog if it gets bad... do you worry that the owner might have a fit if there is one to be seen? Answer: Do you warn them spray the dog if it gets bad... do you worry that the owner might have a fit if there is one to be seen? If I had spray, I wouldn't worry about the owner. They'd be next if they thought they were going to do something cute. :yikes: Answer: Many months ago, I was on my way to school one rainy morning, and these two min pins charged at me, snarling and barking. I stepped of the sidewalk to avoid them, but if they had attempted to bite I would have been forced to knock them out with my umbrella lol. *I wish to add that in addition I would have kicked their terrible owners lol. Answer: If I had spray, I wouldn't worry about the owner. They'd be next if they thought they were going to do something cute. :yikes: Yep, I'm with you Bahamutt. They'd be next. MafiaPrincess, do what you have to to protect yourself and your dogs. Especially if it's a larger dog. If the dog keeps coming then spray. I have usually tried a few commands to a dog that I thought was going to come too close, like NO, STAY, SIT, etc...if they keep coming then spray. I never let a large one keep coming and get too close if their body language is not blatantly friendly. ToscasMom..........how old is Tosca now and about how much does she weigh now? Answer: I'd have to look into what is legal here to carry. I have a can of mace still in a package locked in a safe, cause it's essentially tear gas, and carries the penalty of carry any concealed weapon. I had never heard of products like halt before in all my time on forums until the last few days though... Generally I've had more problems with people than dogs, but that sibe and his uncaring owner spooked me some. I told it to get going, but it got grumpier as it got closer. Owner cared enough to put a blinking tag on it though.. easier to spot cosign towards you.. Answer: Mafia Princess I think Halt is legal in most states. Halt company might have a list of states (if any) that it is not permitted in, but somehow I don't see that. Look at the company website or better yet, just call your local law enforcement agency. But IF you do use some of the lesser potent sprays ever, just make sure you hit the spot the first time. I know if I had sprayed that Rottweiler with Halt he would have laughed at me. :D |
|