What to do if a dog attacks your dog?

[Diane Margetts]

Several of us walk our dogs to a neighborhood school in the evening to romp together and do some ball chasing (that's mostly Dakota!). One of the ladies was walking her dog in the vicinity of the school when three Pitbulls came at them and one attacked her Boxer. He had the Boxer in a head/neck grip. She started screaming for help and several neighbors ran out. One man started kicking the Pitbull that had the grip on the Boxer. I guess the Pitbull let go and my friend ran to safely with her Boxer.

All wound up ok. Somehow, the neighbors managed to "corral" the Pitbulls in a side yard and call animal control. None of the dogs had collars and at least one was a male and he was intact.

We don't live in a neighborhood that has a lot of Pitbulls or stray dogs running around but this incident sure made me think. I often walk Dakota to the school and down to the neighboring creek area when nobody is around. What would you do in a situation like this if you and your dog were confronted with an agressive dog or pack of dogs?

 

[Jennifer Tramell]

How scary!  I know that pit bulls can make wonderful pets, but they do seem to have anger issues.  I'm not terribly concerned about most dog breeds being in a fight - I think they can be stopped more easily - but the fight/defense breeds worry me. 

 

I would worry that physically interacting could escalate the fight - not to mention hurting the person.  What about a dog whistle?  You know, those that people can't hear but dogs hear?  My understanding is that they emit a high frequency which dogs don't normally hear.  It would be easy to carry and might break the focus & distract the dog long enough to yell, throw shoes, whatever.  Just a thought....

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

My husband has had to use pepper spray on quite a few dogs while he was working and said that it absolutely does work.  I always carry it with me when I take Hunter for a walk.  I was really worried about having it hurt Hunter's eyes if I ever had to use and the way my husband put it to me was "would you rather risk a dog biting her neck and killing her or making her eyes sting and getting her to safety?, your goal is to get rid of the other dog and the pepper spray will do it".  He has a very good point, it would be a situation I wouldn't want to be in without something I know is going to work.   He says once you rinse your eyes with water from the pepper spray there are no lasting effects and its gone pretty quick.  I aways carry a large bottle of water with us so I would use that if the situation arose.  I also carry an asp (tactical baton), it's easier to carry than a large stick.

[Diane Margetts]

I agree with your husband . . .

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Jared I did exactly the same thing when I took my Maltese for a walk in the country.  We were passing a farm and a big dog came running at Snowy very aggressive.  I actually lifted Snowy by the lead, got him into my arms and put him up high over my head.  I then kicked like hell and screamed at the top of my voice.  Had a few scrapes and scratches and a big fright.  It may have been a silly thing to do but I'm afraid instinct took over.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unfortunately, that only works if you can pick up your dog, lol.

[Kimmy & Chewie]

Exactly! Not only pick up but gotta be high enough to be out of harms way.

I can pick Chewie (44lbs) up to my waist, but his legs hangs down to just above my knees which is well within reach of most medium-sized attackers :(

[F, Calla & Luca]

True and imagine me picking up both of mine.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Definitely not possible with Riley :)