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?

 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I recall reading that discussion, and while I was not the one who recommended pulling the dog's legs rearward, I must say that I had read that recommendation before in some dog-owner suggestion book.   I don't know that I'd have the wherewithal to try it, though.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

A golf club is a great idea! Much easier to handle than a baseball bat and looks more civilized, too! lol

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Maybe that's why I rarely walk my dogs in our neighborhood anymore.  Too many Pitbulls, American Staffordshires or

whatever they are called.  I have met a lot of nice ones that are well behaved and on leash, but we do have several that

are permitted off leash.  I had, past tense, a friend, whose dog, a mix she denies is part pit, but sure looks it to me, bit

my previous poodle on the rump.  My dog was not injured, but she refused to own up to the bite and still permits the

nasty dog off leash.  Needless to say, we are no longer friends.

[Diane Margetts]

Don't blame you . . .

[Pat and Traveler]

I can just imagine the terror of being attacked by three pitbulls--or any other pack!  I have two friends who have a variation of this problem--both have big dogs that are always on leash when they're out.  Both have been attacked by loose dogs, but the problem for them was to try to prevent injury to the smaller dogs that were doing the attacking.  One friend-dog is a Great Dane that really hates little dogs, and many people seem to want their little dogs to meet the 'big guy.'     

[Diane Margetts]

One of my associates does communication and media work for the Animal Shelter. I asked him what the veterinarian at the shelter recommended. He said stun guns are effective for aggressive animal attacks. I looked up stun guns and Pitbulls and found several articles like this one: http://www.guardian-self-defense.com/securityblog/stun-guns-effecti...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This sounds like a great idea. I'm so clumsy, I'm afraid I might hurt myself with it, lol but for normal people, it seems like it would solve the problem.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Stun guns and similar devices are illegal in some states.

http://www.guardian-self-defense.com/stungunlaws.htm

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, so much for that idea. Illinois is one of those states. :(

[Charlotte and Bo]

Stun guns are not legally owned in some places.

[Kimmy & Chewie]

I think dog attacks are absolutely terrifying...just thinking about the ones that I witnessed over the last few years increases my heart rate :(

- 2 months ago, Chewie was bit in the face by an off-leashed labrador. I was able to chase off the attacker by yelling and hitting it the end of the leash. Poor Chewie required to be put under general aneasthetics and had 7 stitches underneath his right eye.

- end of last year, we were at the dog pool and witnessed a Rottie-mix attacking a French bulldog. The rottie had half the frenchie's head his mouth. The rottie's owner tried to pull the dog out but it had such a grip that the poor frenchie was lifted 4-paws off the ground. The owner was hitting and punching the rottie's face/mouth for what seemed like an eternity before it finally let go. Surprisingly, the french bulldog suffered only minor scratches and actually charged at the big rottie after he was free.

- with my previous dog, we were at a golden retriever romp when 2 dogs got into a fight. One of the owners tried to use his body to block/separate the dogs and one of the dogs accidentally bit the back of his leg (right behind the knee). It knicked a blood vessel and he had to be rushed to the hospital.

- my dad lives in a gated community and one of the residents has a pitbull. One day, the pitbull escaped (after chewing through a wire fench and jumping a 5ft wall). It ran into another house, attacked and killed their shih tzu. The pitbulls owner refuses to take blame for the incident :(

We have some stray dogs in our neighbourhood, so I often walk Chewie with one of my old pony whips in hand to fend of any potential attackers.

I agree with Karen that airhorns and pepper sprays probably won't work on dogs when they're in attack mode. Especially after what I saw with the rottie attack. 

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I have no idea what the heck I would do if either of my doodles were attacked!!  I hope this never happens and I read every reply to look for a good "tool" to carry with me.  I just hope this never happens !!!!