Why can't people with vicious dogs keep them on a leader!!!!!!

[AlanT]

The reason these dogs misbehave is NOT because they are rescue dogs.

It's because the owners have NO RESPECT for anyone else.
They the tail-gating drivers, the queue jumpers, the wife beaters and so on.

They will do it over and over until there is a major incident of some kind.
I lived next to one for a few years. We did not go in our garden if his boxer was out.
Mercifully he moved away. He was totally unable to realise that his attitude was wrong.

And yes, every walk, every dog, is a "risk-assessment".

I got it wrong last week.
A pretty looking working Cocker about the same age as mine caused me no worry.
But he picked a fight almost at once.
 
Being walked by a foreign scullery-maid with no idea what to do.
Fortunately dogs of this size are no problem to me.

[Mudmagnets]

  and retirement, double reason to celebrate, hope you have a long and happy retirement. (I can thoroughly recommend the latter 

[zenon_bass]

Maybe time to bring this to the attention of the appropriate authorities yourself.

It seems these people haven't learned anything, still insist on walking their dogs off lead and have now stooped to acting in a threatening manner towards Kim.

About time they got "Educated" in their responsibilities as dog owners and as members of the public. 

Congrats on your imminent retirement, have a long, happy and healthy one 

Bob.

Agree with Bon and Dot..

Millie has been attacked by two different off lead dogs in the last two consecutive weeks, one a lab x, the other a ginormous English Mastiff.   Both owners said 'he/she won't bite' but M had been rolled over on both occasions. I grabbed the other dogs collars to pull them off: should have said that the dogs needed to be muzzled or they'd be reported to our local warden...

[Redked]

Totally agree with Alan T. It's not the dog, be it a rescue or not, this is about owners who have no control over their dog. If they can't recall, control or are unsure how their dog will react to another dog, they should be on a lead or at least a long line. It's about being responsible for your dog and unfortunately there are too many people who just think they don't have to bother.

The OP mentioned about the woman ranting that her rescue dog had now been put back in the training they had done. What about those of us who have also spent months and years socialising and training our dogs only to have that totally ruined because now our dogs are terrified or become reactive to other dogs? Bonnie is very wary now of other dogs, she screeches or cowers now at approaching dogs, something that has only come about because of her experience with uncontrolled off lead dogs.

[sodpot2000]

Very sorry for all whose dogs have been attacked. As others have said, if you cannot be 100% sure how your dog will react - keep them on a lead until they are safe and trained. I would get little sympathy from the judge if I said "yes but its a rescued shotgun and sometimes it just goes off".

[bizzylizzy]

Luckily, I haven't had to go through this (yet!) but it must be terrifying and every dog owners nightmare. Does anyone have any suggestions/tips about how to try and separate fighting dogs?.(apart from the obvious!!!  ) Sprays or whistles or something like that?  Sorry if its a silly question, but maybe someone has an idea!

[daw]

I was taught by my lovely vet to grab the two back legs of the dog doing the attack and walk backwards as quickly as you can so the dog is like a wheelbarrow. I have done it once with our corgi x who had had a go at our resident spaniel the day he arrived and it did work - I walked him out into the garden and OH  slammed the door. BUT I can't recommend it because when I told him it had been successful our vet laughed and said Good- never had the nerve to try it myself!

So maybe with a corgi-sized maniac- but a Great Dane?   

[bizzylizzy]

Certainly worth a try!

[Countrygirl]

That's a good idea.

[MIN]

I was taught by my lovely vet to grab the two back legs of the dog doing the attack and walk backwards as quickly as you can so the dog is like a wheelbarrow. I have done it once with our corgi x who had had a go at our resident spaniel the day he arrived and it did work - I walked him out into the garden and OH  slammed the door. BUT I can't recommend it because when I told him it had been successful our vet laughed and said Good- never had the nerve to try it myself!

So maybe with a corgi-sized maniac- but a Great Dane?

I tried this when Gemma got hold of our staffie. I found myself dragging Gemma who was dragging poppy by the lip

[AlanT]

The old wisdom is to take off your coat and throw it over the attackers head.
( Betty Penn-Bull 1956).

I think this OK, but only if it does not have a firm hold on your dog.

If it's a small dog, like the infamous Jack Russell, I grab the collar and lift 'em up.
This worked fine last week with a bull-dog. But then I am quite tall and strong.

There are some breeds I just avoid all of them.

[Murphys Law]

I try and avoid certain breeds of dog too, but sometimes it is easier said than done.

Spaniels are one type of dog I always feel totally confident in approaching.

[lescef]

I read somewhere about putting up an umbrella to keep dogs apart -but make sure your dog is conditioned to it first!