Protecting your dog from a dog attack

[lindseyp]

The trainer was talking about this on Saturday at puppy class. Have any of you really had to step in when your dog was being attacked?
I must admit Im not really prepared even though I have thought of it several times.
What is the right thing to do if an unleashed dog does attack your dog?

The trainer says she carries, keys or chains of some sort and has been known to through them at the ground just infront of the oncoming attacking dog to stop it in its tracks. Failing that she mentioned a spray to stun it, not hurt it but just stun it.

What is the right thing to do? and have you had to intervene? My first reaction would be to try to protect Riley, even if it meant me being hurt, I think that would thought though in that situation would go right out of the window about my own safety to be honest.

TBH Jane, to 'think about it' is the most any of us can do & preparing yourself for the unknown, could in itself, lead to problems IMHO  
We could all kit ourselves out for this eventuality or that but incidences such as this, are unpredictable & on most occasion, aren't foreseen but come as a complete surprise.
To be 'en guard' when going out, equipped in case you get attacked & getting anxious when you see a certain breed of dog, can influence your own dogs behaviour. If you are nervous & over cautious, your dog might feel he/she has reason to be nervous/ cautious too & be giving off mixed signals even before another dog were to come near  

(*touch wood*)  I've not had any 'major' incidences with my 4 but a few minor scuffles with GSD's on Purdey's part, that has left her not liking them very much but we just steer clear if we see any, or use distraction techniques if that's not possible but I do try to stay pretty relaxed about it all & only react my self, if really necessary - just raising your voice could be enough to alert your dog that something is could be wrong?

'If' I were in the position that some of you have been, I would possibly do as Karendorman13 has done & put the boot in & just use any way possible to bet the dog off but I keep paws crossed, I never have to find out  

Lindsey x

[lynnruby]

TBH I had never thought about this until Ruby was attacked by a Labrador when she was about 6 months old (actually there were 3 Labs that pounced on her, one of them bit her) My son was walking her at the time, she was on a lead.  The Labs were off lead, the owner was with them but had no leads for them, made no apology and basically couldn't care less!! My son said Ruby was terrified and so was he, but he just picked her up without thinking that he may have been bitten as well!

For a long time afterwards I walked with a stick (the kind with a pointed metal end- a bit like a ski pole) but I don't anymore.  I would hate to think this would ever happen again, so I try not to think about it. 

As Lindsey said, how you feel/ react could influence your dogs behaviour, so I think you need to be mindful of that.  I would not want to cause any harm to another dog BUT if it were ever to happen again, I would do anything I could to protect Ruby.

[Jane57]

I do hear what you say Lindsey, but when you live in a huge seaside town with many parks, beaches and grassy areas as I do and the amount of dogs I see on each walk has to come into our thoughts at times.
Theres no way I would impact on my pups behaviour as Im not nervous and am in full control when walking him. (pity lots arent) Its just a normal thought that comes into our minds when we know of so many attacks, just look for instance at the people on here.

I feel more confident in my own mind now after reading a few tips on here whereas before I might have panicked if he had been set upon.
Like I say theres no harm in asking / discussing or thinking about this.
The trainer actually encouraged/recommended we do so.

[Toni-UK]

What in everyone's eyes constitutes an 'attack' though?   

Please lets not use this thread to bash breeds...can we please get back on topic which is protecting your dog from ANY other dog attacking.

Thanks 

People are explaining what they see as "attacks" no-one is breed bashing it is just unfortunate but fact that many,but not all,are by stafs.

For me an attack would be an unprovoked bite that drew blood.I have had handbags or rather Ruby has with several dogs who had no manners but luckily she has never  been attacked.
We had several incidents with a rottweiler which was basically him rushing at her while really growling and that scared me enough but wouldn't describe that as an attack at all.
If it were to happen i would twist the attacking dogs collar or bits if it were a "he" but these things happen so quickly and the movement is so fast we just can't predict it. 

[lindseyp]

I do hear what you say Lindsey, but when you live in a huge seaside town with many parks, beaches and grassy areas as I do and the amount of dogs I see on each walk has to come into our thoughts at times.
Theres no way I would impact on my pups behaviour as Im not nervous and am in full control when walking him. (pity lots arent) Its just a normal thought that comes into our minds when we know of so many attacks, just look for instance at the people on here.

I feel more confident in my own mind now after reading a few tips on here whereas before I might have panicked if he had been set upon.
Like I say theres no harm in asking / discussing or thinking about this.
The trainer actually encouraged/recommended we do so.

I do too Jane ...they don't come much bigger or busier than Bournemouth 

[lynnruby]

I don't think it matters where you live Jane! We live in a tiny "hamlet" in south Cumbria, but Ruby was attacked. It could happen anywhere...

[Jane57]

I don't think it matters where you live Jane! We live in a tiny "hamlet" in south Cumbria, but Ruby was attacked. It could happen anywhere...

I meant  that Im surrounded by lots of dogs each and every day off lead and some undesirable people "in charge" of them
I think you misunderstood, Im not meaing there is more chance of an attack here, my reply was merely in reply to Lindsey in overthinking and overreatcing to a possilbe attack.

[Helen]

What in everyone's eyes constitutes an 'attack' though?   

Please lets not use this thread to bash breeds...can we please get back on topic which is protecting your dog from ANY other dog attacking.

Thanks 

People are explaining what they see as "attacks" no-one is breed bashing it is just unfortunate but fact that many,but not all,are by stafs.

For me an attack would be an unprovoked bite that drew blood.I have had handbags or rather Ruby has with several dogs who had no manners but luckily she has never  been attacked.
We had several incidents with a rottweiler which was basically him rushing at her while really growling and that scared me enough but wouldn't describe that as an attack at all.
If it were to happen i would twist the attacking dogs collar or bits if it were a "he" but these things happen so quickly and the movement is so fast we just can't predict it. 

Well looking back at this thread it seems that labs are high up on the list - and I'm sure there are plenty of cockers on other dog breed forum lists of attacking dogs as well    I'd rather blame the deed in any case and any of the posts on this thread which mention a breed would be just as effective without the breed name mentioned.

[Cockertime Blues]

Totally agree with Lindseyp.  If you look for trouble you'll often find it.  Also totally agree with Helen - it can be any breed.  In my own limited experience I've only so far had trouble with working-type terriers, e.g., Patterdales and JRTs, but it's only my experience and I should not judge based on that - I've known some lovely JRT's.  (Still looking for a Patterdale to love  but I'm 100% positive they're out there.  It is unfortunate though that they're often used for badger baiting by undesirables.)  As said, there's got to be bad-assed cockers around being badmouthed on other forums.

[Lily Freya]

Never met a bad cocker in all my life.......However, have met many other aggressive breeds.

Give me a cocker any day, despite what any other forums might say.

[mlynnf50]

I was once told by a vet to pick up the offending dogs back legs and pull the legs apart as this unbalance the dog.  Don't know if it would work.  It's my biggest fear, I go the opposite way if we see a dog I dont know

[Neon]

Never met a bad cocker in all my life.......However, have met many other aggressive breeds.

Give me a cocker any day, despite what any other forums might say.

Have to agree with that.  I've picked Toby up a couple of times when I've suddenly noticed a particularly aggressive dog (which has attacked three dogs in only a few weeks recently) coming towards us.  I've never, ever known anyone feel the need to protect their dog when a cocker approaches.  

[Toni-UK]

What in everyone's eyes constitutes an 'attack' though?   

Please lets not use this thread to bash breeds...can we please get back on topic which is protecting your dog from ANY other dog attacking.

Thanks 

People are explaining what they see as "attacks" no-one is breed bashing it is just unfortunate but fact that many,but not all,are by stafs.

For me an attack would be an unprovoked bite that drew blood.I have had handbags or rather Ruby has with several dogs who had no manners but luckily she has never  been attacked.
We had several incidents with a rottweiler which was basically him rushing at her while really growling and that scared me enough but wouldn't describe that as an attack at all.
If it were to happen i would twist the attacking dogs collar or bits if it were a "he" but these things happen so quickly and the movement is so fast we just can't predict it. 

Well looking back at this thread it seems that labs are high up on the list - and I'm sure there are plenty of cockers on other dog breed forum lists of attacking dogs as well    I'd rather blame the deed in any case and any of the posts on this thread which mention a breed would be just as effective without the breed name mentioned.

I'm sure any of the posts would have been effective without mentioning the breed but as i already said people weren't breed bashing ,just answering a question you posed (which digressed the thread) and gave their experiences and you can't ignore fact. 

I will bow out now to keep the thread on topic. 
 

[lynnruby]

Well, I  for one didn't intend my post to be "breed bashing"    I was just sharing my experience!  Ruby is my first Cocker, before her I had a "different" breed for 30 years. As Helen said, this is about protecting your dog from ANY other dog attacking.

[praia]

I was once told by a vet to pick up the offending dogs back legs and pull the legs apart as this unbalance the dog.  Don't know if it would work.  It's my biggest fear, I go the opposite way if we see a dog I dont know

This is a good method for separating two dogs that are fighting when you have another person to assist you, though you grab the back legs, drag out and swing away to both separate the dogs and also to decrease the chances of the dog biting you.  This is not a good method for most terrier breeds that latch on and shake as doing this will only increase injury to the dog being bitten.  When breaking a fight it really depends on the situation, the individual dogs, and why the aggressor is attacking in the first place (out of dominance or fear, out of fight or prey drive, etc). 

I wouldn't say it's breed bashing to mention the breeds you've personally had bad experiences, though I will admit that I am very leery of certain breeds that are known to be dog aggressive and even larger dogs that are known to have high prey drives. These are breed traits for some dogs and though I won't blame the individual dog for acting on its genetic drives, I will blame its irresponsible owner for not being aware of those breed traits and drives and not maintaining control over them. If some owners were more knowledgeable of and responsible toward their breed of choice BEFORE the act then we wouldn't have to "blame the deed" AFTER an innocent dog has already been attacked.