The Dish by Darcie

Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place, but I’m needing something to spray at aggressive dogs to help with unleashed dogs that aggressively charge my dogs when walking.  Do you carry these items? The dogs on our rural road run out into the road barking aggressively at me and my dogs. One almost bit me today. Thanks, Frances”First a biting dog story. And then a training tip: How to get your dog to a mat and stay there.

A 15 month old girl and a 5 year old boy. The girl was in her own yard. Mother saw the stranger dog attack, fought for her daughter and the dog attacked both of them, badly injuring the little girl, biting the mother on the back of her neck. The dog has been euthanized. The boy was playing with his puppy when the stranger dog approached. The dog reportedly went for the puppy, the little boy tried to save the pup and he was badly bitten. Both children have had surgery. These are the the worst type of dog bite stories, both people and dogs were injured. In both of these cases, the dog seems to have attacked with little or no provocation. Both dogs were pit bulls…but pit bulls as a breed are not the story I see.

The story for me is that we can help prevent this. The only solution to these types of incidents are management of dogs. Manage our dogs. Watch our neighborhoods. Know our neighbors. Know our neighbor’s dogs. Dogs on the loose cause harm. Whether it’s a dog attacking other dogs or just a sweet dog who got out of his yard coming over to say hi. Unless you’re prepared to stay calm, it can chill your heart. You don’t know what’s going to happen and it happens so fast, you usually react without thinking. It leaves you with a fear of that it might happen again.

Sprays and other offensive weapons can backfire and you or your dog can get hurt. If you spray a dog who is truly aggressive, you’ve just made him mad or heightened his sense of fear or aggression. He may have thought you were a threat, now he knows you are one. Now you have real trouble. And stranger dog might attack the next passer by before they can spray him, a little pain is a good teacher when you’re dealing with fear. Dogs learn to react more quickly the next time so they don’t get hurt, that means no warning.

A slight breeze or badly aimed spray can come back to you and your dog. When that happens, now your dog is afraid or hurt and you can’t see through the tears. If it all goes badly, your dog may not recover from the fear. In my opinion, it’s just not worth using these types of tactics.

If you’re carrying spray, chances are that you’re feeling tense or upset already before you even see stranger dog. That feeling travels right down the leash to your dog. You’re potential victims in this state of mind. You dog is tense and all other dogs seem to be a threat even if they aren’t. A tense dog is more likely to increase fight and fear mode or escalate the conflict simply by being tense. People and dogs who are relaxed, happy, and minding their own business aren’t usually included in a dog fight.

There are many kinds of off leash dogs, they can all cause concern for a dog walker. Today we’re talking about dogs on an adventure and those who are protecting the public property in front of their home.

If your dog gets out of the yard and runs loose, she will cause concern and fear for dog walkers and children. Even if she’s a good, happy dog with you, her approach can make even the most solid soul tense. Your dog might be the next victim of the spray or shocking products available on the market even when she was just going to say hi. The effects can be long lasting.

A good dog who has never shown aggression gets out of the yard and runs. He’s a concern for dog walkers and children. They don’t know he’s a good dog, they don’t know him at all. All they see is speed and teeth showing, happy teeth maybe, but teeth can all look the same if you’re on the receiving end of a dog running at you. A child runs or start screaming, dog chases, biting in fun, tearing skin. Dog approaches child, people scare dog and try to intervene, people scare dog, dog bites everybody. Or dog chases dog, person intervenes, scares dog, dog bites everybody. Dog is taken into custody.

Lots of dogs on the loose aren’t aggressive dogs and don’t intend harm. More than likely they wouldn’t hurt your dog, they’re just curious and want to say hi to your dog, they may not have good manners so they run right up without first asking if it’s okay. Dogs rarely fight to the death and most of the time they don’t even put a tooth mark in. If there is a scuffle, one of the dogs is going to “say uncle”, the other will quit, everyone calls it a day and we all go home. Dogs get tooth marks in rough play all the time without lasting damage.

Dogs who “protect” public property adjacent to their own home are a problem which should be addressed immediately with the owner of the home. It’s your best protection. Talk to the authorities if those people won’t listen and promise to remedy the problem. I’ve never turned anyone in for an aggressive dog, I prefer to talk. Talking to people is always the first and the best start to end a problem.

If you want something physical to carry on your walks, consider carrying an umbrella which opens quickly with a button, it’s best if it will make some sound like a whoosh. Open it toward the dog who is charging. Stay calm. If the dog keeps coming, hold the dog back with the umbrella while you and your dog slowly back away. Practice opening the umbrella with your dog in a safe spot so she’s not scared if you have to use it. An opened umbrella to your dog will mean fun, to a stranger dog not so much.

Truly the very best thing I know to keep a stranger dog from approaching you and your dog is to yell “Come!”. Step toward the dog like you’re going to catch him and in a very loud and authoritative voice say, “Come” and then “Come here!” and then “Come here!” in an even more harsh voice. Dogs who are on the loose are usually on the loose because they don’t come to their master. Usually that’s because the dog gets punished when it finally does come. This has worked every single time I’ve used it. That does not guarantee it will work for you.

Now for the dog who thinks he owns the road. Dogs in their own yards are a different story entirely, they are defending their territory which includes a bit of the road adjacent as well. Please don’t use anything forceful like a spray against them, you will only escalate their fear, you’re asking for a bite. So far they are only barking and being a nuisance to you and your dog. They may be doing it out of fear and territory. If they were truly aggressive and intended harm, they wouldn’t stop at barking. If you do something to scare them, they may intensify their need to have you be on your way.

Please go to the door and talk. Go without your dog and talk to the owners. Maybe even take some cupcakes or a little basket of fruit (it will cost a lot less than stitches for you and your dog). They may not know that their dogs are going into the road to harass passers by. They may not know that their dogs are scaring anybody. My guess is that if you go to them with a love for dogs and explain what the dogs are doing and they are frightening you on a public road, they’ll help you by controlling the dogs. Usually it’s best to work things out peaceably with neighbors. The best way to start is, “Your dogs are beautiful and I know you don’t know this but they are coming into the road after me and my dog as we walk by. Today your bigger dog tried to bite me. I know that you don’t want anyone and especially a passing child to get hurt or bitten. Is there anything we can do so I can walk by without worrying about the dogs?” Most people don’t want to be sued for a dog bite or have to pay for someone else’s hospital bills, it’s an incentive to change the situation.

When you’re walking by, stay calm so your dog stays calm. Your emotions will be read easily by the other dogs. Befriend the dogs if you possibly can. A dog who knows you may not bite as quickly. After a while, they may not even approach the road when they know it’s you. Hopefully the owners will work with you. You might even find a new best friend in your neighbor.

If they don’t do something to make it better for the public, talk to your authorities.

Get to know your neighbors and their dogs for miles around. Set up play dates so the dogs get to know each other. I can’t remember when I last saw a dog around here who didn’t belong to the community I live in. If your dog gets out for a run, more than likely the neighbor will call instead of trying to hurt your dog.

Be a good neighbor, work with your local animal rescue to get dangerous dogs off of your streets. Take a deep breath and really know if the dog is dangerous or just a family dog out for an adventure. There is a huge difference, no matter the breed. You wouldn’t want someone calling in your dog because he wanted to say hi and play.

Never ever try to break up a dog fight by reaching your hands into the fray. You will get hurt.

Train your dogs to disregard other dogs no matter what the other dogs do. Watch “It’s Me or the Dog” on TV, she does a lot of that and she’s very good at it.

Recognizing what the dog intends as it’s coming toward you is the key to keeping you and your dog safe. Take a look at Canine Body Language (BACB) , Language of Dogs (BDLOD) , and Calming Signals (VRCB) at SitStay.com. You can search on the name or the item code to see them.

I wish you and your dogs the safest and best walks ever!

Darcie Krueger
President
SitStay.com