[americangolden]

Hello everyone!

This is the first time this has happened to me but I just got home from walking Emma. It's about 11:30 at night so pitch black dark on our walk.

We were almost home and out've no where it looked to be a black lab and rottweiler came at us off leash no owners around at all. I got a glimse of them when they passed under a street light coming twords us. I just stopped in my tracks and stood my ground. What am I supposed to do in a situation like that?

They didn't attack Emma and I but their tails were both straight up in the air which I think is a sign of dominance? I am not sure but I was kind've nervous because I don't know if they were friendly or not. When they started going away I made a quick walk home, we were only a few houses away.

What are you supposed to do when you are walking and approched by a random or multiple random stray dogs? I was pretty sure I was supposed to just stand my ground but if they try to attack then what? I guess I just want to know for future reference incase I run into this situation again that I can handle it properly. Thanks :wavey:!

 

[Jo Ellen]

Gosh, I don't know. I'm really interested in the suggestions you'll get here. There's only been a few times this has happened to me and Daisy but there's always been someone around to help. You really are at a terrible disadvantage when this happens. Sounds like you did exactly the right thing because it worked, but I suppose it really depends on the other dog(s).

Glad it turned out okay for you Since you were just a few houses away from home, I'd try to find out where these guys live to see if perhaps you may have reason to be scared if it happens again?

 

[Oaklys Dad]

I'm useless in a situation like this too. I was walking my guys off lead tonight at the cemetery and I didn't have leads for them. We met a couple walking a pup and a senior. The senior didn't care for my boys but thankfully my boys submitted enough to appease them. Caue and the pup had a great time until we could call them in.

 

[Mssjnnfer]

That IS scary... We've had some encounters like that, only ours weren't friendly at ALL. I've read you're not supposed to stand facing the dog... like... straight at them, but face them sort of at an angle. Don't stare them in the eyes.

I walk alone a LOT (I'm home alone while DH is at work) so if there was ever an attack I'd be screwed, so I carry SprayShield. I have his leash in one hand, and the SprayShield in the other. I haven't had to use it (yet) but you never know.

I also NEVER walk without a cell phone.

SprayShield: http://www.mightypets.com/product.asp?3=946

 

[Dallas Gold]

This is very scary. I've yelled loud and gotten neighbors outside to help. I've used the noise from a hand held stun gun. In one case I've used the stun gun on the dog when he was attacking a friend's golden (it worked and didn't hurt the dog but got him to stop and move on). I've kicked a dog attacking my dog. I've blown whistles. I've used a flashlight and scared them away. I've thrown poop bags at the dog and thrown dog treats in my pocket to distract. I've picked up tree branch limbs and used as a defensive weapon. It's basically use whatever you have at the time and in the situation and pray what you do to distract works. Fortunately most of the time the strays are frightened by the noise or flashlight.
When on a bicycle I've used my water bottle to get dogs from chasing the bike. If the owner is around I always drink from the bottle afterwards so they know it's just water, not something that will blind their dog. If you walk with a water bottle you can always squirt the dog with it in hopes it will distract them.

 

[GoldenJoyx'stwo]

We only had a problem once. A Golden, yes a Golden, came at Shadow and Shadow didn't react. Shadow only reacted when the dog then went after Tucker and my husband. My scream seemed to stop everything for a few seconds and the owner came and got his dog. His dog was loose on the front lawn as we walked by on the opposite side of the street.

I carry pepper spray. When I remember it. We almost never have dogs walking around off-lead.

 

[Penny & Maggie's Mom]

We've had stray dogs charge at us several times on our walks, and it's terribly fightening. I've stopped and yelled GO HOME at the top of my lungs, and Maggie ( our "shy" girl) has turned into the one that gets between the stray and me and puffs up like a blowfish. I now carry a 3-iron, and wouldn't hesitate to use it if charged again.

 

[Willow52]

This scenario always worries me, I hate walking and having some aggressive dog charge us. I've carried pepper spray and a big walking stick at times. We had a neighbor that had a rottie with an invisible fence. S/he would charge the line whenever we walked by, I didn't trust that collar so I finally quit walking that way. I'm lucky to have acreage so I don't 'have' to walk the roads and I feel for anyone that does.

 

[Nicole74]

I carry pepper spray with tear gas. I use to run 36 miles a week and I would encounter many aggressive dogs weather they were strays or not. I've also been attacked when I have forgotten my spray. I just recieved a newsletter from the city and they said if we encounter dogs running at large that are aggressive, we are to call 911 right away.

If the dogs are nice and running, I will look to see if they have a collar on and call their owners. I live in a very rural area and people do NOT follow the leash laws. Now that I have Bailey and will be taking her on the 6 mile walks, she will attract dogs much quicker then I alone. I will have my cell phone and tear gas ready in hand.

 

[Florabora22]

Oh my god, where do you guys live?! The thought of a stray dog crossing our path is completely nonexistent here. And I'm glad too, because Flora would freak out. She freaks out when a neighbor dog approaches her, much less a stray.

I'm sorry you guys have to worry about this. They must be very scary situations. I would have been extremely nervous to see a rotty and a black lab hanging out together with no owner around.

The only thing that makes me nervous around here is a distant neighbor's huge golden retriever who will storm down his front yard right to the edge, growling and making a ruckus. Whenever I get ready to pass by that house I'm always sure to have a stick in my hand.

 

[americangolden]

I've been living in this house since October 2008 and have NEVER encountered a stray dog. I guess it caught me off guard and from reading everyone elses posts would catch you all off guard too.

Can anyone confirm if you are not supposed to stand your ground staring at them or not? I am going to make sure to have my cell phone on me and If I see these dogs again I am going to call the humaine society.

I don't think I would have been as nervous but it was 11:30 at night and pitch black outside I couldn't really see the dogs as they were moving through the shadows which freaked me out. I know you are not supposed to act scared because dogs can pick up on that but kind've hard in that situation lol.

 

[Nicole74]

Can anyone confirm if you are not supposed to stand your ground staring at them or not?

Your not suppose to look them in the eye.

When I was faced with the two attacking labs, my first instinct was to look them in the eyes and yell out no as loud as you can. I did this and I tell you, I've never yelled out so loudly in my life. I was about to hit the dog myself, I was so scared and angry at the same time. I almost bopped the black lab on the head, but I just kept on screaming NO at the dogs standing my ground. The dogs backed off and we called 911. I later found out that the owner watched it happen and knew what was going on, the dumb jerk never came out to help us. He later apologized to us, but then again he said he was angry we called 911. His dogs bit us and he got a big fine for it. He had to put the dogs down and said it was our fault.

Since then, I never go out for a walk without my mace or cell phone. Your suppose to call animal control for strays and 911 for aggressive dogs. That was not the first time we were approached by aggressive dogs circling us snapping. It's the first time we've ever been attacked.

 

[goldhaven]

I, unfortunately, live in a neighborhood that had a lot of dogs running wild off leash. They were pits and rotts among others and we actually saw them attack and kill some of the neighborhood strays. We called animal control many time and nothing was done. I had a choice, either don't walk my dogs, or learn how without getting attacked. When I am walking my dogs it is always a training session. They are always close by my side and sit when I stop. I taught them one last thing. When we stop, they not only sit but they look at me. I know how hard it is to remain calm when there are big dogs circling but that is what I do. I don't look at them directly and I don't give up my space. I wait calmly for them to move on. I always carry a walking stick but I have never had to use it. As long as I remain calm that keeps my dog calm and that seems to have an affect on the aggressive dog. They eventually calm down and move on. Then we continue on our walk. I never speak to the aggressive dog. I don't know if this is what you are "supposed" to do, I just know that it works for me and I hope that someone else will find this info helpful. I too am interested in other suggestions that work. I also always carry a cell phone with a bluetooth device so that I can make a call if necessary without using my hands.

 

[Jo Ellen]

Goldhaven, that reminds me of something that happened in our yard last winter.

There's a vicious dog that lives across the street that sometimes gets loose. She's come into our yard several times and attacked Daisy. Daisy will fight back and when neither dog is on a leash, it's not a manageable situation at all.

But last winter Daisy was recovering from knee surgery so I did have her on leash when the other dog came over in full attack mode. I'm usually one to totally freak in these circumstances, but with Daisy on leash I had complete control of her so I was able to focus on the other dog. I stood with her, with her sitting at my side, while I fended off the other dog with my leg. Daisy was so calm!! I know it was because she knew I had the situation under control, she was perfectly fine with letting me handle it.

Sometimes having your own dog under control is what helps the most

 

[Mighty Casey and Samson's Mom]

We've had stray dogs charge at us several times on our walks, and it's terribly fightening. I've stopped and yelled GO HOME at the top of my lungs, and Maggie ( our "shy" girl) has turned into the one that gets between the stray and me and puffs up like a blowfish. I now carry a 3-iron, and wouldn't hesitate to use it if charged again.

I have done the exact same thing, with success. I try to sound very "in charge", and it has worked the couple of times that it has happened--once with a doberman. Luckily we have never encountered snarly ones off leash.