Positive PetzineOther dogs on the loose!
Tonight I was out walking my 6.5 month old border collie, Charlie. He is, for the most part, a very good puppy and I usually take him to a near by field to walk and play frisbee off leash. This is a daily spot for us and all of the dogs we have come across have been friendly. Charlie can be quite submissive and winds easily due to a birth defect (can the other dogs sense this??).
Anyway, tonight, the field was quiet, when out of the blue, a large Malamute-type dog showed up. He was wearing a collar and tags, so I started scanning for the owner - no one to be found. Meanwhile, Charlie and this dog gave each other the big sniff, and Charlie left him right away, so I sensed he wasn't particularily fond of this guy. Sure enough, this dog started harrasing Charlie, pinning him to the ground, growling, barring teeth and biting at him as he struggled to get away. Now, I'm usually pretty laid back with the dogs figuring out who's who, and Charlie tends to get pinned frequently, but this guy meant business. I started running at this dog, yelling at him. I didn't want to get too close, but he would step back as I came at him, so I kept going. Finally, his Dad appeared at a distance, calling for the dog. I kept running at him, pointing and yelling for him to go. Eventually, he turned and ran... but not to his Dad! (they caught up with each other a short while later while Mr. Meanie was tormenting someone in front of thier house!!).
OK, so I guess I'm just wondering....... my "solution" to this problem seemed to have worked for me THIS TIME. If this should happen again (and I'm sure it will, sooner or later), what else can one do?? I gotta say, I'm a little shaken and thinking of potential outcomes of tonight's events, I just want to be preparred for round 2!
Any suggestions you can throw my way would be appreciated! :)
Kendra & Charlie
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Comments
That's a tough one. These
That's a tough one. These 'out of the blue' situations are the worst.
I'm fairly lucky with my guys, Django is confidently able to calm any other dog down and Sabella doesn't get challengers.
Generally, remaining calm is your best bet. Most aggression between dogs is a ritual and will not result in serious harm. Interference can make it much worse than it needs to be.
If your dog is bitten hard and it appears to have gotten past the point of no return, I think the best approach is to grab the other dog by the hind legs or tail then pull hard - up and back. The upwards component is important.
Once you have removed the other dog keep walking slowly backwards in a wide arc, keep him tripping lest he turns around and has a go at you.
If you can find an owner, have them make a noose with a leash and secure their dog.
Thankfully this sort of situation is extremely rare! Most disputes will resolve with minimal blood-loss, if any, if we just remain calm. I can't tell you how many fights I have seen that would never have happend had everyone just remained calm.
Regards,
Aidan
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