One of my biggest fears ocurred today on our walk

[jerros]

I feel for you.

The first week I had Vash, I was having a heck of a time potty training him (mainly the constant in & out required for a 2 month old pup). I was outside with treats and Vash decided to yank his leash which tossed all the treats I had in my hand up into the air and down on the ground.

Later that evening I was taking Vash out for a potty break in the back yard before bed (10pm). It was a pitch black night, and all of a sudden I hear *WOOF WOOF* followed by another voice *WOOF WOOF*. These two large black dogs come wandering out of the darkness into my yard and there was no owner in sight. Vash was terrified, I picked him up and we went inside.

The dogs proceeded to eat up all the left over treats, and leave rather large "presents" for me in my yard, all the while barking at Vash through the sliding glass door.

I was insanely mad about the whole situation, first of all these dogs wandered into my yard, ate my treats, and then pooped in my yard. My pup was 2 months old and wasn't fully vaccinated and he could've been exposed to a number of diseases if these dogs owners had not taken good care of them.

I ended up calling the city's animal control and told them that there were 2 large dogs running around off leash, with no owner in my neighborhood. And I was unsure if they were violent or not, but they were certianly vocal. It's illegal to have pets off leash without an owner around in my city. Besides the legality of the situation they could've hurt someone, or been hurt by any number of cars which are on the roads around my home.

A few months later I found out that these dogs belong to a guy who lives about a block and a half down the road in my subdivision. They are large black labs and he never has these dogs on a leash. But at 10pm on a pitch black night I couldn't tell they were labs...

I'm still pretty annoyed about the whole situation, I don't talk to that neighbor. Seriously how irresponsible can you be?

 

[lukabear]

Pitbulls get a very bad rap, and often they respond to people's body language around them. You tightening up and seeming worried might have just been enough for the dog to be like "heyyyy. WHATCHA DOING?!" Because of the dog's reputation, it ends up being interpreted as an aggressive act. I'm not saying that's what happened there, but I think people are a little too harsh on the breed.

I, for one, would also be livid if my dog happened to get off leash and went running up to someone to sniff them and they sprayed him in the face with pepper spray without provocation. I fostered a beautiful boxer mix for almost 2 years who never hurt a fly and was best friends with a blind cat, of all things... He wouldn't even play a game of tug o war with you because he had no desire to even PLAY aggressive.

People acted scared of him just because he was a larger dog and wasn't a lab. That only made him more curious. I can honestly say that I would have been deeply upset if someone had sprayed or hit him simply because he was a big dog and they were afraid he was coming up to them.

 

[tofu pup]

The issue for me is dogs that are let off-leash when their owners have verbal control that is anything less than 100%-absolutely-rock-solid. There is absolutely nothing more irritating than being out on a walk with my leashed Sheltie, and having to fend off some untrained dog while his owners shout "Fluffy, COME! Fluffy, COME HERE!" while jogging over. Meanwhile, Fluffy is giving his owner the one-finger salute, so to speak, and has no interest in obeying anytime soon.

I don't care if the dog is friendly or aggressive - most suburban dogs in the US are raised alone, and have zero understanding of dog-dog etiquette. "Friendly" usually means that Fluffy is shoving his face in my dog's, getting into her space, and generally being a jerk. Friendly or aggressive, I would really prefer that dogs be kept on-leash.

 

[lukabear]

^I'm not disagreeing with that at all.

My post was under the assumption that the area allows off-leash patrons.

My dogs HAVE been attacked before by dogs that are left in front yards/passing by their houses despite leash laws. More often than not though, it's some annoying small terrier that happens to be mean as a snake. I fully support leash laws and think that if you're going to walk your dog, you should be responsible enough to
a) not ever let an aggressive dog off-leash, most importantly
b) follow the codes in that area

 

[Toffee's Mom]

Off leash or not I think Pepper Spray is a bit over board...? Sounded to me, (unless I misunderstood the original post) that this dog just didn't listen, that's all, no harm done...? No need to defend yourself, just scary and uncomfortable to a human. IF that dog had been mean and attacking anybody I would understand the need to wanting to defend your own dog like Mama Bear, I sure as hell would as well!
However, I hope to goodness I would never feel the need to consider Pepper Spray... Of course Ann has a good case, because it is against criminals and whatever it takes to make her feel more safe... but is Pepper Spray usage even remotely justified because we are worried about random pit bull attacks?

Maybe I live in a different environment because I am a little shocked at some of the willingness to arm yourselves with Pepper Spray?

I am also no fan of the breed, by the way but it seems unfair to judge all Pitbulls because we are scared of them?

 

[RonandJan]

Sorry Off Course of Original Thread:

My son has the sweetest, but also I might add the stupidest, little pit bull named Abbey.

First thing every morning, my son takes her for a 45 minute walk and teaches, come, sit and no.

Today we teach come, sit, and no.
Tomorrow we teach come, sit and no.
The next day we teach come, sit and no.
And the next day we teach come, sit and no.


There is absolutely no aggression in her to the depth of her soul. She is sweet and loving, but.........she is 2 years old now and only knows come, sit and no and then only for about 24 hours before she forgets it.

I told Joel, "she is like the girl in the movie, 50 First Dates"

He said, "that isn't funny, Mother"

 

[tofu pup]

My son has the sweetest, but also I might add the stupidest, little pit bull named Abbey.

First thing every morning, my son takes her for a 45 minute walk and teaches, come, sit and no.

Today we teach come, sit, and no.
Tomorrow we teach come, sit and no.
The next day we teach come, sit and no.
And the next day we teach come, sit and no.


There is absolutely no aggression in her to the depth of her soul. She is sweet and loving, but.........she is 2 years old now and only knows come, sit and no and then only for about 24 hours before she forgets it.

I told Joel, "she is like the girl in the movie, 50 First Dates"

He said, "that isn't funny, Mother"

OK, I think that's the sweetest thing I've heard all day. (And sorry Joel, but I think your mom's joke was hilarious.)

I love Pit Bulls... but I know they need a certain kind of owner, someone who will step up and give them the exercise, training, and leadership that they need to be awesome pets. It sounds like your son is that kind of owner (even if Abbey's training repertoire is... um... short).

 

[Ann]

I have nothing against pitbulls. I used to pet sit for some and they were nicer and better behaved than some of the small dogs I took care of.

My problem is with any large, threatening dogs who are not trained, are off leash, and agressive with my dogs, who are on leash and because I have more than one, I can't pick them up quickly enough. The dog in my walking experience was decidedly NOT friendly, was growling and gunning for my Barkley, and moving at warp speed. Any responsible owner can read dog signals, and I am not advocating pepper spraying a dog who is just saying hello. His owner who let him loose on the other hand....

That being said, I am with MisfitBrian. If anything is attacking my dogs without restraint or an owner at the other end of a leash, I will do whatever I have to. If they want to sue me, so be it. I can counter sue very easily for an aggressive dog who is off leash in a town where we do have a leash law.

 

[KarenCurtis]

Great suggestion, Ann.

Karen - I'm sorry for you that you had a frightening encounter like this. Breed aside, the size difference alone between a pit and a sheltie is huge; then the added facts of lack of voice control, leashed vs. unleashed dog, and whatever "take it easy" means (??!) would have frightened me as well.

What is the policy in this area for leashing dogs ?

We don't have to leash at the conservation area-(I think: nobody does) although legally if something happened BECAUSE a dog was unleashed, I am not sure. Everywhere else the dogs have to be leashed, but on Cape Cod, since there are alot of rural type areas, many people don't. I never see dogs running loose down the main roads, though. Actually this dog was not much bigger than Sandstorm- but the muscle and jaws on this dog would over power him in two seconds! As soon as I heard the owner say "take it easy" to the dog I really became afraid. Thank god the dog was okay,
Karen

 

[KarenCurtis]

Sounds like it was really scary for you. Nothing like that horrible Adrenalin rush... when we fear for our dogs, that's for sure!!!

But I didn't quite understand, just to clarify the Pitbull didn't do anything when he came running back to you and Sandstorm, tho? He just didn't come when he was called by his owner, I hope? Were there any bad interactions between the two dogs at all? Or was it just the potential what if he had been?

Because then maybe the Pit's owner knew his dog and that the dog wasn't dangerous to other dogs or people... Maybe just a one off that this dog didn't listen... Or so I hope...

Personally, I would be horrified to have to carry Pepper Spray for anything... Don't even think it is really legal here IN Canada, either?

The Pitbull didn't do anything when he came running to us- I think he was just curious. I am too afraid of them (and what they can do to other dogs) to allow this, I feel bad about it, but unless I can fully trust a Pitbull owner I cannot get over this fear of them. Maybe this owner did know his dog wasn't dangerous, but when he said "take it easy" to his dog I was wary.
We had a Pitbull who lived next door to us 25 years ago who was the sweetest dog, but back then I didn't know anything about them. It makes me sad that now that I do, I am so afraid. I would rather have five german shepherds walk toward us!!
Karen