Dog Fight Question

[Rowdy]

Here's the scenario:
At the local school yard last night exercising my dog (off leash).  My dog has very little interest in other dogs and is usually focused on me or exploring the area, always within sight and earshot.  I was throwing a ball for my dog who after catching the ball off the bounce he made a big loop probably a 100 yards from me when another dog twice his size comes bolting from a nearby trail straight to my pup.  I yell my dogs name followed by a very loud "HERE".  My dog sees the other dog, hears me, and cautiously starts back towards me with the other dog in tow.  The other dog catches up to him about 30 yards from me and my dog turns to face him.  At this point they are posturing, both with tails up and standing their ground.

At this point I think I may have made a mistake.  I called my dog to me, he turned to come to me and the other dog jumped him (full throttle).  My dog is only 50lbs, the other dog was some sort of sheppard mix much bigger than my dog.  I start to run towards them, when I get to them my dog had completely turned the table and was laying into this dog.  I grabbed my dog by the collar pulled him off and spun around to set him down so I would be in the middle of the two.  The other dog immediately starts back at him and I without even thinking kicked the dog hard.  It squeeled and started running towards it's owner, a lady on her cell phone that to this point I have not seen or heard.

I start looking my dog over but there is very little light but he seems ok so I leash him and start to head for the truck.  Well, her she comes.  Screaming and yelling that her dog is bleeding, I should be arrested for kicking her dog, my dog was off leash, and a whole lot of other things.  I assumed there was going to be no reasoning with this person so I continued on my way to the truck.  She followed saying she was calling the police and/or her husband.  I loaded up the dog and got in my rig.  She continued to scream at me through the driver side window at one point grabbing her mace.  I was and am still unsure of how I should of responded to this but I left.

The one thing I think I should of done differently was calling my dog to me when they were posturing.  I think my dog turning to come to me triggered the other dog to attack.  Not sure but it was a very unpleasant experience and I certainly hope there isn't more to follow.


??,
Jake

[3dsheetmetal]

If the dog came after yours I think I would have stomped it's guts into the ground.And as far as walking away from the screaming bitch that was probably a good idea.Can't tolerate ignorant people.

[jackelope]

judging that you are from seattle--assuming there's a leash law whereever you were both of you were breaking the law if both dogs were off leash.
that said...*censored* happens like that all the time at the dog park at marymore. odds are you didn't make the dog bleed by kicking it. your dog probably laid into him a little and drew blood. sounds like the dog(s) got what was coming to them.

2 dogs got in a fight...such is life.

[WDFW-SUX]

My wife had a dog that was a brawler.. loved to pick on pit bulls man Im glad that dog is dead.

[jackelope]

i guess if the lady said she was calling the cops i would have put my dog in the truck and hung around. not sure if there's a law against leaving the scene or something along those lines.

[carpsniperg2]

you did what i would have. good thing by walking away it sounds like you would have ot maced the only thing for future thought is buy some mace for that situation. because if she had got the cops there it could have gone either way and it would be your word aginst hers and she sounded a bit crazy

[coop2424]

I truthfully do not think you did anything wrong I have been in the exact same situation as that.  The problem that I see if the authorities get involved is you both had your dogs off your leash so they will put the blame on both pet owners.  It sounds like you were more responsible than the other owner since she was no where near her dog and was on the phone while walking it with no leash.  You were just playing with your dog.  I don't think I would of had the control you did.  I would of probably yelled at her and asked why she let her dog come towards you and your dog in the first place with no leash.  

[DOUBLELUNG]

Best way to break up a dog attack on another dog is to grab the aggressor by both back legs and hoist its back end off the ground.  That usually takes all the fight out of them, if not, roll it onto its side, keeping the back end off the ground, and use a foot to come in from the top and pin its neck to the ground.  Once physically dominated, it is very unusual for a dog to attack, even if you completely release it.  

Given that the lady was hysterical, and physically threatened you by pulling out her mace, you made the right call in leaving.  Some would say you should call the police, but that is your call.  You didn't commit a crime, except maybe the leash law thing.  However, if your dog bites a person, regardless of circumstances you should report it to protect yourself and minimize criminal liability.

[Special T]

I've never seen a 2 dogs getting into it that couldn't be stopped by a swift kick to the ribs! (Their Dog)  Unless several stitches are necessary  its a scuffle NOT a dog fight... That said I think you did the right thing... The fact that you dog listened to you is a good thing... I could call my chess out a a scuffle, because he knew if he didn't come I'd be the one kicking him instead of the other dog... as for the mace, I be live  RCW 9.41.280 Possessing dangerous weapons on school facilities does not specifically state mace is banned from  the grounds, but since it was a woman it think it was best that you left. I think its better for you to confront / mess up someone else dog when yours is listening obediently... You are a responsible owner they can't controll theirs!

[Rowdy]

Thanks for the input from everyone.  A side note, my dog is not a fighter but he does have a record of 3 an 0.  All instances were self defense or him getting irritated from getting mounted.  The other instances happened at the dog park and that is why those places are a last resort for me.  My pup is a good dog and extremely obedient.  After I picked him off the other dog by his collar he had his tail tucked and ears down for the rest of the night.  He thought I was upset with him because he knows I don't tolerate any aggression, growling, hackles up, etc...  I'm the boss and I'll do the growling but unfortunately in this instance I wasn't close enough to intervene before it went down.

Lesson learned and I was definitly in an area where he should have been on a leash but neither dog was.  I prefer to take my chances with the leash law and would even be willing to except a ticket with the alternative being the dog park.

Just another reason I need to move east, as soon as I figure out a way to make a living over there.

Thanks,
Jake

[tbotts]

I think you did the right thing. 

[Houndhunter]

i woulda just left too, i take my hound running with me and had 2 dogs come at us and start coming at her aggressively once i yelled they backed off but i woulda beat the *censored* out them if they stayed. but i also wont think twice bout doin the same to my dog if shes in the wrong, its a pain in the ass when they start fighting over a dead animal . i dont think much coulda happened to you sense both your dogs were off the leash, but people can pull some pretty shady stuf when it comes to pets

[dontgetcrabs]

I also agree you did the right thing. Is that your pup in your avatar pic? What line of work are you in?

[TEX-X]

dang michael vick.... 3 and 0?  i know my shorthair is a scrapper as well....  stupid people piss me off....    i was out training and had a dog get aggressive towards me... i mean puffed up and started growling... I grabbed a stick and was about to crack this mutt on the head when my dog came out of nowhere and stepped in between me and the other dog....  and he didn't look to happy... i had never heard him growl like that...  as soon as the other mutt started backing down my GSP turned to me and his tail started wagging... like nothing had even happened....  you did the right thing...  i wish i could say that i would've done the same... but i have a short fuse....  and i think i would've let it get the best of me....

[Joe_Hunter]

You did the right thing by leaving...Nothing good would have come from that encounter. It probably would have ended up with both parties getting a citation.
 I remember one time I came across two dogs fighting...apparently a Rottweiler jumped a fence and had a collie by the muzzle and wouldn't let go. You could hear the bones crunching and the canines were buried to the gumline in this collies face, apparently the owner of the collie let the two dogs sniff noses and it got out of hand ( ya think ) The owner was freaking and the other dog was having his way with this collie.
I tried to pull the dogs apart and we eventually did but man was it ugly. All to often trying to separate fighting dogs the one that gets it the worst is the poor guy doing the separating.
To the credit of the collie owner she realized that she caused the incident and that was the end of it.