Post by: Rowdy on December 04, 2009, 12:51:58 PM
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
Post by: 3dsheetmetal on December 04, 2009, 01:02:26 PM
Post by: jackelope on December 04, 2009, 01:06:35 PM
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.
Post by: WDFW-SUX on December 04, 2009, 01:07:45 PM
Post by: jackelope on December 04, 2009, 01:08:16 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on December 04, 2009, 01:08:39 PM
Post by: coop2424 on December 04, 2009, 01:09:16 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on December 04, 2009, 01:17:33 PM
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.
Post by: Special T on December 04, 2009, 01:29:59 PM
Post by: Rowdy on December 04, 2009, 02:42:53 PM
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. :dunno:
Thanks,
Jake
Post by: tbotts on December 04, 2009, 06:34:14 PM
Post by: Houndhunter on December 04, 2009, 06:47:05 PM
Post by: dontgetcrabs on December 04, 2009, 06:51:24 PM
Post by: TEX-X on December 05, 2009, 10:33:22 PM
Post by: Joe_Hunter on December 05, 2009, 11:06:51 PM
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.
Post by: piled-up on December 05, 2009, 11:45:37 PM
Post by: Ironhead on December 06, 2009, 08:00:43 AM
You did the right thing in leaving, nothing you would have said was gonna change the enraged persons mind.(Dog fight rule #1) The agressor always gets the boot (Even if it's your own dog). You have to be careful with 2 posturing dogs. If you call your dog off, when he turns from being squared up with the other dog he is vulnerable. The other dog will usually see this as their chance and attack. Never any fun trying to break up a dog fight. Somebody always gets hurt and it is usually the human.
Post by: sisu on December 06, 2009, 05:09:02 PM
Rowdy,I agree completely. I have always owned dogs that don't back down from a fight. I wish they would but they don't. My daughter says it is because they take after me! What ever that means...
You did the right thing in leaving, nothing you would have said was gonna change the enraged persons mind.(Dog fight rule #1) The aggressor always gets the boot (Even if it's your own dog). You have to be careful with 2 posturing dogs. If you call your dog off, when he turns from being squared up with the other dog he is vulnerable. The other dog will usually see this as their chance and attack. Never any fun trying to break up a dog fight. Somebody always gets hurt and it is usually the human.
I'd of driven away too and if I got visited my the police I'd of explained that the lady was going postal and figured the best thing to do was leave.
Post by: benbo30 on December 06, 2009, 09:09:45 PM
Post by: Ray on December 06, 2009, 09:21:43 PM
Post by: Rowdy on December 08, 2009, 08:30:51 AM
I also agree you did the right thing. Is that your pup in your avatar pic? What line of work are you in?
That's him. I work for a Marine Electronics Co.
Jake
Post by: dontgetcrabs on December 08, 2009, 08:39:29 AM
I also agree you did the right thing. Is that your pup in your avatar pic? What line of work are you in?
That's him. I work for a Marine Electronics Co.
Jake
Might be a little tricking finding that kind of work over here. :chuckle: That's a nice looking dog.
Post by: Rowdy on December 08, 2009, 08:51:01 AM
Jake
Post by: TEX-X on December 08, 2009, 10:29:23 AM
Post by: h2ofowlr on December 11, 2009, 12:08:02 PM
Post by: Sneaky on December 11, 2009, 12:40:51 PM
Once I was leaving my driveway when I had my chesapeake and a large rotweiler came trotting over from the neighbors hours, snapping and growling at my dog. I tried to fend the dog off by yelling at it to no avail. I wasn't going to let my duck dog get hurt, so when the dog came after him I kicked the rotweiler in the side as hard as I could. She went limping back to her owner who came out screaming telling me how the dog was pregnant. Then her husband came over that afternoon and told my father and "if you kick my dog, I'll break your leg".... Dad didn't exactly take kindly to that kind of talk and assured the neighbor that he'd either remove himself from the property or find himself on the business end of a winchester 97.
An ugly situation that could've been easily avoided.
Post by: Small_Savage on December 11, 2009, 01:00:38 PM
As for leaving the scene of the doggie mutual combat... there isn't an RCW for that, that I am aware of!
I'd have been disappointed that she hadn't maced me though, she'd be getting a ride in the po-lice car for doing that to you in that situation. Kudos for leaving her there and keeping it from escalating even more. I highly doubt it'll go any farther.
Post by: huntncoug on December 11, 2009, 08:32:03 PM
Post by: taylorpz on December 12, 2009, 08:45:23 AM
Post by: hornhunter on December 15, 2009, 01:40:04 AM
Post by: h2ofowlr on December 15, 2009, 09:17:00 AM
Post by: Clumber on December 17, 2009, 01:45:22 PM
I have been in similar situations up to the crazy lady screaming suddenly appearing to gather her dog, but no way in hell close to what you dealt with after that point. I am honestly and without any bs jaw-drop impressed with your restraint. I have very little confidence that I would have shown even half of the good judgment you did. Thumbs up, bigtime.
To do differently next time.... hmmmm.... well, I often carry the little "HALT!" mace canisters that are marketed for bike riders and so on, and I have maced dogs that would not back off my dog(s). I hate doing it - would much rather cause pain to their idiot owner - but I have - right into their muzzle. They aggression, in my experience, is gone instantly. You are right, imho, that calling your dog when they were locked-up in posture probably gave the other dog just the motivation to attack, but at the same time I would never fault you for that. You know your dog will recall, your dog is reliable, and you are not (yet) within grabbing distance. Seems like a natural reaction to me.
If you wanted, you might have filed a police report of the incident just to be the 1st reporter, or perhaps write an account of the incident and seal a copy in your safe or something just in case.
One thing to keep in mind is that as you are pulling your own dog out of a fight, even IF your own dog doesn't spin and nail you (not their fault at all - instinct to expect another member of a pack to join in) the dog they are fighting very well may come after YOU. A dog the size you described ... dangerous dog. Very much so. Her dog could very well have ended up shot dead in such a circumstance, and the shooter with a torn open thigh/arm/belly to show for it.
Breaking up a dog fight, the best way I know is to have at least as many humans as dogs, everyone grab a tail and run backwards. Preferably the tail of your own dog so when/if they spin and nail you, you are only mad at your own dog. Unfortunately, I have had very few experiences of separating a dog fight by myself that did not result in me bleeding from somewhere. Catch poles work to a point, that point being you have one dog under control now but the other increases its intensity... lather, rinse, repeat.
They're critters. They're dogs. I get beside myself annoyed when people blame dogs for being... dogs.
I am not even going to approach the part of her planning to mace you while you are in your own vehicle attempting to retreat.... I would say something offensive, I am sure. See? Already you taught me some restraint!
Good job.
~tracy
Post by: Bofire on December 17, 2009, 02:10:55 PM
The Cop is gonna LIKE that.
Carl
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on December 19, 2009, 06:13:13 PM
Post by: Rocky on December 20, 2009, 12:02:53 AM