How do you defend your dog? or yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walk wiht a large long walking stick. If you or your dog gets a pitbull jaw around a limb, prising it open wiht the stick is the only way to get it off, pepper spray and knives will just make the dog bite harder

I promise that when the pit bull is sufficiently exsanguinated it will let go.

But how much damage will be occurring in the meantime? People have had to shoot attacking (and for the pit bull apologist “animal control” officer who doesn’t believe people ever get attacked, yes, lots of pit bulls snap and attack) pit bulls and even that doesn’t stop them in the amount of time that would make a difference.

You could try a break stick, or just carrying a big stick and pepper spray. If they get away from their owners, you can always brandish the big stick as needed.

[Anonymous]

In my neighborhood, there is one pit pull who used to be off leash a lot but now seems to be always leashed. I hate opening my car door and then seeing him running towards me, ignoring his owners command to stop. Luckily I was never bitten/attacked, but it's a scary feeling not being sure what's happening. And it's not only about him being a pit, I'd feel that way about any dog.

There are two other dogs in the neighborhood. I don't know if they are pits but they look like them. They can get out of their fenced backyard and do so often. They have gotten into it with the other pit (that's now always leashed). Sometimes they are walked off-leash. I'm always a little nervous when we go on walks. I don't want to come across the corner by house to see two unleashed pit looking dogs.

I'm thinking about getting deer spray. But I'm worried if I needed to use it, it would get in my dogs eyes too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live that so many pitbulls are around?

OP here, we live near Tysons Corner. I get the impression that there have been a lot of pit mixes at the shelters in recent years and some people think they make good pets. I don't have any other exposure to pits, so I don't know if they can be. But I find it strange that all three being walked in our neighborhood cannot come near other dogs. One of the three reacts the same even if we are without the puppy - which is scary.

I don't want to see animals put down - but I've come to believe that dogs that are so physically aggressive that they regularly want to attack people and other dogs that are 25+ feet away are too dangerous to walk around urban/suburban neighborhoods where young children play and so many people/pets live.

If you don't know than you shouldn't comment. Perhaps the fact that these dogs had a hard upbringing might be the factor and not that they "may" be a pit mix. Have you heard of reactive dogs? They bark and lunge because they want you to go away from them. Please do research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for animal control. I love it when people call to say they were “ attacked by a pitbull” upon follow up it turns out “ attack” to them meant they were barked at. And the pitbull was actually a mastiff, boxer, even a pure lab once……. So if you’re going to take, stab, or shoot someone else’s dog you’d better legitimately feel like you aloe dog are in legit danger. Being barked at is not it.,

Thank you! Some dogs are reactive and bark but doesn't mean they will attack.

So how is someone supposed to tell the difference? Yes many are just reactive - BUT some actually will attack. My dog was attacked and nearly killed by an Akita several years ago that neighbors would always say was really all bark but no bite. Yet when he got free he ran about 40 feet to chase my dog and I down and viciously attacked her. Punctured her lung and caused horrible damage. And nothing I could do would make him release her - took three people.

What we are discussing in this thread is what do you do WHEN/IF attacked... not when a dog merely barks at you or has a hissy fit. So stop acting like people are wrong for wondering what they can do if they ARE actually attacked.

And yet all the hate is on the pit bulls...interesting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for animal control. I love it when people call to say they were “ attacked by a pitbull” upon follow up it turns out “ attack” to them meant they were barked at. And the pitbull was actually a mastiff, boxer, even a pure lab once……. So if you’re going to take, stab, or shoot someone else’s dog you’d better legitimately feel like you aloe dog are in legit danger. Being barked at is not it.,

Thank you! Some dogs are reactive and bark but doesn't mean they will attack.

So how is someone supposed to tell the difference? Yes many are just reactive - BUT some actually will attack. My dog was attacked and nearly killed by an Akita several years ago that neighbors would always say was really all bark but no bite. Yet when he got free he ran about 40 feet to chase my dog and I down and viciously attacked her. Punctured her lung and caused horrible damage. And nothing I could do would make him release her - took three people.

What we are discussing in this thread is what do you do WHEN/IF attacked... not when a dog merely barks at you or has a hissy fit. So stop acting like people are wrong for wondering what they can do if they ARE actually attacked.

And yet all the hate is on the pit bulls...interesting

I've known one Akita and he was the sweetest, kindest dog. I don't think I ever heard him bark. He was a very well-trained dog, and his owners (my friends) taught him all his commands in Japanese. He got old and then the health issues came and he had to be put down a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for animal control. I love it when people call to say they were “ attacked by a pitbull” upon follow up it turns out “ attack” to them meant they were barked at. And the pitbull was actually a mastiff, boxer, even a pure lab once……. So if you’re going to take, stab, or shoot someone else’s dog you’d better legitimately feel like you aloe dog are in legit danger. Being barked at is not it.,

Thank you! Some dogs are reactive and bark but doesn't mean they will attack.

So how is someone supposed to tell the difference? Yes many are just reactive - BUT some actually will attack. My dog was attacked and nearly killed by an Akita several years ago that neighbors would always say was really all bark but no bite. Yet when he got free he ran about 40 feet to chase my dog and I down and viciously attacked her. Punctured her lung and caused horrible damage. And nothing I could do would make him release her - took three people.

What we are discussing in this thread is what do you do WHEN/IF attacked... not when a dog merely barks at you or has a hissy fit. So stop acting like people are wrong for wondering what they can do if they ARE actually attacked.

And yet all the hate is on the pit bulls...interesting

I've known one Akita and he was the sweetest, kindest dog. I don't think I ever heard him bark. He was a very well-trained dog, and his owners (my friends) taught him all his commands in Japanese. He got old and then the health issues came and he had to be put down a few years ago.

One sweet Akita=all Akitas right? That's what pit bull haters think. One pit bull attack =all pit bulls attack Btw my dog has Australian shepherd in addition to some pit bull and they are very standoffish to new people so let's not blame all the dna on the American pit bull terrier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live that so many pitbulls are around?

OP here, we live near Tysons Corner. I get the impression that there have been a lot of pit mixes at the shelters in recent years and some people think they make good pets. I don't have any other exposure to pits, so I don't know if they can be. But I find it strange that all three being walked in our neighborhood cannot come near other dogs. One of the three reacts the same even if we are without the puppy - which is scary.

I don't want to see animals put down - but I've come to believe that dogs that are so physically aggressive that they regularly want to attack people and other dogs that are 25+ feet away are too dangerous to walk around urban/suburban neighborhoods where young children play and so many people/pets live.

I used to live in Vienna and my lab was attacked by a pit bull at the park (owner wasn't holding on to the leash). My dog sustained major puncture wounds to the neck and had to be hospitalized for days followed by tubes and home care. It was a nightmare. Pepper or bear spray seems like a good idea maybe. I had nothing and couldn't get the pit bull to release my dog until some guy hit it on the head with a huge stick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for animal control. I love it when people call to say they were “ attacked by a pitbull” upon follow up it turns out “ attack” to them meant they were barked at. And the pitbull was actually a mastiff, boxer, even a pure lab once……. So if you’re going to take, stab, or shoot someone else’s dog you’d better legitimately feel like you aloe dog are in legit danger. Being barked at is not it.,

Thank you! Some dogs are reactive and bark but doesn't mean they will attack.

So how is someone supposed to tell the difference? Yes many are just reactive - BUT some actually will attack. My dog was attacked and nearly killed by an Akita several years ago that neighbors would always say was really all bark but no bite. Yet when he got free he ran about 40 feet to chase my dog and I down and viciously attacked her. Punctured her lung and caused horrible damage. And nothing I could do would make him release her - took three people.

What we are discussing in this thread is what do you do WHEN/IF attacked... not when a dog merely barks at you or has a hissy fit. So stop acting like people are wrong for wondering what they can do if they ARE actually attacked.

And yet all the hate is on the pit bulls...interesting

I've known one Akita and he was the sweetest, kindest dog. I don't think I ever heard him bark. He was a very well-trained dog, and his owners (my friends) taught him all his commands in Japanese. He got old and then the health issues came and he had to be put down a few years ago.

One sweet Akita=all Akitas right? That's what pit bull haters think. One pit bull attack =all pit bulls attack Btw my dog has Australian shepherd in addition to some pit bull and they are very standoffish to new people so let's not blame all the dna on the American pit bull terrier.

Of course not, that's not how I feel at all. That's the only Akita I've ever known and I don't know anything about that breed specifically. Jeez, people get so sensitive, I was just sharing.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this is true but instead of the owner trying to pull the collar if a dog attacks, should they try to grab and lift the back legs? I saw someone do that to break up a dog fight in the park once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for animal control. I love it when people call to say they were “ attacked by a pitbull” upon follow up it turns out “ attack” to them meant they were barked at. And the pitbull was actually a mastiff, boxer, even a pure lab once……. So if you’re going to take, stab, or shoot someone else’s dog you’d better legitimately feel like you aloe dog are in legit danger. Being barked at is not it.,

Thank you! Some dogs are reactive and bark but doesn't mean they will attack.

So how is someone supposed to tell the difference? Yes many are just reactive - BUT some actually will attack. My dog was attacked and nearly killed by an Akita several years ago that neighbors would always say was really all bark but no bite. Yet when he got free he ran about 40 feet to chase my dog and I down and viciously attacked her. Punctured her lung and caused horrible damage. And nothing I could do would make him release her - took three people.

What we are discussing in this thread is what do you do WHEN/IF attacked... not when a dog merely barks at you or has a hissy fit. So stop acting like people are wrong for wondering what they can do if they ARE actually attacked.

And yet all the hate is on the pit bulls...interesting

I've known one Akita and he was the sweetest, kindest dog. I don't think I ever heard him bark. He was a very well-trained dog, and his owners (my friends) taught him all his commands in Japanese. He got old and then the health issues came and he had to be put down a few years ago.

One sweet Akita=all Akitas right? That's what pit bull haters think. One pit bull attack =all pit bulls attack Btw my dog has Australian shepherd in addition to some pit bull and they are very standoffish to new people so let's not blame all the dna on the American pit bull terrier.

Of course not, that's not how I feel at all. That's the only Akita I've ever known and I don't know anything about that breed specifically. Jeez, people get so sensitive, I was just sharing.

NP here. What was the point of your sharing an anecdote about one particular Akita you knew? PSA: You don't need to comment on posts if you know you have nothing meaningful to contribute.

[Anonymous]

I carry bear spray. But, I also live in an area with wolves, black bears, coyotes, and bobcats. FWIW, I've been but by a dog before and it wasn't a stereotypical dangerous dog breed. So I really don't make judgements about a loose dog running towards me if it doesn't look friendly (which you can generally tell by how it approaches you).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this is true but instead of the owner trying to pull the collar if a dog attacks, should they try to grab and lift the back legs? I saw someone do that to break up a dog fight in the park once.

No, all the dog trainer's advice on this says not to pull their legs because they can turn around and immediately go at you. Basically, you need to choke them out, whether that's with the collar, a slip lead, or something else, but you need to pull UP on their airway super hard if you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this is true but instead of the owner trying to pull the collar if a dog attacks, should they try to grab and lift the back legs? I saw someone do that to break up a dog fight in the park once.

No, all the dog trainer's advice on this says not to pull their legs because they can turn around and immediately go at you. Basically, you need to choke them out, whether that's with the collar, a slip lead, or something else, but you need to pull UP on their airway super hard if you can.

knives also work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I know what you mean. On a hike recently and owner had to restrain his pit as I walked by with my kids. If you have to restrain your dog by the collar when a 5 year old walks by, it needs to be put down.

I have a rescue lab who adores children (and literally everyone he's ever met), but I never let him approach ANYONE who has not asked to pet him. If a trail/path is narrow, I definitely hold his collar/make him sit and let people pass us because sometimes he gets excited and wants to say hi. If someone asks to pet him, then I say yes and let him approach/or hold him if its a small kid and they're nervous. Not all animals that are held back from approaching people are aggressive - some are excited to make friends and their owners are trying to train them not to/just being good owners.

[Anonymous]

Report this all you want, this is for my neighbors (I'm not OP):

I'm looking forward to the day that I get to bludgeon and gut your off-leash pitbull that has chosen to attack. I've been training for it since that ugly thing charged my baby's stroller last year. I'm making an example out of you.