If my leashed dog attacks an unleashed dog on a park trail am I at fault?

[Anonymous]

My dog is a rescue and is fairly even tempered around other dogs except when it is leashed and the other dog is not. This is how it usually plays out when I walk on park trails:

1. Unleashed dog will approach my dog ahead of the owner.
2. Owner will state “my dog is friendly” in place of trying to control their dog.
3. My leashed dog ( clearly irritated) will growl at the other dog and act aggressive.
4. I try to get away as quickly as possible-sometimes even picking up my dog to mitigate the situation.

Aside from not walking my dog along the Rock Creek Park trails (which our dog clearly enjoys), what can I do to protect my dog and my liability in situations when I am unable to get my aggressive acting dog away from an unleashed dogs and their owners on the park trails?

[Anonymous]

“You’d better recall your dog. Mine isn’t friendly with unleashed dogs and I’d hate for yours to get hurt.”

[Anonymous]

Depends on County. Do you have a leash law

[Anonymous]

Put a muzzle on your dog. And seriously speak up sooner! But the muzzle not only protects you from liability, it speaks volumes to other dog owners who aren't generally bright enough to keep their beasts away from strange dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on County. Do you have a leash law

This is on the Montgomery County RCP trails.

[Anonymous]

Don't ever pick up your dog. Especially when it's agitated and growling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put a muzzle on your dog. And seriously speak up sooner! But the muzzle not only protects you from liability, it speaks volumes to other dog owners who aren't generally bright enough to keep their beasts away from strange dogs.

Also, put a favorite treat in the muzzle so your dog looks forward to wearing it. Most dogs can easily be trained to happily stick their noses in the muzzle, knowing it means "tasty treat and a fun walk."

[Anonymous]

Ugh, those people drive me nuts. Here’s some options:

- state very loudly “my dog is not friendly to off-leash dogs, please remove your dog” so they can’t claim you never warned them
- train your dog to wear a muzzle
- take a leash reactivity class so you have more tools to use with your own dog
- I knew someone with a highly anxious dog who put a “Stop! Aggressive dog!” On their leash. It helped a lot in keeping people and their dogs away.
- Use a head halter leash so you have more control over your own dog
- I wouldn’t physically pick up your dog, because it could easily flip it’s aggression onto you and seriously damage you/your face

[Anonymous]

I always appreciate when an owner announces as we approach that their dog isn't friendly. You might have to call out loudly, and no guarantees that the other dog has good recall, but are giving warning.

But you might have to muzzle your dog to be safe. I would always steer clear of a dog wearing a muzzle to help that dog not feel threatened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, those people drive me nuts. Here’s some options:

- state very loudly “my dog is not friendly to off-leash dogs, please remove your dog” so they can’t claim you never warned them
- train your dog to wear a muzzle
- take a leash reactivity class so you have more tools to use with your own dog
- I knew someone with a highly anxious dog who put a “Stop! Aggressive dog!” On their leash. It helped a lot in keeping people and their dogs away.
- Use a head halter leash so you have more control over your own dog
- I wouldn’t physically pick up your dog, because it could easily flip it’s aggression onto you and seriously damage you/your face

My dog only acts aggressive if I am holding her near other dogs who try to sniff. If she is on the ground, no matter the size, she is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put a muzzle on your dog. And seriously speak up sooner! But the muzzle not only protects you from liability, it speaks volumes to other dog owners who aren't generally bright enough to keep their beasts away from strange dogs.

I’ve never once seen a dog with a muzzle on a park trail, but I see unleashed dogs all the time

It’’s difficult to speak up sooner when everything transpires within 10 seconds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Put a muzzle on your dog. And seriously speak up sooner! But the muzzle not only protects you from liability, it speaks volumes to other dog owners who aren't generally bright enough to keep their beasts away from strange dogs.

I’ve never once seen a dog with a muzzle on a park trail, but I see unleashed dogs all the time

It’’s difficult to speak up sooner when everything transpires within 10 seconds.

Agreed that it happens fast. If you want to be able to walk your dog without stress you will probably have to muzzle your dog. (I'm in NYC and walk our dog in Central Park. I see a fair number of dogs with muzzles. Some due to aggression, others just to keep them from eating things off the ground.) I'm sure you're nervous and your dog can sense that, making it even more aggressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Put a muzzle on your dog. And seriously speak up sooner! But the muzzle not only protects you from liability, it speaks volumes to other dog owners who aren't generally bright enough to keep their beasts away from strange dogs.

I’ve never once seen a dog with a muzzle on a park trail, but I see unleashed dogs all the time

It’’s difficult to speak up sooner when everything transpires within 10 seconds.

You might not see it often, but the reality is that since you know your dog is leash aggressive, you very likely COULD be held liable if it attacks another dog. The muzzle is not a punishment, it's a safety precaution. It's very important for you to do this, especially since you see loose dogs all the time (so you also are aware this situation is a common one for your dog).

[Anonymous]

If you can pick up your dog, that means you have the strength to control it, right?

I use a shorter, double handled, padded leash with a harness that clips in front, and use the extra control to physically restrict contact with other dogs in potentially explosive situations. My dog is heavy and reactive to certain dogs but not others (it's hard to tell before they start growling at each other), so if I see him perking up in an aggressive way, I get as far as possible from the other dog, and use the double handles to stop him from rushing at the other dog.

I wouldn't worry about the legal aspects of this. Focus on reading his body language and having all the tools at your disposal to control him.

[Anonymous]

My dog is friendly with all people. With other dogs I see a wide range of responses. Some he immediately really likes, there's tail wagging and sniffing and bowing and play gestures. Others he's sociable with but after the tail wagging and sniffing he's no longer interested in them. And then there are some where there's initial tail wagging and sniffing and then he just does not like them, growls and snaps at them to tell them to go away. And when a dog is on a leash, things are dicier because if the dog feels any bad vibes from the other dog, he knows he is restrained by the leash and likely feels more vulnerable and needing to protect himself.

When someone with another dog does ask if mine is friendly, I say he is but with another dog you just never know. Also, the presence of humans does weird things sometimes. My friend visited me for an extended period of time with her dog. I had 4 dogs--these were all outside farm dogs where I lived at the time. Her dog and one of mine would get into huge fights if we were outside, had to use the hose to separate them. When it was just the dogs on their own, they were fine.

I lived in New Mexico at a time when leash laws were on the books but totally not enforced. It was interesting because there were dozens of dogs around my neighborhood, but they had their politics worked out. They'd hang out near the sidewalks, sometimes venture into the street and bark at each other, but never saw fights. There was one old big dog who used to sleep on the sidewalk and anytime it seemed like things might get physical between other dogs, he'd get up, shove his way in between the parties, and basically tell them to cut it out and go home. Then he'd go back to his spot and back to sleep. But the way humans live with dogs generally doesn't allow them to establish their own rules.