Anonymous wrote:Totally high jacking this thread. We are at the dog park 5 days a week and our 80lb pup has only had one fight there. It was with a pit bull but we broke it up quickly.

About 10 minutes later the pit picked a fight with a Newfoundland. I never knew newfs to fight but it took three people to get it off the pit.
The pit was put down due to its injuries. Newf is still at the park all the time and sweet as can be.

This is always surprising to me, but it does happen! I think it is the dog fight/flight/freeze response. My sweet Golden who never picks a fight with other dogs was attacked by a Pit completely out of the blue and holy shit...he didn't see it coming, but he fought back pretty hard! It was absolutely terrifying to witness. One difference I did notice though was when we were able to pry the dogs apart (also terrifying and dangerous) my dog "dropped it" and couldn't care less about the other dog besides wanting to walk away with us while the other dog was still lunging and barking to continue the fight. Sometimes I think these sweet nice dogs that also have size on their side can just hit like a, "I am DONE with this behavior!" point and go for it with dogs they've already assessed as "bad." My dog wants to lay down and then say hi to 95% of dogs on our walks, but occasionally doesn't with that 5%. They always end up being a dog that goes nuts and becomes super aggressive. They know something we don't ha.

Anonymous wrote:Bear spray. Empty the can on them.

Are those of you (and there have been several) who keep advocating bear spray and pepper spray -- have any of you actually used this stuff? Do you not know that these sprays can very easily be blown back into the user's face? Or in the heat of the moment, deploying a spray (probably for the first time ever) in a panic as a dog is actually rushing at you, it's entirely possible to hold the spray the wrong way and end up spraying it at yourself or your child, depending on the spray container? Do you not see how a container, even a small keychain container, with a spray in it is something that could end up found by a toddler?

Even in a self-defense class i took that was for humans dealing with humans, the instructor discouraged use of pepper sprays because he knew of cases where people accidentally sprayed themselves (and where assailants grabbed the spray -- not likely with a dog, but still, the idea is that sprays can easily go wrong).

Everyone thinks they'll use a spray right but there's no guarantee, and the results if it goes wrong could be horrible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ And people who are living right should never concede to those who are living wrong. ”

You can be right and still end up hurt.
The above feels like the logic used by people who just step right out into the cross walk without looking/waiting just because the cars SHOULD stop.

+1

Use common sense, people - better to be in one piece than to be "right". OMG.

+1 Those other posters are like women who walk downtown alone at night. Not safe.

You PPs are basically normalizing the idea that the loose dogs and their idiot owners have more right to spaces than people with young kids. Or any people who don't want to be approached, lunged at, possibly scratched or bitten.

Of course any sensible person should unfortunately keep away if there's a dog actually present, but are you really suggesting that some parent already at a park with a kid should pack up and decamp instantly when a dog turns up off-leash? For safety, probably. But how long do those who follow rules have to give up their right to use public spaces? I

know, I know. Don't put a kid into that situation, etc. Better to be safe than "right," sure. But I also notice that none of you above offered any ADVICE on what to do. Don't see any of you urging the OP to contact the local police, animal control, elected authorities, as others here have done. Are all of you above dog owners, by any chance?

Totally high jacking this thread. We are at the dog park 5 days a week and our 80lb pup has only had one fight there. It was with a pit bull but we broke it up quickly.

About 10 minutes later the pit picked a fight with a Newfoundland. I never knew newfs to fight but it took three people to get it off the pit.
The pit was put down due to its injuries. Newf is still at the park all the time and sweet as can be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most dogs know the command “sit”. Use a firm calm voice and tell the dog to sit. This has worked for me a number of times when i have encountered a strange dog.

This method may not work in other countries where English is not the most commonly spoken language.

But, we are in America! Unless I missed something your point was pointless because we aren't talking about other countries. My dh did tell an Italian dog to sit by using Latin. It wasn't aggressive just being friendly! The dog sat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if the dog is vicious or not but I don’t want one running at my toddler. Obviously the law and park regulations clearly state that the dog must be leashed but the only park near our house has a big lawn that dog owners love to let their dogs run free in (even though there are two dog parks within 50 feet - one for small and one for large dogs). If a dog charges my toddler, what can I do? Today I scooped him up quickly but can’t easily do that if we’re on our blanket.

Thanks.

Has a dog charged you? If so, did you notice the time? Most people are creatures of habit and if you notice them at 8:30am you come at a different time. This is what I do when I want to avoid dogs walking my dog. I go on off times.

Just an FYI on dog parks. Dog parks are more for humans than dogs and they can be unsafe for dogs. I know humans think you can put together different dogs with different training and temperament and expect harmony but you can't. This is why some people meet up at the dog park with people/dogs they know that get along. Otherwise, the majority of people bring their untrained dogs and things can go bad very quickly.

Isn't the above re dog parks the exact argument for NOT allowing dogs loose on some random lawn. For info, we have two dogs, never do dog parks, and keep our dogs leashed where the law requires. Sick of the entitled dog owners making us all look bad.

I'm not arguing for unleashed dogs just mentioning that dog parks are not safe as the pp thinks. Some people meet their friends/dogs and let them off leash super early or late when no one is around. If the dogs know each other and are trained than it is safe. There is something to be said for the benefit of the dog to have this experience but, I do understand people's fear. I myself would never do it without knowing my dog is 100 percent recall. There should be a way to compromise.

THIS. The dog parks are scary AF filled with aggressive rescue Pits and otherwise where it's like a fightring to the death. I don't bring my dog to dog parks for that reason. My local park works on what I like to call the "NYC model" that Central Park has. Before 9am, the dogs can romp. Then park is for people until after dark. 6pm to 7pm ok for dogs again.

I am pp with a rescue pit btw. Not all pits are super aggressive. In fact mine was bitten and had done nothing to the other dog. He was only six months old too.

Anonymous wrote:Most dogs know the command “sit”. Use a firm calm voice and tell the dog to sit. This has worked for me a number of times when i have encountered a strange dog.

This method may not work in other countries where English is not the most commonly spoken language.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You *must* meet the dog on its terms. NEVER let the dog see you're scared. Stare straight into its eyes, and let out a low throated growl. The dog will stop and run away. I successfully used this tactic this weekend on a bullmastiff.

Challenging a dog can easily get you bit.

Exactly. This supposed dog whisperer is giving bad advice.

Not really. As with any objective you're trying to accomplish, if you don't follow the proper steps, you may get an unplanned and undesired outcome. If you feel too intimidated by the dog to assert your authority over it, that's a problem with your confidence. You can build that up with practice. Try starting with stopping a smaller breed like a chihuahua from charging you, then gradually work your way up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if the dog is vicious or not but I don’t want one running at my toddler. Obviously the law and park regulations clearly state that the dog must be leashed but the only park near our house has a big lawn that dog owners love to let their dogs run free in (even though there are two dog parks within 50 feet - one for small and one for large dogs). If a dog charges my toddler, what can I do? Today I scooped him up quickly but can’t easily do that if we’re on our blanket.

Thanks.

Has a dog charged you? If so, did you notice the time? Most people are creatures of habit and if you notice them at 8:30am you come at a different time. This is what I do when I want to avoid dogs walking my dog. I go on off times.

Just an FYI on dog parks. Dog parks are more for humans than dogs and they can be unsafe for dogs. I know humans think you can put together different dogs with different training and temperament and expect harmony but you can't. This is why some people meet up at the dog park with people/dogs they know that get along. Otherwise, the majority of people bring their untrained dogs and things can go bad very quickly.

Isn't the above re dog parks the exact argument for NOT allowing dogs loose on some random lawn. For info, we have two dogs, never do dog parks, and keep our dogs leashed where the law requires. Sick of the entitled dog owners making us all look bad.

I'm not arguing for unleashed dogs just mentioning that dog parks are not safe as the pp thinks. Some people meet their friends/dogs and let them off leash super early or late when no one is around. If the dogs know each other and are trained than it is safe. There is something to be said for the benefit of the dog to have this experience but, I do understand people's fear. I myself would never do it without knowing my dog is 100 percent recall. There should be a way to compromise.

THIS. The dog parks are scary AF filled with aggressive rescue Pits and otherwise where it's like a fightring to the death. I don't bring my dog to dog parks for that reason. My local park works on what I like to call the "NYC model" that Central Park has. Before 9am, the dogs can romp. Then park is for people until after dark. 6pm to 7pm ok for dogs again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You *must* meet the dog on its terms. NEVER let the dog see you're scared. Stare straight into its eyes, and let out a low throated growl. The dog will stop and run away. I successfully used this tactic this weekend on a bullmastiff.

Challenging a dog can easily get you bit.

Exactly. This supposed dog whisperer is giving bad advice.

Most dogs know the command “sit”. Use a firm calm voice and tell the dog to sit. This has worked for me a number of times when i have encountered a strange dog.