Neighbours dogs attacking mine

shaveAbullock

Bit of a strange one this.

At the moment there is really only one loop I can walk without coming into contact with large numbers of people. So this is the route I had decided on until I can go outside the 2km radius.

Today as I was walking past a house that has 4 dogs the gate that is normally closed was open.
3 of the dogs went straight to attack my dog with one of them going for the neck of my dog a number of times.
In the meantime a car had appeared from the driveway with a woman observing what was happening.
I approached and she rolled down the window. I asked if they were her dogs and she nodded. I asked if she could get her dogs in off the road to prevent them attacking my dog again. She said don't worry they will go in later.

At this point I raised my voice(unhelpful but you can see why I was angry) and continued to ask her more insistently to please get her dogs under control so I could continue my walk safely.
She closed her window and I then had to proceed up the road while pushing back her dogs with my foot. It was only possible because of how small they were (terrier, Yorkshire terrier and Pomeranian)
I just can't get my head around the mindset of watching while your one dog attacks another but not only that decide that you would like this to continue for a long period of time.

I have no idea what I should do from here. No doubt her story will be different from mine. But at the same time there must be a way to make it safe to walk up my own road.

I did get a chance to talk to her next door neighbours briefly and they said this was not unusual as the woman has no control over her dogs and they have had issues with them in the past.

cocker5

shaveAbullock wrote: »

Bit of a strange one this.

At the moment there is really only one loop I can walk without coming into contact with large numbers of people. So this is the route I had decided on until I can go outside the 2km radius.

Today as I was walking past a house that has 4 dogs the gate that is normally closed was open.
3 of the dogs went straight to attack my dog with one of them going for the neck of my dog a number of times.
In the meantime a car had appeared from the driveway with a woman observing what was happening.
I approached and she rolled down the window. I asked if they were her dogs and she nodded. I asked if she could get her dogs in off the road to prevent them attacking my dog again. She said don't worry they will go in later.

At this point I raised my voice(unhelpful but you can see why I was angry) and continued to ask her more insistently to please get her dogs under control so I could continue my walk safely.
She closed her window and I then had to proceed up the road while pushing back her dogs with my foot. It was only possible because of how small they were (terrier, Yorkshire terrier and Pomeranian)
I just can't get my head around the mindset of watching while your one dog attacks another but not only that decide that you would like this to continue for a long period of time.

I have no idea what I should do from here. No doubt her story will be different from mine. But at the same time there must be a way to make it safe to walk up my own road.

I did get a chance to talk to her next door neighbours briefly and they said this was not unusual as the woman has no control over her dogs and they have had issues with them in the past.

Honest to god .. it’s not the dogs fault completely the owners BUT I’d bring a big stick with me to protect my dog ... and if they attacked my dog I’d give them a wallop .. I love dogs and don’t not agree normally with any violence .. BUT if they were attacking my dog ?? I’d definitely defend him..

tk123

Just call the dog warden.

antix80

Dog owners are some of the worst people.
Phone the dog warden. I'd also advise you to carry a stick to protect you and your dog against attacks.

DBB

Folks, we just have to be careful about crossing the line into advocating physical means of defending your dog... it's one thing what you do yourself on the privacy of your own walks, and what you can advise publicly to others, ya know?

For what it's worth, a stick is an effective deterrent, but it is really quite rare that you need to make physical contact with the offending dog for it to do its job.

shaveAbullock

DBB wrote: »

Folks, we just have to be careful about crossing the line into advocating physical means of defending your dog... it's one thing what you do yourself on the privacy of your own walks, and what you can advise publicly to others, ya know?

For what it's worth, a stick is an effective deterrent, but it is really quite rare that you need to make physical contact with the offending dog for it to do its job.

I agree here and never in my life have I considered I would need a weapon to go for a walk. Especially less than 5 minutes from my own home.

My dog is a rescue dog and I am trying to socialise her, this kind of thing constitutes major setbacks.

Perhaps these is nothing I can do and it is now impossible for me to walk my road.
My dog is a collie mix and is very energetic, I find exercising her away from my home once a day does wonders for her temperament but now I am unable to do this.

DBB

shaveAbullock wrote: »

I agree here and never in my life have I considered I would need a weapon to go for a walk. Especially less than 5 minutes from my own home.

My dog is a rescue dog and I am trying to socialise her, this kind of thing constitutes major setbacks.

Perhaps these is nothing I can do and it is now impossible for me to walk my road.
My dog is a collie mix and is very energetic, I find exercising her away from my home once a day does wonders for her temperament but now I am unable to do this.

Okay, how about this... turn the situation into an opportunity
You want to help her confidence, and as you quite rightly feel, having other dogs mobbing her is a nightmare.
How about walking her as far as a point at which you can hear or see (in the distance) the other dogs, and stop your walk. But as long as you're far enough away that your lassie can give you her attention, stay in this area a while, and do things that involve asking her to focus on you, followed by delicious treats and/or catching a ball. Then go home.
Same thing tomorrow, and the next day, but perhaps go a little closer as long as your lassie is comfortable and able to keep her focus on you, as the days pass.
This helps build her confidence, sets up positive associations, and is leading towards the day where your dog is "proofed" enough to walk past the offending dogs unscathed. I'd suggest when it comes to walking past them, you keep her on your opposite side, so you're acting as a barrier.
As discussed above, a stick waved in their faces will often deter... you can also try scattering kibble on the ground as you pass (setting up a positive association between the dogs and you). Another option is to habituate your dog to the sound of a Pet Corrector, and use it to make the offending dogs scarper.
All of this said... I'd also be inclined to call the warden, although I appreciate that this can cause unforeseen problems if you're in a rural area, or are otherwise likely to be blamed.

shaveAbullock

Good advice and gives me options on things I can use to train her in the future.

There are really yappy terriers about 100m up the road and I had been stopping her before this and rewarding her. She is also terrified of these dogs but they are fully secured. I had hoped I could make her calmer passing gates with other dogs.

The dogs that came to attack her are about 300 metres up the road. She is a collie mix full of energy and I like to walk her for about 5 - 10 km a day.
When she comes home from these walk she is perfectly calm and very happy. Now I can't walk her up the road and would rather not walk her the other detection as it is overcrowded with people walking currently.

When I first got her she was terrified of being in the car and I managed to work past that to where she loves it.
I normally drive her to a local woods a few times a week but that is not a legal option right now. If the current restrictions were not in place I'd be taking her to the local mountains too.

I now do not know what route I can use to safely walk her.

I do worry if I report it I would be bringing more trouble on myself. The woman had a fairly high profile job before she retired and it would be just my word against her.

JustAThought

There is an increasing number of posters on this site proclaiming their joy at belting dogs and carrying sticks, knives snd crowbars to attack other peoples dogs on their walks - some serious sick and disturbingly mentally ill people here on boards.

As regards the OP you said the gate is normally closed but today it was open. And if you ate serious about it there are normal strategies to deal with it - post a complaint letter in door, report to fog warden or gaurds. Of course she can say your dog kicked it off /attacked/was a nuisance and then all dogs could bd seized snd destroyed.Will everyone be happy then?

antix80

JustAThought wrote: »

There is an increasing number of posters on this site proclaiming their joy at belting dogs and carrying sticks, knives snd crowbars to attack other peoples dogs on their walks - some serious sick and disturbingly mentally ill people here on boards.

Get off your high horse. Dogs can be dangerous animals, especially to other smaller dogs and children for that matter. What's the harm in carrying a stick when you know there's a credible threat?

Oink

Can you record the next incident with your phone for evidence?

DBB

JustAThought wrote: »

There is an increasing number of posters on this site proclaiming their joy at belting dogs and carrying sticks, knives snd crowbars to attack other peoples dogs on their walks - some serious sick and disturbingly mentally ill people here on boards.

Not sure where on boards you're seeing posters being allowed advocate belting dogs, or using knives or crowbars, but it's not on this forum.

As regards the OP you said the gate is normally closed but today it was open. And if you ate serious about it there are normal strategies to deal with it - post a complaint letter in door, report to fog warden or gaurds. Of course she can say your dog kicked it off /attacked/was a nuisance and then all dogs could bd seized snd destroyed.Will everyone be happy then?

A dog cannot be lawfully seized for getting involved in a fight with another dog. It can be seized if it is found off the owner's property, and it can be seized after attacking a person, or livestock (other dogs are not defined as livestock). There is no provision in law for punishing skirmishes between dogs on the street in this scenario. It doesn't matter which dog starts it.
The person(s) in the wrong, as far as our legislation is concerned, is the one(s) who has permitted their dog not to be under effectual control, and/or allowed their dogs off their property. This can be both parties, but in this case, it seems that the op was going about his business, whilst the neighbour allowed her dogs off her property, thus her dogs were not under effectual control. Furthermore, if a dog attacks another, by definition, it is not under effectual control.

You might tell us, apart from the complaint letter or phoning the authorities... what do you suggest an owner does right there and then, in the heat of the moment, whilst their dog is being attacked, injured, possibly killed by another dog?

kg703

We took on a foster for the time we are now at home. Very sociable dog but unfortunately if a dog tries to play with him, it triggers complete over excitement (his main issue) making him impossible until we can calm him.

Really opened my eyes to the amount of people not keeping their dogs on leads and the issues it causes. Yes your dog is lovely and playful but when it approaching another dog on a lead and the owners dont care.... we had to stop taking the foster to the big park because so many people letting their dogs run free, came up to us and ours got totally over excited leaping all over the place and we had to turn around and go home. Our dog is a big one too.

Maybe try and speak to her again, calmly and explain the issues. Also point out that if the dog leaves her property to attack yours again, you will record it and call the dog warden - but you dont want it to come to that.

Its really unfair on your poor pup who you are only trying to give the best chance.

Choc Chip

kg703 wrote: »

We took on a foster for the time we are now at home. Very sociable dog but unfortunately if a dog tries to play with him, it triggers complete over excitement (his main issue) making him impossible until we can calm him.

Really opened my eyes to the amount of people not keeping their dogs on leads and the issues it causes. Yes your dog is lovely and playful but when it approaching another dog on a lead and the owners dont care.... we had to stop taking the foster to the big park because so many people letting their dogs run free, came up to us and ours got totally over excited leaping all over the place and we had to turn around and go home. Our dog is a big one too.

This isn't the OP's problem, but I love a muzzle for this - the number of people who will get control of their dog if yours is wearing a muzzle is amazing.

I had your exact problem and people wouldn't hold their dogs when I asked nicely. Popped a muzzle on and suddenly people are putting a lead on their dog from miles away. It's baffling, but it gives me more space and it means that there can't be any accusations if their dog rushes mine and there's a scuffle - mine was obviously under control if it's on a lead and wearing a muzzle.

(BTW - I don't use this when I'm in the OP's situation as there are no owners around when our local dogs are loose on the road and I don't want my dogs to be unable to defend themselves if they were actually attacked).

shaveAbullock

Oink wrote: »

Can you record the next incident with your phone for evidence?

I won't be putting my dog through it again just to record video.

kg703 wrote: »

Maybe try and speak to her again, calmly and explain the issues. Also point out that if the dog leaves her property to attack yours again, you will record it and call the dog warden - but you dont want it to come to that.

Its really unfair on your poor pup who you are only trying to give the best chance.

The thing is I did tell her calmly the first time, this was after she watched my dog attacked by hers. I only raised my voice when her dogs went for mine again while I was talking to her. As I was defending my dogs from hers she told me she told me her dogs would go back inside the gate later on so she does not need to do anything right now.

My dog is always on a lead why I walk it so I had a witness it would be easy to report but as it stands I don't have proof I had my dog on a lead or that the incident happened on a public road.

tk123

shaveAbullock wrote: »

My dog is always on a lead why I walk it so I had a witness it would be easy to report but as it stands I don't have proof I had my dog on a lead or that the incident happened on a public road.

You're reporting it to the dog warden not the Garda commissioner - you don't need video evidence or written statements. You've mentioned that her neighbour has had the same issues - that's all you need to tell the warden. It's confidential, no dogs will be seized and pts, with any luck the warden will call out and tell her to cop on.

shaveAbullock

What measures would the dog warden put in place to prevent this from happening again?

And if she was to lie and tell the warden that my dog entered her property and attacked her dogs there would be no issue for me?

tk123

shaveAbullock wrote: »

What measures would the dog warden put in place to prevent this from happening again?

And if she was to lie and tell the warden that my dog entered her property and attacked her dogs there would be no issue for me?

The warden will explain that they need to be kept in and I'd assume have her pay for 3 licenses - that should be enough to make her cop on. They'll more than likely call to other houses and ask the neighbours about the dogs too. You're not reporting the attack as such - you're reporting the dogs being out and not under control.