Hi to all,

I used this site a long time ago and as ive forgotten my details have had to re-register. After an incident this morning i just wanted to vent my frustration. . . . and slight guilt.
Ill start by saying we have three dogs, One rather old and Gnarly terrier mix who has quite a severe heart murmor and will have ago at anything with legs. We then have two english pointers one six year
old bitch who we have had from a pup, and a four year old dog who we rescued.

Ill get to the point now. I was out for normal walk this morning in woods which back onto our house. Only the dog came with me, as bitch has had colitis due to and is on limited exercise for a few days.

The terrier doesnt do morning walks as she likes to sleep till about midday after going out to relieve herself first thing.
Im digressing. The walk was fine and we were on the last ten minutes of an hours walk, when infront of us appeared a gorgeous looking red boxer she trotted over ad gave my boy a sniff with no
problems. I couldnt see an owner. Then appeared a large brindle male, at this point i saw his owners, a couple i have never seen in woods before. The man was calling the brindle back with no response, my boy was quite happy carrying his stick and wasnt bothered. The brindle then ran towards my boy got hold of him and pinned him to the ground. I was quite shocked and as my boy is daft as a brush he was not retaliating just screaming. The owners just stood there. So i regretfully waded in to hit the boxer wiith the rope lead i had in my hand. I was then told by the owner not to hit his dog as he was a rescue and had been beaten and hit in the past. I retorted that so had mine but i could still control him, with some expletives added. We separated them after a few attempts. The man then started fussing and kissing his dog as if he was the injured party. My boy had two small nips on his kneck, nothing serious luckily. The two owners the women of which had said nothing, started walking off without saying anything. I then lost it and got rather angry and abbusive. Along the lines of the doog should be muzzled and kept on lead, again with more expletives.

My boy wasn't too traumatised, and once he had had his breakfast seemed fine. When i got home however i felt awful and feel like i overreacted to the situation. My dogs have been in scuffles before but never as intense as this one so think it took me by surprise. If i see the couple again im sure ill say sorry, as long as the dog is under control!
I can see thi post has dragged on but i just wanted to see if people thought id been a little harsh, i know hiting dog with lead was wrong but it was my first instinct......wrongly i know.

thanks

tbh, I don't think you over reacted.  If myself and my dogs are minding our own business I find it incredibly rude when people let their dogs approach and don't make any effort to call them back or intervene if things get a bit stressy.  I think I would have reacted exactly the same as you.

Two HUGE GSDs broke out of their garden onto a public footpath I was walking my older dog on (a few years back as she is no longer here) and started to attack her.  I was in the middle of it all and all I could do was kick the dogs really hard in the stomach to try and get them away.  Yes, they could have turned on me but as they were trying to get her when she had cowered between my legs I couldn't think of anything else to do!!  The owner appeared and couldn't give a hoot.  They just stood there and laughed
There was no real harm done to my poor girlie other than a few nips and she was badly shaken up but I dread to think what the outcome could have been if it had been an elderly person with a small dog.

So to answer your question, no I personally don't think you overreacted.

most would react the same way
i certainly would
i have stopped going up country paths and field and woods
now with my dogs on my own
i,m sick to death of dog owners letting their dogs run wild with no control
i go to a country park where dogs only to be kept on lead
i also carry a riding crop with me
and would use it if my dogs got attacked

Umm I've reacted the same way when a Pitbull type went to attack one of my dogs.  I actually didn't know that I could get so annoyed and say some of the things I did.  I have to say that the dogs extremely large built owner was extremely nice at the end and very apologetic.  Unfortunately my girl hasn't liked other dogs coming near her since.

I'm not one for losing my rag either!  But I am sure that I would feel shocked and threatened by a dog attacking one of mine.  So I can see that it would be highly likely that I would feel upset enough to lash out. 

So I really think a lot of people would have reacted the same as you. 

hi all,

Thanks for your replys. Glad im not on my own. I know if i had had the other two with me there would have been bloody murder. I just felt bad for lashing out at someone elses dog when ive never hit a dog of mine in my life. I think it was the owners that annoyed me more, if the dog had been muzzled or even just on a lead the situation could have been completley avoided.

Hi ya, enjoyed reading your story, I had the same sort of thing happen to me just this weekend gone, but I had the opposite reaction to you....Let me begin.

My brother came to mine to stay so we went in the woods near my house with all 3 of my lot. My brother is a little intimidated by dogs more of a cat person-  mostly when they bark but as mine listen and behave he gets on with them well sort of anyway. My 2 youngsters where off lead as usual there both mongrels- lab x terrier, my old boy a English bull was on his flexi lead, snoop (old fella) was dragging his feet and driving me a bit nuts- I like to walk at a faster pace so my brother said here I'll take him so I handed him over, we were walking out of the main woody area throu a old swing gate onto a bigger path when I saw a very large GS typical large male, tail and head held high sniffing my boy starsky, now my lad cowered he was very intimidated so he tried to walk away slowly, I was watching from the high smaller path and my brother behind me with snoop. Next thing this Gs attacked starsky and lots of yelping and snarling then out of the blue his little sister my 3rd dog the littlest out of my gang flew at the GS throat and got him off my starsky- I was rather pleased/proud that she startled the dog into stopping this attack thus saving her brother ahh bless. The owner a young girl was- oh Jake, Oh Jake! As her dog got a telling off by my Tinkerbell I thought it would be over and said to my brother who was scared to death behind me, its OK- tinker sorted it out, the young girl then walked off she didn't even put her dog on a lead so again he attacked starsky. My brother was very upset by this and pushed pasted me and started walking towards trouble! but luckily my boy ran away, my snoop just stood next to me a woofed at this dog. I was amazed at my brothers reaction, as I was like after- what would you of done grabbed her massive dog?? I said its never a good choice for owner or anyone when  a squabble is taking place. I did agree after walking home that the owner should of the first time got hold of him, as mine where trying to keep out of his way!  In the heat of the moment it is hard not to defend your dog getting attacked but I find being more calm it stops quicker than losing it and joining in so all hell breaks lose?

> The owners just stood there.

These are the type of dog owners who give others a bad name .
They need to have reliable recall or put the dog on a lead .
If you see them again i would be telling them that you hope they have 3rd party insurance as they will be having to pay for any dog or person their dogs damage . 
Perhaps they just need a kick up the jacksie to become more responsible .

Oh , and i would have done just the same as you !

I would have reacted the same way as you. 

My neighbours lab got attacked by a sbt a few weeks back right outside my house, she started kicking the dog as it had her's by the throat, the owner was yelling don't kick my dog etc, but was too terrified himself to try and grab his dog, when it let go, the owner sped off on his bike shaking his leg and encouraging the dog to grab his trouser leg - I couldn't believe it.

We frequently come across a GSD while out walking. We always meet at the same time in a similar place ,he is running with a group from a local running club. He seems to see it as his job to protect the runners. No problem. But this dog always goes for my boys. Who are always clipped on their lead when we come across them . My boy has had two nasty nips from the GSD.I have tried to change my route but a few weeks ago we met again . Again the GSD snapped at my boys. I had enough and  as they passed, I handed my dogs leads to a friend and stopped the group from a running and had words with the owner. I was ultra polite and very to the point. Telling them next time I would be reporting the dog as aggressive.

We saw them again this week and the owner stopped put his GSD on a lead and controlled him. I was already for a huge confrontation but thankfully it did not occur!!

The funny thing is though, the friend with me has two elderly collie bitches, about a 100 yards on and all forgiven and forgotten, they both  took it into their head to chase after the GSD... I have never seen these girls leave the heel , they are very bossy with my boys, I think they were just making sure the point was made!!

i have just come back from the park with my rescue collie bitch who i would class as very sharp and i know this , but out of no where a small dog larger than a jack russle , built like a corgi came hurtling at her and bit her shoulder it had a leader on i grabbed the leash and yanked him away and up out the way of my bitch he was still screaming to get at my bitch who i told lie down wait which she did she had her tennis ball, thank god she had the ball or the little bundle of screaming heebies may of been food , the owner came screaming over to me that i was strangling his dog and i turned and said he has just bitten my girl,as i passed him over to the man and the man said i know he bites but he gotaway from me, i told him in no uncertain terms to muzzle the little so and so and i was going to report him under the dangerous dog act, at this point he went rather white and started running away,
all i can say is he was lucky it was not my male akita as i proberly would not have the same control over him as my collie, but when i checked my girl, she was only wet fur, i was smiling over a year ago she would of bit back, but she stayed down, she did not retailiate and she just wanted her ball, i am so proud of her, but so annoyed that someone could be so irresponsible to know that their dog bites and not have it muzzled
carolann

Hi,

As someone who has sort of been on the reverse of this, I too don't think you over reacted.  My boy Dexter, does not take kindly to entire males at his backside or putting their chin on him, normally I have him on a lead whenever another dog's around, just in case... we were in our local park when a Rottie ran over before I could get his lead on and did this to him... and he flipped before I could intervene and was really having a go at this Rottie (no teeth, just barks and body slams)... anyway, before I could get to Dexter the Rottie's owner kicked him in the stomach so hard he went flying and squealing.  This I don't think was an appropriate action, as I was 1 second away from removing my dog from the situation in a non-violent way, furthermore the Rottie had essentially started it and was certainly big enough to fend off my scrawny Lab if it had got out of hand... Had I been watching and not responding as the Boxer owners in this case, perhaps his actions would have been justified (however, I think your approach of hitting with a lead is far far far kinder). 

I really wouldn't feel guilty, we all want to protect our own dogs (I won't tell you what I nearly did to the man who kicked Dexter... and I'm a pacifist )

Clare

hi,

Its interesting reading all your responses and im glad that im not on my own in my reaction. Ill add that i dont mind dogs being off leads, i enjoy seeing my dogs interact and play with others. It just seems to be that when you see an owner franticly calling thier dog it generally means there will be trouble. When my dogs have been in scrapes before, mainly my grumpy terrier, other owners have been fine about the situations and we have appologised and thats that. I think it was more these stupid owners that got on my wick, because at the end of the day he dog was only behaving the only way he knew how.
CVL your post rings true with me also, as we used to have a patterdale who we rescued that had been used as a hunt terrier. He had half his teeth missing, a tear in his right ear and about a dozen scars down his muzzle. He was the most affectionate dog in the world with people. Other dogs were another story. We never used to let him off sadly. One day when walking in a country park the lead slipped from my hand and he went hell for leather towards a collie attatched himself onto its kneck and hung there for grim death. The collie owner was kicking him as hard as he could in the stomach but he wouldnt budge, eventually my Hubby managed to get him off by litterally punching him accross the muzzle. We appologised profusley and the collie owner was great about it. I just wish the boxer owners had acted in a similar way.
I remember that the patterdale was so pleased with himself after that incident he strutted all the way back to the car.

sorry,but good for you!you obviously met a pair of morons.ihope you dont meet them again.one hopes theyl learn from this and either get help or a strong lead,but somehow i doubt it.idve reacted the same!

You did not over react. Irresponsible people need an earful. Although its doesn't do a darn thing! I have had my DDB attacked twice while he was on the lead, and the other dogs were off the lead running around like terrors. My boy loves everyone and everything, so initiates play when he is approached by other dogs. But to have the dogs run up to him and just attack it totally out of order. Even if there isn't a mark on him. The first time a JRT drew blood on his nose and it bled for ages.

I am also a dog walker and have been pushed out of a public footpath/field due to a aggressive dog. This dog has attacked more than one dog on several occasions. Irresponsible owners yet again. He couldn't control the thing so he let his pack run free, doing what they want.

I wished I had more guts, I think next time I am not going to be polite.

A few weeks back I was walking Henry (my Cav) when a Staffy came bouncing over in that enthusiastic way they do, Henry isn't too keen on Staffs so I called to the owner to call his dog back, though luckily Henry was being unusually tolerant. Unfortunately this Staff though friendly had no collar on and was ignoring his owner, and when the man came to fetch his dog, his other Staff who was on the lead was within range of Henry and grabbed him by the throat and ear, luckily Henry got free and I thought no harm was done. I shouted that he should have a collar on the dog and he replied that the dog usually came when called, but I was more concerned with getting away before his offlead dog came back and annoyed Henry again. When we got home I discovered the onlead dog had actually marked Henry in a couple of places on his throat, luckily he has that thick white ruff or it would have done more damage, but I'd have said a LOT more if I'd seen the toothmarks at the time of the incident!

Abosultey Fuming!

Il start by saying, that i have an interiors business and work from home most days. However i go to our shop two-three times per week to meet clients and check everything is running smoothly. I usually take dogs with me but as i was meeting a new client this morning i didnt fancy dogs pestering them so left them at home. This is not uncommon and when it occurs my mother helps out and takes dogs out for me. She herself has had Tibetan Terriers for around thirty years. She currently has two who get on fine with our three even the grumpy terrier! My mother is in her seventies, however is still extremely active and still runs her own business, so is quite capable of walking five well beahved dogs.
While at work today she phoned me to say she was on the way to the vets as our terrier had been attacked by (yes you have probably guessed) a bloody brindle boxer!
It turns out that the same dog that had my pointer the other day was still being walked off lead and unmuzzled. He apparentley just made a beeline for her and had her by the kneck. Shes a grump as i have said so was fighting back but due to her size disadvantage came off worse. My pointer bitch attempted to help out but my mother managed to stop her. Her TT's were just making alot of noise about it.The owners this time were out of sight. My mother laid into the dog with a riding crop which she always carries. She from what she said really gave him a hiding and she on her own managed to seperate them!
She picked up the terrier and put one of the leads she was carrying on the boxer and proceded to find the owners, litterally dragging it from what she said. The owners appeared and again were rude and obstinant about thier dogs behavior. My mother gave them a mouthfull and asked for thier name and address, which they refused to give.
What is so ridiculous is thier other dog who from what i saw the other day is fine with other dogs, was on a lead!!
Our girl was taken to the vets with a couple of nips around her mouth and a small one on her kneck. No stitches need. She seems ok in herself but was at thetime quite shook up.
Im so annoyed with these stupid people. Twice in one week thier dog has attacked one of mine. It makes me wonder how many other dogs have been attacked by this, what i consider to be a dangerous dog.
I really dont know what to do next. Do i get intouch with dog warden? Do i report it to police? Or do i just do nothing?
From the little they said to me last time, he is a rescue so surely whichever organisation he was from would be appaled that they are not taking responsibility for his behavior.

Well vent over, Hopefully there wont be another post like this anytime soon!

I think the fact that you felt the need to react in that way at that particular time means you did not over react at all. You sound as if you were threatened and scared and in that position i would probably have done the same. Yes, you can walk away and feel bad for hitting the dog (at the end of the day its never the animals fault) but at the time you did what you had to do to protect your dog and yourself. In the heat of the moment you and your own come first. I do feel sorry for this dog as it obviously has issues that need to be addressed but with owners like that i doubt the problems will ever get sorted.

Hmm difficult. Especially as I'm a Boxer owner ....BUT

Firstly it's the Boxer's owners/walkers that are at fault.
Now they must know (or be incredibly dense not to) that the dog isn't reliable by now...so can't argue oh it's a one off...
The dog needs to be on lead at all times when there are dog around or certainly never allowed out of sight of his owners.
As he's not on a lead at the times of these 'attacks' then he is deemed 'out of control'.
To be honest these owners do need educating that this is not on and that they have a responsiblity to their dog and others.
I would report to the local dog warden - if you can get hold of them. It may be (and I am very sad to say this) that it's probably not a one off
and others have also been on the receiving end.

I know with Boxers they aren't the easiest to train and do have a problem with selective hearing...which is soooo infuriating especially
when you know that in training they are foot perfect - arrrgghh I got an 8yo that is on my sofa that is like this.
Although thankfully she isn't aggressive - unless another dog flies for her/acts inappropriately and she will stand her ground and defend.
I also know that Boxers have memories like elephants and never forget experiences with other dogs/humans so 'bad' behaviour once
learned is very hard to retrain - BUT it can be done or damage limitation put in place if the owners are willing to put the time and effort in.
Sadly a lot of owners aren't responsible and aren't willing to put the extra work in (that's for all dog owners not certain breeds/types).

This is the crux of the problem and from what I've read these people don't seem to realise that they are putting their Boxer in danger of falling foul
of the dangerous dogs act. Nor do they seem willing to rectify their dogs behaviour...
As much as I love my breed, irresponsible owners that don't have an ounce of common sense bug the hell out of me, their own arrogance/lack of respect puts their
dog's life on the line. I'd speak to your dog warden and ask advice, they may even go up to the area that you walk in to have a word with these people.
As they obviously are completely unawares of their actions and what risk their brindle Boxer is in if they keep up with this behaviour.

Sorry that you've had to undergo such horrid experience, not all Boxers are like this nor have irresponsible owners..some who have rescues that have 'problems'
are more than responsible and don't put their dogs at risk.

It sounds very much like this dog (and it's owners) are in desperate need of behavioural training and now!! (not that it helps you much)

Hi boxacrazy,

I completley agree with what you have said. I dont have a thing against Boxer's, i think they are a great characterfull breed. This is why i feel such anger towards these idiots. The dog is not in the wrong, his actions could have been prevented by simply using a muzzle and/or keeping him on a lead. Howerver mine and my mothers actions towards the dog were the only way we saw fit to stop the attacks.
I have not contacted dog warden yet, tbh i have never seen one locally as we live in quite a rural area, but im sure there is one which covers our area. Im pretty sure that these people do not live locally. We live in a small village, and the woods in which we have met the dog only back onto five houses ours being one of them. However it is used by local people as a popular dog walk.
I feel sorry for the poor dog and i hope he gets the training he really needs.
My girl seems to have gotten over her ordeal shes 14 but can still hold her own. . . bless her.
If i run into these people again im sure ill write a post about it!

sorry to hear what your poor mother went through- personally I would contact the police as this has happened twice now. If your mother didn't have the riding crop with her how the heck would she of gotten the dog off? Its not as if your dog needed veterinary attention but next time it might be a different story and obviously the owners don't give a hoot what animal their dog attacks- so say this to the police being a rural area might be more clout with farm animals around?

My boy wasn't too traumatised, and once he had had his breakfast seemed fine. When i got home however i felt awful and feel like i overreacted to the situation. My dogs have been in scuffles before but never as intense as this one so think it took me by surprise. If i see the couple again im sure ill say sorry, as long as the dog is under control!


Please dont apologise!!!!!!!

You were doing nothing wrong at all and if anything they should apologise to you!
Some people have such nerve to accuse your dogs when it was blatently obvious who's dogs started it.
You did everything correct and its exactly what I would have done but I would have probably thrown more abuse in to be honest!

If it happens again I would report them straight away without a moments thought, once is an accident or a momentary lapse, twice is just being a bad dog owner and you shouldnt be allowed the privilige.

Please contact your dog warden right away, there should be one covering your area, if you can't find anything through the council the Police will have the numbers to hand if you call them.
Make sure you log everything and obviously you have details of one of your dogs ending up at the vets as well. You and your mother are witnesses to this dog. Do you know any other dog walkers in the area, if you do, then maybe speak to them about this dog and see if they have had any issues as well.
Does this guy with the Boxers walk in the same area and at around the same time each day or does it differ?

I would have acted the same way as you - in fact worse as 3 of mine are littlies.  I would be horrified and mortified if any of my dogs tried to attack other dogs.

Don't beat yourself up over it - you just acted in a natural way as we all would.

Hope you are feeling better about it now.

Snowflake

Sorry you and your mum had to go through that. I have a "beastie" who is not good with dogs or indeed people he doesn't know. When I walk him he is always on lead and muzzled, I would be mortified if he was able to inflict damage on anything/one. I do however get some awful looks and comments. He can be a complete soppy puppy and then go off the radar when something unusual triggers him, luckily he is improving so he comes down from his high very quickly now.

Just wanted you to know that not everyone with an "iffy" dog is as irresponsible as the owners you've encountered.