How do I handle one dog who has been bothering mine?

718 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Zoopie, Apr 9, 2012

Zoopie

Discussion Starter · Apr 8, 2012

Disclaimer: I've always been afraid of dogs and I'm aware I tense up when we meet a stray dogs, which is probably not helping.

My dog is usually quite good with stray dogs. There's about two of them he's not crazy about, but the others are more than welcomed to nap with him on the patio. The two he is not crazy about are not an issue. I just yell at them to stay away or go home and they stop mid-track and listen.

One has been an issue this week. Rottweiler, a few months old. He escaped for a full day this week. Since then, Dexter goes crazy when he sees him around. The dog is often loose and comes running at my dog during walks. The owner doesn't seem to care and seems to think I'm silly for getting scared. Nothing happened so far. Close call yesterday, but the rottweiler got distracted by my friend's dog. Dexter went crazy and defensive just watching the dog sniffing his friend. He usually doesn't pay attention to other dogs during the walk or even cry while hiding behind me when they come see him, so I assume the other dog went bugging him while he was loose this week.

How do I handle it? I mean, I tend to avoid the other dog as much as possible, but what's the best reaction if he ever comes running at Dexter again and my dog gets all defensive and barky?

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Greater Swiss

· #2 · Apr 8, 2012

Is there any animal control in your area, or SPCA? I know we don't really have AC, the only option for us it to truck a dog into town to the SPCA ourselves. If it is an option though it might get the owner's attention a little bit, maybe enough to secure the Rottie a little better.
Other than that you could find a way to scare that dog off. We had a rather irritating Jack Russel (belonged to some annoying neighbours) hanging around our house for a while and going at our garbage the second we put it outside before going to the dumpster. My DH used an airsoft gun, just shot in his direction (but far enough away to not hit him), but it surprised him and warned him off for a little while. Not a nice solution, but better than a possible dog fight. There's also the cattle-prod or pepper/bear spray option. Again not nice, but might keep the dog away if there is no way to convince the owner to be responsible about it.

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Tofu_pup

· #3 · Apr 8, 2012

Typically, I restrain Kaki and body block the offending dog. That tends to do the trick but you have to be fast on your feet to block the dog from going around you to Dexter.

You could also try a walking stick. That would keep the dog at a good distance from both you and Dexter. Somebody else here suggested snapping poop bags in the air at the dog.

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Zoopie

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 8, 2012

No AC or SPCA around here. I've already warned someone from the provincial police (only cops we have around), but since his own dogs are always loose, I doubt he'll do anything about it.

The dog is barely secured. He is on a patio, but the gates are elbow-high and he has ate half the doors already.

I usually body block, but since an assumed bad experience, Dexter does not cooperate really well and wants to get to him too (no clue what the other dog did to him, because he's usually a total wuss....once again, he was crying at a kitten earlier).

I walk around 2-3 hours a day and carrying a walking stick would be annoying. The bear/pepper spray, even if I'd order some, would not get here for 3 weeks with our postal service.

My friend has no issue with the dog. He comes by, sniffs around, she tells him to go home and he does. I know my attitude and own fear is a big part of it, but I don't know how to act confident enough with that dog to scare him away.

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Tofu_pup

· #5 · Apr 8, 2012

Can you carry a treat pouch and just toss a handful of treats at him?

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Willowy

· #6 · Apr 8, 2012

Tofu_pup said:
Can you carry a treat pouch and just toss a handful of treats at him?

I'm thinking this. Anything that you could do to try to scare him away would probably make him contrary. Rotts are like that. But give a Rott a treat and he'll be your best friend. I'm not sure how to change Dexter's mind but the Rott is young enough to be impressionable.

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Pawzk9

· #7 · Apr 8, 2012

Direct spray. It's a citronella spray that will deter dogs without the pain of pepper spray or having to shoot near it (not an option in many communities). Also train YOUR dog not to be reactive to it. You can train your dog to tolerate an opening umbrella and block the oncoming dog with umbrella. Also, teach your dog to "get behind" so you can block the dog from getting to him. Huge difference between having your person between you and the scary dog and being at the front, at the end of the leash and thinking you have to deal with it on your own. Did I get it right that this "problem dog" is only a puppy? My guess is that if they are this irresponsible with a puppy, it's likely to not have had any shots either, and a trip to the nearest AC could be a death sentence if it catches parvo there.

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Zoopie

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 8, 2012

Wouldn't the treat thing make the dog more....attracted to us? I mean if I give him treats, he'll just come running every time we pass by, no?

And yeah....I'd say he's about 6? 7 months or so? I doubt he had any shots. Worse thing is communities north of us are seeing cases of the rabbies, so I'm hoping they'll give him the shots when the vet comes in about 2 months. And Dexter is such a wuss he naturally gets behind me, crying for me to protect him. Not sure what happened with this particular dog to change his usual reaction. I'll try talking to the owners (and to the cops again). If not, I'll ask if someone has some spray for me.

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Roloni

· #9 · Apr 8, 2012

Zoopie said:
Rottweiler, a few months old. He escaped for a full day this week. Since then, Dexter goes crazy when he sees him around. The dog is often loose and comes running at my dog during walks. The owner doesn't seem to care and seems to think I'm silly for getting scared.

A Rottie that is a few months old should not be running around the neighborhood loose.
The owner is neglegent ..but the puppy is harmless.
My concern is that the owner of the dog seems to be very irresponsible.

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Zoopie

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 9, 2012

No doubt the owner is negligent. The dog gets walked once a week, top. No wonder he eats half the patio to get away as much as he can. He doesn't really seem aggressive, just way too playful and energetic. My dog is easily intimidated, so I just worry about what can happen if he comes running towards Dexter too fast especially since it doesn't seem like a big love story to start with.

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