[Ygd2qr8k]

Probably true. Also one dog on a leash and the other not is a recipe for trouble. But I won't let it even get to the sniffing anymore, I carry hard-core pepper spray EVERY time I am out with him now, ...

I understand.

If I ever find myself in a situation where dogs ARE going to confront me and I see that a fight is GOING to happen the SECOND I pull on the leash, yell, or wave my arms, I am going to go the route of letting the dogs do their sniffing and take the chance they will do just that. The alternative IS a fight (unless I have pepper spray, I guess!). And if there's a fight, I'll let my dog take care of it. It's happened before and it worked out just fine, both ways.

One day I watched as one bitch jumped the fence and got into another bitch's exercise yard. I was far away and knew both bitches and KNEW there would be fight the SECOND I ran at them or even yelled from the distance. It was hard, but I resisted that impulse. I grabbed a loop lead and started walking toward them nonchalently, while they sniffed each other and the ground around themselves. As I got closer, I even walked non-chalently away from them for a bit, just saying hi to them in a normal tone of voice. Then I just looped the lead around one and walked her out the gate.

I learned a lot from that. The way I look at it, if I'm in a situation where a fight is GOING to happen, I might as well try the method of letting the dogs work it out. It often works.

Carla

[bromgeksan]

I've been dealing with this situation since Jac was a pup, loose dogs running up on him and scaring him to death or attempting to attack him.

In this neighborhood, individuals are pretty "good" people. They're the high-strung, think-they-know-everything type (AKA the typical anti-bully type). They allow their dogs to run around off leashes since their dogs are "good". The law around here is that all dogs are required to be on a leash off their property and this law is definitely not followed here.

I have been contemplating calling AC to report the various people but I'm not sure if it'll actually help. If I was to report them, would it make a difference? I've talked to the owners to see if they'd start to follow the law like Jac and I do as well as a neighboring german shepard and his owners do but I have seen no difference in their behavior. I'm just seen as the annoying college kid who knows nothing which is outrageously far from the truth.

Yesterday I was walking Jac with his new Gentle Leader(which is AMAZING btw), having a great time when I came to the hilltop of the road(no sidewalks) and saw two dogs running around with a group of young teenagers standing near them at the bottom of the hill. I called from afar and asked the kids to get the dogs under control. At that point the young girl responds with "Get YOUR dog under control" as she went to grab the dogs. I shrugged it off and smirked a little seeing how well Jac was behaving, tail wagging in the air.

Anyways, the dogs started bolting for Jac. I thought the worst was about to happen. I hunkered myself against a retaining wall with Jac's head facing me as the dogs charged. I was prepared to kick in some ribs, not going to lie. I know it sounds bad but I'd protect my pup from anything since he's saved my life before. So as they came up on him they ended up only sniffing him so I sat soothing him, telling him he was a good boy while eyeing the teenage girl as she came and grabbed the dogs.

Thankfully nothing bad happened besides Jac being terribly frightened(which I'm enraged about). Him and I sat up on the hill for about 10 minutes after the dogs wer put inside and I calmed him down to his normal self. We went down the hill and I scolded the teens for not helping the girl and for not keeping the dogs in the yard.

Let's hope this doesn't happen again. It has happened way too many times for me to just sit here and do nothing. I just am curious that if I call AC, whether or not it'll make a difference to get those irresponsible owners in trouble.

Thanks for reading such a long post guys. I'm just so angry about the whole situation.

[legal-advicer]

You should be angry- Loose dogs present a risk - to you, your dog and others (and presents risk to the dogs).

My suggestion would be to meet with your local AC authority in person, and calmly present your concerns and see what they can/will do.

AC orgs. can vary greatly from city to city, but I find that the 'one-on-one' would be more effective for you.

[swwatch]

I would have pepper sprayed them, thrown rocks, kicked ribs, anything necessary before letting a loose dog come up and sniff my dog. A few months ago that wouldn't have been the case, but then the same thing happened to me and in the split second the neighbor was running to get his dog, it went from sniffing mine to all-out attacking and we ended up at the emergency vet. So now I won't take the chance.

[bromgeksan]

I was sure to keep the dogs away from Jac's body with mine but with it being two dogs it was extremely difficult. All they got were sniffs.

I'll be sure to try that one-on-one thing. Thank you!

[raspirator]

I have this exact same problem! It's sooooo fustraiting! I've called AC countless times and they've maybe come out once or twice. They've never done anything about the animals running loose, only issued warnings, not even a damn ticket! These are all mutt dogs, but god forbid Shiner get out of the fence somehow and follow some kids home, playing with them mind you. And some asshole call AC for a Pit Bull being on the loose, and WAM! They are there within the hour. It's F-ing retarded and way unfair. Ha! I'm getting pissed off over the situation all over again.

[Ebjjrxrd]

If you have leash laws in your area, you are within your rights to call AC. Just have your ducks in a row.

If your dog needs to be licensed, make sure his license and all vaccinations are current.

Get pictures of the neighborhood dogs running loose, and make sure they are date and time stamped. I had issues with neighborhood dogs on a daily basis. My AC told me to get the pictures, date and time stamped. With those in hand, she was able to issue a citation to the neighbor.

[wCYvMKAc]

I too have this same problem with a few people in my neighborhood. Especially the b*tch across teh street with her Chow. Now I can GURANTEE you if my dogs were outside, not on a leash, that AC would be called IMMEDIATELY. But she let's her dogs run loose ALL over her front yard, there is also a law here that states if your dog is outside if it's back yard it is to BE ON A LEASH!!!! Now when I call AC, cause I can't walk my dogs out front on their LEASHES, because her mangy Chow is outside, I get pissed off. Everytime I call, when AC does show up the dog is usually just chillin in her drive way. Now I have called and gottent he cops like twice now and this last time I made sure they came when she was home, they told her that they were getting numerous reports of her dog being outside OFF leash. I have yet to see her Chow outside without a leash on since then. But if I were to call, I actually had too, and say that it were PIT BULLS loose you better believe they would be here within seconds. And the cops in the neighborhood here, know we have our dogs and have seen me walking all 3 of mine, with my breakstick in my back pocket, at all times, and I have been told how responsible I am for doing this and keeping my dogs on a regular leash and not one of those f**king retractable leashes. grrrr see I got all heated again too.


I'm glad nothing bad hapened and I too suggest a sit down with your AC and see what you can come up with. Good Luck

[8Uxtkz7F]

What Purple said^^^^

You might want to give a copy of the leash laws to these people with the loose dogs.

[Immerymopay]

I have the same problem, and whats worse i live in an apartment, its ridiculous how people let their dogs roam around the parking lot like strays, barking and chasing strangers. I ve told the landlord, and she says they have been warned. I am going to get my pup in a few weeks, and i don't want any of these dogs to scare him. There are a few good dogs, but also a few bad.

[swwatch]

Agree with Purple too, pictures of them running loose is a great idea.

[plantBanceper]

MAN i hate when people think its ok to let their dog walk around off leash i had this problem before i moved.my neighbor would open the back door and let his APBT go outside and FORGET hes out there....i hate stupid people

[Immerymopay]

What really makes me mad is, when you tell them to put their dogs on a leash, they blame your pit bull and say "well its only because of your vicious pit bull we have to put our dogs on a leash".

[plantBanceper]

What really makes me mad is, when you tell them to put their dogs on a leash, they blame your pit bull and say "well its only because of your vicious pit bull we have to put our dogs on a leash".

EXACTLY and when their off leash dog tries to fight one of our dogs we are the ones that gotta put our dog to sleep

[wCYvMKAc]

^^^ so true the both of you. *shakin my head*

[Immerymopay]

My landlord says that the person who lived in my apartment previously also had a pit bull, and people would simply complain just because it was a pit bull and they "looked" scary. But here you have other tenants who let their dogs loose and harass passers by, and there is no complaint. Oh my yorkie cant harm anyone, even if it bites it will be a scratch...oh your forgot rabies and the other crap these dogs have from being outside and never cleaned or taken for shots.

[raspirator]

Ew Yorkies. Ew little yappy dogs in general.

[lorrieholdridge]

Ew Yorkies. Ew little yappy dogs in general.

My thoughts exactly.

[Kotyara]

What makes me sad is, that a little girl would speak to an adult that way... If I ever heard my kids talking to someone like that when they were little, they would have been in for it.... matter of fact, I would probably feel that way now, and my kids are grown.... well, at 19 and 21, they think they are grown.

[raspirator]

Haha if it was a throw pillow dog like a yorkie or a chi I would punt that bastard 30 yards.....hey I was in fear of mine and my dogs safety!!! LOL