[healty-back]

It might be easier to take them out for walks one at a time that way you can have more control in the situation. It sucks that you can't take a nice walk with everyone because other people are irresponsible but safety first right?

[BaselBimbooooo]

First off, hello. I am so glad I found this forum with tons of info. Ive got a beautiful 2-ish year old rescue pit named Piper and a 12 month old boxer named Quorra.

Now that the weather is beautiful we have been walking our neighborhood every evening. One evening a neighbor's toddler let their English Bulldog out the front door and he ran at my dogs growling and barking. My dogs initial reaction was typical and they started to go after the bulldog. I got them calm and sitting and turned around to find my 5 year old screaming with blood running down his face and the bulldog on top of him. It happened in a split second. The neighbor got her dog inside and helped me get my dogs and kids home. My little guy ended up with an inch cut between his eyes that required several stitches.

Needless to say, after that we didnt take walks around the neighborhood for a while. We started again 2 weeks ago, and have run into unleashed dogs 3 times since. First was a bully mix (who's ignorant owner then asked to breed my pit and his mix...), then a chihuahua, then a german shepherd. My dogs have done beautifully each time, but I cannot expect that. These idiotic owners just let their dogs run loose and run up barking at my dogs.

How do you handle this? We often walk at the park, but the nearest park is a 20 minute drive and I cant do that every evening.

[P3bWjm1j]

People in neighborhoods are often the worst. Honestly, I don't walk around neighborhoods. I usually go seek out less used paths, fields, or paths/routes with enforced leash laws which are unfortunately difficult to find.

I don't have a fenced yard, so most potty walks (and since I don't have a car right now exercise walks/runs as well) we go to campus a block away where I work and am an alum of. Even then we have to be on alert all the time, but at least there's enough open space that you can see something far enough ahead so as to divert your path before it sees you or have time to react appropriately.

My one dog doesn't give a crap, but my other dog has anxiety/reactivity from other damn dogs constantly aggressively charging us. Its just as much a pita keeping overly friendly non-bully breeds that won't defend themselves safe as it is keeping a DA bully breed from getting in trouble for an incident not its fault... ugh stupid irresponsible people!

[encunnibriG]

Yeesh what a scary encounter! Im glad your 5 year old is ok! Did the other owners pay for medical expenses? They should! Ive heard people recomend using a few things during walks to keep loose dogs away. Including: An umbrella, popping it open usually scares dogs away. And my favorite, a cattle prod so you can just taze the offending dog lol. I like that one lol, maybe the owners will learn their lesson after their dog gets tazed with a cattle prod

[PymnImmen]

If I were you, I would drive out to a hiking trail or elsewhere to walk the dogs. Seems like the people in your area do not take leash laws seriously, and your dogs and children don't need to pay for it. I am so sorry that it is a hassle to just go for a walk.

[galaktiusman]

Pepper spray can be your best friend. I feel bad for the dog on the receiving end, but it's not your fault that owners are not training their dogs nor following the leash laws.

I recommend what the others have said about finding safer places to walk. Unfortunately, it's a battle to be responsible.

[UrUROFlS]

I'm dealing with the same thing right now in my neighborhood. I'm actually writing a letter for our condo association newsletter about, not sure if it will do any good but people should know it's not ok.

I hope you reported the dog that attacked your child to the police. There may have been other incidents involving that dog and if it gets after another child you'll feel terrible that you didn't report it.