small dogs charging Jake on walks

CeCe · 11-15-2011, 03:41 AM

Hello,
I hope someone can help me with a problem I'm having with loose dogs, which are always small breeds like chihuahuas or dashunds, leaving their yards to come out in the street and bark in my dogs face while I'm walking him. It happened this morning with 2 chihuahuas who kept charging him and I kept backing up but it took everything I had to hold my 95lb dog back. Their owner eventually came out and brought them in. This has happened several times with various dogs. Unfortunately back in May he hurt a small dog pretty badly that was loose and had approached him. I hadn't let go of the leash but he clamped down on the dog so quickly and it took awhile to get him off. The other dogs owners just picked their dog up and left without saying anything to me so I'm sure they knew that they were at fault but it was sad and scary. I'm annoyed by the dogs that approach us but also very concerned about their safety. I don't want to muzzle Jake because he is a nice dog who walks fine next to leashed or fenced dogs but he will respond if a dog gets right in his face.

Does anyone know what I can do to keep strange dogs away? I already avoid several streets where I know there will be trouble. My mom bought me some dog repellent spray to carry with me but I guess I'm worried people will get mad.

Jake is a neutered 4 year old rescue that we have had for one year this January. He is an awesome dog and we are so lucky to have him.

**MaggieRoseLee** · 11-15-2011, 07:59 AM

Hm...since my dogs aren't allowed to 'clamp' down on any dog unless they are in a real dog fight, and it DARN well better not have been started by either of my girls.............

In my opinion, and you will not like this, it's YOUR dog that's the issue not the little ones.

They are rude. They are inappropriate. But for my dogs, those little dogs are MY RESPONSIBILITY to deal with. Not my dogs responsiblity to 'crunch' if they get too near. If my big GSD's are under ANY illusion that a teeny dog is a real threat that's too much for ME to deal with..............then I need to work on that! I HAVE GOT IT! Little yappy dogs are MY RESPONSIBILITY so you don't have to think you have to do anything but roll your eyes, get behind me, and I will have a plan.

Does this same issue come up in your dog classes? What does your instructor recommend? Is it better when your dog is off leash?

Scarlettsmom · 11-15-2011, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaggieRoseLee

Hm...since my dogs aren't allowed to 'clamp' down on any dog unless they are in a real dog fight, and it DARN well better not have been started by either of my girls.............

In my opinion, and you will not like this, it's YOUR dog that's the issue not the little ones.

They are rude. They are inappropriate. But for my dogs, those little dogs are MY RESPONSIBILITY to deal with. Not my dogs responsiblity to 'crunch' if they get too near. If my big GSD's are under ANY illusion that a teeny dog is a real threat that's too much for ME to deal with..............then I need to work on that! I HAVE GOT IT! Little yappy dogs are MY RESPONSIBILITY so you don't have to think you have to do anything but roll your eyes, get behind me, and I will have a plan.

Does this same issue come up in your dog classes? What does your instructor recommend? Is it better when your dog is off leash?

I hadn't thought about it from that perspective. Scarlett is usually AFRAID of the small dogs when they come charging at her, particularly if they have their attitude on. I can generally get her to "leave it" and keep moving. If the little ankle biters follow us, it's up to them or their owner to deal with it. I usually just want to get past the distraction.

Emoore · 11-15-2011, 09:49 AM

Oh my lord this happens to me at least twice every single walk. Some little tiny dog will come running out, yapping its head off at us.

Fortunately for me, my dogs aren't dog-aggressive in the slightest. I usually stop and we all turn to face the little dog. Once it figures out that two-- TWO!-- German Shepherds are standing their ground and staring at it, it stops uncertainly. Then we slowly walk towards it and it retreats to its yard. It might follow us as we walk away again, but it doesn't charge or attack.

However, I know for certain that my dogs won't hurt the little dog. If you don't know that for a fact, then I wouldn't advise my method.

CeCe · 11-15-2011, 10:23 AM

Thanks for your answers everyone. He is fine in class and he is great off leash. It looks like I may need a trainer to show me how to let him know that I'll handle the small dogs. I'm usually panicking when this happens so maybe he picks up on that.

mysweetkaos · 11-15-2011, 10:56 AM

We have had this while walking our two boys. All I have to do is give the leave it command when I see the dog approaching and neither of them even sniffs in the direction of the little terror. I would work on the leave it command, and perhaps since your dog has already injured another a muzzle on walks until you get him trained with a level of predictableness. As for your mom buying "dog spray" and you're afraid people will get mad? Probably less mad than if you can't control your dog and he kills another.

GSD07 · 11-15-2011, 11:02 AM

MRL, you haven't seen some small dogs, like that little chihuahua who was trying to bite under the base my dogs' tail. I did take responsibility but you won't like to hear about it. And I will do it again with a dog like this, tiny or not. For the record, my dog is not small dog aggressive, and my intentions are to keep it this way.

Batzmomm · 11-15-2011, 11:34 AM

I've had the same situation happen to me many times. Once while on our walk not only did Tank and I get terrorized by the little stupid yappers, this lady goes and lets her big super aggressive dog out the door and it runs and starts attacking us!!!! Tank was only 4 months old. Luckily my husband was with me and the lady was finally able to get her dog. So......I went home and called and emailed every county department I could think of for animal control. Needless to say I don't see those dogs anymore. I can control my dogs when on leash or in my yard and I hate it that people just let their dogs out to roam at free will!!! There are laws about this. Besides GSD's have a bad rep about being aggressive and it's usually the little dogs with the "Napolean Syndrome" that do the biting. Good luck!

11-15-2011, 03:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
CeCe Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 280	small dogs charging Jake on walks Hello, I hope someone can help me with a problem I'm having with loose dogs, which are always small breeds like chihuahuas or dashunds, leaving their yards to come out in the street and bark in my dogs face while I'm walking him. It happened this morning with 2 chihuahuas who kept charging him and I kept backing up but it took everything I had to hold my 95lb dog back. Their owner eventually came out and brought them in. This has happened several times with various dogs. Unfortunately back in May he hurt a small dog pretty badly that was loose and had approached him. I hadn't let go of the leash but he clamped down on the dog so quickly and it took awhile to get him off. The other dogs owners just picked their dog up and left without saying anything to me so I'm sure they knew that they were at fault but it was sad and scary. I'm annoyed by the dogs that approach us but also very concerned about their safety. I don't want to muzzle Jake because he is a nice dog who walks fine next to leashed or fenced dogs but he will respond if a dog gets right in his face. Does anyone know what I can do to keep strange dogs away? I already avoid several streets where I know there will be trouble. My mom bought me some dog repellent spray to carry with me but I guess I'm worried people will get mad. Jake is a neutered 4 year old rescue that we have had for one year this January. He is an awesome dog and we are so lucky to have him.

11-15-2011, 07:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,215	Hm...since my dogs aren't allowed to 'clamp' down on any dog unless they are in a real dog fight, and it DARN well better not have been started by either of my girls............. In my opinion, and you will not like this, it's YOUR dog that's the issue not the little ones. They are rude. They are inappropriate. But for my dogs, those little dogs are MY RESPONSIBILITY to deal with. Not my dogs responsiblity to 'crunch' if they get too near. If my big GSD's are under ANY illusion that a teeny dog is a real threat that's too much for ME to deal with..............then I need to work on that! I HAVE GOT IT! Little yappy dogs are MY RESPONSIBILITY so you don't have to think you have to do anything but roll your eyes, get behind me, and I will have a plan. Does this same issue come up in your dog classes? What does your instructor recommend? Is it better when your dog is off leash? __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde* Last edited by MaggieRoseLee; 11-15-2011 at 08:02 AM.

11-15-2011, 09:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,215	Oh my lord this happens to me at least twice every single walk. Some little tiny dog will come running out, yapping its head off at us. Fortunately for me, my dogs aren't dog-aggressive in the slightest. I usually stop and we all turn to face the little dog. Once it figures out that two-- TWO!-- German Shepherds are standing their ground and staring at it, it stops uncertainly. Then we slowly walk towards it and it retreats to its yard. It might follow us as we walk away again, but it doesn't charge or attack. However, I know for certain that my dogs won't hurt the little dog. If you don't know that for a fact, then I wouldn't advise my method. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

11-15-2011, 11:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
GSD07 Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,763	MRL, you haven't seen some small dogs, like that little chihuahua who was trying to bite under the base my dogs' tail. I did take responsibility but you won't like to hear about it. And I will do it again with a dog like this, tiny or not. For the record, my dog is not small dog aggressive, and my intentions are to keep it this way. __________________

11-15-2011, 11:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Batzmomm New Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pendleton, SC Posts: 11	I've had the same situation happen to me many times. Once while on our walk not only did Tank and I get terrorized by the little stupid yappers, this lady goes and lets her big super aggressive dog out the door and it runs and starts attacking us!!!! Tank was only 4 months old. Luckily my husband was with me and the lady was finally able to get her dog. So......I went home and called and emailed every county department I could think of for animal control. Needless to say I don't see those dogs anymore. I can control my dogs when on leash or in my yard and I hate it that people just let their dogs out to roam at free will!!! There are laws about this. Besides GSD's have a bad rep about being aggressive and it's usually the little dogs with the "Napolean Syndrome" that do the biting. Good luck! __________________ Tank 10/19/10

11-15-2011, 10:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
CeCe Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 280	Thanks for your answers everyone. He is fine in class and he is great off leash. It looks like I may need a trainer to show me how to let him know that I'll handle the small dogs. I'm usually panicking when this happens so maybe he picks up on that.

11-15-2011, 10:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	We have had this while walking our two boys. All I have to do is give the leave it command when I see the dog approaching and neither of them even sniffs in the direction of the little terror. I would work on the leave it command, and perhaps since your dog has already injured another a muzzle on walks until you get him trained with a level of predictableness. As for your mom buying "dog spray" and you're afraid people will get mad? Probably less mad than if you can't control your dog and he kills another.

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