Well. . . . crap.

[msvette2u]

Originally Posted by Emoore

No, I've never kicked his dog, but Tank's never tried to hurt me or my dogs. He's wild and crazy and playful, but never angry or aggressive. Kopper was angry; he wanted to hurt Tank. If an off-leash dog ever charged at my dog aggressively the way my dog charged at his, I'd absolutely kick it in the teeth. The kid was brave, he protected his dog.

I'm sure you'd rather take a kick to the dog's jaw rather than pay for the kid's dog's vet bills, and even get your dog confiscated as dangerous.
I know I would.

[Freddy]

I know you didn't intend for him to get out. Neither did we. I'm glad in both instances there were no injuries.

[ayoitzrimz]

Originally Posted by chelle

I'm sorry, don't yell at me, but I wouldn't congratulate the guy for kicking my dog. Sure, dog didn't behave well! But Tank hasn't had any supervision and has been a pain in the tank, so to speak, and you never kicked his dog.

Sorry but if an off-leash dog runs up to mine at full speed and I don't know the owner or dog - that dog is getting kicked. I'll deal with being yelled at by the owner after both dogs are secured and taken away from the situation.

Similar response to:
1. "owner did not call their dog back"
2. "I know the other dog and know he's aggressive or just doesn't like my dog"

Now, these things happen - and Emoore sorry it happened to you but luckily nobody was hurt!

Chelle - yea, the guy did nothing wrong. If your dog came running up to mine off-leash in front of my house, especially if I know there could be some so-called "bad blood" between the two dogs, your dog is probably going to get a smack between the eyes if I have no other choice...

[Caledon]

I would rather have someone kick my dog to prevent a fight vs. having a fight and having my dog or the other dog or another person injured.

The OP is a very responsbile dog owner and even though her dog was kicked by the boy protecting his dog she still displined him, because his behaviour was wrong. How many people would have turned it around and verbally attcked that poor kid who was protecting his dog?

[Falkosmom]

OP is not in denial about her dog's bad behavior and is not trying to point the finger at the next guy. She did the right thing.

I would kick any dog in the face or where ever I could if it charged my dog in a menacing manner.

[KentuckyGSDLover]

From what has been described, it sounds like the dog was kicked to avoid something much uglier from happening, and good thing it worked. It could have been much, much worse.

I could recall Bear with one word, no matter what the distraction was. Before Buddy went deaf, same thing, though he was slower to stop and focus (but then Buddy generally didn't bolt). I'm not so sure I'll ever be able to train Rey to recall like that, so I really to have to watch her. Right now when she's free in the house and I need to go outside for a minute, I'm using the side door, where I can close the laundry room door first and then go out.

When they do bolt, its like trying to catch a greased pig!

[chelle]

Yes, yes, yes people, I understand most of us would kick a charging dog.

Originally Posted by Emoore

If an off-leash dog ever charged at my dog aggressively the way my dog charged at his, I'd absolutely kick it in the teeth. The kid was brave, he protected his dog.

Agree

Originally Posted by msvette2u

I'm sure you'd rather take a kick to the dog's jaw rather than pay for the kid's dog's vet bills, and even get your dog confiscated as dangerous. I know I would.

Agree again.

Originally Posted by ayoitzrimz

Sorry but if an off-leash dog runs up to mine at full speed and I don't know the owner or dog - that dog is getting kicked. ...

Agree again... though in this case, it doesn't sound like they're strangers.. but still.

Originally Posted by KentuckyGSDLover

From what has been described, it sounds like the dog was kicked to avoid something much uglier from happening, and good thing it worked. It could have been much, much worse.

And agree again.

Originally Posted by Caledon

I would rather have someone kick my dog to prevent a fight vs. having a fight and having my dog or the other dog or another person injured.

The OP is a very responsbile dog owner and even though her dog was kicked by the boy protecting his dog she still displined him, because his behaviour was wrong. How many people would have turned it around and verbally attcked that poor kid who was protecting his dog?

Agree yet again on the fight prevention. And does sound like Kopper got quite a butt whooping over the ordeal.

I would not have verbally attacked the boy. He did nothing wrong. He protected his on-leash dog. He is not the owner and not the one responsible for the offleash roaming around. I may have spoken to him some about how dangerous it could be for this dog to continue to roam. It sounds like his statement: "my dog hated his because his was always running around barking at us when my dogs were on the leash," was right on the mark. So, he gets it -- but do the owners understand their dog's inappropriate behavior has created a potentially dangerous problem?

~

What I read was "barreling at Tank while barking and growling." Granted, Kopper didn't want to share Girl Scout cookies with Tank at this point.

I think Tank sounds like a real pita, even if he's never shown aggressive behavior. His owners have been rude and negligent by allowing this dog to annoy you on your walks and, apparently, get very close to your dogs. I am NOT validating what Kopper did, but how much does Kopper have to put up with? Sounds like this dog has been driving him NUTS! It sounds like he makes your walks much less enjoyable and even a bit stressful with his antics.

I would've called AC on Tank a long time ago. Aggressive or not.

~

Originally Posted by Emoore

So there's a Boxer/Pit Bull mix down the street named Tank who I think spends more time lose than in his yard. Since he stays pretty much in the front yard, his neighbor's yard, and the street in front of his yard instead of running rampant, I guess his owners don't feel the need to keep him contained. Several times per week I'll be walking my 2 on leashes and Tank will dash out of his yard, doing this high-pitched bark and running circles around us. He's not vicious or aggressive-- just lots of play barking and jumping in to "tag" my dogs with his muzzle and then jumping away again.

Rocky Kind of rolls his eyes and ignores him, but Kopper HATES Tank. Do you have any idea how hard it is to make a 1-year old GSD be calm and polite on the leash when there's a wild Pit/Boxer running circles, tagging him with his muzzle, and barking in his face? Kopper can't stand him and it's often all I can do to hold the leash so he doesn't seriously hurt Tank.

Today, I was taking the garbage out through the front door while, unbeknownst to me, Tank's owner's son was walking him on a leash in front of our house. Kopper-- who knows better than to do this-- siezed his opportunity and slipped past me through the door, barreling at Tank while barking and growling. I dropped the garbage and ran after him, calling NO!, but of course I couldn't catch him. Tank's courageous young owner stepped between Kopper and his dog and *nailed* Kopper in the jaw with a couple of good kicks before I could get over and grabbed him.

He knew I was mad. I grabbed him by the scruff and shook him hard as he immediately rolled over on his back, tail tucked under his belly, whining all the time. He wouldn't even get up, I had to drag him on his back, back into the house. I came back out and congratulated the kid on his quick thinking and holding my dog off. We checked both him and Tank over and nobody was hurt and of course I apologized profusely. Smart kid-- he said he figured my dog hated his because his was always running around barking at us when my dogs were on the leash, so it was probably fair.

Obviously the incident is my fault, but it turned out much better than it could have.

So. . . do you think Kopper learned anything?