Well. . . . crap.

[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?

[Stevenzachsmom]

Aw. I'm just so sorry. Can't blame Kopper for not liking Tank - but you're right. He can't get away with that behavior. I know you really didn't need that. Glad no one was hurt.

[Lilie]

Kopper learned that when Mom is mad...Mom is MAD!

Sorry this happened!

[Wolfiesmom]

I don't think it's your fault. Sometimes these dogs are too quick when they just have to get at something, and just get past us. I'm sure Kopper learned bad dogs get disciplined. Sorry that this happened and glad no one got hurt.

[Freddy]

Each dog responds differently to "corrections". I have one that would probably never approach another person walking a dog, ever, if that happened to her.

The other, it wouldn't have phased him. Probably would've bit his foot.

We all make mistakes and my wife let my male shoot past her when she opened the front door one day with my son in her arms. There was a boxer being walked right in front of the house. She yelled, I yelled to check him (I was in the kitchen making dinner) and got out there as fast as I could only to find him standing sideways in front of the boxer with his hackles up. The boxer was sitting, peeing itself on the sidewalk.

BIG "discussion" with the wife about what would have happened if that hadn't been a submissive dog, and the preventative steps we need to take to make sure it doesn't happen in the future.

I carried him into the house by the ring on his slip choke (walked him a little before that) and as soon as I put him down he acted like nothing happened.

There is something about a dog walking by every day, peeing in your yard, that builds aggression it seems.

It sounds like he definitely felt the correction. The question is, will he remember it the next time the opportunity arises? You need to assume he won't as you take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again.

[holland]

It sounds like the smart kid may have learned something

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by Freddy

It sounds like he definitely felt the correction. The question is, will he remember it the next time the opportunity arises? You need to assume he won't as you take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Well, obviously I don't intend to let him slip past me again. Although I'd *like* it if he figured out that running out at passing dogs is a bad idea.

Sometimes I work with him in the front yard on is long line and he usually ignores dogs walking past our house. He just really can't stand Tank.

Originally Posted by holland

It sounds like the smart kid may have learned something

Yeah, I wonder if it's too much to hope that he convinces his parents to keep the dog contained?

[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.

[msvette2u]

In our house, fighting is, of course, disallowed.
Libby "knows" I will get angry if she fights, and therefore a good "CUT IT OUT!" usually works. So in a way, she's learned.
But she still sneaks one in now and then.
The satisfaction a dog gets from exercising it's "right" to beat up another though, is difficult to overcome.

[Emoore]

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.

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.