Quote:
Originally Posted by kjc 
I am not saying that any Pittie would attack unprovoked... more that Yorkies don't know their own size and will try and start a fight with anything. But bc of their small size, they end up having the worst injuries, many times do not survive.
If I didn't have a dog, I may have adopted the Pittie.
I think it's not so much the dog's fault, but in this case the owners. They have the mindset that it's how they are raised and their dogs are sweet and wouldn't hurt a fly. They did not see their son sic the dog on his friends whenever they would walk out the front door to leave, and laugh hysterically when the dog chased and bit his friends in their butts. Yes, I told her about that, and, no, her son would never do that.
Well, I guess I am just another overprotective Yorkie mommie. Maybe I am asking too much to feel safe when out and about with my dogs. I wanted to get a gun and train to use it, but DH thinks it's for reasons other than safety on walks, lol. The state lets you fill out an application, but very rarely approves anyone. Tasers are illegal in Maryland last time I checked, except for the police. So I was thinking along the lines of a flare gun, or a knife, IDK.
Sorry about writing a book... |
Oh, gosh, I had nightmares about your story last night! It was so scary I guess I went to bed thinking about it! I kept thinking about when Jilly was attacked & your Yorkie's close call. They really are defenseless when a big dog attacks them.
I know what you mean about the Yorkie starting fights. That's how Jilly got attacked. She lunged growling with bared fangs when the 65 lb. Dalmatian approached us, probably trying to protect me - all 3 fragile, little pounds of her! That big dog instantly was on her & sent her to surgery that evening & many weeks of rehab. Had I known then about Yorkie body language, I could have sensed her concern, hopefully had time to scoop her up before the big dog got to us - though I didn't see it coming until it was only 6 ft. away & running fast when she went into action! Since I'm not very fast, it might not have made any difference had I seen her tense up. I was used to watching big dogs for body language & such, but just didn't expect true protectiveness from a Yorkie at the time.
So, since you have a Yorkie, the best I can say here is try to use whatever deterrent you can that will keep you & your dog personally safe but have a legal defense tool if that Pitbull continues to live in that neighborhood. Perhaps you could get a judge to issue you an emergency license to carry a taser solely in the circumstances of a dog walk if you could appear before one & present your side. I would check it out through a local judge's clerk. Be sure to pick one who has a female clerk - preferable one with small dogs!
My Pitbull source suggests not walking the dogs at all for a while, if possible, but failing that, not walking by that dog's house so as not to let it sight you two or leave a scent trail, perhaps driving a block or two away to walk. Take care.