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Originally Posted by gemy  What a hugely scarey experience. But there is something called situational awareness, which in this case might not have helped in this situation; I am not sure of all the details.
Situational awareness, and as a citygal I do it quite well in the city, you are out walking your dog, big or small, matters not, but you are constantly scanning ahead for dogs on the loose, dogs out in a backyard, dogs being walked on lead that look out of control, and you try to give wide berth to same.
You also scan the environment for toddlers, kids, and adults who may run up to you and your dog, with no idea at all of how to approach a dog.
Having said this, I believe the dog and the owners need to be reported. The dog was not in the house (I guess and had leapt out through a window). You know sometimes things happen. I had a GSD run after Razzle, he jumped through the screen of his living room window. Did I report him or the owner? Nope, because you know what, the dog was inside, Razzle who I had let off lead to run home (a training exercise) elected to run under that window; it was just too much for the young GSD. So in my mind I was more at fault then the GSD owner. Although there have been reports in the neighbourhood, of this GSD biting folks. Sigh.
Sometimes things happen so fast that umbrellas, or mace, etc can't be employed in a timely way; and that is where situational awareness comes in. It is a tactic you employ to cut down your re-action time, to try to see if only a few seconds ahead what is happening. Always err on the side of caution. Cross the street, rein in the lead, turn around and walk away, pick up a Yorkie.
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Yes, I too am a city girl and have always HAD to have situational awareness, even before I got the Beanster. Plus, and don't laugh, I have to constantly scan for freakin dog poop around where I live. No one picks up their dog's poop. So, I really enjoy going to my friend's suburban neighborhood with my doggie.
And I also always pick her up when a large dog is coming down the same side of the street and I cross the street with her. A lot of times, the dog's owner will say, oh my dog is fine, she won't hurt your dog. Ahhhh, sorry I am not taking any changes.
The problem with what happened is that I didn't see the dog coming at us from the yard, he was SO fast, he was a blur until he was on top of Beanie. I was afraid to kick it's head because I could have kicked MY dog who was in its mouth. Oh God, I get chills thinking about it, I swear. I keep going over and over it in my mind trying to see what I COULD have done to protect my dog better. I am actually feeling a little guilty, but I know that there wasn't anything I did wrong. I should be able to walk my freakin dog safely.
And what REALLY upset me was the a-hole guy's attitude that, gee his dog would NEVER to that and well gosh, gee he just broke away from him again, after his wife pulled the dog off Beanie.
I did report it to the police, but I am not even sure what number the house was because I am not very familiar with that area as I don't live there. They were like, well you aren't giving us a lot of information to go on. WHATEVER.