How do you handle loose dogs?

[Bentleys Momma]

OK, I lost by temper. While walking our subdivision, out of no where a loose puppy game charging out from someone's home where the garage door is open and music blaring yet no one was home! The puppy was friendly in nature and I understand she only wanted to play BUT she was scaring the tarnation out of my babies as she pounced and tried to paw them to try to play. I am trying to quickly scoop them both up getting tangled and tied while my daughter is trying to catch the puppy who is running circles around us!!!

I finally got my legs untied, handed the leads to my daughter, scooped up the dog and marched it to the gate for their backyard (which by the way a HUGE great dane met me nose to nose while trying to get the puppy through the door). By the time I got back out to the street, the puppy was already back out from an obvious hole somewhere within the fence! I got her scooped back up and marched over and tried to pull down the garage door to put her in there. After realizing the door was broken and wouldn't stay shut, I was really fuming and I marched over to the front door, tried the lock and when the door opened I popped the mud covered puppy into the home and shut the door.

I marched away with the house number in my head so that I could make a formal complaint against them. I have, of course, calmed down a little bit. The puppy really was a sweet little girl and I would hate for them to pick her up... no collar, no tags, and based on how they care for their yard, etc. I am sure probably not vaccines, etc.. OK, I am judging them based on appearances and probably shouldn't but I am still a bit mad.

What I really want to do is call the dog catcher so he could come and pick up the owner and lock them up for awhile!!!!


So, I know I rambled but I am looking at how you all handle similar situations and what you recommend. We are now changing our walking route so do I just let it go??? This is going to end up being a fairly large dog and could cause even more neighborhood problems moving forward.

Opinions, thoughts, etc. please...

[yorkieusa]

I understand exactly how you feel. We had a similar problem in our housing subdivision earlier. It was quickly solved by a couple of my neighbors after the playful one tore a piece of siding from one's house and tore up a drain, then scared the other neighbor who thought she was going to get bitten. The playful puppy was a boxer - hadn't been neutered - but I think he was beginning to be a bit aggressive. I don't think he would bite, but while he was still a puppy, he was quite big. I don't think he was purebred. I think he was mixed with something else. He is still there, but he is now chained in their yard. At least, I don't have to be constantly scooping Kacee up to keep her safe.

[EarthAngel]

Just a thought...maybe the owners don't know about the hole under their fence and so wouldn't know their pup got out.

[Ladymom]

I always carry Muzzle (mace for dogs). You never know if a loose dog is friendly or not until it is too late. If he isn't, picking your dog up is not going to help. An aggressive dog with attack while you are holding your dog and you will be injured, too.

We have a very strict leash law here and I will report people who constantly violate it. If the dog is a nuisance, not dangerous, I will usually speak to the owner first. I try to be polite and approach it like I am concerned the dog is going to get stolen, hit by a car, etc.

[Bentleys Momma]

Originally Posted by EarthAngel

Just a thought...maybe the owners don't know about the hole under their fence and so wouldn't know their pup got out.

I only pray that to be the case. But based on all the neighbors watching me (and yes, nobody offered to help!) but someone did confirm whose dog it was while watching me. One guy actually stopped mowing his grass, smiled and gave me a thumbs up when I came back from putting the dog in the house. Of course, a block or so later I tried to rush the rest of our walk home because I started to worry that if the puppy did any destruction in the house someone could tell them it was the lady with the yorkies. I actually can not believe I even tried the front door. I feel like I need to go into hiding!

[shodanusmc]

You get a dog like this to walk with when you are out with your Yorkies.

[Bentleys Momma]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I always carry Muzzle (mace for dogs). You never know if a loose dog is friendly or not until it is too late. If he isn't, picking your dog up is not going to help. An aggressive dog with attack while you are holding your dog and you will be injured, too.

We have a very strict leash law here and I will report people who constantly violate it. If the dog is a nuisance, not dangerous, I will usually speak to the owner first. I try to be polite and approach it like I am concerned the dog is going to get stolen, hit by a car, etc.

Thank you for the suggestion. I will look to see if I can find Muzzle. I thought of mace but worried it may harm the eyes. If this is made for dogs specifically I would feel much better! I am going to unfortunately change our walking route which cuts off a big chunk of our walk and will probably just end up going around twice. My daughter seemed to think these people may not be the most reasonable of folks. I am also glad to hear someone else has called on a dog. I love animals and hate for anything bad to happen to a dog because of an owners irresponsibility! And was kind of feeling guilty that I was thinking of calling.

[Bentleys Momma]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

You get a dog like this to walk with when you are out with your Yorkies.

I love it! I don't personally have enough room for one that size to get enough exercise so will you be my walking buddy??? LOL

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by Bentleys Momma

I love it! I don't personally have enough room for one that size to get enough exercise so will you be my walking buddy??? LOL

We walk every day. How close are you to Chicago?

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Bentleys Momma

Thank you for the suggestion. I will look to see if I can find Muzzle. I thought of mace but worried it may harm the eyes. If this is made for dogs specifically I would feel much better! I am going to unfortunately change our walking route which cuts off a big chunk of our walk and will probably just end up going around twice. My daughter seemed to think these people may not be the most reasonable of folks. I am also glad to hear someone else has called on a dog. I love animals and hate for anything bad to happen to a dog because of an owners irresponsibility! And was kind of feeling guilty that I was thinking of calling.

You can buy Muzzle on Amazon:

Amazon.com: Mace Brand Muzzle Dog Repellent...

I fractured my pelvis years ago trying to protect Lady when a huge loose dog came up behind us. That's when I got Muzzle.

It will sting their eyes, but it won't do any permanent damage. Better that than having your Yorkie injured or killed. One shake by a big dog can break their neck.

[Britster]

I've fortunately never encountered this. Well, once at my dads house, there is an obnoxious Lab who gets loose all the time (through no fault of his own- he doesn't get enough exercise) and he charged us, but I knew he was friendly, just hyper. He did knock me over though.

It pisses me off when people get dogs and then just don't bother to train them or look after them.... to be honest, people who let their dogs off leash but they are behaved, listen and are friendly, I really don't mind. My friend lives in a neighborhood and there's a German Shepherd who is allowed off leash but she never charges, never barks, and the minute the owners say 'come' she obeys, and won't come near you unless invited. If you insist on allowing your dog off leash, they MUST listen and be obedient.

[EarthAngel]

I have to say once I was walking my female Shepherd and out of nowhere come two charging loose Rotties. They never left their yard but I slowly just turned around and went back the way I came. So, I know what it is like to be scared not only for my dog but also for myself. I just wondered if the owners knew about the hole under the fence since the Great Dane couldn't get out.

This is one of my fears of leaving my dogs out in the fenced yard, if they dig themselves out. So, even though I have 100' x 100' fenced yard they are never out there by themselves.

[katienme2002]

That would irritate me as well! The only time we are really out walking in public is on Thursdays when I drop my daughter off at dance class, we go to our local park and walk to pass the time. But at home Roxie gets to be off leash because we stay on 40 acres, and honestly she listens really well. But NEVER would I let her or even if I had a big dog off leash in public period.

[MollysMum54]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

You get a dog like this to walk with when you are out with your Yorkies.

yep..that would do it...lol

[Bentleys Momma]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

We walk every day. How close are you to Chicago?

Oh, I wish I could but I said it only in jest... We are in Texas