Safely Walking Small Dogs

[marcie]

I would like to walk my girls around the neighborhood but there are just too many off leash dogs. But playing fetch with them helps to burn off their energy.

[Britster]

It is definitely a concern. I've been thinking more and more about it lately. I usually go to our state park for walks, as I feel the 'safest' there. Most are responsible and obey the leash laws. I don't mind seeing an off leash dog if it clearly looks like the dog is under voice control, either.

The umbrella idea is great. I would be scared to have pepper spray, because wind could change direction, and in the heat of the moment, you could spray your own dog, or yourself.

For what it's worth, I wouldn't feel obligated to keep your dog inside until 2 weeks after puppy vaccines are complete. That's a HUGE window of missed social opportunity, and I have never heard of keeping a dog indoors for that long until joining this forum, personally. Vets office will probably carry more chance for germs. Just be smart about it, and I wouldn't let him walk on pet store floors, or in heavily populated areas, or dog parks, but your own yard is fine to get him accustomed to a harness & leash and begin teaching leash walking.

[SilkyPooMama]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

You want to wait until at least 2 weeks after his series of puppy shots have been completed before taking him out. But you can always practice with the harness and leash around the house to get him used to it.

Thank you- great advice!

[SilkyPooMama]

Originally Posted by Britster

It is definitely a concern. I've been thinking more and more about it lately. I usually go to our state park for walks, as I feel the 'safest' there. Most are responsible and obey the leash laws. I don't mind seeing an off leash dog if it clearly looks like the dog is under voice control, either.

The umbrella idea is great. I would be scared to have pepper spray, because wind could change direction, and in the heat of the moment, you could spray your own dog, or yourself.

For what it's worth, I wouldn't feel obligated to keep your dog inside until 2 weeks after puppy vaccines are complete. That's a HUGE window of missed social opportunity, and I have never heard of keeping a dog indoors for that long until joining this forum, personally. Vets office will probably carry more chance for germs. Just be smart about it, and I wouldn't let him walk on pet store floors, or in heavily populated areas, or dog parks, but your own yard is fine to get him accustomed to a harness & leash and begin teaching leash walking.

Yeah I mean he's gonna have to be outside in the backyard to go pee anyway! But practicing walking him inside should give him a good start. I've never heard the 2 week thing either. I guess I'll just ask the vet about it! And you're right about the vet's office- I'm sure the vet's office is way worse than a dog park even germ-wise!

I have a friend with a female silky-poo who is about 7 months, and I KNOW she has had all her shots and everything. So that will be a great opportunity for socialization. And also my own family dog that lives with my mom. He is a papillon and very sweet.

[Ldyrev1]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Here is the post I always place on threads like this for anyone who is interested:

I walk with a huge black umbrella that auto-opens when I push a button. It is a big thing and impressive as it opens! It give me a large appearance to the approaching dog, having that big, wide structure spread all out before me.

The thing I found most helpful to me about the open umbrella is the distance it will keep a troublesome dog away from our immediate vicinity. I have yet to have one ever get even remotely close to me and my Yorkie with the trusty brolly fully employed. They either go the other way immediately(99% of the time), stand their ground if the owner is making them or give you a very very wide berth. They don't get close enough to or try to keep an aggressive attitude when they hear the umbrella whoosh open and see that imposing shape blossom open before their eyes. It is very disconcerting to any dog. It is a good diffuser of tense situations but should it not be, a sturdy or actual defensive umbrellas can serve as a real weapon should you actually run into a dog who is bent on attacking. When my little 3 lb. Yorkie, Jilly, was attacked by a 65 lb. Dalmatian on a neighborhood walk, my simple wooden walking stick(pre-umbrella) was how I saved her life and got her free of the big dog's jaws. It was after that attack that I decided to use a button-operated umbrella for future walks as a deterrent - even if I have no dog with me.

But the role an open umbrella best serves is just a dissolver of bad attitudes. Most approaching dogs aren't really bad, they just are inquisitive, excited and out of control and this tool helps them to settle down rather quickly and become serious about how they can best stay well clear of you, your dog and your umbrella. And it gives you a wonderful sense of security, which a dog can read from quite far off.

Train your dog to sit/stay when you open the umbrella so that in an emergency situation, your dog will not be running around at your feet or shying away from the umbrella opening, thus adding to the stress of the moment.

.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by SilkyPooMama

Yeah there is a really nice state park I could go to but it's not close. I'm gonna have to do some research and see if there's something a bit closer that would be safe! And ya I will be buying a harness and giving him his shots before I go on any walks. Thanks!

We have a park that has a half mile paved circle pretty close and I like to walk Callie there because there is also a dog park that has a small dog side and a big dog side so sometimes she gets to go play with the other small doggies. Sometimes there can be hidden parks you don't know about so it might help to google parks in the area or something. Its sad it has to come to that.

[yorkiefan_]

I take my pup to the local park, but only walk in an area where I don't see any large dog. The bear spray idea is interesting; I still have two cans of Counter Assault I bought for when I did some hiking in the Beartooths and Grand Teton (saw tons of bear crap but no bears) that I had no idea what to do with.

[yorkietalkjilly]

When my Jilly was attacked, we were just walking a few blocks from our street in a lovely, quiet neighborhood and the dog came bursting off porch his porch from behind shrubs and in an instant he was on Jilly but she lunged for him as he came toward us, making him even madder. Funny thing was that day was the first ever I had taken along a walking stick. My BIL, Bill, had been attacked just days before by a dog on a walk and only a limb he had had saved him from injury so I grabbed that walking stick on the way out the front door that day, remembering what happened to Bill. And believe me, that Dalmatian was so big and had Jilly in such a good hold, if I hadn't had that stick, I don't think I could have fought him off nearly as effectively and as it was, it took some doing. He was determined to get her. If only I'd had my umbrella that day, I could probably have scared that dog off whooshing it open suddenly in front of us. A big fast dog can be on you before you have a chance much to react sometimes though so unless you have time to see them and react, be prepared to fight for your dog.

[Rhetts_mama]

My Mom's dog Oliver was attacked in their neighborhood about 3 weeks ago. He was on his leash and a dog came running down from it's garage where his owners were. Before my dad could react, the dog had Ollie in his mouth. Luckily, between my Dad and the other dog'g owners , they were able to get him free. No major injuries, just a few bruises and scrapes, and the other people did pay the vet bill. It only takes a second for something to happen

[gemy]

Yorkietalkjilly's idea is very very usefull. I have added a large umbrella (actually my old golfing umbrella) to my walks with Razzle. It also serves as a walking stick for me.

Another thing I would add is a sharp piercing whistle. That can also deter and call help to your situation.

I don't know if you have coyotes in your area, but I will share an experience I had with my very large dog. Yes I knew there were coyotes in our favourite park, but we were there at 9am or so, plus not in the known area of habitat.

We were training off lead obedience work; and then I saw 4 coyotes for sure circling around the perimeter of where we were working; there might even have been six.

I recalled Magic to me, immediately leashed him, and then pressed the panic button on my car keys as luckily we were with in 20ft or so of my van.

The coyotes scrammed out of there. But that action, I believe save his life. He didn't see those coyotes as he was focussed on his command of fetch. But I did. The coyotes were absolutely silent. My dog might have easily perceived these animals as threats and also gone after them. So the recall, placing the lead, was to help keep him safe.

[Verbena]

Originally Posted by SilkyPooMama

Awwww that's so horrible! I wish they would follow through with the dangerous animal laws where I live, but everyone seems to pawn the work off on someone else. The cops say, "call the humane society", and the humane society says "call the cops". And they just go back and forth.

l

If I was told that I woul call them both back and tell them I am calling the media. It is amazing how quick they move when TV, internet and the papers get involved

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Verbena

If I was told that I woul call them both back and tell them I am calling the media. It is amazing how quick they move when TV, internet and the papers get involved

Agree, I'd say I'm calling everybody - city council members, mayor, TV, radio stations and anybody else that will listen.

[jeane]

I agree

[SilkyPooMama]

We've written soooo many letters it's ridiculous. :/ I actually wish the dogs had harmed ME too, aside from just scratches, because then maybe something would have been done and my dog would be safe in his own backyard!