How do you handle loose dogs?
 

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...

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.

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 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.

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! :(

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

yep..that would do it...lol :D :thumbup:

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

I "think" maybe your gut reaction to call is because the dog scared you (rightfully so); however, I believe --- particularly living amongst others in a subdivision ---- the proper course of action is to let the owners know as they may not know...you'll be able to tell from their response if they care or not. It may turn out they're horrified their dog has escaped. Dogs are notorious for "not" escaping" when the owners are home and when they leave...they find a way out to "find" their absent owners, thus he may never leave the yard whenever they're home. Repetitive escapes after you know you informed them then warrants a call as once they have to pay a big fee to get their dog back they will probably fix its escape hatch...or leave it at the pound. I've had to call on a couple actually vicious dogs (wouldn't let us leave the house to go to our car/trapped for a couple hours in my house it was like a bad B-movie) - in my area they are slow to respond and I've had to "lie" (as I would never harm a dog) and imply to them I would to get them to act. Hopefully you won't have to resort to threatening.
IMO
Kendra

Loose dogs are scary when you have little ones. I took Lucy and Ringo over to the Hoover Resavoir to walk the other evening; a very popular place. I was quite in the bad mood and having trouble managing both dogs. It was packed with people and other dogs. Suddenly, this big water dog came running over to us at full speed and Ringo went OFF when he got close. The guy's like well - he just wanted to play.

Excuse me? Most small dogs do NOT like being charged by big strange dogs. It was wayy too crowded with people, children, and other dogs for any dog to be off leash.

Pissed me off and really got our walk started off on the wrong foot.

I know how mad it make you. I can't even walk mine. We don't have a leash law so nothing I can do. I try to walk and have 6 dogs ranging from 50-100 pounds after us. I thought about getting some pepper spray but afraid I will accidently get it on mine or on me.

Only thing that bothers me is you went into these people's yard, garage and in the front door. You piss them off and that might come back to bite you on the ass. If they would say something was missing you just placed yourself at the scene. If one of mine got out I would be greatful that someone did it for me but some people are not like that. You might want to leave this one alone for right now.

I think you handled the situation perfectly. And as another poster said, I would go back to the residence, let the owner know. If you again see the puppy out, then let the police or animal control know so that they can be cited for violation of the leash law.

the only thing i can say is i have actually kicked a Labrador who got out of the invisible fence and bit my ex's puppy. invisible fences are not allowed wear i live so they got in trouble on two different accounts

Hello Kendra -- Thank you for your opinion and I will definitely take this into consideration before making any decisions on how to handle moving forward.

Peggy, Monkey & Maddie :daisy:

I am so sorry this happened to you. What amazes me more than anything is how dense people can be!

Peggy, Monkey & Maddie :daisy:

I know. I completely lost my temper. I never actually entered through any door but you are right about the "scene of the crime". And I don't mean to judge by appearances but these people seem as if they could be a mite bit on the scrappy side. The more I am thinking on this, I think we personally are going to lay low for a bit. For our walk yesterday, we got into the car and drove to a park that is not too far away (even though we are in a subdivision, it is out in the country so real parks are a bit of a distance). We had a nice relaxing walk and the best part was every pet we encountered was on leash. Happy day happy day!

Peggy, Monkey & Maddie :daisy:

Thanks for the feedback. I think we are going to be a bit in hiding for a little while before we make any sudden moves :rolleyes:

Oh, wow... you must been terried. I know I would have been as well. And people who do not have small dogs just don't get it! Sounds like the owner was in trouble for the invisible fence so I am glad you were able to get a tiny bit of justice from the real ones responsible (OWNERS!)

Peggy, Monkey & Maddie :daisy:

I agree. I had a young man being dragged by a Bull Mastiff approach Lady and I. He looked genuinely offended when I picked Lady up and said his dog was friendly! Maybe, but he was 125 pounds or so and under no sort of control.

The same thing happened to my husband. A girl who was being pulled by a German Sheppard lost control of the leash and the dog was biting in the air trying to eat Fizz. My son said she looked like a little pink helicopter as my husband turned in a circle with this dog on hind legs trying to 'get her'. It sickens me how animals get a bad rap because of negligent or ignorant owners. Personally, I'd alert the owners as others have mentioned. If not personally - I'd leave a note explaining that their dog was at risk of getting run over. It's a shame that you have to alter your walks .