Unleashed Big Dogs...grrrrrr
 

I was walking Turbo & Princess the other day & out of nowhere a BIG German Shepherd comes trotting towards us! I immediately went down to pick my 2 up & the GS's nose was already on my guys!:eek: For a split second I thought, 'I'm ready to get bit, just don't bite them!'
I freaked because Princess does a bunny hop escape if another dog tries to sniff her bum & Turbo just sits there semi submissive, but if they come close to his face, he snaps @ them. I was more worried about how mine would act thus provoking the GS. He seemed very well mannered & sweet from what I can see, but I didn't want to risk anything.

I managed to pick them up & yelled out, 'WHO'S DOG IS THIS??!' & a young guy walks out of the corner of the St, very nonchalantly. I asked him if it was his dog & he said, 'no b@#%!' :eek: & he proceeded to call his dog LOL! 'c'mon Killer' LOL!
So I went off on him (how dare he call me a b@#%!) 'WHY DON'T U HAVE YOUR DOG ON A LEASH?! DO U KNOW THAT IT'S THE LAW IN CALIFORNIA?!' I said the last line w/out knowing if that was true or not, but he was so rude.:( punk. lolllll

I probably freaked out, panicked, over reacted or whatever (was what that guy was probably thinking) but u never know. My aunt's Pom got bit by their neighbor's dog & nearly died (he's ok, but had to have major surgery, his intestines were hanging out)! But in the back of my mind, I also wanted to remain calm so the other dog & mine wouldn't freak out either...Thank You for letting me post & reading my long rant.:p

I'm glad your pups are okay! What a jerk to be so rude to you. Is it so hard for people to leash their dogs in public? I can't stand to see any dog - big or small - running around uncontrolled and off-leash in public places like that.

We have a neighbor with a very yappy chihuahua that is never on a leash. That dog is ALWAYS pestering my boys, following us around and yapping like crazy. That same neighbor lets her cat roam around alone all the time too...which really makes my dogs go nuts...GRR.

Been there, done that... and it really unnerves me. Except for the B part... but I expect to get that soon too! That is one experience I would love to live without ever again.

Ugh. The dogs are bad enough but the cats!!!! We have several cats in our neighborhood and I swear every day there's more and more. I'm tempted to trap them and take them to a shelter but I'd feel bad if I couldn't get them into a no-kill shelter.

Jenny, I am so glad you, Princess, and Turbo were not harmed. Off-leash dogs are one of my biggest complaints.

I can't believe the young guy said what he did to you!

That is SO annoying! I love GSD's but as an owner of one, you MUST understand they are can be very big and intimidating to others and yes, some of them can be aggressive. You cannot just let them go up to anyone off leash, unless you are in a dog park or designated off leash area. People make me so mad! I would have been nervous, too, you NEVER know if an off leash dog is going to be friendly or not. Not to mention the fact that this guy was terribly rude!

GSD's do look intimidating! Our neighbor has one & he barks @ us all the time. He was outside of the gate once & when he saw me, he hunched down & went back inside the gate. hehee he's a shy gentle guy after all.

There's another neighbor w/a small JRT mix & he's always off leash too. He comes running across the street to pee on Mimi. lollll She practically lies on the ground as low as she can get (probably saying, 'don't pee on me!') & Momo will take his protective stance next to her. I always wonder if the owners don't worry about cars driving by when he runs across the street? It's not a busy street, but still...
They'll even chastise him w/words after they scoop him up. Like it's his fault & it happens every time they're outside.:rolleyes:

I am glad to hear nothing bad happened to you or your babies. You are right there is a leash law in California. Better to be a momma dog (B**CH) than a punk.

Gosh Jenny that would have scared me to death. You did the right thing staying calm, I on the other hand tend to panic and would have probably made matters worse. That was so uncalled for being called a b$&#h by that punk. I would have been livid. I am so glad you are all ok.

Glad that everything turned out okay. I am sorry, better safe than sorry to make sure that the owner knows that he has laws to follow. Yeah, I would have let out on the guy too. I'm sorry, I've been called a bitch before and let them know that I could definitely be one.

So glad your furbabies were ok. How scary for you and them!! I am glad you were able to stay some what calm. Now a days you never know how the other person will react!

So glad the little ones are ok. This is one of my biggest fears, as big unleashed dogs are too common here. Unfortunately, it has resulted in my dogs having a very sheltered life, and I don't walk them. They have to get all there exercise in my fenced yard and house.

omg, im glad everyone is okay! get this, about 2 months ago....i was walking bailey on het leash in my bf's front yard, and his neighbor's 2 german shepards came running after us!!! omg, i was screaming and she was yelping so loud i had yanked her up in my arms and was turning in circles as the dogs were jumping on me trying to get to her...she pooped on herself bc she was so scared...and i got bit and scratched up....talk about the scariest moment in mine and bailey's life!! we called the police and those dogs were inspected! so i know exactly how you feel, my bf cussed his neighbor out bc i got hurt, oh my...ill never forget that day. i still get nevous going outside with her when im over there!

I know how you feel. When my Shih Tzu was still with us and getting on in years I would take him on short walks when I would get home from work. He couldn't go far but loved to get out. A neighbor opened his door and out came his vicious dog and it came right after my little guy. I took my purse off my shoulder and hit his dog with it as I was picking up my baby. The owner yelled at me with a lot of nasty language for hitting HIS dog! Of course I told him what I thought but he just came back with a lot of abusive childish crap because he had no excuse for himself or his mean dog. I had no other recourse to keep his dog from biting my dog. My purse literally came between my dog and his dog's face. It's a sad fact that even jerks are allowed to own dogs. He used to let his dog relieve himself in our yard, too.

OMG I'm so sorry this happened to you, but glad to hear you are all ok. Once me and Uni got home and we were still in the car. A new neighbor had moved in across the street, and had a choc lab. I didn't know if he was friendly or not. But he ran up to the car and stood up on his hind legs barking at us in the car! The owner said Oh he's friendly! He was making Uni bark, so I said, Oh she's not! That was the only way I could get him to call the lab off.

Then there was the other time we got attacked by a chihuahua. :rolleyes:

What a jerk and I'm glad it wasn't serious. As a big dog owner myself.....I hope that you guys don't feel that all big dogs are out to eat your little dogs. In no way shape or form do I approve of unleashed dogs and I go to great lengths to make sure my dogs are never unleashed and contained and are not a nuisance to my neighborhood. I do get upset from time to time when people with little dogs cross the street and act like my dog is trying to kill their little dogs who half the time are not on a leash....yet my dog is the bad guy because of his size but he's minding his own business and on a leash and is more interested in trying to find tree branch to collect and take home(yea....my big boy is crazy like that lol). Yet, having a small dog I do understand your fears because a large dog can very easily hurt a small dog....I'm lucky that my two are like PB&J despite the huge size difference (Ella is 3ibs and big guy is 75 pounds). I just don't want people to think all big dogs are out to eat small dogs.

I would have to agree with SweetElla. I know that I'm guilty of letting Troy off leash and he will randomly select any person and go trotting along to go see them. He especilly loves children. And in many instances people are threatened by 4.5 pound Troy.

There are two lessons to be learned from the OP situation.

a. All big dogs aren't viscious and will hurt your yorkie
b. The same could be true of your yorkie causing problems just like any big dog.

The guy who came to get the GSD was rude and that was unwarranted but I bet he was probably playing off the OP "Who's Dog is This?" possibly snappy in tone question.

Unleashed dogs are my pet peeve too - big or small. Of course, the big ones are more intimidating if you have a small dog - cause we've all heard about yorkies getting killed in a fight - sometime unintentionally.

Since I usually only have time to pick up one when I see one barrelling at us - Lucy gets picked up. Ringo is three times her size and very muscular.

However, I don't feel it's fair he should have to defend himself at the end of the leash (and he's usually more aggressive that way); so sometimes I will let his leash go - so he and the strange dog will hopefully not fight.

I did tell this guy off the other day though - his dog made a beeline for Lucy with his nose right up on her. I snatched her up and told him off.

They usually never even say 'sorry'. Pi$$es me off!

We have a neighbor with a very yappy chihuahua that is never on a leash. That dog is ALWAYS pestering my boys, following us around and yapping like crazy. That same neighbor lets her cat roam around alone all the time too...which really makes my dogs go nuts...GRR.[/QUOTE]


Yep, I have two neighbors across the street like this. One of them got very angry because I kept returning her animals to her. She asked the sherriff to tell me to stay off of her property,I called code inforcement,she got the tickets $200 a piece for the chis running loose. Havent seen the dogs in a looooong time.

My daughter almost ran over the others neighbors dog at 11:30 at night,three blocks from the house.

Oh, I do agree with this too.

I hope to have a German Shepherd some day. And I'd probably have it off leash at times, because I am into training, etc, so I'm sure it'd be a well trained dog, and if by chance he ever did run up to someone in excitement, I would certainly say 'sorry!' and explain he's friendly, etc, etc. I mean, accidents will happen, and dogs will be dogs! I walk a 120lb Rottweiler every day with Jackson and the two of them are friendly as can be.

I can see both sides for sure.

I agree w/you that all bog dogs will not hurt all small dogs, BUT if I had a big dog or medium sized dog or any size, I will never let them go leash free nor will I let them go up to people or any other dogs by him/her self (unless it was a neighbor that knew the dog, etc). What about cars driving by, ya know? Like Brit mentioned earlier in another post, unless it was in a leash free dog park, then it's a whole different situation.:)

The guy probably reacted defensively to my 'WHO'S DOG IS THIS?', BUT lollll I don't think I was being snappy, I yelled it out because I didn't see the owner anywhere & I wanted him to take the dog away. He kept trying to smell my guys in my arms & was following me as I was walking away. I actually have a really soft voice, when I go through the drive thru, they always tell me to drive up or 'can u speak louder please?' teehee!:p He just didn't care & was rude....who names their loving pet 'Killer' anyways?

I also want to repost this because I don't want it to seem like this is a rant thread about 'big dogs attacking small dogs', it was a rant about 'unleashed big dogs', but I think all dogs big or small should be leashed: I was more worried about how mine would act thus provoking the GS. He seemed very well mannered & sweet from what I can see, but I didn't want to risk anything.

I also see both sides. I love big dogs and I am generally not afraid of them, and I very much appreciate a well mannered, well trained dog of any size. You can read a lot by the body language of another dog coming toward you either on or off leash, and wether or not their owners have control or the dog does. I do not allow my dogs to lunge towards people or other dogs, I do not allow them to bark, and I do not let the approach others uninvited. Just because someone else thinks their dog is friendly, the person or animal it is approaching may not think so. I would have picked mine up in the same situation. I will never take the wait and see approach.

I walked mine around our local pond the other day, and didn't see a gentleman had his little dog with him as they fished. When we walked by, his dog lunged at mine, (it was on a leash) and started barking and growling. The man was put off that we walked by. My two didn't even give his dog a moment's notice as it was lunging and growling. I did apologize and told him I didn't notice he had a dog but I could tell he was upset with me. HIS dog was the one out of control, but I guess it was my fault for it.

*raises hand* I'm guilty of crossing the street! BUT (lots of buts here lollll) it's not because of the bigger dog...it's my guys! Momo & Turbo bark @ other dogs. It's embarrassing & I end up looking like I can't control my dogs, which is true.:p Crossing the street & avoiding other dogs seems to do the trick. I can see how the other person might feel that way, but I think they've already figured out that it's because of my cwazzie guys.

I've adopted a Doberman (who passed away years ago), so I have experience of owning a big protective dog, but I've never experienced owning both different sizes @ one time.

How cute is that, that he collects tree branches to take home haha!

So glad you and your furbabies are OK. I know exactly how you felt as I live next door to the neighbors from hell. They don't believe in leashing their dogs either and have them trained to pee in their yard and poop in mine. When I got Roxie last year I told them that they needed to keep their dogs in their yard, and that they were breaking the law (we have a stringent leash law). I was told I was the rudest woman alive among other choice things. I gave them a year to reform...I wish I hadn't now...as Roxie is scared to death to step out in our front door on her leash. I now am calling animal control anytime I see their dog in my yard, period! That is what animal control told me to do. Evidentally the authorities had paid them a visit and educated them, next time they will be fined. It feels so good to feel like I am reclaiming my yard after 4-5 years.

I hope you will rethink your idea about ever letting your dog off leash. No matter how well trained a dog is, it is still a dog with doggy instincts. All it takes is a split second of that dog letting instinct win over training to turn into a tragedy. We had a very well-trained hunting dog when I was a child that darted in front of a truck unexpectedly. No more well-trained dog.

The other side of it is that not everyone is dog-crazy as we are. While you and I might be delighted to have a strange but friendly big dog run up to us (because we are pretty good at reading the dog's body language), there are loads of people who are terrified of ANY dog. It would be so easy for a person to be injured or injure your dog when they react out of fear.

I expect people to respect my dog's space (asking if she's friendly and can be petted), and they deserve to have their space respected too. That said, Britster, if I ever see someone walking a Rottie and a Yorkie together, I will be sure to ask if I can hug their dogs. :D

I am sorry about your hunting dog! I definitely realize that off leash has risks, but I think that a lot of dogs are deserving of off leash privileges and I have nothing against it as long as it is not in a populated area where off leash dogs are not permitted nor near any kind of road. I also think everyone knows their dog best, well most people do, and certain breeds are more inclined to stick around in general. I definitely think terriers are a lot more work than a GSD, who naturally usually stays close off leash.

I do not do it with Jackson often, but have in the past, but I do not any more because he darted twice. Yes, it was only twice out of probably 30 times being off leash but until we practiced more, he will not have the privilege. For now, he gets 50-100ft of rope and we practice recall almost every single day. We also live with 3 acres and 90 acres of farmfield behind us so we have a HUGE empty field away from the road to practice on. You can see here-
If you have ever seen justjesse197 on youtube, for example, her JRT is *highly* trained but besides that, they also have an amazing bond. He works in movie, tv, commercials, etc, you HAVE to be reliable off leash.

I definitely appreciate when people ask first before approaching us. I also dogwalk an obnoxious Lab and I admit, I HATE when people come right up and start petting him because he's SO overly friendly that he begins jumping on them, going crazy, tugging at the leash, nearly pulling my arm off, so I tend to avoid people for that reason. I always say "oh he jumps and is crazy!" and people don't seem to care. I tried to walk by this one owner with a little dog and she kept insisting our dogs said hi... ummm, can you see he's here pulling my ARM off?!? LoL.

But yes, here is Ezekiel and Jackson!

I so understand this, I have a green belt behind the house that has a cement path bi-law is your dog has to be leashed riiiiiiiight. I get so mad at people in there dogs running every where. On a good note they are starting to watch someone I know recieved a $500.00 fine and she was mad. shakes my head she knew the bi-law just as much as I do

I think you miss the point of what the OP is saying. It is terrifying to see a big dog running toward your little dog. It may be a friendly dog but you can't wait around to see if that is the case. A few seconds can be the difference between life and death for a little one. No dog should be out without a leash, big or small. This is not about what type of dog is more annoying. It's about being attacked by a dog that is not under control and then being verbally abused by the owner. He reacted to the upset owner? Well, he needs to grow up and clean up his mouth and take responsibility for his actions and the actions of his dog! Being verbally abusive is just a cover for his irresponsible behavior.

:thumbup: There are no two sides to this story. If your dog is illegally off -leash; AND your dog is chasing strangers down the street; AND you have no recall whatsoever - your dog should NOT be off leash. Period. Big or small - doesn't matter.

Why is it some people just can't get that?

When your dog is charging at me 100 miles an hour; I can't wait around to see if it's friendly. I've got to pick up my 5 lb dog - JUST IN CASE. Snap judgements are going to be made for safety sake.

It's ridiculous how often it happens.

Exactly this!