My heart is still racing
 

I took Lexie for a walk this morning but decided to try a new route. The bike path we take splits off in several directions that trails along people's backyards. We were walking along this new path and all was well until we came to the 2nd house which had a HUGE rottweiler loose in the backyard behind a 3' fence:eek:!!. I froze in shock and it started barking like mad and spinning in circles charging the fence a few times. There was no way i was going to walk by that house so we quickly scurried off in the other direction, i kept looking over my shoulder to make sure it didn't get out. I've seriously never been so scared in my life!

Are people allowed to have these types of dogs loose in their yard with fences so short? Thank god Lexie stayed calm and didnt bark back, i can't imagine if this dog got riled up and jumped over

That must have been scary- I am not sure about the laws, but people do a lot of things they are not suppose to! Best thing to do is bring a stick or something to protect yourself from other dogs!

oh i know how scary that is. our next door neighbor has a rottie that runs free all the time. she had my princess in her mouth one day by the neck. my husband had to swat the rottie with a broom to get her to let go of my baby girl. now i have to be very cautious when walking my dogs in my own yard! glad nothing bad happended and now you know to avoid that house.

I know how you feel, this can be so scary, I was walking two dogs the other day, when a lady got home and opened her car door and her two big dogs came charging at us. I froze, and thought I'd have a heart attack, there was absolutely no warning and they were barking at all of us. Hubby had two dogs too, so there wasn't anything he could do. Nothing happened and our four dogs acted like it was nothing, but I was so upset after this. We had another thread lately on this topic and someone mentioned carrying a big umbrella and opening it towards the ground if another dog starts to charge. Just that motion can deter the dog. Glad everything worked out for you, and I don't blame you for taking a different route!


To answer your question, I guess you have to call your local animal control to know the answer.

We have a big black dog that runs loose at times near us and he has growled at my neighbor...it is about to dangerous to take the dogs out anymore alone..I am thankful that i can let mine go outside on the deck enclosed so nothing can harm them or me...dog bites hurt very much

So sorry to hear what happened to your pup, poor thing i'm glad to hear she survived such a horrific attack. I for sure won't be going by that house again

It really is a very scary experience especially when you feel so helpless. I'm sure if that dog had cleared that fence there'd be nothing i could do to defend myself or Lexie aside from holding her up in the air, and we've all seen and heard the damage they can do. Thanks for the umbrella suggestion, it's crazy that people would be so careless and put others and their own dogs at risk.

I'll be devils advocate in this conversation...based on experience.

I was at Ocean Beach a few weeks ago and basically almost every yard has a short fence and almost every yard had a huge dog. Sometimes you just have to trust that just because it's a big dog doesn't mean it's untrained and vicious.

On the flip side I actually had to pick jimmy up to get him away from a small poodle or whatever it was that came flying after him when we were walking down the street. Teeth showing and everything....Any dog can damage our wee ones.

Dogs contained in their yard, big or small, will always bark at other dogs and people walking by....it doesn't mean they will jump over the fence and kill you and your dog.

However, that doesn't mean you should not bring protection from both the big and the little dog that do get loose.

I was walking ChiChi last year and someone was out in their garage and driveway. They had both dogs loose and one was a pit bull. He came running at ChiChi super fast. Well, I had never yanked my dog from the ground to my arms by the leash so quickly or at all....I was surprised. Next thing you know the dog is just standing there at my feet wagging his tail.

I was ticked off and a little scared...it could have went either way.

Just be careful, protect yourself but also have faith in other dog owners :)