[annieG]

I am spitting mad. I took Tanner for a walk on our street....we were just going around the block. There were 3 women walking on the other side of the street walking 3 dogs one of which was a very large St. Bernard. The St. Bernard start barking and lunging then they let go of his leash and he headed for us. Poor Tanner was going round and round in circles, his tail just inches away from the jaws of this huge dog. All the while the women are saying, he is really friendly.....ya right. Finally they grabbed his prong collar and pulled him away. I don't want to give up our walks but how the ### do we protect ourselves. :twisted:

Oh and Tanner didn't make a sound, no growls, no barking, nothing...just get me out of here :twisted:

 

[lindamarie]

Annie that would infuriate me!! People who have no control over their dogs shouldn't be allowed to have them!!
I was once attacked by a German Shepard with my Springer. We made it through but it frightened me for life with walking dogs! I raised a big fuss over it in the neighborhood. In my case, the dog got out of the yard.

Do you have a neighborhood association? COMPLAIN!! These women with their "friiendly" dogs need to have a piece of someone's mouth........aaaaargh!
Glad Tanner and you are okay!!!

 

[annabelles mom]

Annie I am so sorry to hear that, how scarry Sooo thankful neither of you were hurt.

If that person can't control their dog, they should NOT be walking them

I found this - an alternative to pepper spray, I've also read some people walk with a baton and pepper spray but there is so much controvery on pepper spray, I dont know if I'd want to carry it or not

http://www.smarthome.com/6202.html

I sure hope this doesnt happen again

 

[ellabee]

PEPPER SPRAY. One verbal warning, and then all bets are off. :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[annieG]

Thanks Mary, I am going to order one tomorrow. I am still so mad..I will also take my walking stick with us.

I was proud though that Tanner was so good, just tried to get out of the way of the jaws. Never did attack back :wink:

 

[blueteal]

Yikes Annie
Very frightening......................
Glad you are both ok............

 

[Tink]

Wow how scary!
I'm glad you're both alright!

 

[tykesmom]

Annie,
Poor Tanner AND YOU! That must have been terrifying, but Tanner probably did the right thing - if he had fought back, things might have ended up much worse! He's a GOOD DOG!! I'm just glad you are both ok! Sounds like that St. Bernard is way more dog than those fools can handle - thank goodness the dopes don't have pit bulls! I agree - if you have a neighborhood assn., I would DEFINITELY complain! That woman obviously can't control her dog - she could have at least had the decency to apologize! Two things I can't stand : 1) Idiots and : 2) idiots who can't control their dogs!!

 

[ChasP505]

PEPPER SPRAY. One verbal warning, and then all bets are off.

I have less tolerance: I say bear mace, NO verbal warning.

Years ago when I lived in New York, there was a huge St. Bernard that lived in this yard with a 6 foot chain link fence around it. One day someone left the gate open and he ran out heading straight for me and my wife. I only had the one male Husky then, and he was off about 100 feet away nosing around the neighborhood doggy field, but as soon as he sensed what was happening he came like a rocket and met this 185 pound dog head on before it attacked us. It was a savage fight and eventually the St. Bernard's owner came running and got control. My Husky was lacerated and bloody and had a couple cracked ribs.

After that incident I lost all compassion for other people's vicious untrained dogs. I would not hesitate to IMMEDIATELY do whatever is required to protect myself and my pet. I won't elaborate further.

 

[DebBrown]

Those people have no sense. Even a friendly St. Bernard would be frightening to anyone or any dog who didn't know it. The owners have to be aware of this. And your poor, Tanner, being leashed while the other dog is loose is at a distinct disadvantage. I'm sorry for your scare but glad you are both OK!

Deb

 

[KingstonTodd]

We have terriblly aggressive Husky's in the neighbourhood. I wanted to buy a Taser and zap them, but my wife wont have it, and they can kill (if you read Canadian news....). So, we just avoid their end of the street.

 

[annieG]

Took Tanner for a walk around block this evening...we didn't make it last time. Took DH with me. Tanner was his happy bouncing self...we walked by the place where it happened and he took absolutely no notice. I am so glad, I wouldn't want him to be scared. I will just be more cautious...and armed with my walking stick and my spray....

 

[gene]

So happy to hear that the second walk showed no ill effects. So sorry to hear about the bad experience. If that happened to me while trying to walk 3.....sheesh, I don't even want to think about that!! :shock:

 

[ChasP505]

Last weekend my significant other was out walking Ozzie. It was mid-afternoon. Two large dogs, one unidentifiable and without a collar and one looking like some sort of mastiff breed were out roaming our neighborhood on their own. They spotted Ozzie and started coming his way and my significant other quickly headed in the opposite direction. Luckily a couple of men driving by saw what was happening and they stopped and chased the dogs back to allow my SO to get Ozzie back home. I immediately called Animal Control and they picked these two dogs up.

 

[MaxandMe]

(((((annie and tanner)))))))i am so sorry to hear about this as it both infuriating and frightening

from 1984 to 1992 i lived on Lake Erie in Buffalo ---many people let their dogs roam whether friendly or not-s0---friendly. Once when i was 9mos pregnant and walking back from a neighbor only 6 houses away a BOXER charged and was growling at me :shock: I swore i was going to deliver right then and there!
anyway, next day i went to the person's house...they laughed saying their boxer was a baby!! :roll:

So i am with others, carry pepper spray, WARN ONCE , spray twice

flip side: this is strange, once when i was in danger and running with my 18mos child to get to safety,
a neighbor's 2 vicious German Shephards had gotten loose
but for some reason protected me and my son.....go figure!

 

[Cinsmom]

That just infuriates me that people want a dog but then don't want to take the time it takes to train them to behave. It's like the dogs are supposed to absorb this knowledge by osmosis or something. And a St Bernard, too. A dog could be friendly, but don't chance it being hit by a car or maybe the other dog isn't so friendly and let it go! That was just irresponsibility with letting go of the leash. As it turned out, their dog wasn't so friendly after all.

I glad you're ok. I would report the dog to the police as a dangerous animal. It doesn't have to be a "dangerous breed" to cause damage or kill.

Annmarie, we had a German Shepherd once while we still lived in town. We had a hedge fence that separated our back yard with a neighbor's. The teen aged daughter was sunbathing in her back yard when some teen boys came to harass her. Bear went through the fence to sit beside her while they were there. I was called by her mother, the girl was in tears because the boys meant harm and Bear somehow knew that and came to her rescue. After the boys left, Bear came back through the hedge and the only way I knew about it was her mom called me to tell me to give Bear an extra hug. Her daughter told her all about it. By the way, I was home. Our dogs were never left outside while we were gone. We were going to reinforce the hedge, but the neighbors wouldn't hear of it. He never went through the hedge again. Bear was trained in obedience and earned his CD and CDX. He died before we could go any farther. Bear was an amazing dog.

 

[Guest]

I am so glad you and Tanner are ok! I too hate it when people do not take the time to control their dogs. Ok so at times it may seem like I am one of them because if someone comes up to Maya and shows her attention she can act like a monkey. But I think you approached her. Never would I let her approach someone without me having complete control of her leash.

 

[AJWhiting]

Yeah, I know how frustrating that can be. I was recently attacked by a Pit Bull in my neighborhood. Luckily, none of my dogs were with me, and a few punches to his head made him think twice about lunging at me again. But now my girlfriend won't go for a walk with the dogs without me, and I don't blame her. I actually just told her about the pepper spray option, and we both think that it is a great idea!

 

[Maddjaxx]

So sorry to hear this story Annie. It is a shame what some some people allow their dogs to do. And not provide proper training. You should have to pass a test before you get a dog. Some people are just idiots. I hate hearing about stories like this.

Glad there was no harm done and Tanner was able to walk again so quickly with out any apparent ill effects. That is good. be careful Annie!!