Re: [PyrNet-L] A Nasty Encounter

["kdbooth" <kdbooth@mindspring.com>]

Jeanne,

You've hit on a major irritation for me.  My girl, Daisy, is very aggressive
toward other dogs.  She struts along on her walks just looking for a
challenge.  It's annoying but we're always able to keep her under control.
Unfortunately, in our neighborhood there are quite a few people who do not
walk their dogs on leashes and there are a few dogs who aren't contained in
fenced yards or on chains.  Daisy has been in several "fights" due to loose
dogs running up to her.  We've had a number of problems with one neighbor in
particular who feels it's more our responsibility to control leashed Daisy's
aggression than it is for him to keep his dog in a fenced yard!  While I
don't want Daisy to become a street fighter either, I feel no remorse for,
or responsibility to any dog owner whose dog gets hurt as a result of
picking a fight with 120 lb. Daisy.  My concern is for Daisy; I know she's
up to date on her shots and she sees the vet regularly.  I don't know these
things about other people's dogs.

We have leash laws in my county ... as I think most counties/states have.
I've finally had it and have started reporting "repeat offenders" to the
local animal control.  I've only had one incident where a neighbor
encouraged his leashed dog (an OLD, fat, gnarly lab) to "challenge" Daisy.
She promptly knocked him flat and he retreated.  The neighbor claimed
afterwards that the leash "broke."   Sure.  It takes extraordinary ignorance
for someone to actually encourage fighting between two leashed dogs!!


----- Original Message -----
From: Jeanne M Bravin <gypsyunltd@juno.com>
To: <pyrnet-l@gamerz.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2000 3:27 PM
Subject: [PyrNet-L] A Nasty Encounter


> We took Gypsy for a walk downtown late last night.  She's usually good
> with crowds and people, but at 14 months she's started challenging any
> dog that even looks at her, so we opted to go later in the evening when
> there would be less dog traffic.  While we were there, some idiot with a
> pit bull decided that it would be funny to try to scare us by having his
> dog try to attack her.  I couldn't believe this jerk.  He held his dog's
> chain, but encouraged it to attack and only left about three feet of
> distance between the two dogs.  It's bad enough when other people have a
> hard time controlling their dogs and I'm trying to keep Gypsy remembering
> her manners - but to have someone deliberately try to start something?!?
> Luckily my husband was with me.  Trusting that he would intervene if the
> PB got any closer, I was able to focus on Gypsy's reaction and insist
> that she stay quietly by my side regardless of the other dog.  I was
> really proud of her, because after an initial lunge she responded to my
> correction immediately and stood perfectly still by my side - shaking and
> in full "challenge mode", but trusting me enough to keep herself under
> control and heel nicely when we were able to walk away.
>
> So now my question is - What on Earth am I supposed to do if another
> dog's owner can't (or won't!) control their dog and Gypsy is actually
> attacked?  Letting her loose would result in a free-for-all with both
> dogs out of control.  I can't possibly insist that she stand quietly
> while another dog attacks her, even though I would then be able to take a
> shot at stopping the other dog.  And short of keeping Gypsy confined to
> her own yard, I can't be 100% positive that the situation will never
> occur.  I realize that this particular encounter was (hopefully) an
> isolated incident, but I'd like to have some sort of game plan before we
> hit the streets again.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Jeanne Bravin
> GypsyunLTD@juno.com
>
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