La Trenda's Progression of Reactions to a Loose Dog. Proactive to Reactive

Disclaimer - La Trenda is not a professional trainer or behaviorist.  Some trainers might disagree with her methods.

Note: My reactions will be different based on the body postures, distance, reactions of the offending dog, which dog I'm walking (I'd act differently with Puddin than I would with Matt-Matt), if there are humans close by, what "weapons" I'm carrying, etc..

The below information is generalized and mostly based on when I'm walking my dogs in my neighborhood.  Some info can be extrapolated to a Big Dawgs' trail walk.

When walking, I'm constantly looking ahead, around and even behind for loose dogs. If I see one without a human, I go in another direction before the offending dog sees us and before my dogs see him/her.

If I see a loose dog with a human, I yell ahead (loudly but politely): Could you leash your dog please?.   When they don't comply, I yell louder; when they don't comply, I yell louder. Eventually, they have to leash their dog or risk ear drum damage.

If the offending humans are repeat offenders, I sometimes politely lecture them on the dangers of letting their dog run loose:  "You might want to keep a leash on your dog when he's out or he's going to get run over".  "Or he might run up to an aggressive dong and get hurt."

So, it's too late to walk in another direction because we've been spotted,  or the human with the damaged ear drum still hasn't put a leash on his/her charging dog.  

Sometimes just standing very still and encouraging my dogs to be still is enough. We are much less interesting when we are not moving.

If that doesn't work:

I take a deep breath, stand tall, relax my shoulders, lean forward slightly, speak from my diaphragm loudly, deeply and calmly - GO HOME!

If that doesn't work, I stomp my feet and repeat the command. If that doesn't work I hit my cane on the ground (if I have one). Or point it at the dog and repeat the command.

Note: I have found air horns or other weird noisemakers to be extremely helpful in redirecting a dog's attention. Much better than a human voice.

There have been times a dog is ignoring his human calling him. I spray the air horn once, the dog redirects, hears his/her human; then goes back to him/her.

The air horn gets my Matt-Matt worked up, but other strange noise making devices or a whistle will sometimes redirect him when my voice does not.

Let's say none of the above has worked. Now it depends on what other instruments I have available. I've found that the handle end of a cane works well at pushing a big dog away. Point it at the chest.  Don't have to hit, just push the dog way.

Note: the following is what I have read and heard from trainers - haven't done myself:  If a dog is very aggressive - trying to bite you or your dog, you can "feed" the offending dog anything you can get your hands on.- Give the dog your cane or your shirt or your water bottle, etc.. to stop or slow down the impending attack.

Okay, let's say the air horn doesn't work and I don't have my cane.

Next is citronella spray. It's supposed to be harmless but unpleasant.  I've hit a charging dog directly in the face with it once. It slowed him down.  He was about to shake it off and charge again when the dog parent showed up in time to restrain his dog and get mad at me for spraying his dog in the face.

Variations:

A friendly small dog kept harassing my aggressive Akita mix once.  At the time, I figured the safest thing to do would be to leash the little dog to keep him away from my dog.

I was walking Lupe and Matt-Matt once very early in the morning and this little kitten wanted to follow us.  Lupe and Matt-Matt are highly reactive when they are together. Fearing for the kitten's safety, I tried to rush away.  Kitty continued to follow.  I tried running, the kitty kept in step. So I had no choice but to pick him up, hold my two snarling dogs with one hand and the kitten with the other and take them all home.

When I used to take Rodney to McAllister Dog Park, I always carried an umbrella. If needed, I had planned to place the umbrella between Rodney and dog who would harass him and open it up.  Never used it. But have used my air horn to break up several scuffles out there  - not Rodney related.

Ref LeAnn's remark about Police:

When my Akita was living, he was attacked twice by some mean weenie dogs while the "parent" made no attempt to call them or anything.  The second time it happened, I filed a police report. I needed something on record showing her small dogs were the aggressors.   If my dog had hurt those dogs, then I would have been the bad guy because my dog was much bigger and the breed has a reputation.

I have tried to call the park police on a repeat offender at LBJ (Terrible Terrier - Kevin might remember). I was on hold forever.  Couldn't get through.

I've tried to call park police and 311 for other issues at parks but was always just get put on hold for a long time.

Another variation

There have been times when I didn't see a big dog coming.  Then it's too late to grab my spray or to calm myself.  In those cases, I just scream like a snake just fell on my head or something..  My screaming scared away a huge charging German Shepherd just a few months ago.

Something that I'm working on for myself. Try not to grab your dog tightly. It's just going to make him/her more tense/anxious and then start reacting badly to loose dogs.

And Still More Variations

Years ago, I saws a news reporter review a product called a Sonic Dog Chaser. He went into a neighborhood where there were a lot of large barking dogs behind short chain link fences.  He'd point that thing at them and they would immediately stop barking and back away from the fence.  

So I ordered one.  The first time I used it was against those charging dastardly dachshunds.  They stopped in their tracks, walked back towards the house and gave me a look like "You've won this round lady; but we'll be back".

A few weeks later, a little dog (maltese? shi tzu?,)approached us.  I pointed the thing at him and he kept coming.  So I don't know if the batteries were dead, if the device malfunctioned, or if the approaching dog was deaf.  Humans can't hear the noise that comes out of the thing so it hard to know if it's working.  I didn't use it anymore after that.

Caution: exercise extreme caution if you decided to do this. Get help from a professional. Just passing on info.

I saw a lady in my neighborhood walking with a strange yellow object.  I asked her about it. She said with sadness and embarrassment, "It's a cattle prod." She went on to explain that she had walked her dog in the same neighborhood for 20 years without a problem; but then one day she ran into a stray dog and it resulted in hospital care for everyone.  I still see her every once in a while with that thing.  I considered it for a second, but I'm much to clumsy to have something like that.

I've considered a super soaker filled with  water.  The citronella spray shoots off a good stream, but I was thinking the super soaker could be used to slow down a charging dog while she is still far way. It would be like my own personal water hose. Haven't done it though.

Note that some who work with animals claim that mace will just make a dog madder.

A softer approach: something I read a long time ago. It might have been in "How to Speak Dog" but not sure.

If an aggressive dog approaches, tell your dog to sit. I believe the book said that sitting is a pacifying gesture - like yawning. It tells the other dog - I'm not being submissive, but I don't want any trouble either.

I have never tried it. My goal is to keep the offending dog as far away possible. If a aggressive dog is too close to my dog, I'm probably in panic mode by then and won't be able to calmly tell my dog to sit.

Supplies

Air Horn: Amazon

Screecher : Amazon 

Direct Stop Citronella Spray: Amazon 

Ultrasonic Dog Chaser Amazon:

Slip Leash: http://www.canisgear.com/servlet/the-3/6ft-Heavy-Duty-Kennel/Detail