Aggressive dogs outdoors

[Codger_64]

1: shoot the dog. cut it's tail, the strip of skin down it's back and scalp all off in one piece.

2: take that piece of dogskin to my local council.

3: claim AUD$100/dog bounty.

4: Profit!

I'm thinking that the $100 wouldn't go far in paying the $20,000-30,000 cost of my dog. Of course the Aussie dollar is up I hear.

 

[sambo.]

I'm thinking that the $100 wouldn't go far in paying the $20,000-30,000 cost of my dog. Of course the Aussie dollar is up I hear.

out where i live, you see a dog and can't spot the owner (and in some cases, even then), you shoot the damn dog.

cats too btw.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I've never met a douche bag who owned a small breed dog. They always own large breeds with agressive reputations. Too bad douche bags have to exist as the problem would most likely disappear overnight.

I have met so many Douche Bags with tiny dogs as well (my neighbor growing up comes to mind. 5 rat dogs, all loved to chase and bite!). Just not as scary as the Douche Bags with big dogs.

I have had a friend walking right next to me get his hand torn open by a German Shepard when we were walking through the park.

We almost got in a fight with owner at that point. He said "don't worry about it, the dog has all it's shots"


Really, your dog just tore some stranger's hand open (bleeding all over the place, and requiring stitches), and we should be fine with that because you assure us the dog has had it's shots?

Pisses me off so bad.

I was just in court the other day over a dog incident. Live stock was killed, then so were the dogs (all large scary and one had already been judged a dangerous animal). Totally unnecessary.

My neighbor had a pit bull that he always warned everyone was dangerous. He was real proud of that fact. No one but he and his family allowed to pet it. He was not as proud of the dog, when it tore his own child's face off! That poor kid had to go have surgery on his face, and will have scars for life, but at least the father was able to pull his own dog off and keep it from tearing his own child's throat out.

Too many stories like that. My own cousin had to have 12 surgeries on her face. A dog tore off her lower lip.


I like many of the big breed dogs, but as some one who is litigation shy (and not wanting to pay the higher premiums on insurance) I would never own many breeds for that reason.


I lived in Bulgaria for 2 years, and talk about a dog problem. I have seen a grown man, in broad daylight attacked by a pack of 15 or so street dogs!

People there love to get big macho dogs, and then turn them out (no one believes in fixing pets there.....it is cruel, they say). Lot of big mutts running around.

Many deaths (and eating of people) every winter there! In the news papers all the time. I learned to bend over and pick up rocks whenever I saw a pack coming). Even if there were not rocks around, I would bend over and pretend, and act like I had something to throw. It was so common that the dogs would back off just from the gesture).

Luckily, I live where I can carry a firearm. But feeling like I have to because some knuckle head cannot be bothered to put a leash on their 200 lb Hell hound (they always say "Slasher and Chomper would never hurt anyone").

I tell you one thing, though, Pull out a gun and blast some dude's dogs, and you better save a few rounds for the dude, because things will go south quick. The same morons who love to trot their horse sized man eaters around with no leash, will also not be mentally mature to add the fact that you just used deadly force against their dog to the fact that you are still holding a gun and come up with the answer that they might not want to charge you.

Sad case I read about a situation like that a while ago (story linked here I believe). Guy (retired teacher, old man, model citizen, never in 65-70 years had any run ins with the law).

Leaving a trail head. Crazy guy has some large dangerous dogs off leash. They go about trying to eat the old guy. He fires a round into the dirt in front of the charging snarling dog. Owner charges him for "shooting" the dogs. He has to kill the guy (who has many arrests for assault and similar crimes).

The Old retired school teacher got convicted of murder! Obviously, he was just out looking to kill some one! Why else would he carry a 10mm? They made a big point at trial (the state's expert) the no one needs to carry it 10mm. It is much more powerful than any gun a non murdering person would need to carry!



Long story short, if you own a dog, please keep it on a leash. I don't care if it is a nice dog or not.

I am not going to freak out and pull iron on weiner dog, or a pug etc (but I might kick it in the mouth if it tries to bite me).

But an aggressive large breed, acting like it wants to bite or harm me or my kids or wife might cause my protective instincts to kick in!

I don't feel all pee in my pants scared if a large breed dog approaches me, but have had enough negative experiences in my life (did I mention a German Shepard attacked me once......dog I knew, and had been petting a few minutes before it happened.......luckily just tore my heavy winter coat open.........but it was an actual trained guard dog, and very very aggressive.........which I knew........I just moved a bit quick for him getting him excited about his walk!)

I'm thinking that the $100 wouldn't go far in paying the $20,000-30,000 cost of my dog. Of course the Aussie dollar is up I hear.

If the $30,000 dog is a big scary breed, and it is off leash, and away from you, and some one feels threatened and shoots it, you might have a very very hard time getting any of that money out of anyone!
(Not that I am saying this about your dog, or that lewellyn setter looks threatening, but even nice dogs, once separated from their owners may act differently, and some people are just plain afraid of any dog bigger than a teapot!)

I had a mutt as a kid (my sister rescued it from some teenagers who were kicking it around!) It was a few weeks old, and still a tiny puppy.

It looked like a short stocky lab mutt. Once, when we had family over, a younger cousin made a big deal about the dog snapping at her. She convinced her mom that it had tried to kill her. She and her mother were up in arms about trying to make us shoot it, or put it down! Luckily my self, my dad, and the cousin's dad were in the room when this "unprovoked" attack happened. My cousin went up to the sleeping dog in the corner. Picked up his tail, and yanked for all she was worth, and screamed at the dog! He woke up in a blind panic and growled and snapped the air. My cousin was well old enough to know better!

Just as some dog owners have no sense, others have no sense in dealing with strange dogs!


To the OP. I don't believe you have any ability to carry a pistol up there in the North, but I would buy a very sturdy walking stick (or staff even), and bear spray would be helpful too! Sucks that a nice nature walk has to be burdened by lugging all that stuff around!

 

[Codger_64]

Washington State Code Annotated 9.91.170. Interfering with dog guide or service animal
.....
(5) Any person who intentionally injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal is guilty of a class C felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.

(6) Any person who wrongfully obtains or exerts unauthorized control over a dog guide or service animal with the intent to deprive the dog guide or service animal user of his or her dog guide or service animal is guilty of theft in the first degree, RCW 9A.56.030.

(7)(a) In any case in which the defendant is convicted of a violation of this section, he or she shall also be ordered to make full restitution for all damages, including incidental and consequential expenses incurred by the dog guide or service animal user and the dog guide or service animal which arise out of or are related to the criminal offense.

(b) Restitution for a conviction under this section shall include, but is not limited to:

(i) The value of the replacement of an incapacitated or deceased dog guide or service animal, the training of a replacement dog guide or service animal, or retraining of the affected dog guide or service animal and all related veterinary and care expenses; and

(ii) Medical expenses of the dog guide or service animal user, training of the dog guide or service animal user, and compensation for wages or earned income lost by the dog guide or service animal user.

(8) Nothing in this section shall affect any civil remedies available for violation of this section.

(9) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Dog guide" means a dog that is trained for the purpose of guiding blind persons or a dog trained for the purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons.

(b) "Service animal" means an animal that is trained for the purposes of assisting or accommodating a disabled person's sensory, mental, or physical disability.

(c) "Notice" means a verbal or otherwise communicated warning prescribing the behavior of another person and a request that the person stop their behavior.

(d) "Value" means the value to the dog guide or service animal user and does not refer to cost or fair market value.

[2003 c 53 § 52, eff. July 1, 2004; 2001 c 112 § 2.]

First, be sure you are right then go ahead. Defending oneself and others from an uncontrolled attacking dog would be a good defense. Wantonly killing a service animal because you are skeered is another matter. Similar laws cover police dogs, SAR dogs and other service animals. Though obviously not in Australia.

Here is my service animal answering recall. Note the check cord. This is in my yard.

This is my service animal on a canoe trip. Note the check cord. He will not always be checked for safety reasons (possible entanglement in an upset) and it is possible for the check cord to come loose, be cut or chewed.

His being a serice animal does not relieve me of responsibility or liability for his actions, but it does come with special considerations under State and Federal laws. He is a Llewellyn Setter, but service animals come in many breeds including large breeds and mixed breeds. I think you will, in general, find service animal owners to be well above average responsible owners and the animals themselves to usually be trained beyond what the average person might imagine. You are not likely to encounter an overly aggressive one, but you might encounter one if it's owner is down and needing assistance. As I said earlier, irresponsible pet owners are a particular bane to service animal owners because they promote prejudices and actions mentioned in this thread.

 

[Magnaminous_G]

Pepper spray might be a good idea if you're in an area with aggressive dogs, but carrying pepper spray in a holster is considered a very aggressive act of hostility in the boondocks. In a past life, I worked for a nuclear plant and had to go to every home in a 10-mile radius of the nuclear plant (in the middle of rural Alabama) to check on their disaster warning system. Now, folks in the sticks in Alabama have dogs... and very interesting attitudes towards anyone they consider an "official,"... and even more interesting attitudes towards officials with pepper spray on their belts. They know it's for the dogs. They know their dogs can be aggressive. And they don't care.

I think I was closer to being shot just by showing up at some of those places than I've ever been in my life. Had a dog attacked me, yeah, I would have sprayed him... and then hoped to god I didn't get shot by the owner as a result.

I hear stories all the time of people walking their dogs in public parks and having their dogs torn to shreds by some retard's unleashed pack of pit bulls. I read one story of a guy who actually had his gun on him and shot those pit bulls. Good for him, I say.

 

[lmalterna]

Just to keep things a litle light... Some years ago my ex turned our Dachsund and Pug out on our deck(we used an invisible fence around our rural setting yard) for a pee break and food. A minute later she hears a terrible ruckus and looks out to see an Akita with the Dachsund in its jaws shaking her( this is NOT the light part). She opens the door and screams and the Akita drops the Dachsund- it and the pug make it in the door and the Akita is visciously barking at her as she slams the door.

She calls me and I fly home, getting out of the truck with Glock in hand- Akita is no where to be seen. She had called Animal Control after hanging up with me. I rush Dachsund to vet and then rush back home- When I get out of truck Animal Control is there and I have my Glock in holster on my belt. Officer asks me to place handgun inside so he can take report assuring me it is not needed. We are sitting on front proch giving report when the Akita comes ropund the end of the house. Officer steps off porch and approaches dog, dog begins to snarl and lunge at officer, officer draws handgun ans I get ex back in the door. Officer backs to steps yelling for me to get that damn door open while he keeps gun on dog.

Once inside house, I asked the officer if I should reclaim my Glock. He said "Yes, please do" I stood on porch and watched as he made it to his truck for chaps, gloves and snare. Dog was soon inside truck and he visited the owner to give him the news. Our Dachsund dies of double punctured lungs by the time I got back to vet. Owner lost his dog and forked over 1200.00. Could have been worse for him. We did not sue as he was keeping the dog for his son and it had broken the chain. He was otherwise a good neighbor who got put in a bad spot. Not sure what the County did to him or his son.

I have and will shoot dogs on farms attacking livestock. But that is a much different scenario than a dog on a trail getting between me and an owner and giving me a bark. Each situation has to be weighed on its own merit. I will not allow an animal to do greivous harm to me or one of my family but I will not go out of my way to start trouble with every dog I see. I think we can all see the difference.

Just as not all good snakes are dead snakes, not all dogs pose threats to us.
Bill

 

[Max_Power]

I’m a huge dog fan, but unruly dogs and terrible owners need to be reprimanded.

I bring my yellow lab everywhere with me when in the woods. She mountain bikes, hikes, geocaches, and every other activity I do outside. If we’re in a place where other humans will be encountered and may not be dog-people, she’s on her shock-collar or a leash.

She’s 4, but she’s till super-high activity. She will go up to anyone, and since she’s a lab, will lick any part of a person if they present that opportunity. That’s her greeting. We know this is unacceptable to many people, so we keep her from doing it simply by controlling her. Don’t get me wrong, if we’re at the dog park, we know that people there are dog-people and are expecting to be approached by dogs, she’s off-leash and command there.

My wife and I had her on a leash in a state park behind our house for a walk. It&#8217;s an on-leash park and we encounter people with and without dogs all the time, so she gets leashed there. Unfortunately, there are many houses that abut the park, and one home-owner lets their dogs run wild. We didn&#8217;t know this at the time, but the dogs routinely climb the fence and run around. Well, this day they got out and set their sights on Athena. I moved in towards them menacingly, but they couldn&#8217;t care less about me. They side-stepped me and tag-teamed Athena. I instructed my wife to drop the leash to give Athena a chance, and I pounced on one dog while my wife kicked the other one. The whole thing lasted < 30 seconds, but it felt like an eternity. Athena needed 20+ stitches and other various medical treatments.

We drove around after and found the house where the dogs reside. We knocked and spoke with the owner. There was no sorry, no &#8220;we&#8217;ll do better keeping them in&#8221;, and no offer to cover medical bills. We called the cops, which we were hoping to avoid, and they told us to get in line. We were the 3rd complaint. Luckily, my wife works for a vet, and the vet has a contract with four of the local police departments to do check-ups on the canine units. We called in a favor, and the cops expedited it for us. They showed up in two cruisers and more or less threatened to really press charges. The owner decided paying our medical bills was a better way out. The town ended up taking the animals out of the house and they were adopted out and are actually pretty good dogs now.

Bottom-line: People really, really need to understand how to control their dogs and act as responsible owners.

Edit: Here's my scary 60 pound lab:
Here is Athena sleeping on an Italian Greyhound:

And on the trail:

Athena Wompy_4 by The_Max_Power, on Flickr

 

[VTguy17]

My dog looks aggressive but shes an absolute sweetheart. She's well trained and has never barked let alone growled at anyone or anything. However there are a lot of irresponsible dog owners out there that let there dogs run free on the trail and will attack other dogs. I carry a pistol on me almost 24/7 and I'd probably be more inclined to shoot the owner before the dog. I can really only think of 3 circumstances where I'd actually shoot someones dog. 1. They were clearly rabid and wanting a piece of me or my dog. 2. There a very large vicious dog and it's attacking my dog. 3 it's a very large dog that's attacking me and I can't fend it off. The last thing I'd want to do is put down someones pet if I didn't absolutely have to. My dog is my best friend we do everything together and if someone hurt her I'd kill them. Besides unless were talking about a massive beast of a dog this wolf would probably be able to fend them off.

 

[OwenM]

He's never been aggressive with anyone. He's a big teddy bear.

But if he comes up to you and circles you, more than likely he's after your ham sammich.

Had a dobi before he was quiet and most of the time if people walked toward him he would go around them. Now i always had him off the leash but he would listen and heel when asked........Now my dad has a german shepard and she is a hands full. As sweet as they come got more energy then any normal dog should have. She listen to me better then my dads. Again i keep her off the leash and train her to listen to me.. Yes i got a ways to go still, As she gets excited and cant stop.

Me and my roommate have 2 pitbulls and we routinely walk them on the trails by the river near our house. I do know that ours look scary however they behave and come when we call them.

To add a story of an iddiot who caused a dog bite. I essay the beach with my dog and we were on a secluted beach this guys come out of no where and my dog runs up to him and starts barking not a growl but a warning bark. The guy starts yelling and cursing at my dog and kicking sand at her face. So she bites his ankle.

I’m a huge dog fan, but unruly dogs and terrible owners need to be reprimanded.

I bring my yellow lab everywhere with me when in the woods. She mountain bikes, hikes, geocaches, and every other activity I do outside. If we’re in a place where other humans will be encountered and may not be dog-people, she’s on her shock-collar or a leash.

My dog looks aggressive but shes an absolute sweetheart. She's well trained and has never barked let alone growled at anyone or anything. However there are a lot of irresponsible dog owners out there that let there dogs run free on the trail and will attack other dogs.....My dog is my best friend we do everything together and if someone hurt her I'd kill them. Besides unless were talking about a massive beast of a dog this wolf would probably be able to fend them off.

You people ARE the problem.

 

[VTguy17]

You people ARE the problem.

Oh, please do explain, can't wait to hear this one.

I think you may be going with the "my dog never hurt anyone and she behaves" I understand that and that usually is the problem. However I know she looks scary and I'm responsible enough to leash her when there are other around.

 

[OwenM]

You don't know when other people are around. You find out after they've met your unleashed dog, who in your mind is of course the exception to the rule, which is why you post pictures of it unleashed while talking about irresponsible dog owners who don't leash their dogs.

 

[VTguy17]

I never said anything about an unleashed dog being irresponsible I have no problems with it and I think it's good as long as your dog isn't an asshole, it's irresponsible to let your dog roam free on a trail if he's aggressive that's what I was saying. One of those pictures is my own posted private property by the way where I'm sure there is no one.

People suck and I guess as far as your concerned I'm one of them, but It doesn't matter what you think so good day!

 

[Esav Benyamin]

it's irresponsible to let your dog roam free on a trail if he's aggressive

No, it is irresponsible to let your dog roam free on a trail, period. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I am crippled in both legs and my back now and I walk with a cane. A friendly dog off leash can come bounding up to me and knock me down. I walk in a local park that is clearly marked "no dogs allowed". I should not have to think twice about this, but I routinely encounter dogs, mostly leashed, but not always.

I sometimes think dog owners get a wallet card when they adopt their dog. On one side it says, "It's OK, he doesn't bite." On the other side it says, "I don't know why he did that! He never bit anyone before!"

 

[VTguy17]

No, it is irresponsible to let your dog roam free on a trail, period. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I am crippled in both legs and my back now and I walk with a cane. A friendly dog off leash can come bounding up to me and knock me down. I walk in a local park that is clearly marked "no dogs allowed".

That's understandable but I'm not talking about a park where dogs aren't allowed. I completely get where your coming from with that though. However It's not irresponsible to have a friendly well behaved dog off leash on a hiking trail where it's permitted. Now I know everyone thinks there dog is well behaved just like most people think there kids are the best. We can argue this all night but I hike steep rocky terrain with my dog on a regular basis and I need both hands and having her on a constant leash isn't necessary or possible. She's also a therapy dog 3 days a week and knows how to act around people and if she didn't I would loeave her at home or leash her.

I'm not trying to argue right or wrong here just know your pet, believe me I hate a hyper big dog jumping in my face just as much as the next guy

people do a hell of a lot worse things than animals, I'm more worried about the people you encounter in the woods and on the trail than the dog with a backpack and it's tongue hanging out.

Not everyones a dog person I get that, I'm not a kid or cat person but unfortunately I encounter them everyday it's life.

 

[LMT66]

My dog looks aggressive but shes an absolute sweetheart. She's well trained and has never barked let alone growled at anyone or anything. However there are a lot of irresponsible dog owners out there that let there dogs run free on the trail and will attack other dogs. I carry a pistol on me almost 24/7 and I'd probably be more inclined to shoot the owner before the dog. I can really only think of 3 circumstances where I'd actually shoot someones dog. 1. They were clearly rabid and wanting a piece of me or my dog. 2. There a very large vicious dog and it's attacking my dog. 3 it's a very large dog that's attacking me and I can't fend it off. The last thing I'd want to do is put down someones pet if I didn't absolutely have to. My dog is my best friend we do everything together and if someone hurt her I'd kill them. Besides unless were talking about a massive beast of a dog this wolf would probably be able to fend them off.

Have you read your post twice? Your off your rocker. I agree with Owen, YOU really are the type of dog owner that is part of the problem.

You own a dog. It's not one of your children. Try and keep that in mind.

 

[LMT66]

[youtube]hY9EKHAqUUI[/youtube]

 

[Wolf_1989]

You people ARE the problem.

Whatever.


There's another problem you need to address; it's called Reading Comprehension.

Read closely now as I quote myself for your convenience:

If I take my dogs where there might be humans around, they're leashed. It's for their own protection.

But really, if you encounter me and my dogs "on the trail" that means you're more than likely trespassing. I tend to avoid public places as much as I possibly can, and if we're over in the wildlife area/state park, and I see people, I try to disappear away from them as quickly as I can.

 

[nutnfancyfan]

as far as he big dogs are scary thing, i have a german shepard, massive dog. right now he ways 120lbs and doesnt have any fat on hime, hes just really big( which btw is a little weird cause his momma was like 65 lbs, but i digress) now this big, massive, scary looking dog, has knocked me to the ground after bolting away in terror after a doxin hissed at him. dogs arent genetically good or bad, its all how their raised. (let my gf play with my dog WAY to much)

 

[VTguy17]

if you don't like my dog who doesn't bother you or jump on you or pay any attention to you leashed or unleashed on the trail than chances are I don't like you either so we have something in common. Maybe some of you "your irresponsible" folks should be the one's on a leash and supervised either that or just don't leave your safe bubble. If you work with your animal and treat them right they deserve to be able to walk on a trail next to you without a rope tied to there neck. Get over it.

This isn't the case with all dogs but just because someone has a good dog who can hike without a leash doesn't mean there owner is an irresponsible prick.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

My dog looks aggressive but shes an absolute sweetheart. She's well trained and has never barked let alone growled at anyone or anything. However there are a lot of irresponsible dog owners out there that let there dogs run free on the trail and will attack other dogs. I carry a pistol on me almost 24/7 and I'd probably be more inclined to shoot the owner before the dog. I can really only think of 3 circumstances where I'd actually shoot someones dog. 1. They were clearly rabid and wanting a piece of me or my dog. 2. There a very large vicious dog and it's attacking my dog. 3 it's a very large dog that's attacking me and I can't fend it off. The last thing I'd want to do is put down someones pet if I didn't absolutely have to. My dog is my best friend we do everything together and if someone hurt her I'd kill them. Besides unless were talking about a massive beast of a dog this wolf would probably be able to fend them off.

That's not rational. If your dog came bounding up to me and I raised my cane and rammed her in the chest, knocking her back, and chasing her off -- you would shoot me? Ridiculous.