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Loose dogs, what should I do?... Ask a Trainer
Dear Trainer,
I live in an area where there is a lot of park space around our neighborhood, so people
with dogs are often out walking with them. A few days ago, a dog ran up to my dog and I with no owner in sight.
I was really frightened since it was a really big dog. It turned out that the dog was friendly to both my dog and me, but I really didn’t know what to do. In case we encounter this again and the dog is not friendly, what would you suggest?
Signed, Frightening Fido
Dear Fido,
I have run into that situation a few times myself and it is scary, both for humans and for
dogs alike. Even when the on-coming dog is friendly, that doesn’t always mean your
dog wants to meet the loose dog. Fights have ensued in those situations and that can become dangerous for all concerned.
What do you do?
Always carry a cell phone with your local Animal Control’s number stored . A cell phone
is also important if you need emergency help. Loose dogs, no matter what the intention of
people allowing their dogs to roam, are illegal unless the dog is in a designated off-leash
area. It’s important to report loose dogs, since dogs on the run are in danger of being hit
by cars, teased by kids, or attacked by coyotes in those areas where wild canines thrive.
First try to avoid any loose dog, whether you think he/she is friendly or not. Change
directions, take a wide birth, and don’t make eye contact. Never run, as this can cause the
dog to chase and build up more adrenaline, and you will never outrun a dog anyway.
Carry protection, but do so with caution. Using products such as “Direct Stop” can buy
you a short time to get away from a roaming dog, but you will need to be within the range
of about 10 - feet to spay the product at the dog’s face. If the dog is not in a completely
aroused state of mind, these products can work well, but they can also backfire if the dog
is not “thinking” clearly and can often make matters worse.
A can of club soda also can work. Shake it and throw it as a way to startle the dog. When
you shake the can , the carbonation should get the contents flowing hard enough to spay
out, thereby causing the dog to take his/her attention from you and allowing you to move
away. This won’t buy you a lot of time, but sometimes just a little can be helpful.
Another suggestion is to carry a collapsible umbrella with you. Most Southern California
dogs are not used to seeing open umbrellas, so if a dog approaches you, you can pop open
the umbrella in the direction of the dog. Not only can this startle the dog, but also gives
you something to use to protect yourself if needed. It’s far better to have a stray dog take
the umbrella in his/her mouth rather than your body parts. One trainer I know painted a really scary face on her open umbrella, so if she has to pop it open, there are big eyes, and a full set of teeth showing, which might be enough to cause the dog to hesitate.
Be sure to proof your own dog with umbrellas before using it on an approaching dog as you
might startle your dog enough to have him or her try to leave.
Carry food treats with you. You can always throw food at the on -coming dog to get
his/her attention, but you will need to throw a lot to keep the dog searching rather than
following you as a good food resource. I have tossed my treat bag full of treats toward a
dog that was moving too fast for my comfort. I lost a treat bag, but the dog forgot about
my dog and me when he got a waif of the cut up turkey in my bag.
(note from FODS - we have found that the best deterrent is a Tazer - the one that makes a noise and shows the blue flash - this has worked perfectly over the last ten years and never once have we had to 'zap' a dog - the noise and the flash is enough to deter them - you must desensitise your dog to this first)
What if you or your dog is attacked? If you are walking with your own dog and another dog does attack him or her, you need to drop your leash so your dog has a chance to leave or fight back. Too many people are bitten, (often by their own dogs) while trying to protect their dogs from the attacker
.
Trying to break up a dogfight is dangerous and risky to you and your dog, as that interference can create more intensity in the fighting dog.
If you believe you are going to be attacked, stand very still and don’t make eye contact
with the dog. This can often defuse the situation and the dog may choose to leave when
he/she doesn’t perceive a threat. If however, you are attacked, fall to the ground, roll into
a ball and cover your head with your arms , and be as still as possible.
I live in an area where there is a lot of park space around our neighborhood, so people
with dogs are often out walking with them. A few days ago, a dog ran up to my dog and I with no owner in sight.
I was really frightened since it was a really big dog. It turned out that the dog was friendly to both my dog and me, but I really didn’t know what to do. In case we encounter this again and the dog is not friendly, what would you suggest?
Signed, Frightening Fido
Dear Fido,
I have run into that situation a few times myself and it is scary, both for humans and for
dogs alike. Even when the on-coming dog is friendly, that doesn’t always mean your
dog wants to meet the loose dog. Fights have ensued in those situations and that can become dangerous for all concerned.
What do you do?
Always carry a cell phone with your local Animal Control’s number stored . A cell phone
is also important if you need emergency help. Loose dogs, no matter what the intention of
people allowing their dogs to roam, are illegal unless the dog is in a designated off-leash
area. It’s important to report loose dogs, since dogs on the run are in danger of being hit
by cars, teased by kids, or attacked by coyotes in those areas where wild canines thrive.
First try to avoid any loose dog, whether you think he/she is friendly or not. Change
directions, take a wide birth, and don’t make eye contact. Never run, as this can cause the
dog to chase and build up more adrenaline, and you will never outrun a dog anyway.
Carry protection, but do so with caution. Using products such as “Direct Stop” can buy
you a short time to get away from a roaming dog, but you will need to be within the range
of about 10 - feet to spay the product at the dog’s face. If the dog is not in a completely
aroused state of mind, these products can work well, but they can also backfire if the dog
is not “thinking” clearly and can often make matters worse.
A can of club soda also can work. Shake it and throw it as a way to startle the dog. When
you shake the can , the carbonation should get the contents flowing hard enough to spay
out, thereby causing the dog to take his/her attention from you and allowing you to move
away. This won’t buy you a lot of time, but sometimes just a little can be helpful.
Another suggestion is to carry a collapsible umbrella with you. Most Southern California
dogs are not used to seeing open umbrellas, so if a dog approaches you, you can pop open
the umbrella in the direction of the dog. Not only can this startle the dog, but also gives
you something to use to protect yourself if needed. It’s far better to have a stray dog take
the umbrella in his/her mouth rather than your body parts. One trainer I know painted a really scary face on her open umbrella, so if she has to pop it open, there are big eyes, and a full set of teeth showing, which might be enough to cause the dog to hesitate.
Be sure to proof your own dog with umbrellas before using it on an approaching dog as you
might startle your dog enough to have him or her try to leave.
Carry food treats with you. You can always throw food at the on -coming dog to get
his/her attention, but you will need to throw a lot to keep the dog searching rather than
following you as a good food resource. I have tossed my treat bag full of treats toward a
dog that was moving too fast for my comfort. I lost a treat bag, but the dog forgot about
my dog and me when he got a waif of the cut up turkey in my bag.
(note from FODS - we have found that the best deterrent is a Tazer - the one that makes a noise and shows the blue flash - this has worked perfectly over the last ten years and never once have we had to 'zap' a dog - the noise and the flash is enough to deter them - you must desensitise your dog to this first)
What if you or your dog is attacked? If you are walking with your own dog and another dog does attack him or her, you need to drop your leash so your dog has a chance to leave or fight back. Too many people are bitten, (often by their own dogs) while trying to protect their dogs from the attacker
.
Trying to break up a dogfight is dangerous and risky to you and your dog, as that interference can create more intensity in the fighting dog.
If you believe you are going to be attacked, stand very still and don’t make eye contact
with the dog. This can often defuse the situation and the dog may choose to leave when
he/she doesn’t perceive a threat. If however, you are attacked, fall to the ground, roll into
a ball and cover your head with your arms , and be as still as possible.
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