One of the things I look forward to after a long day at work, is a nice, peaceful, relaxing walk with one or both of my dogs.
Yes, there’s nothing like a relaxing walk where your arm gets pulled out of its socket.
Of course, those walks are few and far between because I am always on high alert for potential situations which might cause stress on either me or the dogs.
Delilah has gotten fairly good about passing other dogs in the their yards. Typically she looks to me for treats and we continue on our way with no issues.
Even during the times when she’s been approached by off-leash dogs I think she’s handled herself very well. There might be a growl, snarl and a snap but for the most part she’s amazing.
I on the other hand go into full-on panic/meltdown mode and I know this only amps her up more.
The last time we were ‘stalked’ by two Dachshunds I called Animal Control and was told if my dog was on leash and approached by an off-leash dog, any injuries that might happen to the off-leash dogs would be their owner’s responsibility and Delilah would not be at fault.
I know this and yet, when the inevitable happens, I still freak the fuck out. How, please, someone, anyone tell me, how do you keep yourself from freaking out when accosted by dogs?
Here’s how it went down.
Delilah and I were walking past a house that has two little dogs, that ALWAYS bark at us. Typically when this happens the owners shut the door and the dogs stop barking.
Tuesday as Delilah and I walk past this house I note there are two men carrying a refrigerator in through the front door. I noted this because the men had some kind of strap that they had hooked to the fridge as well as their own arms and I have never seen anything like that.
Just after we pass the house I hear wild barking coming at us. I turn and see the two little dogs flying down the yard and into the street at us. I start to urge Delilah across the street but they keep coming. I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my pepper blaster and scream, “I will shoot the dog.” (God help me, why I said that I have no idea.)
I feel my finger start to depress the safety mechanism but I see one of the owners running out of the house, so I put it back in my pocket.
One of the little dogs runs up to Delilah, (for the life of me, I can’t remember how Delilah reacted,) while the other one circles around to stand about a foot and a half away from me and stares at me, barking. I am now in full on freak-out, three-year-old throwing a tantrum, melt down mode in the middle of the street.
I was screaming, “Go, Go, Go” and I was stamping my foot.
The woman grabs one dog (the one closest to Delilah) and comes closer to me and says, “He’s just barking.” And he was.
And I say, “She could kill him.”
WTF is wrong with me? First I say, “I”ll shoot the dog” and then next thing I say is”My dog will kill him.”
My dog who by the way is standing calmly in the street watching this all transpire.
The woman looks at me and says, “I’m sorry. We are remodeling our kitchen and I didn’t realize both doors were open.”
I have nothing to say, I’ve already made an ass of myself. I turn and walk away.
Please stop telling people I will hurt or kill their dogs.
What do you do? How do you keep yourself from freaking out when approached by off-leash dogs? Should I go and apologize to her for freaking out?
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I wish I could tell you! But it’s been nearly 21 years since I lived in a NICE, QUIET neighborhood where I could take my dog for a relaxing walk. Back then, one of my neighbors — who had also been one of my high-school math teachers — had a dachshund that used to escape the house on occasion and rush anyone/anything walking anywhere near his house. But Kissy was small enough for me to pick up and hold until the owner came outside, apologizing profusely for her bad dog’s behavior. The dog was more like her messed-up son than her — erratic little creature — and I didn’t trust him. Eventually, the son was institutionalized and the dog was pts. Sad, really, for all concerned. Anyway, I really have no idea any more how I would react in your situation. I have been lucky when taking Callie & Shadow to the park — most people I’ve met who are walking their dogs there obey the leash laws, like I do. And the ones who don’t at least re-attach the leash when they spot other dogs.
We dachshunds DO have a tendency to think we are the owners of the WORLD .
Hahaha! I’m so sorry to laugh, but BOL!! What a crazy situation!!! Whether they are re modeling their kitchen or not, the dogs need to be watched because really, your absolutely right, your dog, or a different dog could have got into a fight with the smaller dogs. People need to be more careful.
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Hell no! You were spot on to freak out! The situation could have been a lot more serious! And people who own dogs have a responsibility to protect their own dogs! I probably would have blasted that little hotdog with the pepper spray! I would have felt terrible doing it, but I would protect my own dog what ever the means necessary! People need to be more responsible!
Sorry we could not help but laugh. Seems D handled it well and don’t they just and make us look silly. Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
I have been know to swing at off lead dogs to keep them away at BD. I don’t care about how good their dog is, or if it wouldn’t hurt a fly if BD feels he needs to react that’s months of hard work down the pan. I have also been known to yell at incompetent owners and the last one had me carrying her pug back across an entire length of a field because she refused to come and get her dog and I refused to put it down in case it doubled back and upset BD.
I’m sorry but keeping my dogs safe and secure is my top priority (i have been known to try take on an Alsatian which decided to attack Mity, I managed to grab Mity and have him in my arms when the alsation jumped at me and I turned my back to keep Mity out the way – I was lucky to not have been bitten! – and I did swing for a dog that would not leave BD alone. The owner had a go at me for trying to hit his dog but I had tried everything else to get the dog to leave and it wouldn’t, and where was he stood at the other side of the field saying ‘come here’. Thinking about him still makes my blood boil!!
I have been on both sides. Mity loves everyone and can’t understand why ever dog doesn’t love him. Despite training he will go up to any dog he wants to to say hello. In fact he has been know to cover great distances to get to those dogs. But if he takes off to say hi I usually follow in hot pursuit to bring him back.
I think my reaction would have been very similar to yours ‘Shoot the dog’ and all!
Do NOT apologize! If your meltdown teaches these pet parents a lesson, you did her dogs a favor. Kitchen remodeling or not it is HER job to have her dogs secured. There should be no “I didn’t realize….” It’s her responsibility to “realize” EVERYTHING that will keep her dogs safe all day every day. Ugh.
Geez, I think you live in a tough neighborhood. We rarely run into an off leash dog unless it has run away from home which we have happen about twice a year. One incident did happen this summer, when I was walking Katie and Emma, they can be reactive, it just depends. Bailie is always friendly. I just started yelling go away, go home until the owner came out who said it’s okay they are friendly. I said mine might not be. I try to keep walking and moving away as best as I can. Luckily it happens so rarely, I don’t worry much about it.
Ah Delilah looks so innocent!!!
Honestly, I rather I have your presence of mind to yell at the whoever than to suck it up silently… which was what I did the last time two off lead yorkies were circling barking at poor groggy Donna who was just coming out of the clinic after the anaesthesia wore off from the dental cleaning. >.<
I had this situation happen to me a couple of days ago, but a little opposite. I have a Chi mix and this HUGE dog came barreling at us while we were walking in my parent’s neighborhood. I started yelling, my dog actually stayed calm. The owner just called for their dog like it was nothing, like it does it all the time. Which, if that’s the case, DON’T LET YOUR DOG ROAM FREE IN YOUR YARD! I’m thinking of investing in pepper spray b/c there are too many ppl who don’t watch their crazy dogs.
No. No. No. You have NOT made an ass of yourself. You acted as a responsible dog owner. Other party…not so much. Remember we just had out furnace and AC replaced. Guess what? Our dogs were crated because when you have workers in your house, it is too hard to watch them and dogs. And what if a car had been coming? There would have been flat dogs. So instead of the woman using the opportunity to train her dogs, she squeaks out a lame excuse? Look I know oversights can happen, but it seems to me the woman already knows how her dogs will react. I would have done the same as you and worse. No apologies from me.
I am lucky to live in an area where I rarely run into anyone when I walk. However, it has happened, and I don’t know how I could possibly stop myself from freaking out when Cricket is being a terror on the end of the leash, and pulls herself out of her harness! My fear is that the other dog decides Cricket wants a fight and will give her one. So far it hasn’t happened, and I avoid walking her in places or at times when it’s more likely to. I just dread the day it happens again, because really, how do you not panic when a dog is charging at you and your dog?
BTW, I hope this woman realizes her dogs could have run into the street after you and gotten hit by a car. I hope she is now paying more attention to her dogs when there are workers in her house.
We are fortunate that we will live we don’t see many other dogs. The only off leash dog we see is a well behaved neighbours dog who we know well. I don’t know if you should apologize for freaking out, but perhaps having a conversation with this neighbour when you don’t have your dogs with you, may help. Let her know you are concerned about her dogs safety and would hate to be responsible for any injury. (Having had a dog hurt and die from a friendly big dog, I understand your panic).
That face on Delilah is priceless. It’s tough not to freak out when approached like that – you don’t know what those dogs are going to do or how Delilah is going to react. I get it. Jack is the same – 99% of the time he’s calm, but he doesn’t really like other dogs – especially dogs approaching both of us. I usually use avoidance and luckily we don’t have many off leash dogs. I don’t think you owe them an apology – but I would avoid the house if you can.
Jodi, I think i would have done something similar. I HATE running into off leash dogs! The only time I ever do is when we have to go back to Utah. Then all the ass hats around there thinks it’s perfectly normal and OK to let their dogs roam loose. I loose it!
Mom can not stand anything more than an off leash dog. When we had Benny, we were walking. Here comes a husky charging us. Lily will stand her ground. Mom scooped me up, held Benny close and started flailing her foot toward the aggressive dog. Here comes the owner running while yelling He is friendly. Moms HBO words were flying out of her mouth. Need I continue…..
Lily & Edward
I can understand your reaction. I don’t think you owe her an apology, but I think it would be good to have a conversation with her and become allies/friends. Her dogs are still going to be yappy, but wouldn’t it be better for you and her to be on friendly terms?
If one of your dogs got loose one day, you want your neighbor to call you instead of animal control. Dogs get loose/run away in all kinds of situations. It doesn’t necessarily mean the people are irresponsible, it may just mean that something very out of the ordinary has occurred or something was overlooked.
It sounds like she realized that she made a mistake (not realizing both doors were open) and hopefully she will be more vigilant.
Hi Jodi. I have been in similar situations and I, too, go into panic mode because I am not sure how my dog, Savanna, will react to being accosted by another dog and because I don’t want my dog to get hurt. I always feel upset that the other person didn’t have control of their dog. Is there another walking route that you could take where this would not be a problem – even if you have to drive to that location?
I still freak out when I see off-leash dogs running towards us so no advice here. I yelled at a woman once who had her American Eskimo off-leash… the next time I saw her, she had her dog on leash. Granted it was a flexi but that’s something.
We haven’t encountered off leash dogs for years. I have reported every dog and the local a.c. has contacted the owners. OK, I’m a total fink, but it is for the greater good. I can see how a dog can just run out in the excitement of home repairs, etc. but you don’t owe the woman an apology we don’t think. Maybe it might be a good idea to try to meet her and share your concerns. I do love Delilah’s reaction to the whole episode.
I agree with the others that said while you don’t have to apologize, maybe making the effort to converse with her about your concerns for all the dogs’ safety would be in order. I think if you are both able to be civil towards each other -that may pay off in the end rather than just harboring ill-will towards each other.
I am now really good at avoiding these situations. When I first adopted Blueberry I took her everywhere and after one too many encounters with ignorant owners who would let their dogs off leash in an on-leash park barreling towards Blueberry and making both of us nearly poop ourselves, I just stopped going to those places. It’s not worth the hassle. One time a dog came at Blueberry with its hackles raised and I was so freaked out that I couldn’t even speak. The lady that got her dog threw me a “sorry” and I literally wasn’t able to respond so she then proceeded to belittle me and say some unpleasant things because I didn’t tell her, “Oh, that’s okay.”. Really, lady? Now I am the bad guy? WhatEVER.
I’m just thankful that Blueberry knows how to react with submissive behavior when dogs rudely approach her despite my raised blood pressure and heart rate when these things do occasionally happen.
Hey Jodi!
What a mess…if you live near this family (which it sounds like you do..) I would take the time to go and talk to your neighbors with the yippy dachshunds, I wouldn’t apologize but maybe get to know them and meet your nemesis. I’ve been in your position as well as the other side where I had to go get my dog who ran off.
My now passed on 100% deaf and senior german shepard was attacked by a aggressive female frenchie. Turns out the frenchie’s owner knew she wasn’t friendly because she was in heat at the time, we ended up in our vets office for an emergency visit and stiches. I managed to keep my head, I had to break up the fight (not really..my poor Sasja was just trying to get loose!) being that the idiot owner wouldn’t step in. It was all I could do to get his little dog off!
On another occasion I was out playing with Dante in a privately owned field (he was off leash) we have permission to be there. When an old man with a tiny dog entered the field at the far end. Not a big deal, Dante was having fun and paying attention to me. Well…little old man let his yappy dog off leash and she took off straight for us barking her head off! Idiot..he had no control over her when she was on the leash I don’t know why he thought letter hew off would be a good idea.
Anyways, I called Dante to me – grabbed his collar (the leash was too far from us and the dog was coming in fast), shoved him between my legs, and yelled a loud “NO!” just as the dog got to us. She stood about 5 feet away barking her little head off and growling but didn’t come any closer. Then her person arrived and picked her up. HE then got a nice piece of my mind about how irresponsible he was and how Dante who is extremely dog and person friendly, could have potentially killed his dog because she came at us in a threatening manner! And in our case that would’ve ended terribly being that Dante is a bully breed…(i’m always mindful of these scenarios that’s also why we dedicate so much time to training them). Dante did great though, he stayed right where I put him because I was controlling the situation.
Remember that you are D’s pack leader, she looks to you for signals on how she should handle a situation. If you freak out, then she is more likely to get involved and potentially try to defend you. The best thing you can do when you are charged by a strange dog is to reel in D, stand your ground and speak deep and loud. If you run or turn your back they will continue to come at you (more personal experience as I used to jog everywhere)..
I keep myself calm because my dogs depend on my leadership, and I want to represent my bullies in the best way that I can. Worst case scenario I come across as a jerk, that’s fine with me as long as they don’t blame my dogs. 🙂
You sure are having a hell of a time walking her this summer, sorry but i have to laugh at what you say to people and to their dogs, you don’t hold nothing back and that is the way it should be. I hope one day you can have a peaceful walk.
Like you, I often freak out when I see another dog approaching Barley and then amplify the situation. Carrying Spray Shield has made me a little bit better, though, even though I’ve only used it once. Knowing that I have a tool that will make a friendly, but curious dog stop before it gets to Barley makes me more confident that I can protect her. I’m not sure that I could spray a dog with its owner in sight if they were making an effort to get to the dog, but it’s nice to know it’s an option. I’ve also started making a conscious effort to tell myself I can’t freak out and take several extra breaths and try really really really hard (not always successfully) to keep my voice calm and happy. I think I tend to freak out even more because Barley’s made so much progress and is doing so well and I’m so afraid that one interaction will erase all of our years of hard work, but I know that anxiety doesn’t help her at all–so it’s kind of a multi-tasking struggle to give her calm, happy commands to keep her focus off the dog and to remind myself to stay calm and happy and breathe. I’ve started putting Barley in a sit as soon as we see an off-leash dog so that we’ve got as much distance as possible between us and the dog while the owner tries to catch their dog, and then we play focus games and I completely avoid acknowledging the other dog in anyway (which is what we do in agility class if a dog runs up to a person to play because they tend to go away when they don’t get attention) and just keep all my focus on Barley and giving her plenty of snacks.
I definitely don’t think you need to apologize to the woman for freaking out. It’s great that she apologized–most people we encounter don’t apologize–but your freakout was justified. Any time you have a reactive dog, there’s that fear that someone (human or dog) will get hurt and I think apologizing would minimize that legitimate concern. Our trainer recently told me that Barley was doing so great in class, but reminded me that it’s important to always keep that “BUT” in mind because when you forget the but you let your guard down and forget to help your dog.
Good luck!
I don’t have an answer for you because I do the same thing, which is one of the reasons we walk at my dog park. My dogs actually like other dogs for the most part, but when Jasper and Cupcake and on leah and see another dog, they bark their fool heads off like they are going to kill that dog, I have often imagined myself saying “I am going to kill your dog.” if another dog attacked my dogs, but I have never said it. Glad you did before I did. 🙂
BTW – one thing I used successfully when I was a pet sitter, and had different dogs approach me with a reactive dog client of mine, was to yell as loud as I could “GO HOME!!!” The dog would usually go home or the owner would coming out and would get them.
I was walking Pierson in the park one day when these two little unleashed dogs ran up to him. Pierson is very leash reactive and luckily he isn’t too heavy and I was able to pick him up before he hurt the dogs. The owner came up and told me her dogs were harmless. I was too shocked to say much, but it just so happens that I was with a group of people who were all walking their own leash reactive dogs. We walk in a group in order to help one another teach our dogs that other dogs on a leash are not a big deal. Bryce, one of the persons in the group, spoke up to the woman. Bryce didn’t yell at her or threaten her, but he was very clear in just how dangerously close her dogs had come to being hurt. She got the message and her dogs were promptly put on a leash.
When Maya was attacked recently, again, I was too stunned to react. And Maya is much too big to pick up out of the way. Luckily, the owner came running and got her dog under control. She was very apologetic and didn’t make excuses, so I accepted her apology. However, if she had tried to shrug off the situation like the woman in your situation did, I probably would have reacted more harshly… especially since her dog actually attacked Maya.
How to keep from not freaking out. Ok i’ll do my best to help you with this one! 🙂
Fear and adrenaline are natural reactions to stressful situations. Challenge yourself and don’t hide from them, it will get easier. Practice, practice, practice.
1. Step outside yourself and view the situation for what it is. Why were you charged? Territory? Fear aggression? How do you stop the charge? Fear doesn’t work, power does.
2. I am mama hear me roar! You are a powerful human being, dogs are just dogs. Most dogs that charge you are going to keep their distance if you hold your ground and have a firm posture. Stand strong on that ground, it’s your ground. Claim it! Dog are territorial – claim your territory like the strong mama of the pack that you are. Remember you are ALPHA.
3. In being ALPHA – you fear no things, especially little peon dogs. Take a deep breath and remember that your pack (Delilah in this case) depends on you. Breath deep and summon your inner strength.
4. Remember panic helps no one.
You have to practice being strong, in order to overcome fear you mustn’t hide from it. Does fear and panic show up elsewhere in your life? Just like you help dogs to overcome fear by exposure you must do the same thing. Expose yourself to low stress situations and practice keeping in charge of your emotions and your body language. Dogs can read your body language, take a long look at a dog pack sometime and you’ll immediately be able to see who is in charge, who is confident, and which ones have anxiety issues. Use this information to your advantage.
Head up, shoulders back, take a breath and move forward. You can do it! Hope this helps!!
Hi Jodi! This has me laughing out loud! Watch out for the crazy lady with the dogs!! 😉
I have to say, now that I have 3 (and I walk them all at the same time), I am even more aware of off lead dogs – Flo in particular has become more and more snarky when she’s on the lead, and Zac is just a grumpy old man.
I will tell you what happened the other morning while we were out for a walk. I noticed an old bloke with his off-lead dog, a collie, quite some way away, standing looking over the barrier at the ocean. There was a car park between us, however, I am vigilant of where other dogs are, etc, as are you. I carried on walking along the path and became aware some time further down the path of panting (DOG panting, not the old bloke, that would be even creepier). My dogs began to turn around because they could hear the dog as well and so I kept trotting them along telling them to walk nicely, etc. Anyway, as I turned around after a while, the old bloke asked me “Is it your three ridgebacks that mauled my neighbour’s collie?” in quite an accusatory tone. I was fairly surprised to be asked this and carried on walking but replied, rather indignantly “Absolutely not”.
I didn’t turn around again as that would’ve encouraged a conversation and then we would have had to have our dogs meet, but stewed and seethed for the rest of our walk. Firstly, if it had been my dogs that mauled a collie, do you think it was wise to be following them. With a collie. Off the lead???? Duh! Secondly, WHO approaches someone walking 105kg of dog, all on a lead, with an off-lead dog???? Duh! Thirdly, WHO approaches a woman out walking her dogs on her own anyway. The man is clearly a moron.
So, to answer your question (now that I am re-annoyed by the whole incident), I just keep my dogs pointing in the other direction and walking along steadily, keeping them focussed on their walk. I am lucky that they will all for the most part ignore the other dog if I do this. The problems start for me if I stop. So I don’t. 🙂
Sorry, went on a bit. xx
H