As related in the previous "Dog Attack" thread a year ago, we are having trouble with neighbors who always walk their dog off leash.
Whenever this dog sees Bodhi, he attacks him.
I wouldn't worry about Bodhi if he was off leash too, because at day care he plays rough with GSD's, giant malamutes, even pit bulls.
But Bodhi is always going to be leashed when we walk or run.
I have told this couple repeatedly their dog needs to be leashed or under voice control.
I haven't seen them for a year, but for the last week, I see them every day and we have a confrontation over their unleashed dog.
Saturday, they did attempt to put a leash on the dog, but he broke it and went after Bodhi.
The very next day, they were walking the dog unleashed; however, they did turn around when they saw us.
Yesterday, I put a letter in their mailbox that said basically, leash your dog; it's the law; I'm documenting and will call animal control.

This natural area where we walk has a circular trail in woods.
Today they called, very conciliatory and said it would be best if the dogs didn't ever run into each other.
They proposed that I always go the same way on the trail.
I said OK, but later I realized that wouldn't work if I got there second and they were already walking, when I started to run, I'd pass them.
Also some times my wife walks Bodhi there and she won't go the proposed way because it's too steep.
I called back, got the answering machine and told them that this solution wouldn't work.
Frankly after I thought about it, I was pissed because their dog is doing the attacking and what they are doing is against the law.
I don't want to start WW3, but can any of you see another solution?
I feel that they should "Leash their damn dog!".
If they don't, they can live with the consequences.

Do you know if you county has a leash law? We had issues with our neighbors dog, a Rot/Pit mix. They would let him run free and actually thought it was funny when he would attack another dog or scare someone.

I called animal control but was told to call the sheriff's office because it was a vicious dog. That seemed to fix the problem for a while at least. I think i had the sheriff out here 3-4 times in a year. It was so bad that we wouldn't allow our children outside alone and I carried pepper spray with me when I did go out. The dog did end up attacking one of their friends, she has had 8 surgeries on her face so far. After the attack the dog vanished, we still don't know what happened to it.

Anyway, I would contact your local animal control to see if something could be done. Maybe a formal notice to leash from the sheriff's office will be all it takes for them to listen. I don't want to promote animal violence (please don't think that) but you do have a right to protect yourself and your pet from this dog.

Good luck!

alright well i had an experience recently (about a month ago) where Kiba was attacked by a neighbors two huge pit mixes and the lady just did absolutely nothing. I saw her the other day walking them past my house and tried to make note of the time she walked by so i could see if there's a pattern and just avoid running into her.

Needless to say i now carry HALT spray for dogs and i have Mace for when its dark out (my neighborhood can be sketchy). The HALT cost me $6.00 and the Mace $12 and both are easy to carry while running- especially the Mace because it has a hand strap (got it at Dicks). I'm not sure what HALT consists of but its less harmful to dogs and its formulated specifically to stop dog attacks. If it was me, id spray the dog next time it comes at yours. Or you could be nice and warn the owner your going to spray the dog if his dog starts charging yours. Its a more confrontational but your keeping you and your dog safe and clearly this person just doesn't get it. Judging from what you said they obviously don't want confrontation but if their solution just isn't working and you cant get them to change then id not hesitate to defend your dog.

Thats terrible Michael.

I remember reading your first thread on it. I would have been pissed the first time, and for it to happen again I would be livid (I'm that guy on the street who lays into drivers when they don't look and almost run over Kelly or the girls so a dog attack wouldn't go over well in my books).


I don't think it's fair to ask you to stick to a fixed walk, timing, or location to be perfectly honest. Though it may work from time to time it isn't a solution to the problem because you are just going to end up bumping into each other eventually. You also shouldn't have to restrict or alter your life in anyway if you are following the rules....

Only solution I can see is for them to keep the dog leashed. If they can't control it verbally, they need to restrain it in some form physically. I mean it's not only Bodhi who could get hurt, it's that dog too (I'm a die hard animal lover, but if I see a dog coming to attack the girls with no control I'm going to make it turn around in some manner).

If it were me, I would have verbally warned them once or twice and then tried to make contact like you did. I would then explain that the next time I was affected by it I would be reporting it somewhere (AC, Police, ECT). I'd then carry some form of small digital camera on me on my outings (Cellphone, Camera, or even a small HD recorder) and would log the days I witnessed it or was apart of it.

I wouldn't go looking for trouble or trying to CATCH them walking off leash, but if we crossed paths I would be recording it and I wouldn't hide it. Sure they might get pissed and explode on you the first time they see you doing it, but chances are the next time you pass the dog will be leashed as everyone behaves in front of a camera now.

Sucks Michael, I really hope it improves soon for all of you.

~Chris~

I don't think you should hesitate to report them. You've tried a verbal warning and a written statement. If they continue to walk their dogs off leash in an area that requires it you are not in the wrong to report them. If you're not comfortable directly reporting them for the leash law violations you should at minimum be filing statements about the attacks.

As far as their compromise, the only fair way for them to make sure the dogs don't run into each other is for them to walk their dog when no one else will be. It shouldn't be on you to worry about their schedule because they walk their dog without a leash. It should be on them to worry about the schedules of everyone who's willing to restrain their own dogs.

I would carry a bottle of mace.

I would warn the owners that you are carrying it and if the dog approaches you or Bodhi that you will be using it.

I know if someone told me that I would make sure my dog is away from that person.

Their dog should be leashed, period. I would call animal control. Enough is enough. There was only one person in my neighborhood that didn't abide by the leash laws. She had a small yorkshire terrier that she would walk everyday. The women landed up learning her lesson the hard way and her dog was hit and killed by a car. I felt bad, but it could of been prevented if the dog was leashed.

Thats terrible. We have a similar situation with a lab around the lakes. Forever goes for Louie. I always recall and leash my dogs when there is another one coming. It's courtesy. Anyway one particular day several incidents later - I call to her and ask her to leash her dog cos he always goes for him - she attempted feebly once she realised her dog was in front of her. I avoided the lakes for a few days and took Pen out and saw her - she managed to recall her dog and leash him before another problem.

We have the same with a staffie too - call over to the bloke and tell him mine's not so good. "He just wants to play" Erm no, your dog is stalking! That is not playing! Then we say " Well ours don't" and cue him shouting "Tigger, tigger" Tigger ain't coming. Cue me walking the dogs the other way and waiting for this man to get his dog before I carry on home.

I also set up a group walk where a woman brought her american bulldog and staffie along, assured me they were fine. Her bulldog constantly tormented Lou but Lou didn't rise to it and carried on after looking at me to tell him what to do. The bulldog then decided towards the end of the walk to put his paws on Lou's shoulders. Lou growled at him - objecting to a rude behaviour. The bulldog then had him on the floor shaking him by his ear. Then he was taken away, the staffie joined in.. luckily that was just noise. But the woman left her dogs offlead - despite having just attacked another dog AND having a rubbish recall.

The best thing to do is to stand in front of your dog. That way the dog has to go through or around you first. In the UK if a dog bites a human that is grounds for the dog to be PTS. Also in the UK dogs are seen as property. Which comes in handy when you need to protect your dog against one. In court protecting your property from a threat in an acceptable manner is deemed ok. There was a news story last year of a man stabbing a dog 30 odd times or so when it attacked his terrier. However he had to have gone inside, grabbed a knife and then gone back out. I don't remember the particulars but even though it seemed like over kill, I believe he was let off because he was protecting his dog..

Do you have any park wardens or dog wardens. I would report the dog as being dangerous. Be sure to tell them you feel you're in danger too otherwise there is not much that can be done.

Poor Bodhi! I agree with Chris's suggestions, I've done the same - documented unleashed dogs and given them numerous warnings. Then reported them. It's the law, folks!

As well, you and your wife will feel safer is carrying Animal Shield (Citronella) spray and mace. I carry both because I also run across blockheads who think "Omg! Look at me! I can control my dog with only the POWER of my mind and no leash!". No idiots, your dog is not under verbal control if he's running over to me while you flail about calling "Fluffy, come back! Fluffy, no! Fluffy, stop biting that dog!". I also have animal control on speed dial as backup. I use the citronella spray to get the dog to back off long enough for the owners to control them. The mace is for backup, never had to use it. Yes. But both are set to spray and both are either in my hands or clipped onto my coat for easy access. Believe it or not, the citronella spray has only been used on small aggressive dogs - 10 lbs and under. <sigh>

Agency Creek isn't a park, no wardens or rangers.
It's a piece of property owned by the county.
It was logged 25 years ago and will one day be part of Forest Park.

Lots of people walk their dogs there; most are unleashed.
We don't have any problem with friendly, unaggressive dogs.
Bodhi jumps and sniffs. The other dogs woof and jump and nuzzle.
That's cool.
But as soon as he sees Bodhi, the neighbor's dog runs low and fast like a torpedo.
He's out for blood.
Usually when I encounter these people and their dog, I am running, so I am not carrying anything.
But I have a knee injury right now and am just walking.
So I've got Halt and am wearing boots.
I am documenting.
When I get to three incidents, I'll turn it in to Animal Control.
This will trigger a hearing and possible fine.

jalepeno wrote:

Agency Creek isn't a park, no wardens or rangers.
It's a piece of property owned by the county.
It was logged 25 years ago and will one day be part of Forest Park.

Lots of people walk their dogs there; most are unleashed.
We don't have any problem with friendly, unaggressive dogs.
Bodhi jumps and sniffs. The other dogs woof and jump and nuzzle.
That's cool.
But as soon as he sees Bodhi, the neighbor's dog runs low and fast like a torpedo.
He's out for blood.
Usually when I encounter these people and their dog, I am running, so I am not carrying anything.
But I have a knee injury right now and am just walking.
So I've got Halt and am wearing boots.
I am documenting.
When I get to three incidents, I'll turn it in to Animal Control.
This will trigger a hearing and possible fine.

Can you take out a stick or something. Just to direct the dog away. A friend I was walking with had a dog set on her 3, she stuck her leg out - that stopped the dog short. However the man then started shouting at her and grabbed hold of her saying that she kicked his dog. When his dog went for hers.. some people are twonks.

Michael, your last post seems the best course of action, these people need to learn to leash their dog, if i remember is it only a problem with Bodhi or does this dog go after all dogs? either way they should be following the law and pay the price if they dont. keep us posted, sorry your dealing with it

These people walk their dog with other unleashed dogs, so I know the subject dog doesn't do it to all dogs. But he attacked my female husky before Bodhi too. And he pinned a neighbor woman who was getting mail up against her fence, barking and growling.

It's a good thing for them I still don't have my first husky, Casey. He was friendly unless attacked. Then he went beserkers. He was a huge, strong fearless dog. Bodhi has no fear either, but he's a lot smaller. In the open, Bodhi can't be caught; he relies on agility rather than strength. Casey died from internal injuries after he got into it with a wolf-hybrid that attacked him.

Well, we are off to walk. I'll keep you posted...

This is why I carry pepper spray, seriously! These people are the ones doing something unlawful, but they want you to change your walk habits. Heck to the no!!!! Call animal control if they don't leash their dog! People continue to amaze me......