leash free dog owners

[awakenedsoul]

Every night I take my dogs for a walk or a run on the Walkydog. Lately, there have been several people out at the same time, (usually in their front yards,) with their dogs off leash. One house has two little dogs that chase my bicycle, snarling and barking. They haven't bitten me (yet,) but they are very aggressive and out of control. The owner chases after them screaming, and the dogs ignore her completely. I talked to her about it and she said, "I don't know why..." It's happened so many times that I'm going to call animal control. I told her that I'm going to get mace and spray the dogs if they continue to chase me. I can't go down a different street, or I would. They are doing construction and have closed the main road. I ride by her house to get to the bus stop or go anywhere in town. There are ten different dogs (all small breeds and very yappy,) that have done this. It's getting to stressful to go for a walk.

We have several people like this in our neighborhood. They all seem to be from countries where the dogs run loose, in a pack. None of them walk their dogs or train them. Well, one guy actually is very good with his dog. The dog listens to him and is very obedient. But, it seems like the other people see him and want to follow. It's frustrating. I like walking my dogs and they need the exercise. I think I'll start taking photos of the loose dogs with my phone. Maybe that will give them the picture. (No pun intended...)

We've had some bad dog bites and maulings in this area. Two German shepherds even went after the animal control officers. I don't want something like that to happen to me, and the situation is getting worse. What would you do?

[RosieTR]

Carry a squirt gun or spray bottle with vinegar and water mixed. Spray the dogs as they approach. Alternatively, carry a thick stick or dowel. This can be used to push against the dog's chest, to donate to the dog thus sparing you, or if necessary hitting the dog.

We had this a LOT in Phoenix. Packs of loose pit bulls or (less often and less intimidating) chihuahuas approaching. I was on foot rather than bike, and knew how to make my body language say "get lost". Although as it was, our dog was bitten 3 times in the 3 years we were there; once was his fault and a major injury (severed a toe). He was on leash in each instance. Bikes are going to trigger the prey/chase instinct and if you're going slowly enough to allow your dog to run alongside, it's not going to outpace other dogs.

[pinkytoe]

chihuahuas
The meanest dog in our hood is a teeny tiny Chihuahua. Makes me laugh every time he charges us. We had a neighbor's unleashed dog attack ours a while back and the bite actually broke skin and left a scar. We demanded that they pay the vet bill which they did. If there are laws in place about unleashed dogs, follow up or turn in your neighbors who are ignoring the rules.

[Songbird]

I live in a small lakeside community and the law of all dogs must be on leash signs are everywhere, and the law is strongly enforced. Tickets with large fines are given to dog owners that don't keep their dogs on leash outside of a fenced yard. It sure makes life easier when walking our dog or riding our bikes.

Do you have a law like this in your neighborhood, awakenedsoul? This situation is certainly bad for you and your dogs!

[bae]

I would politely explain to the neighbors, once, the law in our county that requires dogs to be under control, and allows them to be shot on sight if they are harassing people or livestock.

[awakenedsoul]

Thanks for the replies. Rosie and pinkytoe, The dogs I'm having the most trouble with are chihuahuas. They do not back down...one followed me five blocks to the bus stop on the highway! This morning I shortened my route. I ran my dogs around the block and back and forth on my street three times. I avoided the street with all of the dog problems. Songbird, We do have a leash law here. Unfortunately, people refuse to follow it. It's like they're trying to train us to have all the dogs off leash. I'm going to call Animal Control and ask them to come out...these owners keep their gates wide open every single day.
There have been a lot of dog bites, too. Most of them have happened in the dogs' yard. They just seem pent up, untrained, frustrated, and aggressive. I think they start to go crazy. It's weird.

[Reyes]

Mace or pepper spray (I don't know the difference between the two). While I get wanting to catch a photo, your phone will not keep the dogs away:-)

[mschrisgo2]

The real key is active enforcement. In some places dogs are required to be put down if they bite someone and break the skin. Emergency rooms are required by law to report the incidents to animal control, who then goes out and picks up the dog. Some people think that's too harsh for the first offense/bite, but really, how many people should a dog get to hurt and terrorize? True, it's the owner's fault, not the dog's, but there are plenty of dogs who would never put their mouths on a person, for any reason. The ones that do- huh, seems to me that they are a menace to society.

And you have far less problems if animal control picks up all loose dogs, and owner's have to pay a fine to get them back, i.e. enforce the law.

[awakenedsoul]

The dogs were loose again today. I pointed the spray bottle of vinegar at the most aggressive one, and he stopped in his tracks. I took a photo of them (there were four loose dogs, running in a pack,) in their driveway with the gate wide open...

I wrote down their addresses and came home and called Animal Control. Hopefully they'll take care of it. At least I can run my dogs again. (One of them didn't even want to go for a walk anymore...)

mschrisgo2, I agree. Word will get around, too. Animal Control fines are expensive.

Reyes, I brought vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

[Tradd]

Loose, aggressive dogs like this are why some people I know got their concealed carry permits and carry when they are out for a walk or a run.

[chrissieq]

We had a blessing of the animals at church this week and a chihuahua snapped at my dog's heels. I asked the owner to carry her dog and while I don't think she was happy, she did it. The staff were delayed getting started - not a good ideal with a bunch of dogs and the little dogs yapped and snapped at everyone - such a spiritual experience! I look at it like baptism - I only need to do it once and he is now blessed.

[Songbird]

Everyone complaining about Chihuahuas - I took in a rescue chi many years ago. He was and still is the sweetest thing ever. Never harasses anyone, whether it be humans, dogs or cats. Guess we got lucky... We have treated him very kindly always, but trained him well too. Maybe it's the lack of training that's making all these Chihuahuas such terrors. I can't imagine letting one run loose, as they are at the mercy of any predator due to their tiny size.

[Tussiemussies]

We had a small rat terrier that was aggressive so we were extremely careful with her, we always had her on a leash at one point we had a double gated yard and the main problem was the people that would not keep their dogs on a leash. We got to know where these dogs were but you never knew if there would be an unleashed dog around the corner. It seemed the mentality of the whole town, even though there leash laws they were not enforced. It was nerve wracking for us but we loved our dog and took every precaution so there would be no encounters whatsoever. It never happened. Sorry you are having such hard time on your route. Chris

[profnot]

I would call Chihuahua Rescue.

I would explain that I am a dog owner and lover. I would tell them about the serious problems with the negligent owner which will soon get those chihuahuas put down for biting and aggressive behavior. Explain that the humane society in your area is hugely understaffed.

There may be only one CR in your state (as there is only one pug rescue in my state). Try google. If no luck, ask the humane society / pound for contact info.

Chihuahua Rescue will probably take ownership of the dogs with the help of your local humane society. Even after they are trained, they probably will not go back to the owner because the training must be reinforced by fosters and owners every day for the rest of their lives in order for the new behavior to stick.

I live on the outskirts of my state now. When I lived on the mainland, I was the go to gal statewide for training pugs out of any aggressiveness. (I'm not a dog whisperer - I just put my first pug thru puppy school and there learned how to train dogs. Watching Barking Mad and similar shows on Animal Planet helped me learn, too.)

There is one pug rescue in my state and they sent all the bad dogs to me. Perhaps one pug in a thousand or more is aggressive so I wasn't overloaded. Each dog took around 3 weeks to reprogram. Chihuahua Rescue in your state or region probably has a few volunteers like me and can help those unhappy feral dogs They aren't aggressive for fun - they feel their territory is threatened. The owner's behavior has most likely reinforced this. He probably finds it funny.

[awakenedsoul]

Thanks for the replies. I love dogs and I don't think all chihuahuas are alike. My mom has one that is darling. She's very well trained and sweet. My mom is very good about discipline; her dogs have always been well behaved. They are also walked every day. I've ridden by these homes on my bike the last two days. No problems at all. I think Animal Control must have gone over there. They do a good job.

[RosieTR]

Loose, aggressive dogs like this are why some people I know got their concealed carry permits and carry when they are out for a walk or a run.

Yep, get a concealed carry permit and you can just shoot anything you deem a nuisance. Seems to work in Florida.

I am being sarcastic. Most cities would not allow discharge of a firearm in city limits esp against a chihuahua. When, um, vinegar and water will work. Truly, I am a little disturbed at the attitude of many gun owners, who think guns will solve all problems. I can see where they have their uses, but against random chihuahuas (or even pit bulls) is a pretty big stretch. Never mind irreversible.

[bae]

Yep, get a concealed carry permit and you can just shoot anything you deem a nuisance. Seems to work in Florida.

I am being sarcastic. Most cities would not allow discharge of a firearm in city limits esp against a chihuahua.

Not everyone lives in the city.

Around here, loose dogs chase after and injure/kill valuable livestock, and cause a fair amount of damage. County law requires dogs to be under control, and explicitly allows the dogs to be dealt with, *at the expense of the dog owner*. And part of each dog license fee goes into a fund to reimburse farmers for the cost of the livestock cute little Fluffy kills. I have lost several meat goats, and a lot of chickens to dogs. (Vinegar and water don't work all that well when your flock of sheep is being slaughtered by some "friendly" dogs.)

We have roadside signs warning dog owners about the law, and the consequences of non-compliance.

State law is similar here:


RCW 16.08.020

Dogs injuring stock may be killed.


It shall be lawful for any person who shall see any dog or dogs chasing, biting, injuring or killing any sheep, swine or other domestic animal, including poultry, belonging to such person, on any real property owned or leased by, or under the control of, such person, or on any public highway, to kill such dog or dogs, and it shall be the duty of the owner or keeper of any dog or dogs so found chasing, biting or injuring any domestic animal, including poultry, upon being notified of that fact by the owner of such domestic animals or poultry, to thereafter keep such dog or dogs in leash or confined upon the premises of the owner or keeper thereof, and in case any such owner or keeper of a dog or dogs shall fail or neglect to comply with the provisions of this section, it shall be lawful for the owner of such domestic animals or poultry to kill such dog or dogs found running at large.

[Tradd]

Yep, get a concealed carry permit and you can just shoot anything you deem a nuisance. Seems to work in Florida.

I am being sarcastic. Most cities would not allow discharge of a firearm in city limits esp against a chihuahua. When, um, vinegar and water will work. Truly, I am a little disturbed at the attitude of many gun owners, who think guns will solve all problems. I can see where they have their uses, but against random chihuahuas (or even pit bulls) is a pretty big stretch. Never mind irreversible.

Back in July, a Livonia, MI man was mauled to death by two dogs while he was out for a jog in an area further out in the suburbs. In a Detroit TV station website article (I'm on my phone or I would link), the local police chief said that a neighbor shot at the two dogs to scare them off and hit one. The dogs severed an artery in the victim's arm. These two dogs had previously attacked another jogger (bit on the leg) by the same dogs.

I have a friend in the suburbs who started carrying her pistol while biking after the same dog (don't know breed but it was a 50+ lb dog) was repeatedly coming after her while she was on her bike. She attempted to talk to the owner who didn't give a flying fig. Animal control was called, but ineffective.

Too many people/kids are mauled by dogs whose owners don't train them or don't keep them restrained. If someone is stupid and/or irresponsible enough to let their dog(s) run loose, and someone gets attacked by said dog(s), the victim is within their rights to defend themselves. The heck with the dog.

[awakenedsoul]

Animal Control here is excellent. I rode by those homes again today, and the dogs aren't even visible. My next door neighbors used to let their dog run loose. It was a large mixed breed dog. It would sit in my yard and growl at me when I tried to get in my front door! (It used to belong to the previous owner of my house, and she gave it to the neighbors.) I talked to them four times, and they continued to let the dog roam. I finally called Animal Control, and the family let them take the dog. (She was older.) Now they have two more dogs. They're small, and have good temperaments. They do shut their gate now.

I think because we have had a few horrible incidents in this neighborhood, Animal Control keeps track of the homes. They also take immediate action. I've made several reports, and they listen to me and come out right away.

[Packy]

There is a park I go to that has gravel paths, and I've taken my dogs there many times. There are signs posted that clearly state: "All Doggs Must be on leash at all times". Or something similar, with the same meaning. Well, guess what? There are some people out there, once in awhile that either can't read, or else believe that that rule doesn't apply to them. It is very annoying, but fortunately it doesn't happen very often. The same goes for people who live in the country. They assume that they can just let their dogs loose, so they can chase cyclists, as they pass by minding their own business. That is why I carry an old mustard squeeze bottle filled with diluted household ammonia, and a pepper spray as a backup. Even dogs that really won't bite, but just like to bark n' chase, are a hazard to themselves and riders. There are two black labs, one a big puppy, that chase me at one place. I know they won't bite--one time I had a flat right by their home, and they just came nout, wagging their tails to see mee. But, I don't encourage them to chase me. I am concerned that one of these days, they'll get hit running out in the road. Seen that type of thing, before.

[catherine]

is there a leash law? If so, I'd report them to the police.

We have a pretty obedient dog who is usually compliant in our unfenced back yard--which allows us to play catch with her (She's a very active dog--part border collie-part lab-part terrier). We never leave her out by herself unless we attach her to the tie-down. However, I have to admit, she sometimes just feels adventurous when she's off-leash and she has gone to "visit" with people passing through the adjacent park. We've said that someday we're going to have a cop knocking at the door, but it hasn't happened yet. But if it did, we'd deserve the ticket. Maybe a ticket would put some dog owners in their places, but I don't know your local laws.

[awakenedsoul]

It's gotten better. They are almost done with the construction near my cottage. Once that's wrapped up, I won't have to ride my bike down that street anymore. I haven't been chased in about a month.

I did buy some pepper spray from a guy at North Hollywood station. I have it in case I need it. Hopefully I won't!

[Greg44]

A LONG time ago when I was young and a "Mormon Missionary" in Adelaide Australia we had our fair share of dog encounters.
We used the "panic bottom" - reached down and touch the ground. Many dogs who have ever had anything thrown at them will think you are grabbing something to throw there way and will take off running.

I recall this only not working once. We were both touching the ground like crazy and the german shepherds kept coming our way. I think the neighbor saw death in our faces and came after them with a shovel and they ran home! I think I peed a bit!

The worse is the pack of dogs on the loose - they seem to be the most unpredictable.

[awakenedsoul]

Everything's fine now. They finished building the bridge, so I no longer have to take the circuitous route. I've switched from biking to walking. If feels better, and my leg muscles are getting stronger. I think the bicycle was triggering some chase instinct in the dogs.