Hello everyone, I understand that anything is possible and there is no way to guarantee that your puppy/dog and possibly even you will not be attacked by a dog or any other animal or even another human, but how do you minimise the chances of such an incident from happening? I live in a small village that is a few miles away from a smallish town and I’m about to rescue a dog so I want to know how everyone on here reduces the chances of any incidents from happening. The dog I’m about to rescue is socialised and friendly towards other dogs and people. I had a chat with my friend about it last night and she told me to avoid dog parks where there are 10-15 people chatting to each other and not keeping an eye on their dogs and there will be people with their dogs who go into the park and you won’t know the temperaments of the dogs. Is she right? I think she is because I’ve heard lots of stories of people’s dogs being attacked by other dogs in dog parks. Is that the most common place for an incident to happen? Oh, and she also told me to go to a specific location instead of just wandering unknown streets and only let your dog interact with other dogs that you know are friendly instead of thinking that your dog needs to greet every dog she sees in public. Has anyone ever kept dogs for decades and never had any incidents happen? Thanks everyone.
Your friend sounds to be a very sensible lady. We don't have dog parks here, but I can imagine that they are a nightmare if the wrong dog/owner is there
In over 36 years of adult dog ownership, I have had 4 situations and none resulted in injury. Your friend has given you great advice. Dog parks are fine - if you establish a group of compatible dogs and owners for your visits. Just walking in with a group of unknown dogs and owners can be a problem. There is no need to meet and greet every dog you pass. Leave interaction to those dogs and owners you know and trust. For me, I follow certain rules for me and my dogs: 1. no retractable leashes. They are horrible for maintaining control. With a standard leash, if your dog won't come to you, you can pull the leash in and gather the excess into your hand thereby making your dog come in close to your side. With a retractable leash, you can't do that. If your dog won't come to you, all you can do is drag your dog from 15+ feet away. And that 15+ feet between you and your dog provides a lot of room for disaster. 2. When out in public, my dogs are always leashed. No exceptions. If you've ever seen a dog fight, you will realize that trying to grab your dog's collar is guaranteed to get you bit. A leash allows you to pull your dog away without putting your hands and/or face within bite range. And again, a retractable leash fails to provide this control. 3. Always pay attention to what is going on around you. If you are walking down a street, you should notice a person or dog coming around a corner immediately. You should notice if the dog is leashed, if the owner has control of the dog, etc. This allows you to take appropriate action before a problem. For example, if the dog is dragging the owner down the street, then you can move to the other side before that dog is within reach of your dog. 4. Learn your dog's "personal space". My Cat-dog was attacked and injured before I adopted her. Because of that, her personal space is much bigger than my prior dogs. I maintain a greater distance between her and other dogs than I did with my prior dogs because she will get nervous. That nervousness can create an altercation with another dog at an otherwise "normal" distance. 5. I don't put my dogs in bad situations. In tight quarters, I make sure the way is clear first. If we are going into a shop, I wait until no other dogs are at or near the entrance before walking through. On paths, if a dog is coming towards us, I move my dog off the trail so that dog can pass. If a neighborhood is known for loose dogs, I don't walk there. If a park is known for loose dogs, I don't go there. Honestly, altercations aren't that common. With awareness and precautions, you can eliminate it almost completely. I've had over 14 dogs plus fosters in those 36 years. The 4 incidents happened with only 2 of those dogs. Only one incident was the other dog actually fighting - that was an unneutered chihuahua who was allowed to run loose and attack neighboring dogs through their fences. When I came home from work one night, I found a plank knocked out of my backyard fence, my dogs in my yard, and the chihuahua dead, no marks, in the neighbor's backyard. The other incidents were more shows of dominance - a male dog peeing on my dog's back in a dog park (owner laughed), a dog running up on my front lawn and ramming its head into my leashed dog's side once, and two schnauzers racing out of their campsite and circling and barking at my leashed Moose-dog - he was a champ, he laid down in the middle of the road until the owner finally got hold of her dogs. I will say that my Cat-dog was attacked and injured before I adopted her. If a dog runs towards her, her first instinct is to run away and hide. If she can't do that, she will go on the offensive. So I have to be very aware with her because her reaction will cause a fight that wouldn't happen otherwise. If she had been in Moose-dog's place with the schnauzers, it would have been a fight.
To minimize the chances of a dog attacking your dog, follow these steps: Avoid High-Risk Areas: Steer clear of areas known for off-leash or aggressive dogs. Use a Leash: Keep your dog on a leash to maintain control. Stay Calm: Remain calm and confident to avoid escalating the situation. Socialize: Properly socialize your dog with other dogs to promote positive interactions. Body Language: Learn to read dog body language to spot potential aggression early. Intervene Early: If you notice signs of aggression, calmly and quickly remove your dog from the situation.
