Scary Situation, Quick Decision, Poor Shippo!

[Cheetah]

I just thought I'd share my scare I had today...

I came home from work for lunch, and decided to take Shippo for a little walk around the block for some training and a little exercise and stimulation... He was doing really good, and we were having a nice time. We were halfway around the block, when...

These two dogs burst out of a garage and came charging toward us! They were followed by a lady screaming "NOOOO! NOOOO!" Not to say that the charging dogs weren't unnerving, but the yelling scared me. It made me think, "What if these are AGGRESSIVE dogs?!" I didn't want Shippo possibly being attacked. Vet bills and rehabbing whirled around in my head! I did the only thing I could think of doing to keep him away from them...

I pulled him quickly off the ground by the leash and grabbed him, holding him above the ground. It was like a yo-yo... I felt bad for doing it, but at the moment, I was picturing him being torn to shreds by two dogs, so it was sortof an instinctual thing. >X.x;<

The lady ran up and apologised profusely, saying she had just gotten back from a training class and she had let the dogs out of the car thinking she had control of them, but was wrong. They turned out not being aggressive, so I was able to put Shippo down, pet him, give him treats, tell him I was sorry for yo-yoing him, and let him sniff the other dogs.

I don't know how else I should have handled the situation... perhaps I should buy some Direct Stop!

Shippo was unfazed, thank goodness, and I said bye to the lady and continued on around the block. So it turned out okay.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my adrenaline rush for the day... >O_O;<

[disraeli]

Whew! That's a scare, right there! As long as Shippo was unfazed, there should be no harm done...I'd have probably done the same thing.

[Michael Romanos]

Well, I could tell you off for over panicking and almost choking your Corgi Shippo and scaring the life out of him that two big charging dogs would not have achieved. But you though it was a sink or swim situation. I have on quite a few occasions picked up a Corgi in the proper manner to keep him/her clear of other menacing dogs or dogs that have actually attacked or were in the throws of attacking. But my suggestion to you for the future, is to try and calm down the situation and not aggravate it and take a moment longer to size up the situation. Most breeds of dogs - apart from Boxers, Bull Terriers, Staffies, Pit Bulls, Bull Mastiffs and a few others of that ilk won't readily respond to humans once they are on the attack, but most other breeds will take note of the other dog's handler or their own - so actual full blown confrontations can be avoided. And the vast majority of dogs when both parties are off-leash will just say hello to one another no matter their rushed approach to each other. My Taylor is always off-leash at parks and walking trails etc and he gets to meet and go past countless dogs of all types and if I see one of the aforementioned, tell him to stay still where ever he's wandered too - often way behind me or way in front - and I clip on his leash, otherwise I leave him to sort out dog-meet-dog relationships.

When I was doing some sprinting training years ago at a park, a Boxer attacked my Corgi named Ricky and wouldn't let go of him even though I kicked the Boxer something terriible including kicking his privates. At one stage Ricky was airborne as was the Boxer because I had hold of the Boxer and was twirling him around. The Boxer just wouldn't release his grip. The owner finally got his Boxer to stop and I had a Corgi who was in a state of shock and must have been in a little pain having had the hair around his ruff pulled for so long but otherwise was undamaged. Ricky was one of my show dogs who became a champion twice over and if I had shown him more correctly, he would have won even more often. But he was a very powerful looking and fast Corgi.

[Hayashi_eri]

There was once I took Buta out for a walk during her first heat...I was quite nervous about it as I know that male dogs will be attracted to her smell & might act crazily.
We walked for about 15mins & was on our way back....when...... one of our neighbour has left his gate open! & I see 2 of his huge male mixed breed furkids lying near the open gates! I panicked!
I can't walk pass them but there is no other way back.... (TT) I picked a huge stick on the ground, carried Buta on my shoulders & walked real quickly (but not running as I know they would chase me) while waving the stick madly infront of us LOL
We got through them & I ran home with Buta still on my shoulders hahahah
Mom thought I was mad LOL

[corgimom]

Eight years ago when I was living in Nebraska with my family and my then Pem, Betsy, a friend and I decided to go out for a walk on Thanksgiving day. I had Betsy on a leash. Ahead of us was a black lab with its owner and the lab was not on a leash. They were probably 50 feet in front of us.

All of a sudden, I remember the black lab stopped and looked at us and approached us very slowly. We stopped and the lab approached and started smelling my dog and all of a sudden just lunged at my poor Betsy and had her neck in his mouth. My Betsy was yelping and we were kicking and hitting/screaming at the black lab and he would not let go. Finally the owner was able to pull that monster off. My dog had a puncture wound the size of a quarter and ran back to our house(with me and my friend behind her) She had blood all over her neck. I made an emergency call to my vet to take her in - resulting in a bill of course, which I took over to the owner of the black lab. I was so thankful that Betsy was okay. Had the owner not been there, I really don't know what would have happened.

The owner did apologize, but admitted that his dog did not like other dogs, yet walked him off leash. How much sense did that make I also reported it to the police, because the dog should have been on a leash(leash laws) and had I not, what if it attached again.

So in this case, it wasn't the typical dog that you would imagine would attack your dog, nor did the dog come storming after my dog. It happened in a split second. So every time I see a black lab, I can't help but get this weird feeling in my gut.

So Michael, it goes to show anything can happen

[Chip's Mom]

As we had never been to NYC, we decided to make a quick detour on our way home from up north. It was Halloween and we got in there just at dusk. We drove around and saw some of the sites and had a great time. Went back outside of the city and found a hotel room and stayed over night. The next day, we went back into the city to see the Statue of Liberty, etc. We had Digger with us and when we were walking in this one area, a big dog started charging for Digger, I quickly scooped him up and my son stepped in front of me and Dig so the dog couldn't get at Digger. The lady came and retrieved her dog so four of us in NYC for the weekend and Digger was the only one that almost got attacked. LOL

[Dillydoodle]

I agree that one should never take for granted what another dog will or wont do. The friendliest breed of dog doesnt mean that the individual has been raised and socialized correctly. Case in point, we have a beautiful golden retriever at our school, he is a therapy dog...however, he hates other dogs, and lunges and snaps at any that get in his personal space. You can be 4 feet away and he is growling hackles up.

Linda, that is my worst fear is to have a dog attack my Dillon..When i walk him, i keep my eyes open for every other dog in the area- really learned my lesson to not listen to owners who say their dogs are sooo friendly etc because sometimes specific dogs just dont get along...

Back about 7 months ago, i was walking DIllon, and we saw a lady walking a huge great dane. this dog we have seen before, usually being handled by the husband. Well she was not as large or as strong as her husband. I was getting ready to cross the road to not get too close, and she said to me "dont worry, he is really friendly" so i said ok, and i kept on coming, well he was friendly alright, he dragged her over to us and then began to chase Dillon in a circle around me, now i was trying to pick dillon up to get him out of there, but i was wrapped up in her leash and she could not control the dog, needless to say, i ended up ON THE GROUND...Dillon still trying to get away from this dog, who still wanted to "say hi" i guess and the dane was still pushing me all over the place, the owner was appologetic but she had NO control over this dog at all. Thankfull he was friendly, just very strong and not trained. Now when i see them out, i do cross the street...i dont want a repeat of that performance...I was terrified

Emilie

[Cheetah]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Well, I could tell you off for over panicking and almost choking your Corgi Shippo and scaring the life out of him that two big charging dogs would not have achieved. But you though it was a sink or swim situation. I have on quite a few occasions picked up a Corgi in the proper manner to keep him/her clear of other menacing dogs or dogs that have actually attacked or were in the throws of attacking.

I was on the sidewalk, and these dogs were careening towards us at GREAT speeds. I did not have time to bend down, get Shippo to stop squirming nervously (he was already becoming scared because he saw them too), and lift him up.

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

But my suggestion to you for the future, is to try and calm down the situation and not aggravate it and take a moment longer to size up the situation.

Once again, I did not have a "moment longer."

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Most breeds of dogs - apart from Boxers, Bull Terriers, Staffies, Pit Bulls, Bull Mastiffs and a few others of that ilk won't readily respond to humans once they are on the attack, but most other breeds will take note of the other dog's handler or their own - so actual full blown confrontations can be avoided.

Every breed has the potential to attack and not let up. I've seen a Golden Retriever attack a dog, while the owner of the dog could not call it off, and then the dog redirected its attack to the owner when the owner (stupidly) tried to phyically pull the dog away. I choose not to assume, by the breed of the dog, how aggressive it's going to be when it reaches my dog those 3 seconds later.

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

And the vast majority of dogs when both parties are off-leash will just say hello to one another no matter their rushed approach to each other.

When a dog is hurtling toward me and my dog, I'm not about to play guessing games as to whether the dog wants to meet my dog or tear into him.

Anyway, had I had even a few seconds more, I COULD have bent down and grabbed Shippo up, but you don't understand how close they were, and how fast they were coming.

Shippo is barely 9 months old. He's still just a puppy. Being attacked by another dog at this age could blow ALL of the socialization I've done out of the water and make him afraid of dogs. Not to mention the fact that being attacked by another dog could seriously injure or KILL him if it's bad enough. I'm not willing to risk it, and like I said before, I DIDN'T want to pull him up like that, but it was my only choice, and thankfully, he was unfazed. This weekend I'm going to the store to buy some Direct Stop so I don't EVER have to do that again.

*Hopes she hasn't made a new enemy on the forum already*

[Checkers]

It sounds to me like you did just fine given the situation Cheetah. I definitely would not try to use another dogs breed as an indicator of whether they will fight or not. I have known the sweetest of "fighting breeds" that wouldn't harm the hair on a corgi's back.... and the meanest of other breeds that would charge and attack without provocation. There is no way to tell when a dog is rushing you that quickly what the outcome might be. I have been in similar circumstances and put myself between my dog and the ones charging. Normally I have been quite successful in using my own body language to disuade the other dog from charging... but it probably isn't the smartest idea... just instinct. Sorry you had such a scare though... it's never fun.

-Cheryl

[Chip's Mom]

Cheetah:

I too think you did an excellent job in getting your pup out of harm's way especially given you only had a few seconds. As you said, your little one wasn't affected by the yo yo effect so no harm done. Much better that then him getting hurt or traumatized by another dog.

[Fluffypants]

I agree that you absolutely did the right thing. I would (and have) done the same thing in the past.

My Story:
When Jackie was a puppy, I was walking her early one morning. Up ahead, at the corner, a female pit bull (who lived in our townhouse complex at the time, and who I knew to be unfriendly to other dogs) emerged. Her owner was walking her on the intersecting street (OFF LEASH! ), and she was a good deal ahead of him. She turned her head, saw my little fluffy pup, and immedately charged for her. Instinct & terror took over, and I scooped my girl up, just barely saving her and almost getting knocked over in the process. Thankfully, her owner caught up to her after her first lunge & pulled her off me.

I would rather overreact than risk anything happening to my dog. When other dogs are charging at you, with an owner that clearly DID NOT have control . . . you react and protect your baby the best you can.