Encounters with off leash dogs can be stressful to down right scary. Is that approaching dog friendly? Will my dog respond in a friendly manner to this approaching dog? We have had several clients over the last month share scary encounters that their dog’s have recently had with off leash dogs attacking their dogs while they are out on their walks. As professional dog walkers, this is something we face and train for, as we are likely to encounter it at some point or another.
Here are some things to do to avoid getting you and your dog in these situations and what to do when there is no way to avoid them.
Avoid off-leash dog situations
If you see an off leash dog in the distance, avoid the situation completely and turn the other way. You don’t know if that dog will be friendly or not with your dog, so why risk it? Think of it from your dog’s point of view… How would you feel if some stranger saw you and charged you down? Most likely you’d feel pretty threatened at least until you knew why he was approaching you.
Pay close attention to your surroundings while out with your dog. Certain things in your environment may be an indicator that there is a dog off leash in the area. Open garages, people gardening in their front yards, homes with front doors left open and homeless person’s camps can all be areas where a dog may be there, but not easily seen until they are too close to avoid.
Another common off leash area to be cautious in- dog parks. Always observe the dogs playing before going in. If any of the dogs are not playing appropriately or their humans aren’t paying attention to them, it’s best to skip the park that day and go for a nice walk instead. If you’re ever at the park and a new dog comes into the park and is causing problems, it’s always best just to leave before it escalates.
Deterring off-leash dogs
If an off leash dog can not be avoided by going the other way, crossing the street or going around the corner. The first thing to do is stay calm. Quickly assess the situation. Is the dog’s body language tense, or loose? What is your dog’s body language telling you? Will your dog stay calm if this dog stays calm, or is your dog more likely to snap and escalate the situation? Is there an owner of that dog nearby? Does this dog have a collar or tags?
If you’ve assessed that this dog should be avoided, put your dog behind you, on your shoulders if it is small enough, behind a picket fence, or on top of a car or truck bed.
Stay calm but be assertive (but not threatening either!). Listing off a variety of commonly used dog commands, “no”, “go home”, “get back”, “stay” etc. Be bossy. The dog will typically slow down and start approaching with more caution towards you. This can buy you a little bit of time while you plan how to get out of this situation or until their owner has a chance to catch up with them and put them on leash.
Using other forms of deterrent, such as a dog safety spray (usually a citronella spray that comes in a can shaped similar to a can of pepper spray, or small air horn can be a great deterrent for a dog continuing their approach). We recommend a citronella spray over a pepper spray. The dog won’t be harmed and you don’t risk accidentally spraying your own dog or yourself, potentially putting yourself in an even worse situation. These forms of deterrent work best as a proactive approach to keep a dog from continuing to come towards you, rather than to get it to go away once it has already approached your dog.
Breaking up a dog fight
Hopefully we’ve done a good job in avoiding potential problem situations and our deterrent behaviors have keep stray unwanted dogs from reaching our dog. But it is best to be prepared for worst case situations.
DO NOT reach your hand in-between the dogs to break them apart. You could get seriously injured.
If two people are present, the most effective way to break up a dog fight is for both people to grab the hind legs of each dog off of the ground. Then pull backwards- not straight back but back and in an arch.
If you are alone and a dog fight breaks out you are limited to the resources you have around you. Here are some different ways to break up a fight depending on what resources you have available to you.
- Throw water or some other form of liquid on the dogs face. The sensation often is startling enough that the dog releases its grip and backs away
- Use a jacket, blanket or other other article of clothing and throw it over their heads. The sensation and the change in lighting is often enough for them to release and you can pull your dog away.
- Use a branch, shovel, or anything else near you in your environment to wedge between the dogs to break them apart.
Once you’ve gotten your dog somewhere safe, assess them for injuries and bring them into their vet for any cuts, scratches or puncture wounds as they can become infected.
An approaching dog can be scary. Hopefully these tips help you avoid these situations and help you feel better equipped to handle them when they are unavoidable.
