pamperedpuppy // luxury lifestyles for dogs

with merry easily the most attractive little thing in the neighborhood, you better be extra careful. (doesn't she have some camo gear?)

1 : Stephanie : August 26, 2008 4:51 PM

LOL! Stephanie, too true. :) She does own camo! Oh, I needed that laugh.

2 : Angie : August 26, 2008 5:02 PM

I carry a stun gun. It's battery powered and makes a crackling sound even before it shocks that scares people and dogs alike. It would bring down a 300 lbs man to his knees, so I believe it would be very effective on even a large dog. I have never had to use it on an animal since the sounds alone has produced the reaction I wanted, them leaving! I would have not problem to protect myself or my pugs although.

3 : Marci : August 26, 2008 5:53 PM

If you don't have something on you, and need to react with your body only, the best thing to do is to get on the ground and attempt to cover the dog with your body (getting the head/neck on the ground firmly first) and use your legs to hold the body. When our 11 lb pug was attacked by a very aggressive German Shepherd, this is what the 2 trainers at our dog school did and it worked - fast - they pulled the dog off of our dog before any physical damage was done. Scary and dramatic but effective. On a lighter note, I think that the camo is a most excellent idea!

4 : Robyn : August 26, 2008 9:51 PM

We have a neighbor who's German Shepherd (Ginger)is the same way. She's a very nice dog with adults but hates other dogs and kids on bikes, skateboards, etc., and bit another neighbor's dog. Her owners are very nice people who are simply at a loss as to how to control her and the wife had to stop walking her because she was being dragged by her. Ginger slipped out the door behind one of their children not too long ago while I was out walking Lucy. When I saw her running toward Lucy (who, of course, was on the end of her leash and far away from me) I yelled, "GINGER, NO!" She stopped just long enough for the child to grab her and for me to pull Lucy close enough to pick her up. WHEW! Talk about a heart stopping moment! But since then I have noticed that Lucy is quite defensive when other dogs bark at her, when she never was before.
I did recomend the Gentle Leader harness to them and they have thanked me profusely, saying that walks with Ginger are now much easier. Your neighbor might appreciate that you've noticed she has trouble walking her rottie and would recomend something to make it easier for her (and safer for everyone else!)

5 : Sue : August 27, 2008 9:43 AM

We have a neighbor who's German Shepherd (Ginger)is the same way. She's a very nice dog with adults but hates other dogs and kids on bikes, skateboards, etc., and bit another neighbor's dog. Her owners are very nice people who are simply at a loss as to how to control her and the wife had to stop walking her because she was being dragged by her. Ginger slipped out the door behind one of their children not too long ago while I was out walking Lucy. When I saw her running toward Lucy (who, of course, was on the end of her leash and far away from me) I yelled, "GINGER, NO!" She stopped just long enough for the child to grab her and for me to pull Lucy close enough to pick her up. WHEW! Talk about a heart stopping moment! But since then I have noticed that Lucy is quite defensive when other dogs bark at her, when she never was before.
I did recomend the Gentle Leader harness to them and they have thanked me profusely, saying that walks with Ginger are now much easier. Your neighbor might appreciate that you've noticed she has trouble walking her rottie and would recomend something to make it easier for her (and safer for everyone else!)

6 : Sue : August 27, 2008 9:43 AM

Hi everyone saw the comments and thought i would try and put my 2 peneth in and hope it helps, we have 7 dogs (lots of rescues in Portugal im afriad) and we also have a Rott (not a rescue got him from a puppy) now i train him so he isnt one of these aggressive sorts (infact he backs away from his dinner bowl from the cat!!) he is very sweet. Anyway - regarding a Rott (or other attack) 1. Stun gun is great idea, i had one (100,000 volts) and i tried it on myself and it works (im 90kg's) and it left me stunned for a good 10 sec, you can get them 350,000 even up to 900,000, 2. having had play fights with my Rottweiller JT, i find that when he gets a little to excited, you have to control it by quickly grabbing the neck or behind the jaw and forcing the head down to the ground, then you have to force them down or lay on them with your head out of the way of course. BUT - i have found (not that im a professional) if a dog senses you are as or more powerful than them and you show them they back down - GENERALLY. AS Cesar Milan says - you cant show your scared - but thats easy to say i know. Anyway - i just wish people would be bloody responsible and control their dogs ALL dogs. Good luck and be well.Kris

7 : Kris : August 27, 2008 12:08 PM

Does Merry have black boots? They are always very appropriate with camo. And chains, lots of chains, the bigger the better. Oh, and what about a studed collar? Then you could sing, "Bbbad to the bone" when you see the Rottie.
It sounds like the owner took on more then she can handle. She might appreciate any support you can give her. The more she understands your concerns there is a better chance of her being response/able.

If all else fails there is one trainer's trick I know. When a dog attacks use your hand or a handy big stick and come down on top of their muzzle as hard as you can. If you can carry one of those big flashlights, often used by the police here in the U.S., they have a quite the impact. It's very effective. You could always rap it in a little padding to help prevent serious damage. It tells the dog in no uncertain terms that it will be killed if it doesn't stop. It is what would happen in the wild.
Hitting a dog should never be done and this idea should be a last resort but frankly if my precious little dog was about to be mangled by an aggressive out-of- control dog I wouldn't think twice about ending the attack with force.
Blessings to you and to Merry the cutest of ninja-street-fighters! And blessings to the poor woman who thinks she should keep trying with a dog that is beyond her skill.

8 : Allyson : August 27, 2008 1:32 PM

I know this is a concern for people with smaller dogs and for people who have never fostered or owned a rescue dog. But regardless of your own fears, you need to put yourself in their (the other owner and other dog)'s shoes. They probably took on this dog as a last chance for him, and the first few days/weeks/even months sometimes can seem to other people (and sometimes them too) that they have gotten in way over their head and don't know how to deal with the problems their dog has. And yes, the dog may have some bad moments. But you do no favors to either of them or yourself if the moment you see them walking down the street you tense up and are mentally preparing an attack. I have learned from multiple dog trainers that what you feel transfers through your body and down the leash to your dog. So when you feel that way, your dog feels that way and can send off bad signals to the other dog.

You may even consider going over to their house, knocking on their door and telling them in a friendly way that, although the neighborhood is a little nervous about the things that may have happened, if there is anything you can do to help (trainers you can suggest, a small fenced park where the dog can blow off steam alone, etc.) you are there to help and are only concerned about the welfare of everyone in the neighborhood, including them. Ask if it may help if you introduce yourself to the dog (don't make eye contact, throw down a treat for him, and talk in a calm voice), and let him sniff you so he is familiar with your and Merry's smell. That means, in a future situation where they may meet on the street, he will feel less threatened by the smell or sight of you both. Ask for the dog's name so that if is to get out or off the leash, the neighbors know what to use to call the dog away or get his attention with a visible treat if he gets too close to children or too focused in on something.

With my (rescue) dog that I have now, he was a typical Chihuahua in the respect that he was nervous around children and would bark if they got too close. He hadn't been socialized with kids until I got him at 6 mos old, but he was a dream with other dogs and other people. The kids would run up and scream at him, going to pet him without asking me, and Kid would bark and they would run screaming away and sometimes persist! We dealt with the same routine (luckily we could avoid most children), until finally some nice people came up and offered up to have their children spend one day a week with my dog. After only the second week after the kids sat with him, let him come to them, offered him treats and tossed a few toys around, he treated all children differently after that. I wish that every parent who shook their head at me when my dog barked at their kids, and avoided us on the street and had made us feel terrible, had instead thought about what I had done to rescue this Chihuahua and how he had already come so far and had so many redeeming qualities they never heard about, and had come over and asked if there was anything they could do.

That being said, I do understand the treat of an aggressive dog coming at you and your dog, and that your natural instinct is to protect you both. The first thing to remember is to NOT pick up your dog, because that only will bring the dog's focus up on your body and potentially your face, and if he jumps up could possibly knock you down. If you have one place to grab, grab the collar and try to scruff them and hold them with your body or between your knees so they are not able to whip around. And if need be drop the leash to your own dog to allow them to get a few more feet away from the issue.

9 : : August 27, 2008 2:12 PM

I am just wondering why the Rotts are not required to wear muzzles as well as the Pits? Our area is really getting strict on that with half a dozen breeds now required to be muzzled when out, no ifs ands or buts. I would get the stun gun, I know it sounds a bit harsh, but with an aggressive dog like that, I would not want to give way the opportunity for a nasty attack. I would also talk to neighbors and get their feelings on it and then bring the feelings to the dogs owner. She is ultimately responsible for anything that dog does. She needs to understand that should the dog do something to a child, adult or another animal, she is to pay the price and the dog as well. Sometimes people dont "get it" until the issue affects law and their pocketbook. Let her know that the area is concerned that her dog is a menace. She may be trying to do the right thing, but really she is just feeding into the stigma associated with the breed. Her best bet is calling in the best dog psychologist she can find and have them find out what the real issue is. If she cant afford that, she shouldn't have the dog in the first place. Rescue is expensive, I have been a pug rescuer for 5 years. I have paid out of my own pocket thousands of dollars for healthcare and care in general for the dogs I have taken in. I get frustrated with people who cannot manage thier animals, they are a luxury really and if they cannot be properly afforded, they should not be owned. Of course that is my own jaded opinion, lol. In any case, I would push her to get the dog muzzled at all times as well as give the stun method a go, if anything it will keep you safe from muggers too. Dont do pepperspray, its too hard to control the spray.
I wish you and Merry well, she's God awful cute and has become a daily ritual in our home to check in and see what yall have been up to.
Cheers!

10 : Marie, Bunkin, and Pudge : August 28, 2008 10:21 AM

We are having the same problem with a dog in our community. He is part pit bull and has attacked four dogs over the last few years. Each time the owners were spoken to and they promised they would control the dog, also a rescue. They no longer walk the dog on community property and after the last attack our board has given them written notice they will be sued if the dog returns. They tell us they will sell their house and we should be patient. We start the suit next week. The last dog attacked cost them $20,000 in medical bills and they still don't get that the community is afraid to walk past their house. Get the stun gun and don't be afraid to use it. We called the county animal control and refuse to do anything unless a child is involve, heaven forbid!!!

11 : Lady Margaret of Highpoint AKA Ms. Peggy Pug : August 28, 2008 4:06 PM