Dog Attack

[veinglory]

They could also consider investing in a fence....

[frimble3]

The dog was running at you when you were in your own driveway? Pretty soon you'll have lots of time to write, as you'll be afraid to leave the house.

And a bulldog is not a 'small' dog, it's a heavy, low-center-of-gravity dog, that could have had you off your feet if you hadn't been lucky. Flat on your back, it would have been much harder to defend yourself.

As no-one can say what about you set the dog off, no-one can say that it won't attack someone else. A smaller, weaker adult, or a child. Perhaps a playmate of their own children. Easy to knock off their feet, less able to defend themselves. At least if you've reported the attacks on you, the owners won't be able to claim that they had no idea that the dog was capable of doing such a thing.

And, if you're shy about approaching the neighbours directly, definitely ask the other neighbour, who's known you for decades, to intervene. As someone who's lived in the neighbourhood for ages, he knows everyone involved and as an ex-policeman, he can explain the potential consequences to them and their dog.

It will probably be easier to retrain the neighbours than the dog. Spray them every time the dog lunges at you, and see if that makes a difference.

[Al Stevens]

The dog must be euthanized. You can try treats. But what about the time you forget to take some with you? You can try noise and pepper spray. That will further alienate the dog and it will be laying for you to show up without your weapons. The dog cannot be safely and reliably rehabilitated. You must insist that they get rid of it.

If they refuse, I don't know what the laws are where you live, but I would carry a gun and shoot the dog the next time it came onto my property. Harsh, but necessary. If you don't get rid of the dog, it's only a question of time before it hurts you. Or somebody's child it takes a disliking to. A dog that size can easily kill a child.

Depending on the laws there, the owners could be held legally responsible for the dog's aggression. They need to be told that in no uncertain terms.

I raised German Shepherds for K-9 duty in the 1980s. As much as I loved them, I had to destroy one who decided she didn't like a neighborhood kid. Like about twenty stitches worth. It was the boy's fault--he would taunt her when she was fenced in--but you can't shoot the kid.

[veinglory]

I think euthanasia is a drastic solution when a good fence would do the job.

[Sydneyd]

I agree, euthanasia is a drastic, and in my opinion irresponsible, step. But the behavior needs to be redirected. If the owners won't step up and you don't want to bring in the authorities to make them step up, then a noise maker or something similar sounds like your best option. You wouldn't have to do it forever either. A few weeks of him being blasted every time he charges for you and he will stop charging.

[Al Stevens]

Originally Posted by veinglory

I think euthanasia is a drastic solution when a good fence would do the job.

I love animals and it is indeed a last resort, but she's at that point. A severe bite and 20-20 hindsight won't work. The children let the dog out the front door. A fence won't help with that. Maybe export the dog to another location. But get rid of it. My point is that if the owners won't do it, I would.

[veinglory]

I don't think it is last resort time at all. And a fence at the property boundary sufficient to contain the dog would certainly solve the issue of the dog getting out the front door of the house.

About 30% of dogs at some point bite some one. The trick is stopping it from happening again with both training and containment.

[Al Stevens]

Originally Posted by Sydneyd

I agree, euthanasia is a drastic, and in my opinion irresponsible, step.

Not getting rid of that dog one way or the other is, in my opinion, irresponsible. Oh, well, I don't have a dog in this fight. I'd just hate to read about somebody being hurt someday and know that I didn't chime in with my drastic, irresponsible, and only guaranteed remedy.

Good luck with it, Aruna.

[veinglory]

We can't make 100% calls over the internet based on (honest but subjective) hearsay. That IMHO would be irresponsible. All we can do is offer ideas.

[aruna]

Originally Posted by backslashbaby

I think the treat idea will probably work well, if you go that route. I'd use some really tasty treats that also make noise, like a bag you can shake. Shake the bag and throw some out as you walk by, ignoring the dog as much as possible (if possible) at first.

Later, you can shake the bag and not give any out until the dog calms down. Also, find out what word the neighbors use for 'No!' and say that firmly when the dog is bad. Say the dogs name, too.

There's never any time to offer a treat. The moment he spots me he charges. The only way a treat would work is if I and the owners make a special effort: maybe if I wnet into their house with the treats and patted him etc while giving him the treats.

The problem with that is that even if I did manage to tame him towards me, who knows who else he might attack in future? Same thing, of course, with the peper-spray solution. It protects me, but nobody else.

Originally Posted by Al Stevens

The dog must be euthanized.

If they refuse, I don't know what the laws are where you live, but I would carry a gun and shoot the dog the next time it came onto my property. .

I too think it's too drastic a solution, and anyway, one I can't enforce. It's their kids' pet. A loved dog, even if I can't stand the sight of it any more.

(And don't forget, this is not the USA -- people don't own guns here! My shooting any animal would probably get me thrown ito jail or something!)

I'm going to talk to my landlady/the policeman about it first. Get them all on my side. The policeman already knows about the time the dog bit my finger and was concerned at the time. We need to step up that concern.

Thanks everyone!

[aruna]

Progress -- I talked to my landlady and she is acting as mediator. She spoke to the mother who is herself very concerned and we are going to have a roundtable discussion. Was supposed to be today but first I was out then they were out and== well, it will happen.
Dog nowhere to be seen today!

[Snowstorm]

I'm glad you're pursuing this, aruna. You deserve to be safe in your own driveway. Best wishes for a satisfactory--safe--outcome. Please keep us posted!

[heyjude]

Originally Posted by Snowstorm

I'm glad you're pursuing this, aruna. You deserve to be safe in your own driveway. Best wishes for a satisfactory--safe--outcome. Please keep us posted!

+1! So glad your landlady is on this!

[night-flyer]

Keep on it Aruna, until something more concrete is done about the situation. I still think a fence would be the best way to solve the problem. Good luck and keep safe!

[Belle_91]

I saw you were in Germany, so I don't know if this law applies there are not. However, here in the states you are resposible for your dog. We had a dalmation mix who attacked a kid, and we were told we could keep her. That was because we didn't know she was vicious.

However, the police told us, if it happened again my parents could be put in jail. Also, even if it's the first time your dog has attacked someone, the victim or their family could sue you for ALOT! Like lose your house alot.

I know you might feel guilty about having to have the dog put down, and that it's somehow you're fault, but it's not. It sounds like this animal has problems and like others have said, could attack children.

Maybe euthanasia is too drastic, but they need to take responsiblity for the dog and get a fence. Honestly, they're lucky you've been so nice.

It's hard and I know you want to be nice to your neighbors, but you also want to be safe.

Also, I had a friend who had a border collie who they thought had been abused. My friend was blonde and her mom had short brown hair. I have long brown hair and the dog HATED me. I don't know if there is any truth in this, but the mother did say she think the person who owned the dog--and beat her--was a woman with dark hair. She really had a problem with those people.

Was the dog from a breeder or did they get it from a shelter? Because if it's the latter, he might have been subject to abuse by someone and you trigger something. Or maybe the dog is just bat-shit crazy. I don't know.

[aruna]

Thanks.
Actually, I should have acted differently form the beginning -- immediately after he bit my finger. I should have gone to a doctor, never mind it was only a very small puncture, and let it be documeted. And at THAT POINT informed the autorities.
There's a thing in Germany called Pain Geld, and I would have been entitled to a payout -- just about every dog owner has liability insurance, and having to pay up it would have made them more vigilant from the start. This is what you call wisdom with hindsight!
For me it's a phone call early Tuesday morning. No more playing around!

[RobinF]

I live in Maine and adopted a rescue dog from Puerto Rico. He was a very sweet dog that loved everyone he met, until he met a Native American man and was frightened. I thought the dog sensed something in the man's character. The next Native he met was a woman. No problem, loved her. He was consistently uncomfortable with men who have dark skin, but women were fine. He wasn't aggressive, he cowered and trembled in fear. I think a man with dark skin (which fits his Puerto Rico background) abused him. I can't think of any other reason for his intense fear. You might look like someone this dog has had a bad experience with.