Right I am really on one so bear with me.:rant:
Me and my lad have just took Amber in the wood near our house. Theres a little country lane that leads down to it with 3 houses before the woods.
When we were on our way back up the lane(Amber on the lead) a bloke was coming down with 2 staffies(off lead). I stood to one side with Amber and my son to allow the to pass(as they have had a go at her before). The first one ran up wagging its tail then when it got to her launched itself at her neck, the other one joined in.
I shoved my lad out of the way and managed to kick the 2nd one off. I was shouting to the owner to help(he was halfway up the lane) he just came ambling down. By this point I was on top of his dog punching it, pulling it and stamping on it, trying to get it off.
I shouted at the bloke, "What you ****ing playing at?", "why didn`t you stop em?". called him a few choice names, got into a huge row with him telling him what a ****** he was.
He claims he lives there:loopy::loopy:(he dosn`t, he lives on a different rd completely its just that his garden backs on to the woods)and he owns the rd, so that gives him the right to let his dogs attack anyone that goes on there, as they are protecting what he thinks is his!!

What a tosser!!
Amber is fine, I think the thing that saved her is that she is moulting her winter coat and has very thick fur around her neck at the minute. But it really shook my son up.
What should I do, do I phone the police or what?

Oh Lyndix, sorry you had to go through that, glad Amber is ok.

The police won't be at all interested. Someone I know had his British Bulldog in the park and he ended up needed veterinary treatment and the police said 'dogs fight'. Of course, the bulldog wasn't fighting but unless the dogs attack a human, nothing can be done.

I can't stand people like this and I really don't know what to suggest. I'll do some digging about though and see if there's anything you can do. See, even if you'd had vet bills, you'd be hard pushed to get them out of him as you have no legal standing :(

Oh Lyndix, sorry you had to go through that, glad Amber is ok.

The police won't be at all interested. Someone I know had his British Bulldog in the park and he ended up needed veterinary treatment and the police said 'dogs fight'. Of course, the bulldog wasn't fighting but unless the dogs attack a human, nothing can be done.

I can't stand people like this and I really don't know what to suggest. I'll do some digging about though and see if there's anything you can do. See, even if you'd had vet bills, you'd be hard pushed to get them out of him as you have no legal standing :(

I`m just glad that Ambers ok.
Thing is, dogs do fight, but when the owner does absolutely nothing to stop it then theres something seriously wrong isn`t there.

I also know that the more aggressive one of the 2 is often seen roaming.
I posted a thread a while back about a staffy in tesco`s car park, it turned out to be theirs.

awww sorry to hear that - an off-lead staffy type dog attacked my GSD too when he was out with my husband. He managed to pull out of his collar (he now has a head collar) and ran and cowered behind some garages, waiting for my husband to find him. He was ok, but severely shook up and now hates walking in the dark even more than he did before :( The young man with him said nothing, and did nothing to stop it. Hubby said he was glad it was him, and not me that was out with the dog, or the bloke would have not know what had hit him! :roll:
Hope you, your son n Amber are ok.

Thats awful. I've not had my pooch very long but she's a quick learner. Shes on a short heavy lead when out in public and walks to heel. When its playtime shes on a long extendable lead but comes to call and can quickly be shortened to heel if another dog is close by.

I don't let her socialise until I have the consent of the other dog owner, which to date has been the case and shes making great doggy friends and learning doggy etiquette with regard to hellos and playing.

When she is older and well trained I'll consider off lead play but only if its safe

Sorry to hear about Amber- as you've probably read previously, Ailsa has been attacked by various terrier-type dogs over the years, including staffies not under the control of their owners and the two dogs that got her before Xmas and then earlier this year were staffie-crosses. I've nothing against the breed but I've yet to meet one that doesnt want to rip her my dobe's throat out (or more commonly her belly- they like to go for her more vulnerable bits). Trouble is, it makes Ailsa extra wary now when we do meet well behaved dogs on a lead and you try telling the other dog walker that it's because she's been attacked so many times...

Oh Lyndix, sorry you had to go through that, glad Amber is ok.

The police won't be at all interested. Someone I know had his British Bulldog in the park and he ended up needed veterinary treatment and the police said 'dogs fight'. Of course, the bulldog wasn't fighting but unless the dogs attack a human, nothing can be done.

I can't stand people like this and I really don't know what to suggest. I'll do some digging about though and see if there's anything you can do. See, even if you'd had vet bills, you'd be hard pushed to get them out of him as you have no legal standing :(

Being out of control in public place is an offence under the dangerous dogs act... Getting the police to act might be difficult, but it shouldn't be impossible.

Poor Amber, poor son and poor you, there is nothing so scarey as a nasty dog fight, I'm glad all of you are ok.
I'm wondering if its a private Rd you use if that would alter your case legally? I think that a good way forward would be a chat with the dog warden, after all these are dangerous dogs and being allowed to roam.

Sorry to hear about Amber- as you've probably read previously, Ailsa has been attacked by various terrier-type dogs over the years, including staffies not under the control of their owners and the two dogs that got her before Xmas and then earlier this year were staffie-crosses. I've nothing against the breed but I've yet to meet one that doesnt want to rip her my dobe's throat out (or more commonly her belly- they like to go for her more vulnerable bits). Trouble is, it makes Ailsa extra wary now when we do meet well behaved dogs on a lead and you try telling the other dog walker that it's because she's been attacked so many times...

Yeah I remember reading about it.
I actually like staffies, these 2 in particular are very friendly dogs towards people. Its the owner/owners that I hate. All he had to do was get them on the lead(which he had hung round his neck) or even try shouting them, but he didn`t do a thing. My oh said I should`ve just let Amber go, but against 2 staffies she would have no chance and the bloke was just ****** off at me for kicking his dogs.
What upsets me more is that I`ve done a lot of work with Amber so she isn`t aggressive towards other dogs, and I always keep her on lead in a public place, but now that these 2 have attacked her again I think it might set her back to square one, cos she`ll see all dogs as a threat.

Poor Amber, poor son and poor you, there is nothing so scarey as a nasty dog fight, I'm glad all of you are ok.
I'm wondering if its a private Rd you use if that would alter your case legally? I think that a good way forward would be a chat with the dog warden, after all these are dangerous dogs and being allowed to roam.

It isn`t a private rd(he just said that)and he dosn`t even live on it.

if i was you i would get the dog warden involved , next time you may not be able to split them.

if i was you i would get the dog warden involved , next time you may not be able to split them.

I think thats what I`ll do tomorrow when they open. At least then if they attack another dog it will be on record that they`ve attacked before.
It was extremely difficult to get the more aggressive one off, and I think even then, it only got off because the owner was walking away.

How awful,yes like others have said you should take some kind of action.

If one of them roams and you know where he lives, the warden can go and see him about that. He may also mention the attack for you and just shake the guy up a little bit?

I'm so sorry - I hope you get somewhere with it and will you please let me know if you do? I often hear of things like this and the people concerned have trouble getting anyone to listen would be good to hear if you get it sorted.

What is it with staffies, I was walking my german shepherd the other day, when I saw two approaching us miles in front of the owner so I put my dog on his lead, and these two tried to attack him, all the owner said after I'd shouted at him to get them on the leads was they just wanted to play, and he never brought a lead.
Well they didn't look like they wanted to play to me,

I think the question is 'what is it about staffy owners?'

That's not directed at any one on here as I don't know you but I find there's a lot of people I meet whilst walking who, because their 'typically aggressive' breed is friendly, they think it's ok to let it go upto any dog.

Thing is, I have staffies come running up to Eddy who isn't great with other dogs unless he's been introduced properly and I try to distract him and they shout 'it's ok, he's friendly'... it's like 'well yeah great, but mine isn't!!'

I don't know if it's because they think if their staffy is dog friendly, despite their reputation, then all other dogs must be or what!

Being out of control in public place is an offence under the dangerous dogs act... Getting the police to act might be difficult, but it shouldn't be impossible.

Hi Lyndix, Sorry to hear about Amber but what Cyclone said is correct and his dogs can be done under the dangerous dogs act if it is out of control in a public place and there are grounds to think it may injure someone whether or not it actually does. Go to the police and report him, he doesn't deserve to have dogs. He can be fined and even be sent to prison. Don't let him get away with it, next time it could be a kid out walking their dog and what chance has it got? once one starts the other will join in.

once one starts the other will join in.
Thats exactly what hapened Labyrinth, wan`t nice at all.

I`m gona go and find out his exact address then report itto the dog warden.
I`ll let you all know how I get on.

This happened to me years ago, a staffie went at Basil (gsd) and got under him and clung on, I yelled at owned but she (idiot) said she was frightened of gsds. I was so b----y annoyed. With hindsight I did the wrong thing, I tried to pull Basil away, and that made it worse, the bull breeds had teeth that lock and unless it wants to let go its difficult to make it.
Last summer three staffies came charging up to us on the beach, Josh and Shad on leads!! Unfortunately I was walking through a bit of beach where mud had washed up and Josh decided to go for the offending dog who was having a go. This was the start of his dog to dog aggression, he has never forgot. I lost my balance and fell down in the mud, and Josh of course when after the staffie. He meant business. It was horrific. Anyway I got him back looking like the monster from the deep and his owner by this time was giving me verbal about MY dog going for his and how I should keep MY dog under control. I dont know how I did not hit him, needless to say he got a real ear bashing about my dogs being on lead etc etc etc. and his dogs being out of control, they would not return to him when he called. I was shaking and felt sick so I know just how you feel.

There is a trainer who is well known who suggests taking a walking stick out or a pepper spray and basically warning the dog off and then taking action (which you did - but you could have been badly bitten) and if the other dogs stupid owner complains suggest they report the incident to the police, then hopefully if it did come to the crunch with the police, your dog was on a lead and the other dog was attacking you and out of control. Hopefully the dd act would protect you, but who knows!!

I always shout at approaching dogs to get home and often they do, I dont let Josh off unless its absolutely safe to do so. So in my mind anything approaching off the lead is either a stray or out of control ie owner cant get it back to them. I tell approaching owners with suspect dogs that Josh is dog aggressive and awful to know, if they have any sense they get theirs on the lead.
But the damage has been done to Josh, he really does not trust any dog after that event.

I hope you all recover and let us know if the dog warden is helpful

Some people just don`t care estweyn. I hope that Josh eventually forgets about it, and I`m hoping that the same thing hasn`t happened with Amber.
Only time will tell I suppose:roll:

Heres another staffy story, last Wednesday a friend of mine who owns a shop and takes his springer to work with him, as the yard is fenced off,
Anyway they heard such a commotion ran outside to see a staffy shaking their springer and there was blood everywhere.
they dont even know how it manged to get through the fence
Although it upset him he says he kicked the dog several times but it wouldn't let go,
at this stage he feared his dog would be killed,
so he it with a broom, the broom broke and still itwouldn't let go,
a man who works for him stared hitting it really hard and it did finally let go and ran off,
only to turn round and have another go,till he hit it again.
The poor springer was in a right mess and had to be rushed to the vets.

What concerns me, that took two men kicking it and hitting it with sticks to make it let go,
what chance would a person have if they come accross it while out walking.

The police were informed and said it had been hanging around the shops frightening people but they couldn't find it.

Its proper scared me I wont go out without a stick and I've stared carrying a pot of pepper in my pocket.

I'm glad I'm not the only one!, My dog is a rescue and I am currently working on his dog aggression problems. I only let him off lead if it is safe to do so, so he now stays on lead most of the time.

I'm sick of asking people to keep their dogs away from him and being ignored (though most people are very good tbh), as if they come up to him he will attack. This morning I was walking when a dog came up to us, I shouted to the owner that he would attack the dog if it came up to us, he allowed his dog to come right up so I ended up grabbing my dogs collar and pulling his head up to elbow height and choking him to stop him attacking. The man eventually called his dog away only to let it come back again, at this point I ended up on my bum. I know my dog is not to be trusted and dispite the warning a few dog owners think its ok to put thier dog in danger. Luckly I manged to kep his jaws out of the way and the dog was called back again. I did try to scare the dog off myself but it's a bit hard when i'm holding my dog too!

I'd just got him to walk past other dogs (out of reach) without him making a fuss and every time this happens it is a step backwards as now he's playing up again just walking past dogs.

I hope your amber is ok, the problem with big dogs is they can do so much damage to the little dogs that come up and then it will be us that get the blame when they hurt an unleashed dog.

What should you do if another dog tries or does attack your dog? I walk my friends dog quite a lot (a yorkie, albeit a largeish one) but she's very wary of other dogs anyway and i always keep her on a lead but that doesn't stop other dogs having a go. What should i do if the worse happened?

I would whack the other dog with your lead.

I was walking my pooch in Hillsborough Park last weekend and a male staffy/english bull x was roaming about with no owners in sight. I had been pre warned that he was a bit OTT and could be nippy. He trotted up to try and get a sniff of my girl and I just stamped my feet and did an odd impression of Chas and Dave doing a 'Geertcha!'

Luckily the dog backed off and stayed a distance away though not ignoring us completely.

:rolleyes:
Beard and flat cap too ?

Sorry going off topic a bit but does everyone not agree that ALL dogs should be kept on leads. Your dog may be friendly when he/she runs up to someone but how do you know that person isn't scared of dogs??

It's not practical to keep them on a lead at all times.

Sorry going off topic a bit but does everyone not agree that ALL dogs should be kept on leads. Your dog may be friendly when he/she runs up to someone but how do you know that person isn't scared of dogs??

Dogs need some off lead time to run and play Rach. And usually dog walkers are all in the same sort of places off lead - Not in the street or the playgrounds. I let Porscha off on a field to play with a new friend Toby but there were no other people around. However, she loves people so I couldn't say that if you had walked into the field she wouldnt have gambled up and demanded a cuddle.

Sorry going off topic a bit but does everyone not agree that ALL dogs should be kept on leads. Your dog may be friendly when he/she runs up to someone but how do you know that person isn't scared of dogs??

My dog rarely goes on a lead when we are out walking. If we go to the shops or somewhere where there is traffic then I put her on the lead. That said I don't think dogs should be let off the lead where people and other dogs are if you have no control over them which obviously the guy with the 2 staffies didn't. If you can't trust your dog to behave and come back when it is called then don't let them off, stands to sense really.

Sorry going off topic a bit but does everyone not agree that ALL dogs should be kept on leads. Your dog may be friendly when he/she runs up to someone but how do you know that person isn't scared of dogs??

No, dogs need lots of exercise and a little bit of freedom in their life.

I agree that dogs need freedom and ensure that Josh has a run in fields nearby every day, he is always on the lead on streets etc and in places where kids play. If we go to a park or the beach he is off the lead if there is no one about but if I see someone like bike riders etc then I put him back on. He will come back but is so big and clumsy and loves kids and people it could frighten them and a lot of kids are frightened of dogs anyway. I would never knowingly put him in a position where his friendyness could be misconstrued and you never know do you.
Stray or uncontrolled dogs are a problem. One came bolting over the sands to us a few weekends ago with owner screaming after it. I put Josh on the lead and we began to walk the other way. But it persisited and decided to try and tee off and mate Josh, didnt go down well I can tell you. This makes his dog aggression worse, on that instance he was really good, I told him to sit which he did and I tried to fend the other dog off till his owner arrived. The owner said - 'he thought it was a bitch' as if thats any excuse for having a dog off the lead that he cant get back in a public place. I just think its a couldnt care less thing, you know, they think their dog is ok so if anything kicks off its the other persons dog that is at fault when if fact its their fault for not keeping their eyes open for situations that may develop.

If I see anyone approaching me with 2 or 3 dogs off the lead now I tend to about turn and go the other way rather than have a confrontation with someone trying to get their dogs under control at the last moment (too late)

Re staffies (and I do like them) I was concerned the other week, I visited someone on the Jordanthorpe estate. Every young lad seemed to have a staffie or a bigger bull breed. Its a fashion/ ego thing I think but they cant control them and seem to think its funny when they go at other dogs or people. Its not the dogs its the mentality of the owners. The same used to happen with gsds, rotties and dobes, they were seen as a big tough dog and people got them because they were 'nasty' thank god it seems to have passed our breed but god help the staffies that need good obedience training early on if they are ever going to fit into our society.

Oh forgot, there is a good article about breaking up dog fights, the writer suggests carrying a lead strapped round your waist and does give some good advice. I am sure some folk on here wont agree with all he says but there is some useful stuff if you have a sift through the info.
the address is www.leerburg.com

I hope your amber is ok, the problem with big dogs is they can do so much damage to the little dogs that come up and then it will be us that get the blame when they hurt an unleashed dog.

Thing is, it's usually the LITTLE dogs that attack my doberman Ailsa! Staffies, westies, corgies- even had a Boston Terrier wanting to have a go at her once! And with her having such short fur, when they nip, they generally draw blood or worse still, end up ripping her so she needs stitches- and the owners are never around to pick up the vet bills afterwards

Right then, I`ve found out where he lives and just come off the phone from the dog wardens who are going to look into it.
I hope they take it seriously.
will keep you informed of whats happening.

And thanks for all the advce and support.

xxxxx to Amber

can i just say that staffies are wondewrfull dogs and an abosolute favourite as family pets, they are loving, playfull, and most of time so daft you get hours of entertainment out of them, i personally would never choose another breed but...................... they are a dog that was bread for fighting they were made to be this way 100s of years ago to have a jaw that locks and won't let go to ensure defeat over enemies or otherwise staffies will never change it's in there blood passed on from generation to generation so as with my staff she goes off lead in open empty places at times that are not busy when another person, dog, or child comes in to veiw she is straight back on her lead and will stand while the dog or otherwise goes past unless i have my daughter with us then she snarls as if to say get away from her. It's not the dogs that are at fault it's the numb minded owners who get these dogs as a status simble and don't have a clue what they are about and how nasty they can get, you train a staffy right and ypu have no probs at all. And yes i have had an experiance just after xmas in graves park where another staff nearly ripped my staffs throat out i had to kick the other dog and wack it with a metal lead to make it stop but it did then i nearly did the same to the owner but gave her a peice of my mind as my staff lokked on with shock and a bloody eas and scratched neck. But what im getting at is staffs with other dogs is just 1 bad point these amazing dogs have spend some time with one and you will see how great they are!!!!!

Tiff. I'm well aware that staffs have a great reputation as family dogs and I know a few people who have staffies and none of them are your stereotypical thugs. My only issue with the breed is that my dobe has been attacked by staffies or staffie-crosses that have been off-leash and out of control in public places so many times now that it really is beyond a joke.

I've nothing against them but I get frustrated with the owners who naively think it's OK to let their little darling loose in a public park and make no attempt to control it when it sees other dogs - they MUST know the breed has a reputation for not getting along with other dogs or at the very least, they should know their own dog. We are always very careful about when and where we let Ailsa off the lead, so we just wish other people could be as considerate.

Off topic slightly but we were at Chatsworth on Saturday and it's lambing season - but we saw 4 dogs off lead in the same area as the lambs - what idiots are their owners, eh? Same out at White Edge, Derbyshire on Monday- signs up everywhere asking owners to keep dogs under close control because of lambs (and the definition of close control is PUT THE BL88DY DOG ON IT'S LEAD!). What morons - same folk seem to allow their dogs to crap all over the place and don't bother to clean it up either.

[QUOTE=katkin;3494885]Thing is, it's usually the LITTLE dogs that attack my doberman Ailsa!

Don't you usually call her Dobermutt??:hihi:

[QUOTE=katkin;3494885]Thing is, it's usually the LITTLE dogs that attack my doberman Ailsa!

Don't you usually call her Dobermutt??:hihi:

That's my girl! Dobermutt is currently pacing backwards and forwards and nodding her head at the cellar-door, expecting me to get so fed up of hte noise of her claws clatering on the wooden floor that I'll eventually get up and open the cellar door to let her go and help herself to a pig's ear.

...she knows me so well - maybe she's not such a daft dobermutt, after all.

Katkin completley agree it's the owners who get the dog's the bad names there should be some sort of licencing in place but saying that people would find a way to break it but it would help a bit!

[QUOTE=wondertec;3497119]

That's my girl! Dobermutt is currently pacing backwards and forwards and nodding her head at the cellar-door, expecting me to get so fed up of hte noise of her claws clatering on the wooden floor that I'll eventually get up and open the cellar door to let her go and help herself to a pig's ear.

...she knows me so well - maybe she's not such a daft dobermutt, after all.

She's got you right where she wants you!

It's not practical to keep them on a lead at all times.

Absolute nonsense keeping a dog on the lead whilst out and about is not a problem at all.

I feel sorry for Amber and all dogs that are attacked as a result of bad owners. Unfortunately, it seems that the majority of poor owners choose to own the Bull Terrier types and this is giving them a reputation the certainly do not deserve.

i totally agree with you gatecrasher, i have two dogs which are very rarely taken off the lead because even though i know they won't attack other dogs you just can't be too sure, its the responsibility of the owner of the dog to keep them under control at all times. if you can't do that then don't have a dog! simple as that ;)

Absolute nonsense keeping a dog on the lead whilst out and about is not a problem at all.

I feel sorry for Amber and all dogs that are attacked as a result of bad owners. Unfortunately, it seems that the majority of poor owners choose to own the Bull Terrier types and this is giving them a reputation the certainly do not deserve.

Absolute nonsense keeping a dog on the lead whilst out and about is not a problem at all.

I feel sorry for Amber and all dogs that are attacked as a result of bad owners. Unfortunately, it seems that the majority of poor owners choose to own the Bull Terrier types and this is giving them a reputation the certainly do not deserve.

I so agree with you... I have an Akita, who is actually very dog friendly, and she is NEVER let of her lead in public places... not becasue she woud attack, but if there was a fight , she would be blamed.. as Akita's do not back off. We actually use a long lunge lead, for her, and my OH runs and plays with her.

The dogs which tend to try and have a go at her are ususally small yappy and offleaders... though the most scary indicent was when 2 labs decided to have a go... they were on leads, but being held by children... we were just walking past and they both went into attack mode and dragged the 2 kids across the road . Shea sat down as she was told and I stood between them while the owner ( a teacher- yes these were school kids) came running across and apologised.. while grabbing the dogs. The poor kids were scared to death.

Yep aggreeing with last 3 posts..
Ive got a springer who is as soft as a brush but i would never walk her anywhere off the lead. She is my responsibiltiy in public places so im responisble enough to have CONPLETE control over her. At the end of aday ( i love her to pieces and shes spolit rotten) but Shes a dog and has a dogs mind.

I have a staffy lab cross who is a real softie and is great with other dogs but i am always careful to watch out for warning signs when he meets other dogs as like people not all dogs will get on. 99% of the time he has a good play or ignores a dog if he isn't interested but occasionally I see his tail go up and I steer him away. And outside of doggy places like Wadsley common, Rivelin Valley or Wharncliffe woods he is always on a lead, especially where children are. Sadly so many staffy owners are terrible dog owners and they are not pet lovers and just use the dog as a badge of honour, especially if it's an aggressive one.
And people who don't have dogs on leads near sheep even at a distance are just idiotic.

Being out of control in public place is an offence under the dangerous dogs act... Getting the police to act might be difficult, but it shouldn't be impossible.

I think a dog attacking a dog would be classed as a civil matter, but a dog attacking a human would be out of control in a public place.