Need Advice: When little dogs attack.

[fatchowmein]

I have a problem with a neighbor who walks their small, lapdog without a leash at our apt complex. They have two but one of them is not leashed. I have two medium/large dogs who are 100% leashed and I clean up after them every time.

Well, this dog likes to charge mine. Yesterday, he got too close and got nipped by mine on the head. This morning, I have both of mine on the other side of the yard (about 30 yards) sitting still and we get charged. He charges my big one who grabs him and flings him to the side. My other one just sits and watches. The little guy then cries and runs back to the owner who is running very slowly behind. Owner apologies to me and scolds the little guy and tells him "that's what you get." Neither of mine gives chase. I have them on a very short leash hold. I don't know these neighbors and we rarely speak to them.

I'm frustrated. I can't outrun a charging little dog. I can't kick him. The lease clearly states all dogs must be leashed when outdoors. I don't want to get mine declared vicious because all they're doing is defending themselves. I also don't want this to come down to he said/she said because it seems the larger dog always loses. I have not told management. I do know everyone in the complex always sees me walking both dogs on the leash. Even management has seen it. We've been here almost 3 years and have never had a problem. We've even played with other dogs and kids before.

What should I do? Suggestions?

[janmike]

I would talk to the guy and tell him that his little dog may get hurt eventually if it continues to show aggression toward my somewhat larger dogs. It's not a threat, it's a fact that your dogs could eventually retaliate. That’s the compassionate presentation.
I would give you my real opinion but you would not be very happy. Good luck.

[edbert]

I say continue to keep your dogs on their leashes and keep your cool. If the dog defends itself, by tossing the dog to its side but otherwise unhurt, don't worry about it. I would mention something to management about it more to let them know what is going on and file something official with them. That way they have proof that you recognized there was a problem with this neighbor's dog charging your dogs. A little pre-emptive strike in this case is good since you know that you may be at the losing end of the battle otherwise. At least this way you have documentation showing that you cared at least enough to bring the issue up to management asking them to take care of an issue that is ultimately their responsibility, not yours.

[fatchowmein]

I would give you my real opinion but you would not be very happy.

I would be interested in your opinion. If you think it may start a flame war, please pm me. I'm open to suggestions. I don't think it's my fault but in order to avoid problems I'm probably going to pickup one of those muzzle harness/leash until they move out or get theirs on a leash.

[Ricardo]

I would have a friendly talk with them, asking them to put their dog on a leash.

[hoosier21]

IWhat should I do? Suggestions?

I would take the time to post your problem on the internet, rather than talking to the dog owner

[cmy330go]

Actually there is a decent chance that your dog just solved the problem for you. Usually all it takes is for one dog to clearly dominate. Now that the little guy got tossed he's much more likely to submit to your dog.

[Joe08867]

I would say something to him. If your dog ends up really hurting his dog he may want to press charges. Besides if this dog is aggressive it could possible go after a very small child.

I know there is a leash law in your complex so it should be a no brainer. Do you have an association? Tell them and they can put him on notice.

[Strong Bad]

Get a video camera. I would love to see your dog grab that little **** as it charges and lay the smackdown on it.

Hey, if that owner is too goddamm stupid to put it on a leash even after your dog teaches it a lesson, too effing bad! You don't have to punish your dogs by putting a muzzle on it. It's already on a leash and controlled.

Agreed on talking to management. Keep a record of when you speak to them. Put something in writing also just in case your dog decides it has had enough with the little **** and gets very nasty with it. In this sue happy world, make sure you have your bases covered by documenting your concerns.

[SolidSqual]

Keep your dogs on a leash. Tell the neighbor her dogs would be safer on leashes, and remind her it's a provision of the lease agreement. Then, write a letter to the rental office manager and forward that same letter to the management company that may owne the whole property. This documentation will memorialize the situation. Keep a copy for your own records. By documenting the event and providing notice, liability is shifted as you show what seems to be willful negligence on the part of your neighbor. If the apartment management lets their tenant's conduct continue while on notice, they may also be held negligent. Your proactive actions will help save your own butt and will help prevent your dogs from being labeled vicious.

Again let me stress . . . document, document document . . . names, dates, times and description of events. Document the response from the management company as well as the neighbor.

[skipf]

+1 on the notification, and carry a spray bottle with a mild ammonia solution in it. When the ratdog attacks, spray it in the face with the ammonia. It won't do it again unless it's totally brainless.

[cfrizz]

+100 on this! Send this letter to the owner of the dog, the management company, & keep a copy for yourself. If you have a lawyer, send them a copy as well. Make a copy of the lease agreement with the povision about leashed dogs HIGHLIGHTED! Send the copies of the letters via certified mail that way NO ONE can claim they didn't get it.

If this stupid idiot continues to let her yappy little dogs run wild & they get hurt, YOU HAVE COVERED YOUR BUTT & should be in the clear!

Oh Yeah, if you have a camera, take it with you & take a picture of the dogs charging yours. Or have someone else with you to take the pictures while you hold onto your dogs!

Keep your dogs on a leash. Tell the neighbor her dogs would be safer on leashes, and remind her it's a provision of the lease agreement. Then, write a letter to the rental office manager and forward that same letter to the management company that may owne the whole property. This documentation will memorialize the situation. Keep a copy for your own records. By documenting the event and providing notice, liability is shifted as you show what seems to be willful negligence on the part of your neighbor. If the apartment management lets their tenant's conduct continue while on notice, they may also be held negligent. Your proactive actions will help save your own butt and will help prevent your dogs from being labeled vicious.

Again let me stress . . . document, document document . . . names, dates, times and description of events. Document the response from the management company as well as the neighbor.

[SolidSqual]

Cfrizz has the right idea here.

+100 on this! Send this letter to the owner of the dog, the management company, & keep a copy for yourself. If you have a lawyer, send them a copy as well. Make a copy of the lease agreement with the povision about leashed dogs HIGHLIGHTED! Send the copies of the letters via certified mail that way NO ONE can claim they didn't get it.

If this stupid idiot continues to let her yappy little dogs run wild & they get hurt, YOU HAVE COVERED YOUR BUTT & should be in the clear!

Oh Yeah, if you have a camera, take it with you & take a picture of the dogs charging yours. Or have someone else with you to take the pictures while you hold onto your dogs!

[BIZILL]

kick the owner's ass. let his stupidity be your driving force.

[Fireman32]

I had a similer incident in my complex. Except is was a big golden retreiver that was charging my dog. The dog only wanted to play but it scared my dog and me as I did not know this dog. The owner came running over and apologized and I told him to keep the dog on a leash. Hopefully he listened. I think what Cathy said was right on the money.

[ninerbj]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't small dog the main ingredient in fatchowmein?

[steveinaz]

pepper spray the little bastard.

[danger boy]

tell the little dog owner to get a muzzle for his rat dogs.

[shack]

I would take the time to post your problem on the internet, rather than talking to the dog owner

I'm with Russ....

[obieone]

Notify Mgmt. ASAP!!! CYA!!!

[dragon1952]

Did it look like this? 8 lbs of terror

[pearsall001]

I had the same problem with my next door neighbor. They have two border collies (supposidly only temporary because of a divorce). The one just keeps finding a way to get out of their fenced in yard & roam about. Then one day when the wife & I were coming back from walking our dogs, the **** collie was dumb enough to attack one of my dogs.

Wrong move on his part, out of the two dogs he decided to mess with was "Jake" our loving 160lb big ass Rottie. Our other dog is a smallish sized mutt that I guess wasn't big enough for him to bother with.

The scuffle lasted about 1/2 a second. The poor little collie is still alive by the way. Jake went easy on him, I guess he felt sorry for him. The neighbors came running out & were very sorry that their dog got out again & were very surprised he was still breathing.

Now the funny part is that he's gotten out again & decided to charge Jake again, then realized what happened before & turned tail & ran like the wind. Jake just stood there laughing. I guess dogs do learn a lesson.

Sometimes it's best to let the dogs handle their own problems! ;)

[Lasareath]

My friend has a newfoundland (Big Guy is his name) and a small dog ran out and charged him and Big Guy. Big Guy grabbed the other dog's head in his mouth and my friend said that all you heard was a crack and crunch and the other dog was dead. They ran out of there as quickly as possible and left the dog dead at the curb!

[wingnut4772]

Did it look like this? 8 lbs of terror

Awwwwwwww...who has a cutie wootie wittle puppykins?

[John in MA]

[wingnut4772]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!:D

[Libertyc]

I was thinking the same thing as John!

[Face]

I was thinking the same thing as John!

Many of us were.

[SKsolutions]

Careful!

[fatchowmein]

You guys/gals crack me up. :D

Another incident tonight with another small dog and my wife and our larger dog but no contact this time because this dog was smart enough to stop. She's going to talk to the management tomorrow - woman talking to woman about woman with small dogs. I'll just foul things up.

Yes, I'm punting.