Timber got attacked.....

[Timber]

by a huge GSD! We were just finished with our walk, and I opened the door to go in, and this GSD came up to us. I have seen that dog and I even brought back to its home when she got loose and wandered into our yard, before I got Timber. Her name is Pearl. Being a big dog, I had to push her away because she almost ran inside [we have 4 cats-you'll understand] ,and then she bit Timber on his back, although not very hard. Only hard enough to make Timber yelp but not hard enough to make him bleed or get injured. After I got the door closed and pushed Pearl away from my little pup, I picked up Timber and held him high so she couldn't get him. Then she wandered off and her owners called her back. I don't think I was ever so scared for my pup than now.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/kfrown.gif I'm just glad he is okay!

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Tiffany
Snowyhill Kennels
Miniature Smooth Dachshunds

[Heather]

Tiffany,

I am so sorry to hear that! That can be so scary, I am just glad that l'il Timber is ok.

I am always afraid when I walk all three that an unleashed dog might approach us. How in the world would I pick all three up?

Glad to hear he is ok.

[pkmiddler]

Tiff, you have to grow eyes in the back of your head this kind of thing can happen at shows too.I would have your parents talk to your neighbors who own the dog if Timber gets injured or what if a child does they will be paying for either vet or Dr. bills this not a responsible owner big dogs or little dogs does not matter if they run loose it is up to the owner to do what they have to inorder to keep the dog up or pay for damage.If Timber has this happen to him a few more times he will be spooked and not show in a ring with big dogs running up on his rear.So have your parents speak to them before something very bad happens.

[Mark]

That is awful, Tiff!

Is that dog always out loose? Something needs to be mentioned to the owners. Are they aware that their dog bit Timber? They sould be . . .

I am so sad http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/frown.gif that happened to you & Timber! Please let us know of any developements.
Maybe we should send Top Spin over to "talk" with this bully. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

Mark

PS - GSD?

[LisaH]

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience! That's one of my biggest fears, since there are a lot of large dogs in my neighborhood, and I do see some of them loose sometimes. You did well to pick Timber up and keep him out of her reach!

[dutchman]

Hi Tiff,

I'm glad everything turned out OK. The neighbors do need to be advised of what happened. They should also be make aware that if their dog continues to run lose it will be reported to local animal control. I assume you have leash laws where you live. If an animal has attacked once then it is not improper to consider it a dangerous animal that needs extra control. In some areas this one action would be enough to make disposal of the animal mandatory if reported.

As far as picking up Timber to protect him that is a normal instinct to protect your dog. You do need to be aware that people have been attached by the aggressive dog while trying to protect their dogs in such a manor.

I would recommend avoidance of this animal if at all possible. Reporting it if it is allowed to continue to run free. As far as reporting this episode to authorizes that is a tough call. If the owners are friendly people I would most likely recommend having you mom talk just talk to them first. That said if would not hurt to have a record of this event on file with animal control so that if there is a repeat or something even worse happens this episode has been recorded. I think if this were to happen to me I would want to see how the neighbors react and would also want to know the local laws. If one repot like this could mean putting the animal down I most likely would not report it. If there is something like a three strike rule and the owners didn't seem concerned about what happened I would want to get it on record.

I'm glad Timber is OK. See if you can find a safe GSD to expose him to in the near future. Candy one of the dachshunds we had when I was growing up was attacked by a boxer on her first ever walk. The boxer bit through her leather leash rolled her on her back and started nipping at her. I was about your age and alone with Candy when this happened about a block from our home. I managed to punch and kick the other dog to get it off Candy before she had anything more than a few minor scrapes. Candy would not associate with any other dogs after that day. She would run the fence line playing with the neighbors dogs but if she was ever face to face with another dog without a fence between then she would go into attack mode. We even tried once with one of the the neighbor dogs that she had been running the fence line with for several years but as soon as she was place in a common area her teeth came out and she charged ahead ready to attack.

Mark, I'm pretty sure GSD is a German Shepard.

Tom

[Mark]

Tom, GSD = German Shepherd? I kinda thought that might be it, but couldn't figure how the "D" worked. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

Tiff,

Maybe your parents could talk to the neighbors and express your concerns. Sometimes, some grown ups do not react well to teens (believe it or not) http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/lol.gif. Unless you know them well . . . just a thought.

Let us know what happens,
Mark

[Frzframe]

I agree 1st talk to the owners of the dog - they might be very sorry it happened and make sure it doesn't happen again. Mitzi had a similar experience (without being bit) with a Husky (I think I wasn't home with her at the time). She was on her chain on the side lawn while my mother was putting Emily around back she heard Mitzi crying and barking in her high pitched scared bark. Right away mom knew something was really wrong because she had never heard Mitzi sound like that before so she ran around the bushes that is between the two yards and there was Mitzi on the front porch as far away from the other dog as she could possibly get. The owner already had her dog by the collar and was very sorry for scaring Mitzi and left right away. I don't know if the dog just wanted to see Mitzi or would have hurt her but it sure did upset Mitzi she barked a good 10 minutes when she was brought back into the house. We've never seen this other dog before and don't know if he got lose or is allowed to run free but needless to say no one will ever leave Mitzi or Emily out of eye sight again while they are out not even for a few minutes.
~Shonda

[Dolly's Mom]

Can't write much as I'm sneaking in at work, but just wanted to say, I agree with Mark. Your parents really should talk to the neighbor who owns Pearl the Hurl. Glad Timber is okay and you too!

Sandi

[Krista]

For this very reason, when I walk my dogs I carry a specially formulated mace that is made to use on dogs. Now that my hubby is in Law Enforcement Training academy, we get a lot of catalogs with safety and law enforcement items which is where I found the product and ordered it.

It will not permanently injure them, it will just blur their vision and burn there mucous membranes in their nose/mouth causing them to back off. The effects do wear off and the dog will return to normal within an hour or so.

It is a small cannister, with a key ring attachment and a flip top safety cover over the button, so it cannot be pressed by accident in your pocket or anything.

I think it cost about $10.00, if anyone is interested I can get you the ordering information. Mine came within 3 days.

I agree though, Tiff since you know who the dog belongs to, Your parents should let them know what happened and go over leash laws with them for everyone's protection.

[dutchman]

I forgot to mention our trainer says she always caries an umbrella when she takes her dogs for walks. When ever an uninvited dog approaches she finds a couple of quick open close pops of the umbrella scares un unwanted dog away. Of course when she demonstrated in class and happened to have the umbrella pointed our direction Tanner being the little rebel he is jumped to his feet and let out a rather loud growl while showing his teeth. It also happened to be just our first or second class when that happened.

Tom

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by dutchman on February 21, 2001 at 04:51 PM</font>

[Frzframe]

Mace is a good idea but I can just see it now I'm walking along or siting on the porch with my pooch along comes Mr meanie and I mace him - then comes along Mr meanies daddy ... you get the picture. <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm31.gif" border=0> Any way I have a cousin who is a fireman who can look into some for me. Thanks for the idea.
~Shonda

[LisaH]

Krista, is your mace actually pepper spray? Capsaicin, or pepper spray, is effective against animals as well as people. I carry it sometimes when I walk Annie. I'd hesitate to use it unless an enormous Rottweiler or German Shepherd was headed straight at us with murderous intent...but it makes me feel better to have it.

Re umbrellas, my husband once saved himself from attack by two Rottweilers using one. He'd grabbed my "Sistine Chapel" umbrella (a Christmas present from my mother) because it looked rainy, and then walked to the train. At the station, two Rotties came up to him very menacingly, once of them obviously giving the other "directions" to go round in back of Mark (a very bad sign!). He held out the umbrella threateningly and they slunk off. I'm glad no actual force was required--I was envisioning my mother asking me if my new umbrella was useful and my replying brightly, "Oh yes--Mark beat two Rottweilers to death with it!"

[Krista]

I'm sure it probably is a pepper spray, but its at home.

I carry BodyGuard Defense Pepper Spray on me though. It is supposed to be the most effective mace, according to law enforcement experts. It is ranked at 2 million Scoville Heat Units, and is effective up to 12 feet. It is the brand that will be used on my husband, as all cadets, must be sprayed with it to graduate from the acedamy so they will know how it affects them.

I just like the fact that the brand made for use on canines -I believe its called "Muzzle" - was designed for them and states it will not harm them. Plus, the cannister is quite compact and has a Pocket clip (like a pen cap does) and a key chain linked to it, so you could pocket it, attach it to your keys, or attach it to a leash handle.

[dox_no3]

I have just one thought that if/when your parents speak to the owner that mentioning something about if the dog had bit you as well...
But I'm sure they know this. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

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Julie & Bugsy
/===//V..V

[Krista]

Okay, Lisa, it is a pepper based spray -Oleoresin Capsicum.

It's called MUZZLE -effective at 10 feet.

if anyone wants to order it, you can call 1-800-477-7766 and it is item # D-SD018 for $9.99. There is a webiste for this retailer too http://www.galls.com

This should be the link to the product: http://www.galls.com/shop/viewProductDetail.jsp?item=SD018

I have also heard some good things about sonic dog repellers, but I would want to try one before I bought one....

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Krista on February 22, 2001 at 08:39 AM</font>

[Timber]

Thanks for all the replys!! I have seen that MUZZLE in a catalog, I'll order some. GSD stands for German Shepherd Dog, the correct AKC name is used with the word dog. I have seen Pearl run down our street a few times, but not often. When I brought Pearl back to her house a while ago, the owner wasn't even aware his dog was missing! I believe the owners were outside when Pearl came up to us, but when Pearl bit Timber, it was out of sight of her owners. If it happens again, I'll go over to the owner's house myself and tell him. If he won't listen to me, I'll get my mom or dad. I can't look at a German Shepherd the same way any more. BTW, my brother's friend, who lives close by, has a German Shepherd. I don't know how he [Rocko] would react to Timber. I haven't petted Rocko or even went up to him since he was a puppy, about 3-4 years ago. He seems friendly.

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Tiffany
Snowyhill Kennels
Miniature Smooth Dachshunds

[Mark]

Hi Tiff,

Sounds like a good plan!

Thanks for clearing up the GSD question. I had no idea that "Dog" was actually a part of the name and I even had a German Shepherd many years ago. In fact, when we looked in to getting Top Spin, I was surprised that the word "Dog" and a "State" was actually a part of the Catahoula's name. I mean we knew they were the State dog of Louisiana and that they were dogs, but Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog just seemed kinda wordy. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

Good luck with Pearl and please let us know what happens,

Mark

[Augie Dog]

I am glad that your baby is ok!

Tiff, a word of warning about the peper spray.

1. Make sure Timber is AT YOUR FEET! You don't want to have that stuff hit poor Timber!

2. If it is windy DO NOT spray into the wind. I did it, ONCE. (I do dumb things every now and then) Pepper spray is NASTY, it is a burn you can not stop. It's gross too cuz your nose starts to run and it will not stop running and burning. If you get the GSD, you only have to do a short spray, it will stop them cold!


David

[Krista]

With pepper spray you can now buy special wipes that will bring relief quickly. The same retailer that I gave below sells them.

Also, if anyone should happen to get sprayed, or your dog gets a bit of it, just stand them/yourself under lukewarm running water (no soap) and it will fade much more quickly. All in all though, I'd say a little burning from pepper spray is a better (and safer) option than getting bitten by an agressive dog.

[Timber]

I have noticed that the pepper spray is a bit expensive, so do you think that bitter apple spray might work? After all, it is bitter and doesn't taste good, and I doubt any dog would enjoy having its face sprayed with anything.

[Krista]

No Tiff, I don't think bitter apple would work.

For one, bitter Apple says specifically don't spray it into the eyes -so maybe it could seriously damage them. Pepper Spay burns for an 45-60 minutes but will not permanently injure the eyes and mucous membranes. Bitter Apple also fades quickly, but Pepper Spray is made to last a while so you have time to get away. Bitter Apple sprays 12" or Less. Pepper Spray works at 10 feet -sometimes more. You don't want your hand to be inches away from an agressive dog's face do you?

The link I gave below sells it for $10 which is very reasonable price to pay (especially considering I paid $4.95 for a bottle of bitter apple) for such a safety measure.

[WOTANSMUTTI]

Oh Tiff & Timber!

Wotan and I just got wind of your thread describing the attack! How horrible for the both of you- it must have scared at least a few weeks growth out of both of you!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm8.gif" border=0>

Wo was nabbed by a coyote when he was a little over a year. It was the most terrible thing my eyes have seen:Wotan being carried off like a little pup in the jaws of a 45 lb coyote! Luckily, Wotan is a real handfull (mouthfull? ) and the varmint spit him out after I screamed!

Realize that when a dog is "out of control" it really means his hoomans are. Dogs left to their own devices start to think for themselves and most of the time it's not good planning...

As to the rotties mentioned a while back- yup, sounds like they were "thinking". It's so typical for one to go the back way and one to get the victim's attentions. Good for Michealangelo and the Sistine Chapel, huh?

My dogs think about chicken. While the hooomans are home the chicks and the dogs are bestest friendzzzzzzz- but if left alone for a while the friendship fades as the Col. Sander's Syndrome sets in! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/facelick.gif

Take care and don't be afraid to pet the nice GSD you know... Just leave Timber at home ( for now)

Smiles, Sonja and Wotan<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm3.gif" border=0>