My dog attacked by another today whilst on public footpath.

[MattSoanes]

Took my working cocker (Bess) out for a lunchtime stroll today on one of are regular walks, all was going well until we came to the dog legged part of the field when out of nowhere a very large muzzled Staffordshire bull terrier crossed with what I believe, after looking at pictures on the net this evening bullmastiff came charging out of the woodland that runs alongside the field. This is not a sight I want to see again anytime soon!! This dog had one thing on its mind and that was too hurt Bess, it began chasing her, she had no chance to get away, it rolled her over and was ramming its head into her side and stomach, she managed to get up only for it to trip her up and do the same again, poor little girl was crying out and in obvious distress,whilst all this happening I was weighing up my best options how I was going to stop this whilst shouting some choice words at the dog and then at the 5ft nothing 20year old women who had appeared from around the corner.

I made my decision and having not many other options kicked the dog as hard as I could in the ribs ( I'm a fairly big lad, 6' 16st) this thank god done trick and like a switch had been flicked it laid down and stopped the attack. If it hadn't of done this I don't know what the outcome would of been.

I threw a few more Fs into the women and told her that she should be keeping her dog on a lead, her answer was " she's in season" well even more of a reason to keep it on a lead then you.............. Fill in the blank. This dog must of had previous and that's why it was wearing a muzzle, so to have it running loose is just asking for trouble IMO.

Bess had in this time run half way back to the truck. When I got to where she was I made sure I gave her plenty of fuss and reassurance as don't want her to be afraid of other dogs obviously.

Edited October 25, 2013 by MattSoanes

[JDog]

Check her for broken ribs in the morning. She will squeak if there is damage.

[DannyNCC]

Woman = idiot

Shame too

Hope yours is ok

[shootnfish]

Your lucky it was muzzled or you would probably have a dead dog. Glad yours is ok.

[pigeonblasterian]

Did the right thing giving it the boot.It might put it off doing it again.

[MattSoanes]

Your lucky it was muzzled or you would probably have a dead dog. Glad yours is ok.

Without a doubt I would say, it was a scary situation I can tell you.

[Munzy]

Scary. As has been said, thank God it was muzzled.

[westmids1987]

I have previously stuck up for staffy/bull breeds,but on the basis of your story this should never of happened,like others have said its likely the dogs had previous hence the muzzle so absolutly should of been under close control on a lead,glad the muzzle was on otherwise could of been worse,hope bess is ok and not traumatised in the future by another idiot irresponsible dog owner

Edited October 24, 2013 by westmids1987

[Nikk]

I came to the conclusion you are better off staying away from the places 'every man and his dog' go for a 20 minute walk. The more remote the area the less likely you are to come across bad/stupid dog owners

[johnphilip]

Sorry to here this as a fellow cocker owner, i do hope your dog is ok and has not caused her any furture problems. "MR BISCUIT" sends his love

[overandunder2012]

very bad iv had a few close shaves when dog walking, personally i think there should be huge fines for dog owners caught not controlling their dogs but thats wishful thinking

[BRNDL]

I came to the conclusion you are better off staying away from the places 'every man and his dog' go for a 20 minute walk. The more remote the area the less likely you are to come across bad/stupid dog owners

I do exactly this...

 

Sorry to hear about the attack. I do worry about this happening to my dog as she is so soft and approachable. I would go nuts and proberbly transfer some of my dogs pain to the other dogs owner.

[JohnFreeman1310]

We have the same problem round our way i have started to waits walk in my work boots or take a nice thick stick that I have scared back to the core and will K.O anything that starts a fight

[fortune]

I know how this is because I had the same thing happen back in the summer. I was out with my wife and Springer around the orchards when I noticed that there were a few youngsters ahead so I put my dog onto her lead. Suddenly we were attacked by some sort of staffy/ pitbull type that just came through the rows of trees. It was a direct full pelt attack which knocked my dog off her feet and me also. Both of us were on the ground in a heap. Amongst all of this the wife got a knick on her hand from one of the dogs because she got her hands down in the ruck (Not a good idea), but in the heat of the moment. Immediately I was up and put about three full power boots (Stuart Pierce style) into the engine room. I didn’t care how much damage it took. With a combination of me the wife and the counter aggression from my spaniel along with the three kids arrival shouting at it the dog just laid down and stopped the attack. I was so shocked by this happening we just wanted to get away before it started again. We didn’t talk to the kids and subsequently have no knowledge of who they were or where they came from. Luckily my dog suffered no physical damage. We reported the incident to the police who took general detail and said that someone would come round about it but no one ever came. Since this incident I don’t walk the dog in trainers and wear my walking boots and also take a heavy holy stick with me. If I had been carrying I would have shot the beast without any hesitation at all. The police speak on this incident was that my dog is classed as property and as such I am allowed to protect my property from criminal damage. I don’t think that me dropping it would come under that qualification but that bridge would be crossed if and when it happened. One really has no idea of how to react and how shocking something like this is. It’s a bit like when those coppers were badly bitten by a pit-bull. They didn’t know how to react also.

[mick miller]

I'm afraid for every 'decent' staffy/ bull terrier owner and well adjusted dog there are 30 bad ones in waiting. To me its an utterly pointless breed, mostly owned purely to intimidate other people or give some spotty scroat an ego boost.

 

As a fellow cocker owner I offer my sympathies, they're a sensitive and intelligent breed, I hope this doesn't leave Bess with any issues.

[chrisjh]

I have had a couple of close shaves with my Jack Russell Manchester Terrier cross, I also don't tend to walk where I perceive there will potentially be trouble, I also always wear good boots and carry a waking stick,

[westmids1987]

To me its an utterly pointless breed

 

As said many times previously its idiot owners,i have a staffy because she's a cracking dog,very loving,loyal,easy to train,great with my 2 year old,but yeh totally pointless

[mick miller]

As said many times previously its idiot owners,i have a staffy because she's a cracking dog,very loving,loyal,easy to train,great with my 2 year old,but yeh totally pointless

You have your opinion, I have mine. Other than latch on and hold on for dear life, what else was it bred to do?

Edited October 24, 2013 by mick miller

[westmids1987]

You have your opinion, I have mine.

Yup thats the point of forums,anyway said enough previously on staffys,thoughts with bess hope shes ok

You have your opinion, I have mine. Other than latch on and hold on for dear life, what else was it bred to do?

Originally they where bred to do that but originally all dogs were wolves?like said above mines a crackig dog great with my 2year old so what more would i want in a dog?didnt want to side track this thread but you edited as i was replying to it

[subsonicnat]

You must inform the police, if you don`t it might be a child next and it will be a FIRST OFFENCE. Not So:

Muzzled or not. A word from the Police in the ear will make her keep it under PROPER control..

[Trevorevans]

Shouldn't have stopped at one kick mate. Hate these people who own big and potentially dangerous dogs but have no idea how to control or discipline them. Should've kept on kicking. We have a trail round our way where everybody walks their dogs and after our springer got attacked my old man used to carry a sharpened brush handle as a walking stick, at the very least it makes the owners of this type of dog realise your not going to tolerate their dogs aggression.

[Nikk]

I believe that there's something about the way spanners and especially cockers move that triggers the prey drive in dogs even my lab can't take his eyes of them.

 

Its all down to the owner and not the dog, I know certain breeds have a bad reputation but it's unfounded. You are no more likely to be bitten by a staffy than a labrador. Granted a staffy might have a stronger bite but if you got bitten by my labrador you would know about it, he has an incredablly powerful set of jaws on him. Most dog owners are clueless morons and shouldn't be allowed a dog, they have no knowledge of dogs, have made no effort to learn and blissfully wander around while their mutts cause havok. They should be on lead unless they can recall the dog as well. So I only go to the local park to work on recall around distractions, other than that I drive a few miles out and stay away from the usual hotspots.

[pimpkiller]

no point kicking the dog, kick the owner they may learn in future.

[Mentalmac]

I was witness to a old ladies yorkie being shredded by a staffy when I was younger, still haunts me. So when walking my mums little yorkie I always stay away from major routes and wear big boots and beating stick...

[leeds chimp]

Had this a couple of times.... a nice kick to the ribs and then grab the fur and throw them has worked