What should we have done?

[battybird]

Just got back from walking my sons little staffie on the beach near us. Had a really nasty experience and wonder if anyone has words of wisdom about it. We were walking towards a lady with a small dog off the lead and the two dogs went towards each other (as they do!). The little dog suddenly growled, barked and bit Chloe on the neck, at which point chloe also growled and pinned down the smaller dog. She did not bite it but held it down. However the woman started screaming at us while my husband just pushed our dog off the other one. We had two friends with us who afterwards both said that the other dog was aggresssive first. The woman obviously felt that her dog had been a victim of an entirely unprovoked attack and was yelling at us that we should not have the dog and it should always be on the lead, because Staffies have this "fighting dog" reputation, I suppose. We walked away and ignored her as it seemed pointless to try and argue with someone who was so upset. Chloe is a very friendly well behaved dog usually (I suppose all owners say this though!) and has never "gone for" another dog, even when she was attacked by three small dogs (all at once) recently. I feel she was defending herself but could have actually done harm if she had wanted to as she is a strong build. What should we have done? I wish we had said something at the time rather than sort of accept the blame by walking away.

[oldjerry]

Well ,it COULD have been a lot worse.People (mostly) treat their dogs as one of their family members so they're not really rational when defending the 'family honour'.! You sound really patient,and forebearing! Ifind that quite often the most unlikely people can be aggressive and bullying,I'm sure she wouldn't have reacted in the same way had you been a couple of 18 yr old lads,or me for instance.Many of the so called 'aggressive breeds' are easy going pets and vice versa,collies(especially working breeds) which supposedlyeveryone loves, can be mental.It depends who owns them,(and i,ve had loads of working collies,still got one,so I'm not picking on them).
I'm sure what must really wrankle is that the woman walked off thinking she was in the right,but hey,some people can only live on what they consider the moral highground,what a sad existence. You did right, lets hope the animal bit her when they got home!

[sarahkeast]

Err, her dog was off leash ? therefore she had no control and so no right to complain. Just let it go and get on with life.

btw, statistically Labradors and jack russells bite more than any other breed if anyone has a pop at your staffie.

Hope your dog isnt too freaked out by the whole thing.

[niknik]

Hope your dog is ok.......

Sould you meetthis person agan, well give HER a piece of your mind nexttime!

Staffies are brilliant, I´d love one( we had one when I was a child), but here ( spain) they are classed as dangerous dogs, have to be muzzled etc, so I wouldn´t get one.

I used tohave many yearsago, a collie x, all black, soft as butter, but on our regular walks we often met a black gsd x type. The 2 got on fantastically well, but ALWAYS, had a vicious looking play fight. right to the "i´ve got you by the throat, so give up"bit.... On a few (rare occasions), blood was drawn, when an ear got caught.. We eventually had to arrange NOT to meet, as their antics scared other walkers, who thought they were really fighting to the death! Real shame cos they were best of pals, but thats how it goes!

Best of luck for future walks!

[battybird]

Thanks everyone, wrote the post when I was still seething with righteous indignation!! I felt that we were being cast as baddies without any justification. In the calm light of day, I think I can move on as long as I dont meet her again. Feel she will put her dog on the lead now! Or pick it up! Chloe is fine she was just a bit bewildered, she is a 2yr old that had been kept just to breed puppies and was given to my son almost the day the puppies had gone. She had never been walked or met other dogs, but has soon got used to the idea that all dogs are to play with! She meets lots of other dogs who are happy to sniff bums and bound around with her and tends to run away if she meets a snappy barking dog. I think on this occasion she could not get away so immobilised the threat...she could have really done damage if she wanted to but didn't. Unfortunately all this breed are "tarred" as dangerous where really its the owners who fit the category. And, as sarah says, other dogs do bite too!

[Silver Ether]

oh I know the feeling love ... my hubby .. had one years ago soft as a brush .. twice he was attacked when on his lead by dogs off theirs ... and naturally he retaliated ... A lab had had several nips at him on different occasions .. but the time was the last .. Staffie got a grip on labs nose ... and that was that sad but not our fault ... Folks should be made to keep dogs on the lead when in public areas .. sorry if this sounds like a moan but I am sick of being jumped on by dogs while out walking ... and there pathetic line he wont hurt you ... gets of soap box ... Sorry battybird can very easily go off on one on this subject ... You did right .. nothing wrong with your or your dogs behavior ...

[Thomzo]

Wow, Chloe sounds a real treasure. Well done for keeping your temper and not having a go at that woman. It would have only made things worse. Just stay away when you see her again. But I expect Chloe will do so as well.

I have a good friend who keeps Staffies and hers are always perfectly behaved little darlings.

Zoe

[Mrs H]

This is a subject that cracks me up, I hate that some dogs r labelled dangerous dogs, I mean, what's that all about? We don't label people who work out and do weights dangerous people so why dogs?
I think you did totally the right thing and the fact ur dog didn't fight back, draw blood etc is a real credit. I wonder if she would have been so abusive had your staffie been a labrador.
We have border collies and I definatly wouldn't trust r big dog with other dogs!! He nearly had the postman one day as he considered him a threat to the kids. I trust him with us, he is a very lovely tempered dog and great with the kids but if a stranger pissed himm off, well I think they would know about it. Surely that classes him as a dangerous dog in societys eyes? But he's a cuddly breed so he gets away with it.
All dogs have the potential to be dangerous.

[MKG]

Apart from on designated roads, there are no England/Wales national laws on dog leashing. However, all local authorities have the power to introduce Dog Control Orders which MAY restrict dog owners to walking their dogs on a leash. It might be worth your while to find out if such an order exists in your area.

Apart from which, your Staffie sounds like a very well-tempered animal. I wouldn't let it worry you at all.

Mike

[battybird]

Actually to be fair I should say that BOTh dogs were off the lead on the beach, its a very quiet part of the beach nowhere near any roads and few dog walkers have their animals on the lead. Usually no problem as the dogs all meet up , have a sniff , some play, some just go on their way. I always try and note any owners whose dogs are leashed and put chloe on too as dogs often seem more defensive when on the lead and sometimes they are on the lead as they are more tetchy by nature. I can usually tell the ones which get on as they bound around and wag tails when they see us. Have not met this lady again, and hopefully she will put her dog on the lead if she sees us..I certainly will! I think it was the lack of recognition that her pooch could have been the aggressor that got to me..it does not matter really, we know the truth, just get defensive cos some people always think the worse. My son (6ft 5", young and "dangerous looking" ) has had some comments about having "dangerous dogs" when he walks her so at least us oldies get less aggro, most of the time. He tends to keep her on the lead much more as he worries that people assume she will be aggressive cos of the owners age

vicious dog...beware!

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[jimmyh1988]

unfortunately staffies have been tainted with this fighting dog breed. my brother owns an english bull terrier he's as soft as they come .however he is a big muscled up dog and could do harm if he wanted to howevber this is the case with any dog. we can be walking down the street with him and my dog which is a english springer x bedlington or even just my bro's dog and people will cross the road from us whether they have a dog or not . such a shame that people read to much of what goes in the paper. i think your worrying about nothing had your staffie wanted to cause harm you certainly wouldn't have seperated them. seems like she was defending herself just keep a close eye on her and iron any agression out asap could be you need to socialise her with some friendly small dogs as it could be she associates small dogs as a threat after being attacked by 3 . hope this helps good luck ;-)