[BagOfBones]

I was walking my pitbull last week when I noticed about 4 teenagers coming down the block toward us with a pocket dog (chihuahua) on leash. I put Big Boy into a sit/stay and tried to keep his focus on me...when out of nowhere their other male chi (not on leash) ran up to Big Boy and started biting my dogs legs and back. Luckily, I was able to lock Big Boy's head between my knees while the damn kid could get his dog. Big Boy has never shown dog aggression but at 80+lbs he's big and throws his weight around when he plays. He only barks at other dogs in response to them barking at him, but other than that he generally ignores them and is almost always like a calm old man. He's 15 months old and huge. How do you handle situations like this with irresponsible idiots? They found it very funny and started bragging about how their dog had big balls...but it wouldn't have been so funny if their dog got hurt b/c of their ignorance. Sorry for the long post...but this really pissed me off. How can I prepare him for these situations? This isn't the first time this has happened...Big Boy was attacked as a puppy by two off-leash Pomeranian's when he was about 6 months...so he's already not a fan of small dogs.

[Michele]

The only thing I can suggest is this:

Talk to these kids about being responsible.

When you see these kids with the chihuahuas, move to the other side of the street.

[Maddie's Mom]

Some may not agree with this, but I carry a squirt bottle full of white vinegar....I am thinking of also ordering direct stop.....

[DivineOblivion19]

If that happened to me I would have kicked the little bastard away from my dog and me. I don't care how pissed they would have been, Divina (my 11 lb Boston) has some DA and she would not have tolerated that shit; she would have latched on and taken him down.

Your kicking the dog would have been much nicer than what COULD happen if your 80 lb dog got a hold of it. I don't care that your dog is a Pit Bull, ANY other dog even a few pounds bigger than him could have done serious damage to the little guy. I feel badly for the dog because he is the one who will eventually pay for the owner's complete and utter ignorance.

A spray bottle with vinegar is a good idea or mace.

I know your dog isn't DA now but he may turn on one day. When that day comes and you encounter an off leash dog, I hope you are prepared with a break stick.

[BagOfBones]

Michele...
When you try to say something to them...they magically don't speak English or they laugh and keep walking...they're truly idiots. I was heading into my building when it happened and an elderly neighbor had stopped me to talk about my dog, she loves him.

Maddie's Mom & DivineOblivion19...
I'll definitely do the vinegar thing & I've already ordered a break stick. I'm embarrassed to say it but people here in NYC have no respect for what my dog could do to theirs...NOT THAT I WOULD EVER WANT THAT...but how the hell can they see my dog and just let those little shits run up to him like that? I'd be terrified if I was a "rat dog" owner. I don't try to make my dog look tough...no chains, spikes, etc...I just have him in a plain 2 in. leather buckle collar & 2 ft. matching leash (for complete control b/c of these types of situations.) I love animals too much to kick it and I was too concerned that Big Boy may retaliate after that "rat" bite him to worry about what it was doing. I would die if something ever happened where he attacked an animal and was taken and put down...so I wasn't really worrying about the chi...it was all about protecting my baby. I'm embarrassed to admit, but I take better care of my dog than I do my own husband...I'm that attached to him.

[Drgnrdr]

Imo: add my 2 cents...I carry a small pop out umbrella and the direct stop spray, the pop out umbrella is easy to distract dogs with and have a barricade of sorts until the owner hopefully comes and gets their dog, get your dog use to it so they don't freak with it.
Carry business cards of the local cremation company or pet funeral service, say "get a leash"

[Michele]

Divine: you are a crazy bitch

BagofBones: whereabouts in Brooklyn are you? I'm in Staten Island. maybe you could show me who these kids are?

[DivineOblivion19]

Originally Posted by Michele Divine: you are a crazy bitch

I may be a crazy bitch, but I'm going to do everything I can to keep another dog away from mine. Divina is bitchy with other dogs. I've seen her hang off the face of larger dogs (a Boxer and a Lab) because they got all up in her face. She's tiny but she will latch on to that dog and hold on as the dog flips around trying to get her off. If a dog smaller than her got all up in her face, she wouldn't appreciate it at all. I would kick the little dog who came up to her to prevent a fight. Also, Cori is a fear biter when it comes to other dogs. That Chi would be in trouble if he came up to my girls.

Honestly, I would prefer to kick the damn dog myself than risk my dog (especially if I owned a large dog and that dog was in the "dangerous dogs" view of the ignorant public) attacking the dog and injuring it even killing it, thus creating another dangerous dog story to go against the breed.

[Michele]

Seriously, if a strange dog came up to me and JC, I would do whatever I had to do to keep the dog away

[LittleMissE]

It happened to my mom today. Lugz actually took to it pretty well or so that is what I heard. Then the dog came up to Lugz pushing and being DA my mom picked up Lugz and walked with him in her arms for a 1/2 a block. She said it was a work out carrying a 35+ lb dog.

[littledozer24]

Lugz was a trooper. We were out on our jog/walk. When we were getting close to home, I spotted a medium sized dog running around; no leash; and no owner in site. Lugz spotted the dog shortly after me. Lugz walked beside me calmly looking at me most of the time. Lugz and I are on one side of the street and the other dog is on the other side of street. Lugz never lunged; growled or barked (I was very pleased). We walk past the dog (still on opposite side of the street) Lugz is still walking beside me calmly. The dog then decides that it wants to come after Lugz; the other dog runs up growling: I tell Lugz to sit and he does immediately as he is still paying attention to me. I pick him up because I don't want anything to happen. Lugz never struggled in my arms; he never barked; or growled. After I picked up Lugz, the other dog stopped. I walked carry Lugz for about 1/2 a block (man is he heavy); all the time watching the other dog that never took a step to follow.

[Sassy Girl]

I wouldn't necessarily kick another dog to keep them away but I would be as threatening as possible w/out touching them.

When I see another dog walking our way we usually will move to the other side of the street and I always yell to the owner "my dog is not friendly to other dogs" as soon as I see them to let them know to keep their damn dog on leash. This seems to keep them at bay but there are times when there is a loose one and then I usually will make a rukus (yelling and moving my arms around wildly) and if needed I will then pick up whichever dog is w/me and head the opposite direction.

[RottNPitLvr]

When I was in Miami, I was constantly being on the lookout of loose dogs... You'd be surprised at how common it is there to witness that... It's not near a problem in Atlanta as it was in Miami... So, anyway, I found that most of the dogs were insecure and submissive despite giving the appearance of being dominant and aggressive... I simply had my dogs in a tight, slightly behind heel, and walked dominant towards the approaching dog, and firmly, in a deep voice, saying " Get back"... Nine out of ten backed away with there tails tucked between their legs, the one that didn't wished he did...

[Rai_77]

Originally Posted by DivineOblivion19 I may be a crazy bitch, but I'm going to do everything I can to keep another dog away from mine. Divina is bitchy with other dogs. I've seen her hang off the face of larger dogs (a Boxer and a Lab) because they got all up in her face. She's tiny but she will latch on to that dog and hold on as the dog flips around trying to get her off. If a dog smaller than her got all up in her face, she wouldn't appreciate it at all. I would kick the little dog who came up to her to prevent a fight. Also, Cori is a fear biter when it comes to other dogs. That Chi would be in trouble if he came up to my girls. Honestly, I would prefer to kick the damn dog myself than risk my dog (especially if I owned a large dog and that dog was in the "dangerous dogs" view of the ignorant public) attacking the dog and injuring it even killing it, thus creating another dangerous dog story to go against the breed.

I'm with Divina on this one. Kick the living shit out of the other dog!