what to do when encountering aggressive dogs?

Question

When out walking today with my 6 months old pup and sister, we heard this dog go berserk at us (as we were accustomed to everytime we go walking in that area). It was dark, and it was in this fenced property so we just kept walking towards the house since we normally go that way on our walks. Then all of a sudden this humongous dog started walking out of the property. The gate wasn't shut properly. It was growling as it came towards us slowly. It would have been about 5-10 metres away from us. My puppy is really friendly and she just kep walking to the dog, so i quickly picked her up, and we all turned around and walked away without looking at the dog.
Is that what I should have done? Or do dogs attack from the back as well?

I hear some people take walking sticks to scare off aggressive dogs, but I don't want to have to do that.

Answer 1

I believe you did the right thing. All dogs react differently. They can attack you from the behind. It is a good thing you walked. If you ran you could have been attacked. If you are attacked, I have been told that if you hit them up on their nose where the nostrils are, they will leave you alone. I don't know that from experience. I would notify the owner about the gate and your experience.

Answer 2

Hello :
Consider yourself lucky dogs do attack from the rear ; its to there advantage . You say that you frequently walk in that area so you are familiar to the dog . If you had been a stranger it might have a differant story. The big dog was trying to be intimanating thats all are he/she would have attack . This time he/she was on the outside of her/his territory ; approached you and growled
but perceive no danger are threat and went about its buiness.
A dog that is sick are mistreated are protecting pups some breeds are more aggresive then others .. You must use caution.
and good common sence .
Carring a stick may work for most .... but a large aggresive dog say a Rotweiller .... the stick may just piss him off and go directly into attack mode. use caution
When ever you are out for your walks you can avoid that area are approach with extream caution .
> my past experiances with large aggressive dogs i stand my ground and look them in the eye (im 6' 1" and 250lbs) and growl right back at them and pretending to pick up a rock are something will useally make them change there mind about attacking.
>> remember there is no guarantee this always works
>> use common sence and good judgment
>> avoid incountering any aggressive dog if possible
>> show no fear


Good Luck / O'WyleeDawg

Answer 3

You did the best you could at the time with the limited knowledge you had at hand.
I think the first mistake (if you made one) was to pick your dog up, this in turn tells your dog there is something to be aware of.
You perhaps should have let the two dogs meet and let them find all about each other by letting them sniff (sniffing is part of the information they swap about each other).
I had this happen to me once and I growled at the dog very loudly, you know the dog got such a fright it ran back inside the property. You could also stand erect, looking away from the dog, and stand stock still, the dog will loose interest and go away.
Good luck.

Answer 4

I would stay away from that property and contact animal control and tell them exactly what you just wrote. Yes some dogs will attack from the rear. Never look a mean dog in the eye. They take this as aggression.

Answer 5

If a dog is protecting a property with a fence or a barrier between you and it, leave it alone . It has assumed responsibility for that area.
If you confronted by an aggresive dog, hold out a clenched fist
( not fingers, he might snap at them. Unless he is huge, he won't be able to bite a fist) Allow him to take your smell.
Dogs are very discerning and can detect a threat or fear purely from smell.

If necessery kneel down to his head height. Anything bigger than them can be interpteted as a threat. Kneeling down is a sign of submissiveness and reduces the threat to him.

Dogs do not normaly attack unless they are trained to do so. Normally they are responding to what they see as a threat to themselves or to what they are protecting.

Answer 6

Good job not looking at the dog. Many dogs get bad talk cause they are big. but when a dog is big, you mustn't ever put another dog in chance of danger.
One: never look a dangerous dog in the eyes, he will take that as a challenge, make sure your dog does the same, remain confident, and ver only slightly out of your way if you are okay with that... maybe to the otherside of the street is good :-)

Answer 7

Good thing you didn't run. If you ran, it would definitely attack. Next time come armed with some pepper spray - just in case it attacks. And report the owner for negligence NOW.