Hi Y'all
I was watching Victoria Stillwell on It's Me or the Dog (Tv). She was
dealing with an American Bulldog (that is what she called it). The dog
was very posessive of it's owners, a young couple. The big problem was
that the dog was just plain aggressive when anyone visited, even their
family. She trained the dog, and ultimately discovered he had a
thryroid problem, and her method was restraining the dog when company
came over, blah, blah, blah.
When the show was completed, she addressed us with tips as what to do
and not do if a strange dog is looking at you menacingly, as if he may
attack. She said "Do not make eye contact", "Do not flail about with
your hands" and "Do not scream at the dog". I am with her on those 3
comments. She then suggested you turn your back on the dog. do not
flee, just turn to the side. If attack is imminent, hit the ground and
curl up in a ball covering your head.
It is the turning your back part I take issue with? I know I have
been in the company of dogs I am not sure about. I recall putting on my
game face and acting like everything was cool. Obviously, I was not
going to be attacked anyway, I guess. I never have been. Somehow,
turning your back seems like it is inviting attack. What should you do
if you are in the presence of a dog that appears to be, or may be in
attack mode?


Be Free.....Judy

Judith Althouse wrote:
She said "Do not make eye contact", "Do not flail about with
your hands" and "Do not scream at the dog". I am with her on those 3
comments. She then suggested you turn your back on the dog. do not
flee, just turn to the side. If attack is imminent, hit the ground and
curl up in a ball covering your head.

I think it's highly variable, and something that should probably be
played by ear. It may not be easy to tell why the dog is being
aggressive. Remember Muttley biting a workman on the ass as the guy
turned away? With a fear aggressive dog, turning away may encourage
him to attack.

Sometimes stomping, clapping, or shouting works, but with some dogs,
it might encourage them to escalate.

With a batshit crazy dog? I'd avoid eye contact and try to make
myself as unthreatening as possible. Try to get a barrier between
it and me. Maybe pick up a weapon if one is available (piece of
furniture, large stick, rock, etc.)? I don't think I'd turn my
back, though I might turn to the side. I *really* don't think I'd
lie down on the ground, though. It's a dog, not a bear.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

Shelly said in part....
I think it is highly variable, and something that should be played by
ear.
____________________
Shelly,
Thanks for replying. You are dead on, I don't know what I was
thinking. I guess Victoria led me down the path.
She really didn't turn her self completely around so her back was
facing the dog. She turned to the side, which I still don't like, I
like to keep my eye on the dog.
Of course, every dog is different, and therefore require a different
reacion.
I don't think I will be rolling around in a ball on the ground
voluntarily.


Be Free.....Judy

"Judith Althouse" wrote in message
...
Shelly said in part....
I think it is highly variable, and something that should be played by
ear.
____________________
Shelly,
Thanks for replying. You are dead on, I don't know what I was
thinking. I guess Victoria led me down the path.
She really didn't turn her self completely around so her back was
facing the dog. She turned to the side, which I still don't like, I
like to keep my eye on the dog.
Of course, every dog is different, and therefore require a different
reacion.
I don't think I will be rolling around in a ball on the ground
voluntarily.


I think the idea here is that if the dog attacks you and knocks you down ,
that you need to protect your front.

BethinAk said...
I think the idea here is that if the dog attacks you and knocks you
down, you need to protect your front.
_____________________________
Beth,
I was attempting to relay what Victoria Stillwell said to do. I am
sure that was her intention, however she demonstrated dropping to the
ground before the attack. She held her hands locked over her head. I
guess that does make sense but I probably wouldn't be able to react
quickly enough. I also think if I was being attacked I would have a
better chance on my feet.
I just read this item in the Ocala news about a shoplifter. He fled
the store, drove to the forest, fled on foot. He stripped himself of
his clothing, covered himself with dirt and leaves.
The police pursued him with a canine unit. The GSD found him, he
punched the dog in the head, and then grabbed him by the neck and
twisted it. He refused to release the dog until they clubbed him in the
legs. No report of permanent injury to the dog.
I just can't imagine the suspect being able to do that, maybe there is
an advantage to being on the ground aside from protecting your innards.
Grisly, anyway you look at it. I imagine they will add abusing an
animal, assaulting a canine officer to his bevy of charges?


Be Free.....Judy

On 2008-03-07 21:18:08 -0500, (Judith Althouse) said:

He fled
the store, drove to the forest, fled on foot. He stripped himself of
his clothing, covered himself with dirt and leaves.
The police pursued him with a canine unit. The GSD found him, he
punched the dog in the head, and then grabbed him by the neck and
twisted it. He refused to release the dog until they clubbed him in the
legs. No report of permanent injury to the dog.
I just can't imagine the suspect being able to do that,

Drugs?

Montana said.
Drugs?
________________
Oh yeah, I forgot that part. They found cocaine. He had shoplifted
baggies, 2 Panama hats, a pair of pants, among other things. He had to
be under the influence.


Be Free.....Judy

On 2008-03-02 18:31:29 -0800, (Judith Althouse) said:

What should you do
if you are in the presence of a dog that appears to be, or may be in
attack mode?


Be Free.....Judy

Drug dealers who lived across the street from me had trained two
Rottweilers to be vicious by beating and whipping them. The dogs' cries
in the night were heartbreaking. They were using the dogs to guard
their meth lab, but the dogs were frequently outside unsupervised and
unfenced, frequently threatening me, my neighbors, and any visitors.
People were afraid to let their children play outdoors. Sometimes the
dogs would not let us out of our cars in our own driveways. One of the
dogs was eventually shot, perhaps by someone that it was threatening.
Or maybe it was the drug dealers having a little 'sport.' Anyway, I
found it dead at the side of the road as I was coming home from work.
It had been shot once in the chest, just behind the left foreleg. It
must have died instantly. :-(

Police had been called many times about the drug dealers and the
Rottweilers, but they did nothing for more than a year. They did not
even come out when the dog was reported shot, although the dog was gone
the next day, so someone came and took it away. (I was not about to
visit the drug dealers and tell them their dog was dead!) If they had
acted sooner, perhaps that dog would have had a much longer, happier
life.

At last the police finally did act, raiding the house, arresting the
drug dealers, confiscating their lab, drugs, guns, and money, and they
took the remaining Rotty to the pound. I don't know what happened to
him. They did tell me that there were enough chemicals in that house to
blow up the entire block. As it was, the chemicals got into the
groundwater and the lot had to be condemned as a toxic waste site. The
house was torn down.

I really hate drug dealers.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

Waddling Eagle said in part...
Drug dealers who lived across the street from me had trained 2
Rottweilers to be vicious by beating and whipping them.
......I really hate drug dealers.
__________________
Waddling Eagle,
That was a very sad story, drug dealers don't usually make very good
dog owners. Often times they want to own dogs for all the wrong reasons.
I am very sorry for the Rotties, but glad your neighbors are gone.
One of my dogs, Jack, came from a home that was up to no good. He
unlike them is the nicest dog you would ever want to meet. He is a Pit
bull mix and he is so easy going and nice. He is snoring loudly as I am
typing


Be Free.....Judy