So last night we'd not long finished dinner and my 10yo daughter went next door to play with our neighbours kids.
About 10 minutes later we heard a dog kicking off and lots of screaming - also thought I head another dog yelping but was more concerned about the screams.
Ran outside and in front of my neighbours drive there's about 5 people around this massive American-type bulldog/bull mastiff thing trying to pull it off something - I thought the worst and went wading in as I thought it had one of the kids.
anyway it wasn't the kids it was this little Cairn Terrier in the jaws of this massive thing - it had it by the snout.
The bulldogs owner was trying to (pathetically) tell his dog to let go.
Everyone is holding and kicking this dog to try and get it to let go and not shake the terrier to death.
So me being a bit dim/stupid/brave/heroic/impulsive (delete as appropriate) went in ad grabbed its head and collar.
The guy whose dog it is has hold of the lead and my neighbour is also in the mix.
Neighbours wife goes and gets a watering can and tips it over the dogs head - which isn't quite working so I told her to pour it in its mouth and I shoved my fingers up its massive nostrils - I though it if choked and couldn't breath it would let go...
There was lots of advice from the side lines of 'put your fingers in it's mouth' but I decided I quite like the current full compliment of digits I have.....
So it let's go from the water and suffocation attempt - brilliant!
Apart from the fact that I now have hold of the business end of a pissed off dog with my fingers up its nose!
Everyone else backed off so it's just me and the owner who's on the floor holding the lead!
I told him in no uncertain terms that he needed to hold it tight as if this thing went for me when I let go I wouldn't be too amused to put it mildly......
Managed to back off and get out of Dodge pretty quickly.
Apparently what had happened was the guy with the bulldog had told the women with the Terrier to move out of the way while he passed (have seen him walking it before and he has very little control) so se walked on to my neighbours drive and stood behind his car. The bulldog pulled free and ran up the drive and grabbed the terrier and ended up with the owners of both holding leads and all got dragged in to the road.
Police turned up mob handed (3 cars all 2 up) because they had been told that it was a person that had been attacked.
The Terrier was remarkably well considering it was 11 and had literally stared death in the face.
The guy breeds these dogs and has around 6 of them but they're all kept in a pen in the garden so they aren't really house dogs - just money making objects.
Not sure what the outcome is either way as the Terrier went off to the emergency vets and the Police went round this guys house.
I'm just so glad it wasn't one of the kids.
My Mrs wasn't too impressed with my actions, but I pointed out that it seemed like the right thing to do and I was just worried it was one of the kids.
She's also decided that she won't be walking our dog alone or letting our daughter take him out on her own either.
I genuinely feel bad for the bulldog because if it isn't shown authority from the owner and is left in a pen all day in the baking sun it's already going to be aggravated and try to assert it's dominance over other dogs as that's how it's left all day.
I'm guessing it won't be long for this world as I'm pretty sure the terrier owners are pressing charges.
As they say there are no bad dog just bad owners.
Apparently the best way to get a dog to let go is to shove something up it's bum..... hindsight is great isn't it!!
Neighbours wife goes and gets a watering can and tips it over the dogs head – which isn’t quite working so I told her to pour it in its mouth and I shoved my fingers up its massive nostrils
****ing brilliant story! I spat my tea across the desk at that sentence! WTF?!?!?!?🤣
Glad everyone was OK, have been in a similar situation before where I ended up grabbing and twisting a psychotic Rotweiler's massive collar to cut off bloody/air supply till it let go of the dog it was attacking. It did, and I also survived.
Bet you experienced quite the adrenalin spike.
Apparently the best way to get a dog to let go is to shove something up it’s bum
Frozen sausage?
Frozen sausage?
Could that end up turning the dog into a mobius strip as it tries to dig the sausage out of itself?
Is it the weekend yet?
Kudos on the dog tackling bravery/stupidity!
Christ on a bike - much respect to you for doing that - I don't think I could have done it.
Dog dangerously out of control? time to put it down? Could be a robins face next!
* runs away*
Attempting to waterboard an angry dog - what could go wrong?
Well done for wading in, though.
Did you check to see if it had a collar with the owners name and address on it?..
Seriously though - yes, that is the line between bravery and stupidity on your part and just utter stupidity on the owner's part. There are a couple of fields near us where we sometimes walk our dogs and there have been a few occasions when someone's rabid Roman war dog / American pit bull cross / hound of Hades types have been off the lead and utterly out of control.
And yes, the pitiful commands of the owners - 'oh do stop', 'oh please be a good doggie and come back' as this snarling beast from hell is about to rip our dogs to shreds. Idiots...
Good on you for stepping in and as you say, could have been much much worse.
Good effort.
Not sure what I would have done in that situation.
Glad to read you are ok and no one, especially a child was injured.
People who can't/won't control their dogs are a 'king menace and shouldn't be allowed to keep them.
What happened when you woke up? 😛
So it let’s go from the water and suffocation attempt – brilliant!
Apart from the fact that I now have hold of the business end of a pissed off dog with my fingers up its nose!
That had me spitting tea! 🤣
Well done for your actions though, undoubtedly saved the wee dogs life. And yes a shame for the bulldog, people can be dicks sadly.
Apparently the best way to get a dog to let go is to shove something up it’s bum
Can confirm. Saw a similar incident unfold at a crusty rave free party many years ago after being up for about three days. One of those scenes that kind of makes you question where you're heading in life... 🙂
One of those scenes that kind of makes you question where you’re heading in life… 🙂
You ended up on STW, so you should have probably listened to your inner voice and taken corrective action. 🙂
What did it feel like? The dogs nose, I mean? Did it have bogies?
verses
Frozen sausage?
Unfortunately we'd used the last ones for dinner - sausage & mash lol
grum
What happened when you woke up? 😛
Not sure how to take that - but definitely not a dream.
dannybgoode
Did you check to see if it had a collar with the owners name and address on it?..
The owner lives on our estate in the next road over.
Apparently not the first time it's happened - just been told another one of his dogs (same breed but blue) also attacked another dog on the little park we have a couple of weeks back.
desperatebicycle
What did it feel like? The dogs nose, I mean? Did it have bogies?
No bogies that I remember - but I was surprised at how large it's nostrils were and how far up my fingers went!
Assume this was a girl dog? No danglies to grab hold of?
I guess you had no choice if you thought it had hold of your kid. Hopefully the owner gets banned from owning dogs.
@cb I don't honestly know - I didn't pay much attention to what was going on at the back....
Will have to see what happens.
There is talk amongst the neighbours about starting a petition if nothing gets done - I think someone has also called the RSPCA.
The fact that he told this woman to move out of the way suggests that the dog can't be trusted to 'play nicely' with others, and if not it should have at least been muzzled.
Assume this was a girl dog? No danglies to grab hold of?
I think the OP had stated that the owner had already tried to pull it off without any success.
razorrazoo
Assume this was a girl dog? No danglies to grab hold of?
I think the OP had stated that the owner had already tried to pull it off without any success.
Hahaha I see what you did there - brilliant!!
That made me spit my coffee out!
There is talk amongst the neighbours about starting a petition if nothing gets done – I think someone has also called the RSPCA
The RSPCA will only get involved if they agree the dogs are suffering. What you actually want to do is talk to the dog warden at the Local Authority. They have various powers and are far more impactful than a petition!
Apparently the best way to get a dog to let go is to shove something up it’s bum….. hindsight is great isn’t it!!
I've heard this before but never been in a situation where I'd want to try it!
In the 70s my mum used to hit them on the head with her wooden clogs. Dogs were always fighting back then, but it was kind of acceptable, especially on our estate.
Nowadays, like if have doubts about being able to control your dog, you get it under a close lead, you don't tell someone else to get their dog out of the way! That's outrageous. If the police don't ban this moron, can't you just pay for a hit on him?
I wondered if there's any prior literature here and found this:
https://nycdoggies.com/wellness/break-up-dog-fight/
I thought there'd be some macho posturing on this but it's a dog trainer's website and it seems fairly sensible and involves things that don't put you at the bitey end which is probably where I'd have gone.
Glad everyone is okay OP.
There is no line between bravery and stupidity.
If you survive doing something daft or life threatening - Brave.
If you don’t - Stupid.
Good link molgrips.
Always avoid the bitey end! Back of neck/collar is where I'd have gone and take the legs away.
Glad you are OK.
I thought the watering can over dog was to ztop them bumming eavh other
Do these dogs still havr testicles? A size 10 boot correctly administered should habe the desired effect
Or is it jusy humans who roll. Into aball a whimper like a child aftet a kick in the nuts
My Mrs wasn’t too impressed with my actions
You have my sympathies that you married a buffoon. (-:
Exceptional work on your part. In an emergency people don't think, they react, and that reaction is as good a yardstick of character as you'll find. I'm proud of you, for what that's worth, even if no-one else is.
Well done OP. I had a similar experience a few years ago when a Staffy attacked our Collie. The old git that was walking it for his son in law was useless. It had latched on to the dogs neck. I had to do something so I tried prising it off. It then bit me, breaking a finger and scarring me.
I reported it to the police thinking that if something happened again at least they’d know it wasn’t a one off.
I saw the dog owner in a local park a few days later. Whereupon he suggested we had a fight. Because obviously I was in the wrong. 🙄
can’t you just pay for a hit on him
Sounds like he is probably the local contractor for such tasks.
I hate people treating their dogs poorly, I have been through my own 'reactive' dog problems recently as my sweet looking rescue has a ferral streak at times, although she's more noise than actual aggression, but still a 30kg dog going full tilt is pretty intimidating. Lots of training and exposure are helping, but if the owner you know isn't making an effort and other dogs need to 'get out of the way', then it's just a childs face waiting to happen.
Dog dangerously out of control? time to put it down
Correct response and from further down the thread the blue one should be euthanised too. We have the odd small dog killed in the parks here in Ipswich and invariably it's a bull or mastiff type that's had to be destroyed.
Apparently the best way to get a dog to let go is to shove something up it’s bum….. hindsight is great isn’t it!!
So, another one to add to my list..
Dogs - option a) sausage up bum option b) hit with wooden clog if available.
Bear - Brown, act big; Black, run away; Grizzly, play dead.
Gorilla - don't look in eyes, pretend to be interested in piece of dirt near foot while smacking it with back of hand and grunting.
Snake (especially in Disney films) - don't look in eyes at all.
Sharks - punch on nose.
Probably best to remember these rules and not mix them up, after all you wouldn't want to be inserting a sausage up a Great White's bum while averting eyes..
Correct response and from further down the thread the blue one should be euthanised too
Or just put a muzzle on them rather than killing the poor buggers.
They need socialised, not euthanised. Some dogs are beyond saving but even then there are options before just having them put down.
Dogs – option a) sausage up bum option b) hit with wooden clog if available.
Dont forget "No danglies to grab hold of?" suggesting a third option or possibly combined with a.
Dont forget “No danglies to grab hold of?” suggesting a third option or possibly combined with a.
I'm trying to keep the list fairly simple. I don't want to be grabbing a gorilla's danglies because I've mixed it up!
Dogs – option a) sausage up bum option b) hit with wooden clog if available.
Bear – Brown, act big; Black, run away; Grizzly, play dead.
Gorilla – don’t look in eyes, pretend to be interested in piece of dirt near foot while smacking it with back of hand and grunting.
Snake (especially in Disney films) – don’t look in eyes at all.
Sharks – punch on nose.
Reminds me of when I was at Australia Zoo many years ago and Steve Irwin was giving a talk on crocodiles. He asked everyone what to do if being chased by a croc and of course a load of people shouted out to run in zig zags.
He said 'Yes but think about it. If you are running in zig zags and the croc is running in a straight line on one of those zigs or zags you're going to meet. There is only one way to run from a crocodile and that is ****ing quickly.'
@squirrelking The rest of us dog owners don't want to be training or helping sort out other people's dogs. If the owner won't do the job then remove them permanently. There's a good reason why biting and fighting dogs don't get re-homed, especially those that go all red-mist when subjected to pain stimuli.
@squirrelking The rest of us dog owners don’t want to be training or helping sort out other people’s dogs
Really? That must be why nobody has ever rehomed a dog ever.
There’s a good reason why biting and fighting dogs don’t get re-homed
Depends on the siuation, does it attack people in the house or just other dogs out and about because it's never been socialised? If it's the latter then you can muzzle it and train it to not lost its shit.
The rest of us dog owners don’t want to be training or helping sort out other people’s dogs. If the owner won’t do the job then remove them permanently. There’s a good reason why biting and fighting dogs don’t get re-homed, especially those that go all red-mist when subjected to pain stimuli.
+1
Should be outright illegal these types of dogs they are not pets
Agree with the “no bad dogs, just bad owners”, but there are some breeds that we really should stop breeding. We don’t need their specialist biting skills that they were selectively bred to excel at.
but there are some breeds that we really should stop breeding. We don’t need their specialist biting skills that they were selectively bred to excel at.
The most dangerous breeds are banned such as Pit Bull Terriers but there is too much nuance as similar breeds are still allowed.
I know. They shouldn’t be.
Whatever you put up said dogs bum should be coated in mustard or chillli for maximum effect
Whatever you put up said dogs bum should be coated in mustard or chillli for maximum effect
A hot dog for a hot dog's bum?
Cougar
My Mrs wasn’t too impressed with my actions
You have my sympathies that you married a buffoon. (-:
Exceptional work on your part. In an emergency people don’t think, they react, and that reaction is as good a yardstick of character as you’ll find. I’m proud of you, for what that’s worth, even if no-one else is.
She's far from a Buffoon lol, but she did tell me to never do that again unless it's our child or dog.
I think it was more the fact that I ended up with the snarly biting end when everyone else moved away lol
She has praised me for my bravery/stupidity since the event lol
Apart from the fact that I now have hold of the business end of a pissed off dog with my fingers up its nose!
Very brave of you to do that.
The owner should have muzzled the dog and is totally responsible for the situation.
She’s far from a Buffoon lol, but she did tell me to never do that again unless it’s our child or dog.
If it was your child you need only a hammer to the dog's brain.
If it was your child you need only a hammer to the dog’s brain.
Ha! Good luck with that. Hitting a moving target with a hammer. I have a hard enough time not hitting my finger holding a stationary nail. I'd probably injure the kid. 🙁
Need a dog fight break stick to get dogs to separate.
Terrible situation to be in. I have only once been in the situation where a dog came running up to mine in the and 'went for her' I grabbed my dog and lifted her up high out of reach. Fortunately owner arrived and words were exchanged before any damage was done.
@squirrelking as a serial re-homer I know whereof I speak. Biting and fighting dogs are not re-homed by reputable rescue schemes. I took on a biter and fighter once, never again, too much stress to start with and he never really settled in 7 years.
She’s far from a Buffoon lol, but she did tell me to never do that again unless it’s our child or dog.
I'd hope from the smiley, you realise I wasn't being entirely serious. (-:
I had something similar several years ago. Bleary-eyed one morning I was alerted by my then-partner screaming. Two big dogs out back were playing tug-o-war with a cat. I reacted rather than thought, stuffed what I could of my feet into her three-sizes-too-small-for-me trainers and ran out in my dressing gown screaming and flailing. The dogs took one look at the inbound demented Arthur Dent and both bolted, I hoovered up the cat, took him to the vet and then myself to A&E to treat a cat bite in my hand. It was only when I got back home that it really dawned on me, that could very easily have gone very very badly wrong.
2 tips I’ve been told (fortunately not had to try using yet) are
1) lift and hold the biting dogs rear legs off the ground
2) sharply blow up the nostrils
Obviously needs more than 1 committed individual to do these but I’d happily do either if it was my dog being attacked.
2) sharply blow up the nostrils
Someone suggested that last night - but no way was anyone trying that with a dog that could fit your face in its mouth!!
The women whose dog was injured came round to see my wife today to thank me for my bravery/stupidity. Her dog is ok, only a small puncture wound and twisted leg - the vet sedated it slightly to stop it stressing.
Police aren't pressing Amy charges as no crime had been committed and the dogs are well cared for......
Police aren’t pressing Amy charges as no crime had been committed and the dogs are well cared for……
😮 WTF?! They have to bite a person before being dangerous? And again WTF?!
I'd be onto the local police and crime commissioner to get that decision reviewed. I wouldn't want that risk roaming round my street.
+1
Should be outright illegal these types of dogs they are not pets
What are "those types"?
The most dangerous breeds are banned such as Pit Bull Terriers but there is too much nuance as similar breeds are still allowed.
I know. They shouldn’t be.
So because they look similar that's it?
By all accounts on here it sounds like border collies account for most aggression out and about (chasing and biting cyclists) and I know of a few hound owners that have had dogs attacked by them. Should we ban them too? They are after all working dogs and practically speaking have no place in a home.
I know this is STW and facts have no place here but:
According to the Kennel Club, the number one breed in the UK is the Labrador. This friendly, lovable breed has long been a family favourite.
However, with evidence suggesting most dog bites are from the family pet that’s had no previous history of biting, it follows that Britain’s most popular breed is also responsible for the highest number of canine attack personal injury claims, because there are more of them. Other breeds that were highlighted in the report included German Shepherds, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Border Collies.
https://www.doglistener.tv/2016/08/breed-most-likely-to-bite/
Of course that all depends on a snapshot of a period of time. Here's another one:
Jack Russell terriers have topped the list of dogs most likely to attack humans.
Merseyside Police found more reports of canine attacks on humans involving Jack Russells than any other breed in 2015.
The terriers were found to be more aggressive than other breeds of dogs that are perceived to be aggressive, like pit bulls or bull terriers.
So yes, staffies get a bad rap, mostly the ones like the OP encountered that have been kept to breed and never socialised but don't let prejudice get in the way of facts.
(I can but try)
Police aren’t pressing Amy charges as no crime had been committed and the dogs are well cared for……
And that, for me sums up the country we live in.
FFS
2) sharply blow up the nostrils
F*** that, how close do you want to put your face to a pissed-off/stressed-out angry dog?
Police aren’t pressing Amy charges as no crime had been committed and the dogs are well cared for……
😮 WTF?! They have to bite a person before being dangerous? And again WTF?!
I’d be onto the local police and crime commissioner to get that decision reviewed. I wouldn’t want that risk roaming round my street.
Of the top of my head, I can think of several breaches of the Dangerous Dogs Act from the OPs description. So I'd be taking it further.
Hmmm blow up its nostrils, or boot it in the knackers, tough choice.
Does any of this breed analysis consider that certain types of dogs are kept in certain types of conditions by certain types of people? Substitute whatever you want for the ‘certain’ placeholders up there but don’t doubt it’s nature and nurture.
You can prove anything with stats… popular breeds are responsible for more bites because there are many times more of them? So what? If you’ve faced the comparative biting power of a gun dog like a lab to that of one selectively bred to have the grip of the dog described by the OP you’ll understand the point I was making. We don’t need dogs selectively bred for their vice like grip and instinct to use it, so let’s not breed them any more.
Opportunity to ram watering can spout up dog's bum was missed.
Could that end up turning the dog into a mobius strip as it tries to dig the sausage out of itself?
Had to laugh at that! Horrible situation to be in, though, and kudos for stepping in like that and helping save the poor little dog from a likely far more serious injury, if not death. One alternative to the watering can, if any happened to be handy in their kitchen is a pot of pepper, that emptied into the hell-hound’s face would have distracted it - it certainly does me if I’m a bit over-enthusiastic with the pepper on my dinner; much sneezing ensues!
Hot chilli powder would probably be even more effective, as we’re not allowed to carry bear spray over here…
Does any of this breed analysis consider that certain types of dogs are kept in certain types of conditions by certain types of people?
Of course it does. I remember when I was growing up it was Rottweilers, Dobermans and German Shepherds that were the hard mans dog of choice at various points. The problem isn't the dogs themselves, the problem are the people that fancy themselves as breeders and keep them in appalling conditions.
You can prove anything with stats… popular breeds are responsible for more bites because there are many times more of them? So what?
Are you suggesting staffies aren't a popular breed? And yes, the stats prove that more dogs than just staffies bite and in fact more often. Wonder how many of those nasty little Jackahuahua things are going to end up on the end of someones arm? Again, poor breeding with no thought behind it other than £££. Same nonsense but middle class so okay.
If I had to stick my fingers up a dogs nose (or bum) to get it under control id be asking the police why it was not an offence under section 3 of the dangerous dogs act 1991.
However, as I said earlier in terms of future prevention you will get much more effect / action with the LA Dog Warden.
2) sharply blow up the nostrils
I am not exactly a dog expert but I seem to recall the nostrils are located pretty close to the mouthful of razor sharp fangs.
I think short of not getting involved my dads approach several years back was the best option. He used a wrecking bar to open the mouth since a)minimal risk to his hand getting it to release and B)he at least stood a chance of having a open and frank conversation with the ravenous mutt if it did get upset.
I think the OP had stated that the owner had already tried to pull it off without any success.
Comment of the week for me, well played!
To the op, good work on wading in, I'm glad you still have all your fingers after that!
The American Bulldog owner - if he was a responsible owner and he’s clearly not - should have it muzzled in public.
Separating dogs is a dangerous thing. MrsG had a nasty bite separating our two terriers (our Patterdale used to be pretty food possessive) over a food treat. The best advice I’ve had for separating dogs is if they have a collar then just choke them. Horrible situations.
A few years ago I saw a meathead with a pitbull just round the corner from my house, dog wasn’t on a lead, a westie was being walked by its elderly owner on opposite side of the road, pitbull charged at westie, barking like mad, fortunately a car was driving down the road and hit the pitbull sending it 20 yards down the road coming to a stop right in front of me, yelping like mad but not moving.
Meathead was naturally upset and ran to dog (shouting rocky, rocky -or was it tyson?)
Westie owner said, ‘why didn’t you have it on a lead? Meathead went for old guy and had to be held back!!!
Seems these dogs are consistently owned by people who have similar intellect than the dogs!
Tempting to get a tazer
Tempting to get a tazer
Large kitchen knife. Everyone's got one of those.
If I had to stick my fingers up a dogs nose (or bum) to get it under control id be asking
Given the choice between sticking my finger up an aggressive low-slung-sporty-model dog's arse or reaching for a three D-cell Maglite, I suspect I'd be wondering why it'd suddenly got inexplicably dark.
I love animals. I love dogs. I'm no fighter, I'm a well-documented professional run-away-er. I'm like nine stone wet through. But in a pinch where some fighty dog was getting fighty at me or at people I cared about, I'd totally brain the ****er and worry about it later.
Ahem friend who is ex Parachute Regiment and in a special bit of the local constabulary these days suggested the following apprpach...
Take a stick or any robust stick like thing and place under back of dog collar and rotate until dog blacks out... he did say it can kill the dog as it crushed the windpipe.
Make sure you always carry a dog stick.
Tourniquet
Sounds like a good plan. Though I imagine the stick need to be slender and extremely strong.
