06-15-2009, 06:13 AM
Frantically waving your hands and screaming wildly isn't generally considered to be the best response to what could be an attacking dog; however you were rather startled. Not to try to put any blame anywhere, so don't take it as such, but such actions could confuse a dog who wasn't going to attack into doing exactly that.
True, having a walking stick could have made a bigger problem. A walking stick could have been considered (by the dog) to be a very aggressive maneuver and they may have attacked out of a need to defend themselves. I've not generally seen good results when shaking a stick at a dog. Well, except when they will bring you the stick back when you throw it.
Many times, if you stand stock still and say to the dog in a authoritative tone of voice "Dog! Sit!" they will actually do it.
Dogs are also very territorial, so if you cease moving forward and slowly back up while facing the dog, yet not staring at it, it will generally quit being aggressive. Talking to it in a happy voice also will lower the aggressive tendencies.
All of this is just dialog on how to interact with a strange unknown dog. Not any of this has any intent to suggest this is the way it should be, just to suggest options in case you should find yourself in a similar situation. In an ideal world all dogs are happy and not barking or attacking and never escape their yards. Probably we could wish the same for people, but I'm sure they will prefer to escape their yards.
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Kurt Wilson
True, having a walking stick could have made a bigger problem. A walking stick could have been considered (by the dog) to be a very aggressive maneuver and they may have attacked out of a need to defend themselves. I've not generally seen good results when shaking a stick at a dog. Well, except when they will bring you the stick back when you throw it.
Many times, if you stand stock still and say to the dog in a authoritative tone of voice "Dog! Sit!" they will actually do it.
Dogs are also very territorial, so if you cease moving forward and slowly back up while facing the dog, yet not staring at it, it will generally quit being aggressive. Talking to it in a happy voice also will lower the aggressive tendencies.
All of this is just dialog on how to interact with a strange unknown dog. Not any of this has any intent to suggest this is the way it should be, just to suggest options in case you should find yourself in a similar situation. In an ideal world all dogs are happy and not barking or attacking and never escape their yards. Probably we could wish the same for people, but I'm sure they will prefer to escape their yards.
Kurt Wilson
Kurt Wilson