Beneficial Ways to Handle an Off-Leash Dog

I think we’ve all had that moment where our dog is on a leash, and another dog comes lunging after our dog, not on a leash, with not a pet owner in sight. What to do, what to do…Panic? No! Have an agenda? Yes! The following tips and suggestions are recommended by Sara Reusche, a regular contributor writer for Dogster Magazine, upon encountering an off-leash dog, and one that is charging you and your pet:

• Distract the charging dog with a command such as ‘sit’– If he listens, you can toss a treat a two his way, and get away unnoticed while he’s eating the treats. Reusche states that this method has worked well for her with the dogs in her neighborhood.

• Startle the loose dog– Use yourself as a body block between your dog and the other dog that is charging you, hold your hand out, and say a command such as ‘no,’ ‘stop,’ or ‘stay.’

• Use a spray product if he comes very close–  Spray Shield is a citronella product that is not harmful to pets, and can be sprayed directly at them. Carry the product on walks as a safety measure, especially if there are dogs who deliberately mean to attack either you or your pet. The spray is also beneficial in stopping dog fights, which is an added plus.

• Never use pepper spray- While citronella in Spray Shield will not harm a dog, pepper spray is painful and can cause some dogs more aggression. If the wind gusts in a wrong direction, the pepper spray could revert into your or your pups eyes, making it virtually impossible to see what is going on in front of you. Also, NEVER run from a dog; that only encourages them to chase you. Don’t pick up your dog either, because that can cause further interest in your dog who’s not on a leash.

• If you have to pick up your dog…quickly place him somewhere he/she is safe, such as a nearby garbage can, a fenced yard with no animals, nearby bed of truck, or possibly on the roof of a car. If your dog is bigger, you might have to let go of the leash to see if they can get away from or defend themselves.

• Always protect yourself: Try and wear something that protects your head and neck. Always carry a walking stick with you. More tools to prevent or alleviate a potential attack by an aggressive dog will help you protect your dog, as well as yourself.

Do you have some tips for our readers to share with other pet owners who have encountered aggressive, non-leashed pets?

Article Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-ways-to-deal-with-an-off-leash-dog.html