Aggressive dog around horses???

Question

this isnt really about horses but i am worried for my horse safety but thanks for reading.... =)

my friends neighbors dog is a pitbull mix and he is huge. the dog isnt even a year old yet. recently, the dog has become really aggressive. he has been coming onto my friends property and has been growling at her mom when she is outside in the yard. her mom doesnt even look at the dog at all yet the dog still growls. the dog has come into their garage. they have horses on their property (one being mine) and i am afraid not only for my friends but for me and my horses. we have called the humane society however they wont do anything unless the dog attacks someone.... >=(

i can see that the dog is underweight also and the reason he is underweight is because the owner doesnt want the dog to get to big.... -_-

what should i do??

i am worried for the safety of me, the horses, and my friend and her family.

please help and thankyou in advance

-beccaboo

Answer 1

Look.

talk to the owner of the dog.

maybe he is planning on fighting the dog. not good and that is y he has suddenly become aggressive.

ask the man to keep his dog contained and if he doesnt then get on the line 2 the police.

and remember, just because it is a pit doesnt mean it will be aggressive, but this one might be,

gd luck/

Answer 2

Call the local sheriff and find out what the laws are in your area regarding loose or aggressive dogs.....they will be able to advise you.

Answer 3

Loose dogs can do some serious damage.  I had one that chased my filly then 6 mos old over the top of me because she had nowhere else to go.  However, I got even, I had a friend of mine take the dog to a stable 300 miles away and drop him off...ROFLOL  

I had another dog that came THROUGH my back yard gate and mauled my sheltie (26 stitches later and the middle of the night, the dog came after me in the middle of the street!)  Fortunately, I had my extra lunge whip with me and nailed him across the street and onto his owner's front porch (They wouldn't come out and see what the ruckus was!).

My dogs don't go after livestock unless I tell my Aussie to move 'em and I HATE dogs who people who live around livestock either can't control or won't control.

Answer 4

feed him poisoned weenies....JUST KIDDING!  (I would NEVER do that...just being funny!)  No, seriously, contact the owner and let them know that the responsible thing to do is to keep the dog fenced.  Remind them that if the dog bites someone or the horses, they will be responsible and might end up paying a fortune in doctor or vet bills.  Tell your neighbor to take pictures of the dog on her property, especially when it's growling.  Hopefully the owner will keep it in a fence, but let's face it:  doesn't sound like they're that smart to begin with.  Good luck!

Answer 5

i am in farm country, and our one neighbors had dogs, they werent agressive towards humans, but towards our dogs and birds it was on for them.

i have shot at the dogs, not to shoot them but to scare them away from attacking one of my pets. (shot about 5 feet away from the two dogs attacking the peacock, cant shoot when the bird/other animals are being attacked so shoot close and they seem to stop to see what they missed.)

i used to have to stay in the house while my cats were being attacked as well, i tried calling the cops, but the dogs were always gone by the time they came.

so point of the story, call the cops to ask what should be done, never go near a dog you think/know can be agressive, and never get inbetween a dog that's attacking an animal unless your trained and have proper gear on. . . and when you call the cops, ask if it's allowed to shoot/shoot at the animal if it is attacking/chasing an animal.  dogs can rip a human apart if they had a mind to do so, i've seen a lady teach her dogs to attack people and when the cops showed up to get the dog that had attacked someone she sent that dog on the officer. . . a trip to the hospital and hunderds of stitches later she was ok. (if you can call it that).

good luck and i think it's sad that someone has to get hurt first for action to be taken.

edit:

i own a boxer/pit bull. . . he is the SWEETEST dog i've ever owned. . . the only thing he doesnt liek is cats, but other then that he loves humans and other dogs.  he has the cute lip the sticks out and the prettiest eyes. he was my brother's dog that he got for his girls. . . so he is more of a kids dog then an adult dog, but he's trained and listens to me, my mother, my dad, and my brother. they are great dogs, IF they're trained properly and taken care of.

Answer 6

it depends on where your friend lives but if it is in a rural part of the county like my ranch aggressive dogs either disappear or they get "gun trained".when it comes to an aggressive dog or my livestock and myself i will take the latter.i have seen a dog attack a foal and nearly kill it if i had not stopped the dog.my neighbors prize roping horse was chased into a t post killing it when my other neighbors dogs got out.we dont put up with loose dogs around livestock or children,someone will get hurt ,it is not a matter of if ,,but when.

Answer 7

Isn't there either leash or voice control laws in your area?  This owner sounds neglectful, if not abusive, for starving the dog to keep it smaller and letting it run free on other people's property.  I'd get pepper spray on hand for sure and carry around a big stick.  Warn the owners that if the dog is on the neighbor's property and is acting out in a threatening manner, that you (or the neighbor) will defend themselves.  If you can safely catch the dog, I'd bring it down to the humane society and drop it off like you found it loose.  The idiot owners probably won't even bother to pick up the poor dog.  Once again, stupid owners who can't keep their animals under control and yet again, there is another statistic which hurts responsible owners.  :-(

Answer 8

I have NO tolerance for it.  Have seen or repaired too much damage from aggressive dogs.

I live rural and many a dog has just 'disappeared.'  We have tried and tried to be 'nice' about it.  Stupid dog owners refuse to keep their dogs home and out of mine or neighbor's pastures.  I warn owners that I have a 'dog killing' horse.  Still won't keep the dogs contained.

We have our own 'system' where I live.  An aggressive or stock chasing or chicken killing dog will be dealt with harshly.  The dog WILL disappear...one way or the other.  Whether it is shot here or  hauled away and shot.  And nothing owner's can do about it if the dog is ON my land.  But we don't tell owner's when the dog is finally shot.  We haul it off ourselves or have a friend do it.  [That way, we can honestly say that we don't know where the dog is.]

If you don't have that option...go with the ammonia in a spray bottle.  Keep a record of times you call and report the animal.  If something bad does happen...then you have evidence that you had a problem and who you called.  Then it falls on the people who did nothing to help you.

And contrary to what alot of people think...Animal control in many places will NOT come catch an animal.  But want you to contain it yourself...and then they may make it in a day or two.  I don't have time for that....and I don't want to do it either.  Lead poisoning is quick and permanent when done correctly.

Answer 9

You'd be amazed at how a horse can protect itself!. Somebody's great dane got loose and went after my horses. Unfortuneatly for the dog , the horses went after him and ran him into the ground He lived but just barely. Keep in mind most states have laws about dogs bothering livestock. Maybe several of the neighbors could complain to animal control or the police. Get as much evidence as possible with pictures or whatever else turns up

Answer 10

Don't call the humane society. Call the police! They can't have a loose aggressive dog! That's dangerous.

The horses would most likely teach the dog a lesson. If the horse feels threatened and that dogs close they'll kick..

Answer 11

I would definitely call the police as most states have a law about dogs running loose.  I would worry more about the people than the horses as I am sure the horses will teach the dog a very good lesson.  You could call the humane society about the owner's treatment of the dog not the fact that you are worried about the dog doing something.  You could report the dog as abused.  But, try to verify that the dog is not being fed correctly.  It can take time for dogs to fill out as they get older.

Answer 12

Call Animal Control, not the Humane society.  And if you are out there, be sure to carry pepper spray.

Answer 13

I would call animal control and ask them to remove the dog.  Also ask you options, if you are not in town you can probably legally shoot the dog if it is endangering anyone.

Do NOT use pepper sray on this dog.  I have seen dogs go from being gentle to highly aggressive the first time that is used on them and those dogs are generally aggressive towards strangers and the people who spray them from that day on.  Instead use houshold ammonia in a water gun.  Shoot for the face.  It takes their breath away and they are too busy trying to get it to be mad enough to bite.  I have yet to know or hear of a dog that does not tuck tail and run from it.  I have known dogs to go after the people who peppered them though.

Answer 14

you should ask the neighbors to put him on a chain,and tell them why too.

Answer 15

tell the owners

even if the dog is part pitball it should be on a LEAD  pit bulls are known 4 being agressive they are bread for fighting

if nothing gets done bout it call the rspca or the police

Answer 16

I agree with the other who said if you live in a rural area to shoot it. If the dog is aggessive you would be doing it a favor anyways.

Answer 17

Weather you love the breed or not, it's up to you to keep your place safe. I love German Shepherds, but if one threatened me or mine and the owner was showing any irresponsibility, the dog would "disappear". Nothing said to anyone. It would just be gone.

Answer 18

if the dog is mean keep away from horse!

Answer 19

I'm guessing the dog is pretty ticked off because he or she isn't getting enough to eat. I realize the dog hasn't attacked, but it still poses a danger and acts aggressively. Why doesn't the owner keep the dog at home? Is it free to roam around? Call animal control and keep calling till they do something about it. That owner would have one helluva a lawsuit if that dog touched one of my horses or one of my kids. I'd let them know that too. Other than that, carry some pepper spray until something is done!

Answer 20

Horses are well able to defend themselves against a dog.  I have seen a horse kick a dog's head in.

Considering that you are dealing with neighbors that you must live with, I suggest that first someone try speaking the dog's owners, just as a courtesy, to warn them that if the dog is not contained on its own property and continues to come on other peoples' property, that it will be reported and the dog will be taken away.

If that does not solve the problem, then call and report the dog being loose.  Many cities and states have laws regarding dogs on the loose.  Some also have regulations regarding the breed.  If it is a pit bull, then it could spell trouble for the owners.  It is in their best interest to keep their animal contained to its own property.

Answer 21

Before you go ripsnorting and shootin', call local law enforcement and find out what your options are. There are usually codes concerning aggressive animals and it's always best to stay within the law. Besides, in some cases Johnny Law might do the shootin' for you!

Answer 22

This lady that was a family friend died last year over a dog. She was an excellent rider ....over 35 years of experience. The dog charged the horse she was thrown and broke her neck.

Tell the owner to keep the dog confined. If he doesn't then call the police. They will tell you it is considered a dangerous animal and since you have reported it and talked to the owners then you have the right to shoot it. Or go to your local Vet and ask for some sedation meds. and then feed the dog and take it to the pound.

I would not even take a chance on the dog.

Answer 23

As sad as it is to say this, a quick shot from a 22 will fix this problem. If the dog is aggressive now, no amount of love, attention, and food is going to fix that. If he's confiscated by the SPCA they are most likely to euthanize him too. Would your friend rather do the dirty deed now, or come out to her pasture to find ya'lls horses either dead or in a bloody mess. The neighbors can't say anything either if you do shoot their dog if the dog is coming onto your property and going after ya'll.

Answer 24

Any chance someone could catch the dog on your friend's property without getting bit?  Load it up and take it into the shelter, tell them that it's evidently a stray, it's running at large on the property.  I don't know how your area is, but in my county, the owner would have to pay a fine to get the dog back, and an even larger one if the dog is intact.  If the dog is brought in again, the fine increases dramatically with each time.  Maybe after a time or two, the owner will have the light bulb turn on in their head, and they'll realize that they need to keep their dog home.  Now, the other thing to that is, if your friend has a dog, it needs to be kept confined at home as well.....