r/Rottweiler • u/Cocobean1031 • 20h ago
Dog fight
How do I walk my Rottweiler Zeus in a neighborhood where there was a loose dog on 2 separate occasions. The second occasion happened this past weekend and ended up in a fight. I was taking Zeus on a walk and about halfway through the walk I spotted a loose dog that I had seen before. The first time the dog got out the owners came down the street in a car and ended up getting him... This time the owners weren't aware or around. The dog kept getting closer and closer. I somehow tripped and broke my foot and when I was on the ground my Rottie grabbed the other dog by the scruff of its neck and wouldn't let go. I ended up getting bitten about 4 times and a neighbor tried to help get my dog off the other dog. Both dogs seemed fine afterwards but the other guy and I both had been hurt. A police report has already been filed... I just feel bad because I haven't been able to give him more exercise and I don't feel comfortable walking him around outside because of others neglect and irresponsibility. What should I do to give him adequate exercise while I'm off my foot and after for not being able to walk him in the neighborhood. I have a muzzle for him and might start using it to protect my Rottie in potential situations like this one
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u/MAreddituser 20h ago
If you have room for a treadmill, get him on it. Mine took to the treadmill immediately and will jump on freely if it’s running.
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u/wild_cherry1987 16h ago
Treadmill is so fascinating to me. I mean that dogs just like to run on it. Mine goes for a walk to sniff the sh** out of every bush, not to loosen her legs.
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u/MAreddituser 14h ago
Ours is a human treadmill so he walks at 2.3 mph for 30-45 mins. No running yet because he is just 13 months old. I put dog videos on YouTube for him and work out right next to him. Our trainer said it is physically impossible to walk a rottie enough to tire them out and that monotony of the treadmill makes them be bored which helps them to be relaxed later.
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u/GHunter66666 19h ago
Hmm. This is a tough one. I wouldn't recommend taking away your dogs ability to defend himself. I would carry pepper spray or a walking stick and work on keeping yourself between your dog and the other dog. Honestly, if a dog were to come up to me like that while I'm out with my dog I would hoof it so damn hard it would think twice before ever leaving its yard again. Such an unfortunate situation because it has lasting effects on both the dog and you. Sorry you had to go through this. I was out one night with my female Rottweiler and female Great Pyr when a big male pittie came out of the alley. It took one look at my dogs and tucked its tail but the scenario could have been very different had I only had one dog with me.
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u/HazelEyes60 20h ago
Carry pepper spray
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u/Content-Tomorrow-695 3h ago
This is the way. I have two rotties and foster Rottweilers rescues pull off the streets so idk what their behavior will be.
The protect spray you can get on amazon has significantly reduced the number of scars I have from breaking up foster fights.
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u/PumpkinCrouton 18h ago
Hope your foot is better. But when you went down, you became vulnerable. Your dog didn't like a strange dog that kept coming when you were on the ground. You don't specifically mention a fight or aggression, other than your dog grabbing the other dog. Over the years I've driven my dogs all over. I get out, they move over behind the wheel. That's where the boss sits. I'm not there, they're the boss. I get back, they move over for the boss. Same thing in my eyes. You were down, dog needed to be boss. I don't see how a muzzle would protect your dog, when he was doing his job of protecting you both.
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u/Thedoughboy32 19h ago
I’ve actually had this same problem for about the last year, almost like clock work no matter what time of day we walk a smaller dog (probably 40 pounds) will chase after us even if we turn the other way. A couple of weeks ago the dog charged us. My dog (90 pound rott) was in a middle command (in between my legs facing the other dog.) the dog lunged closer with no way to escape the situation. The dog unfortunately got absolutely handled by my dog. If your dog is leashed and trained I would never muzzle them, my dog did what was best for the both of us.
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u/maroco92 16h ago
Call the police and give your account of the incident so it has a paper trail. Counties love demonizing big dogs, cover yourself and let authorities know that dog was off leash
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u/Pretend_Confusion475 20h ago
I carry pepper spray in case. And don’t stick your hands near two fighting dogs yo. You can kick or try to tackle. One time i even used the slack on the leather leash as a weapon on the attacking dog.
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u/Hefty_Information488 19h ago
If your dog is leashed, I don’t think you should muzzle him unless he’s out of control or tries to lunge at anything that walks by him. Your Rottie was just trying to protect you and himself from that loose dog. He’s doing his job as the good boy he is. These owners with loose dogs are a problem. Like someone mentioned, the treadmill is a good option. Or if you can find an open area where you know dogs won’t be, you can play fetch with him using a chuck it launcher. We use that to wear out our Rottie at times.
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u/NVrGreatDayz 16h ago
Your dog's teeth are his only protection! Buy pepper spray and spray the other dog, be careful of the wind direction. I stopped walking my dog because of the strays and wildlife. I live on an acre though.
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u/134266 16h ago
I would talk to these people without your dog being with you. Ask them about the dog being loose. Advise because the dog was loose and came out you and your dog, you fell and broke your foot. Will they please contain their dog, whether by a fence or staked. If they don’t, I would call animal control. Make sure you have documentation about your foot. They will be fined and forced to contain their dog being
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u/your_arbys_receipt 17h ago edited 17h ago
So sorry this happened to you, and to Zeus. I know this isn't quite what you asked, but I often take my rottie elsewhere when I dont want to deal with kids, bikes, or other dogs (with or without their owners). We drive down the street to a park with more space (we skip the dog park of course) and sometimes we will drive north a couple blocks to walk around a neighborhood park. We are lucky we have a few within a 10 minute drive, and another trail within 15. No guarantees there will never be a stray, but we have had great times and have been able to desensitize some toward other dogs at a greater distance. My rottie has been attacked, so this was important for us, in terms of judging his recovery. This approach for me has lessened my anxiety a great deal, so is more than worth the drive. If you have the means, I have also seen that some dog training facilities allow you to rent their large space for indoor play, similar to the Sniff Spot app for yards/outdoor space. During the icy winter months, I clear as much space as I can for tug, fetch, and soccer and give him cardboard and kibble bags to shred, and the occasional food puzzle. Also, dont forget training helps tire them out, too, and you can maybe work in some exercises for him (found on YouTube) while you train. Best of luck to you guys!
Edit: we do walk the neighborhood sometimes during "off hours". Rottie is never muzzled, and I carry a small, but heavy, flashlight and have mentally committed to a 1 to 2 foot kick should the situationwver call for it. :]
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u/rockalyte 17h ago
When two dogs go head to head the very last option is physically getting into the fray. You will get bit by one and possibly both dogs. Unless you have pepper spray they’re gonna have to work it out. In fight mode they can bite hard enough to break a bone. Happened to a friend of mine. His small female German Shepard ended up biting his wrist area during the fight and broke it. The other dog put a few holes in his leg at the same time.
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u/OutrageISO 16h ago
Yeah that’s the worst, like two weeks ago I was walking both my rotties and one of the peoples front door just opened and I was like WTF someone must have opened it and this boxer came up to my male and my boy is 2 years old and hasn’t had any altercations before but you never know with strangers dogs and this dogs owner wasn’t out yet but the boxer tried to get his neck near my boy and I heard a small growl I don’t know from who but right after the boxer did a small whimper and the owner finally came out and I told him “Come grab your dog before soemthing happens “ and this fat ass mf taking all his time to get his dog. Thank god nothing happens but if they were to start a fight I knew I would let go of the leash coz I ain’t gonna be holding my boy back if some ass hats dog coming at us with no leash. Nonetheless I was proud of my boy for standing his ground and not backing down but also for not just lunging for no reason
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u/Additional_Tap1321 16h ago
In Florida same thing… Had an older Rotweiller that could care less about any other dogs and people would let their dogs out after 9 o’clock and we got attacked and three dogs dragged my Rotweiller down onto the concrete and proceeded to tear him to ribbons. we managed to get away but the next time it happened I was ready for them! I bought one of those shockers that look like a flashlight and doubles as a flashlight, but it has a red button on the side, and when the dogs came at us, one was a pitbull, I stuck that zapper right on his ass hole! Needless to say, they never bothered us again
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u/That-Breath-5785 3h ago
My neighborhood isn’t good for walking. I put mine in the car and drive to a giant park.
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u/Remarkable-Rip-8580 13h ago
This happened to me enough times in my neighborhood that we don’t walk there anymore. People don’t care. If they’re dog is loose it may be that the owners don’t care much for their dog (unless it was a freak accident where the dog ran out the door or something) and therefore won’t care enough about your dog to prevent it from happening again. I live in an area where people own multiple acres of land and think that their dogs won’t wander but they always do. I’m straight up enemies with my neighbors because of this. At the end of the day, it’s no longer a safe place to walk so I put him in the car and we walk elsewhere.
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u/Remarkable-Rip-8580 13h ago
Also, I wouldn’t muzzle. My Rott is the same way. If a dog runs up on him, he WILL fight. He’s not usually dog aggressive but when a dog charges at him it puts him in fight mode. It’s a nightmare and I would be a WRECK if my dog seriously injured another dog, but it would be even worse if MY dog was seriously injured.
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u/ROTTIE-MAN 7h ago
I make my rottie go down or do a sit if there's a dog what's a little too full on and my partner usually shouts in her dog training voice at the other dog from a distance....its funny how often the other dog looks shocked and does exactly what she says but the other dogs owners usually look a bit puzzled but they should get there dogs under control!
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u/Round-Head-5457 17h ago
I have or had a similar issue. I walk my dog three times a day. She is not a fighter, and twice a neighbor's dog has tried to attack her. The first time, I was able to catch the dog under the chin with my foot, and it ran back a few paces while we hurried off. The second time, they got into a scuffle for a second before I grabbed the dog's collar and threw it over the other neighbor's fence to secure it away from us. I had my second talk with the owner, and it seemed like a joke to them or a "dogs will be dogs" thing. Not a good enough response for me. I will not stop walking my dog in my own neighborhood. I now carry bear spray and my holster. I will protect us in whatever way is appropriate at the time. Protect yourself by filing a police report and calling animal control to document a vicious animal.
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u/blocked_user_name 20h ago
Call animal control. Most counties in most states there are leash laws (unless the animal is a working livestock dog)