First off, I recommend everyone take a look at this, it is a very good video and text explaining how to safely break up a dog fight.
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Second, I have a german shepherd that is going through protection training, and I have to be very aware of other dogs. The sad truth is many people do not properly train their dogs or know that their dogs are not safe to have around other dogs. Just because your dog is ok a dog park, does not always mean they are fine to run up and great any dog. If I am out and about I do no lot any dogs come nose to nose with mine period unless I know this person and that dog and know that it is very well behaved. In a blink of an eye it could be a bad situation my dog will not tolerate aggressive behavior (whether or not you can spot it) and it can become dangerous.
Third, I am very glad that nobody was seriously injured. My neighbors up here right now have a new dog that they leave outside and it constantly burrows under the fence to get into my backyard. Luckily it is a puppy, and my dog is very tolerant of him. Just yesterday I had to give them an ultimatum, get your dog trained, install anti-dig wire, or I am going to have to turn your dog over to animal control the next time it burrows under. People with dilapidated or insufficient fences for their animals should not be tolerated whatsoever. If your dog gets onto my property and attacks my dog or the persons on my property, you better believe you will be hearing from my attorney.
Where I used to live in San Marcos there was a family that bought their teenage daughters two puppy pitbulls. These dogs were completely untrained and, well at 8months old they were out of control puppies. They routinely escaped their fence, chased pedestrians, and bit several one of which was my roommate returning from class. The city did nothing, 3 months later I was out at the dog park while it was empty training my dog when I saw them approach. I left my dog in the laid down position on top of a table, walked over and kindly asked them if they would wait outside for me to bring my dog out. They told me no, their dogs want to play with her. I was in disbelief, they walked right by, unleashed their dogs who immediately charged towards mine. German Shepherds can go through fear periods, and just my luck, mine was going through that stage. She panicked and ran giving rise to the chase. The first bit my dog clean on the haunches and flipped her over, at the moment I caught up I the second was lunching for her throat. One violent kick down to the back of that dogs neck was it, and I managed to grab the second one off using the methods described above. It appeared my dog was dead but she was just in complete shock.
Long story short, at no time did I draw my firearm, but if she had made the bite on the neck, nobody else was in close proximity, I would not have hesitated one bit.
The other family called the police on me, who after speaking to just a few witnesses let me rush my dog over to the vet. The city seized and put down their other dog, fined them, and informed them if my dog had serious vet bills that they would more than likely have to pay for them.
Don't put up with negligent neighbors, or their animals it is just not worth the stress. If I ever have neighbors like that again I will be pestering animal control until something is done, not after.
and btw my dog is fine now
but she developed fear aggression that took a bit of time to get rid of.
