Dealing with people taunting your dogs?

Amanda, I'll be interested in reading the replies you get.  I've had the same thing happen where men especially want to try to "conquer" the vicious chow.  Or, I've even had people try to send their own dogs after her in a "my dog can take your dog" type of manner.  It's sick. 

 I'm sorry. I've only dealt with that with people that I know. That a little easier to manage then perfect strangers on the street.

I would call the PD or better yet visit them, with Bevo, and talk to the patrol sergeant and tell him/her what's been happening.  Next time you see the guy, call PD and tell them to send a patrol car around to have a chat with the guy. I would talk loudly on the phone to the PD and make certain the guy hears you giving his description and direction he is walking.  Who knows what his intentions are? 

What a jerk!  Taunting your dogs like that is just childish and moronic.  I'd say the best thing is to just ignore the guy.  Keep on walking.  He's getting a kick out of riling your dogs up.  It makes him feel like a winner because your dogs aren't able to reciprocate the taunt.  The guy realizes you have control and won't let them go.  You certainly don't want to let your dogs handle it...that's a lawsuit waiting to happen.  You know that if you let your dogs go at him, he would come back at you somehow lawfully or otherwise (albeit with a few holes in his arms and legs).  Still not a good idea at all.

If you have to say anything at all to the guy, tell him to stop provoking because if the dog accidently gets away from you, he will get hurt and neither of you want that. 

Ignoring is the best resolution, IMO.  Don't give the guy what he wants.  He's taunting you as well as your dogs...don't let him win.

I just....wouldn't allow it to happen anymore. You obviously can't control the other man, since legally at this point I don't think he's doing anything wrong. Just being a PITA. Because I live with strange dogs, I have learned how to deal with people in general, not just taunting folks. You might cross the street if possible. If you are walking and see him, I'd turn around and walk the other way. Bring out some of your best training techniques and treats, with Watch Me or Targetting or something to preoccupy his mind so he doesn't focus so much. Can you change your walking route? Go another way totally where you don't have to face this guy? He sounds like bad news in general and I'd personally do what I could to just avoid the situation.

Have your cell phone within easy reach, should he try this again, look him in the eye and calmly say " It is obvious you have some serious mental issues and I am going to call the police, you are trying to intimadate me and my dogs will never allow that" Take it away from him and the dogs, insist it is him trying to harass you, the cops can and will do something about that and I would  bet he knows it. This is really not about the dogs it is about something off whack in him, do  not allow him to bait you, I would also take a photo of him with your cell  phone and tell him in a strong and callm voice this is for the police so they will understand what you are doing.... if he is unbalanced it should be enough to redirect his focus and in all honesty if it happens again I would go to the police. If he is doing this with you and your well trianed dogs what will happen when he does it with someone not as dedicated to their breeds??  Cell phones are a mighty tool in defending yourself against threats.

Please be very careful!

Bonita of Bwana

Most of the taunting we get is kids barking, growling, or yelling at my dogs.  They are all afraid of dogs though, so they keep a distance and turn and run if I actually stop.  With this, I completely ignore them and we keep going, I just use it as distraction training.

If anyone taunted my dog to the point of him/her actually reacting, I would steer clear of that person/house.  I should not have to alter my route b/c of some idiot but if I have to I will, I won't have unacceptable reactions on the dog's part reinforced.

I like the drop leash idea.  Often Kenya is dragging her leash anyway since I have 3 dogs and 2 hands.  I could always send her (not to attack, she has a send out that I use to have her flush rabbits and birds from the yard where she just sprints out fast and circles back, similar to running blinds in SchH) but I probably would never use it as I don't need my dog labeled viscious or whatever.

Kim_MacMillan

You obviously can't control the other man, since legally at this point I don't think he's doing anything wrong.

I guess I differ in my thinking as far as the legality of what this guy is doing.  He is harassing and threatening in my opinion. Why should Amanda have to avoid a certain area or cross the street to avoid him, he is in the wrong and I think the PD will be happy to deal with the fellow.  He just needs a little talking to from an officer.  Too many times I think we avoid involving law enforcement because we think it's not a big enough problem to bother them with. Why wait until it is a big problem and why take a chance with someone like this?  I've found the PD to be very nice and glad to help convince people who are close to crossing that line to rethink things before they escalate.  It's the people who call three times a day to complain about the kids walking across the corner of their lawn that they get tired of dealing with. I feel like a taxpayer should feel free to drop in and have a chat about this type of problem with the local PD. 

 I certainly would NOT drop the leash - that could get you into way more trouble than you want.

People on the street tend to taunt Rascal fairly frequently - they seem to think it's funny to see a small, fluffy, frightened dog growling at them. What works best for me is to step between Rascal and the offending person and tell them very clearly, "Stop harrassing my dog. He WILL bite you."

Your fellow seems rather tenacious... and stupid... I would be very very careful about feeding in to his machismo routine and escalating the confrontation.

Do you carry pepper spray? You could hold it up, step towards him slightly, and say something like, "You are making me very frightened. If you do not leave right now, I will be forced to defend myself."

Calling the police is another very good idea.

Just in general, I would be very careful to NOT escalate matters (by making Bevo more ferocious, or having Bevo confront him, or anything like that) because this guy sounds fairly unstable.

Best of luck to you... people can be such jerks.

The thing that makes me a tad bit nervous about bringing in the police is all they will do is talk to him.  With the behavior this person has already displayed, I would fear it could backfire on you...in other words, make it worse afterwards. 

I like the cell phone picture idea a lot.  But, I wouldn't even say anything.  Simply snap a picture and keep on going.  He should get the point of the snapshot...more than likely.  If you say something deragatory to him, like telling him he has something mentally wrong, you are just playing along with his game.  Be careful...unless you know of this person, you really don't know what you are dealing with.

I still say ignoring this moron as much as possible is safest.  And, don't get me wrong...I'm certainly not saying hold your head down as you walk by.  Stand up straight, look him in the eye with a stoic face...you don't want him feeling like he is intimidating you.

Cita

Do you carry pepper spray? You could hold it up, step towards him slightly, and say something like, "You are making me very frightened. If you do not leave right now, I will be forced to defend myself."

This is exactly what I would say and do.It is really you he is trying to get a rise out of.I also like the idea of mentioning that he has mental issues which may be true. Personally I don't think the police would care if someone is staring down your dog.I guess it depends where you live but the police here would not take it seriously.If he actually threatens you or Bevo,then I would involve the authorities.

Tena

Is this guy new to the neighborhood?  And he did it the 2nd night when your husband was with you?  Either he's got a mental issue or he is just a plain old jerk.  Sheesh!

I don't have any advice, but I will say that if he lives in your neighborhood, sometimes there is no way to avoid him.  There are probably only so many routes to and from your house.  Stay safe.

I'll send you my attack cat if you need help...LOL

4HAND

I also like the idea of mentioning that he has mental issues which may be true. Personally I don't think the police would care if someone is staring down your dog.I guess it depends where you live but the police here would not take it seriously.If he actually threatens you or Bevo,then I would involve the authorities.

You really don't want to get a rise out of him, though. Honestly, he sounds dangerously unbalanced.

When talking to the police, you wouldn't say that someone is threatening or harrassing your dog, you would say the person is threatening YOU. Which he is. If you are feeling uncomfortable and attacked, that is a threat to YOU, the human. The dog is just part of the package, since he happens to be with you.

Honestly, it's highly possible that this man would be harrassing you whether or not you had Bevo with you and is just using the dog as a "front" to get a rise out of you... could be a very scary situation, so please do be careful!

I know that I can't drop the leash on Bev or Chyna because they will go after the guy, with bad intentions.  The last thing that I need, or want, is bad PR for either breed.  Dobes have a bad reputation already, & the media, such that it is, would likely mistake Chyna for a pit bull. 

I can drop Brinxx's leash, & send her out, if need be.  She doesn't notice problems nearly as quickly as Bevo & Chyna do, & the risk of her biting someone is next to none.

I think that I will take the dogs by the police station, & talk to the someone.  That way, should I need them, they have advance knowledge of the situation.  I have already snapped a pic of him, & we did alter our walk in an attempt to avoid him.

I've only ran into this kind of problem one other time, so I'm kind of at a loss on how to deal with it.  I really appreciate the suggestions.