Please help

[LouDogs_Dad]

Thank you for your replies

In response to one of the replies...........
The 1st attack the lady was the only one with both dogs. She attempted to 'RECALL' her dog from about 15 ft away.
The 2nd attack the lady and her husband attempted to 'RECALL' their dog from about 15 ft away.

Never once did they get their hands on their dog to restrain him. Both times the dog eventually 'RECALLED'. Which tells me he has been through training and I probbably know where because there is a certian trainer in my town who is highly involved with these dogs. But even with ALL the training in the world it's still YOUR responsibility and a dog can break command.

I've decided I'm going to contact them first because they just don't strike me as individuals who 'Fight' their dog or anything like that. I've never attempted to talk to them because like I said I was hoping it was going to be an isolated incident.
Another thing to note this particular park is LARGE and there are areas you can play fetch or run off lead with out much concern and I do it from time to time. But not on the main walkway!!!!!!!!
They live about 1/2 a block away from the park so I assume they've been going over there for years without many people around with dogs. But unfortunately I bought a house 2 blocks from the park they don't own the park and I don't want to be subjected to that. If they won't listen to reason or cuss me out or whatever so be it, I'll sign the tickets. I'm going to sign the dog at large ticket no matter what because they HAVE to stop that. Just haven't decided about the 'VICIOUS DOG' ticket.
I am thinking about the safety of others and their dogs and that is most definetaly going through my thought process. But I'm just hoping they're good owners who love their fur babys and they just think I walk that route once in a while. I walk that route everyday and have no intention of stopping. Lt. needs his exercise or my house takes a beating ........I shall keep ya posted becuase I'm looking up the phone # right now.

 

[Doja's Mommy]

Eeeeek, this is a really rough situation. I feel for you..... The more and more I read about this breed, the worse the whole situation becomes. I agree with My calla, and everyone else too.... This situation could very easily get way out of hand. This dog, showing all the aggression that it has, has no business in the dog park. I would also make sure that they would not be put down right away.... They need to be evaluated so that the right professionals are involved to determine if they are people-aggressive as well as animal agressive, etc. Then they would need to determine where to go from there.

On one hand your kind of obligated to do something because of the agression that you have witnessed. Presa Canarios are not dogs to be messed with. If the owners aren't controlling them, theres no telling what they will do.

Please keep us updated and let us know how this whole thing plays out....

I'm really on the fence with this one, after being in rescue I kind of have the thinking that there is 'good' in every dog, but if they've been trained a certain way, its kind of hard to change. I would just hate for something terrible to happen unnecessarily. These presa canarios really freak me out though, I must say

 

[LouDogs_Dad]

Yes I pray too

Yes,
I'm praying they'll be smart too. I just have to work at not coming across as an angry person even though I kind of am. And to clear a little confusion THIS IS NOT a dog park by any means. It is just a local park that has a few trails some old buildings and that kind of stuff. It is a very large park but by no means is it a dog park or bark park!!!!!

 

[LouDogs_Dad]

ok I talked to the owners

I talked to the owners!!!

They did at least listen and were very apologetic. A bit defensive but that was to be expected. The man I spoke to stated a few times that he was in the wrong!!! But that's not what I want I want him to have a leash on his dog while in the park. He did agree to that and we'll see if he sticks with it. I think he was very unhappy that I found his address....home phone...place of work...job title...phone number to his office.....and so fourth....I'm a computer programmer and quite good at that kind of stuff. So I'm not going to file either at this point. If they continue to walk in that park with out leads then I will file 'Dog at Large'.

He became very defensive when I asked him if he knew what dog on dog agression was!!! That had him furieous 'I'm not stupid' was his remark. But for someone who is so thouroughly educated I find it funny that he allows the dog to be off lead. He got even more mad when I quoted some of the breed characteristics like 'Dog Agreesive' and temperment. He was not happy about that.

I also reminded him that his dog is very large and capable of devestating blows if he breaks command. That he has just as much responsibilty with that dog as a pitbull owner if not more!!!! Which I don't think he liked to hear but hey I have a right to vent and he's the person I should be venting on!!!!

But in the end he apologized and promised to walk the dog with a lead. Hopefully this will happen or I will file the ticket. I told him I won't so I'll give him and his wife one more chance.

 

[whiteboxr]

I'm really happy he was semi-cooperative. You did a much more tolerant thing than I would have, by tracking him down and confronting him (I did it once, never again). I hope he keeps his dog leashed and is no longer a threat in your park.

I'm really glad things went smoothly for you. Thanks for the update.

 

[presley101]

Not quite accurate. A couple rescued 2 Presa Canarios who had been badly abused and neglected. The dogs were raised together and bonded. Rather than emotionally scar the dogs more than they were already scarred, they decided to rescue both of them and rehabilitate them. They had JUST gotten the dogs and had not intended to keep them in their apartment long term. The wife was home alone and the dogs needed to go out. She mistakenly thought that she could handle both of the dogs on her own. On the way back into the building one of the dogs lunged and she was unable to restrain it. I'm not justifying the owners or dogs actions, I'm just saying that you should have the whole story before you site it as an example.

I stand corrected. Thank you for filling in the gaps. The point I was trying to make is if you don't know how the dogs will react and even if you do, then it's your responsibility to keep everyone safe, including the dogs. With animals that large, you do carry an extra burden of responsibility considering their size no matter what breed. Great Danes are rather large and I've seen a few of them in my area that are rather uncontrollable and unsocialized.

 

[Doja's Mommy]

Thats awesome, I think you did the right thing, and for him to accept that he was wrong says a lot about him. Now that it is fully brought to his attention, hopefully he will see, having that dog on leash is best for everyone involved. Not to mention it allows everyone else to enjoy the park safely as well. I wouldn't give him anymore chances though, he has been told. If he chooses to risk losing his dog, or someone getting hurt because of his aggressiveness, than he doesn't deserve to keep his dog. Hes lucky that you gave him that opportunity when a lot of people wouldn't have.

Good Luck, let us know how everything goes......

 

[RonaldMM]

I would sign the tickets. If you heard something had happened to a small child and you had not signed, you would feel awful:(

 

[LouDogs_Dad]

everyone who wanted me to sign

I apologize but I made my decision with much thought on the subject. And yes if someone else got hurt I'd feel absolutely horrible but if you were to meet the couple who owned the dog they just didn't strike me as bad dog owners who are completly uneducated and don't deserve a dog like that. RECKLESS yes but I'm hoping by bringing it to their attention will solve the problem. If it doesn't then I will call animal control again and sign the ticket and have them serve it. Over and over again!!!! Until the point is drilled in.

 

[sanford7]

I think you made the best decision you could. You brought it to the owners attention. And made them aware of your concerns. Hopefully they will tuck it away as use it to the best of their advantage.. Who knows you may even come to like these people.