Dog to dog aggression while camping

campn4walleye wrote:
We just completed 4 wonderful days at a county CG on a very nice fishing lake.

The moment we arrived, we noticed a family with a pit bull running loose. I asked them to put it on a leash as we have dogs too and our weim doesn't always like other dogs and is protective of our cavalier. (There is a leash rule) but it seems it is not enforced. The camp host lets his little pom run free.

Anyhow, we got set up and the pit bull's owner comes over and says he's sorry he doesn't have a leash or tie out line. In truth, the dog doesn't even have a collar! I'm annoyed, but was civil, and warned him to keep it out of our site.

Naturally, they let their 4 y/o come over with the dog. Immediately, our dog rushed the dog and there was a quick fight. The guy didn't even know it happened until he heard us yell.

What would you do? Our dog is so quiet and sweet, unless a dog comes into his area without being properly introduced. If they had met in passing, he would have been fine.

How in the world can an owner maintain responsibility for the dog without a collar and leash?

Okay, I'm done venting. Thanks for listening.

So...let me understand...the other dog comes over to your camp (albeit, off-leash and against the rules, fine) in a non-aggressive manner, your dog sees the other dog and goes into defense mode. But it's the other dogs' (owner) fault?

Just an observation, and I see this REGULARLY at our local, off-leash dog beach and even my own front yard where my dog cannot run free because of aggressive passersby, but I think you're irritated that you have keep your dog leashed and are unable to control its initial behavior, less he gets aggressive. Not because of the leash rules, but because you have no other choice. Just sayin' maybe work on getting the dog not so defensive every time another loose dog comes around. Not dismissing the pit owners responsibility to leash his dog, but as you have described it, the other dog did nothing except come into your camp. Essentially, you told the owner to leash his dog because you haven't fully socialized yours.

Did you ever make an attempt to make amends about it? Or did you just act as if they weren't there and just grumbled about it? It sounds like the guy was reasonable to talk to?