Dog to dog aggression while camping

joeshmoe wrote:

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?

Let me help you understand. Yes, that is exactly the case. I may have felt the same way as you did, but with my current dog (a rescue), my opinion has changed.

Like the OP, my dog is very protective on his leash. At the dog park, off his leash, he is a different dog - friendly and playful. But if he is on his leash he can be protective and aggressive if another dog comes by. I have, and will continue to try to change this behavior, working with 3 different trainers, but if there is something in the dogs life that has caused this behavior, it is not as simple as just "properly socializing" them.

So, yes, if my dog is on a leash in my own campsite (or on a walk for that matter), and a stray dog rushes us and come within the scope of that leash, it is the owner of the stray dog that is responsible for what insues. My dog was under control. The stray was not, and caused the problems.