Advice/Ideas - local dog barely under control.

[C n C]

Linked to the thread on unsuitable dogs, I'd be interested in any thoughts on the following:

A family living locally has a youngish adult doberman, which on the face of it seems to have had little training. The son (young adult) takes it out for what seem to be only very short walks, it is kept on the lead, doesn't have a muzzle, and he really struggles to control it - it is constantly pulling him around.

It is occasionally left (for short periods of time) in their car parked on the road. When anyone walks past, it goes absolutely mental. Not just the normal barking of an excited dog, but really viciously smashing against the car windows to the point that it seems close to breaking the glass.

Now, we are very pro-dog, and aware that they can be a little "independently minded" - we had an Irish Terrier until a couple of years ago, but this looks like an accident waiting to happen.

As we don't currently have a dog, my wife will often take a local friend's dog for a walk (small terrier, which stays on the lead at all times), and she is getting more and more worried about what will happen should she ever meet this doberman and it decides to go for the friend's dog. We are also looking to get our own dog in the near future, but the same concern is there. Her friend, who owns the terrier is also terrified of it.

So, has anyone had a similar situation, and how could it be dealt with?

Looking for advice on:

1. How best to encourage them to put a muzzle on the dog.

2. Should the worst happen and it does go for a dog I, or Mrs CnC are walking, any idea on how to deal with it? Should we carry a heavy walking stick or similar, powerful torch at night with strobe, or what? I've little doubt that if it saw the little dog and decided to go for it, there would be a good chance of it getting loose from its owner.

I know that there may be people who may say that we should stop being overly sensitive about it and that we're worried about nothing, but it is a serious concern, and I'm certainly not someone who is generally at all concerned normally about dogs.

Any advice more than welcome.

Thanks.

[moorx]

I would suggest your first port of call should be a report to the local dog warden, who may be able to offer them advice.

[rxe]

What has the dog done to justify a muzzle, or concern? Pulling on the lead does not mean it is a problem dog, it just means it pulls on the lead. Does it pull on the lead in a frenzied attempt to get to another dog, or is it just pulling? Dogs going nuts in cars is also not an uncommon thing. A friend has a chocolate lab that is a lovely dog, but it goes mental in the car. They have no idea why, and the dog trainer has no idea why.

Sounds like they could do with some training, but the best thing you could do is make yourself known to the dog.