Robbi

For 20 or so years of dog walking I wasn't worried by charging dogs. I had had big dogs with excellent social skills, and I have reasonable dog skills myself. I knew most charging dogs weren't going to run in for an actual fight, and those that did my dogs could handle, either defuse with calming signals or stand up to.

Then a couple of years ago I was out walking two young dogs, one maybe 7 months, the other a year older. And 2 unaccompanied GSD's came charging across several hundred metres of open ground to attack the puppy. They didn't listen to me. They didn't even acknowledge I was there. They didn't pause to check us out before closing in. No owners in sight. I couldn't physically fight them off. I was battling just to stay on my feet in the melee. If my older girl hadn't fought them off, the pup would have been history. I believe in hindsight that they were prey motivated; they saw the big fluffy white pup as prey. When my girl told them unequivocally they needed to go through her to get the pup they took off to look for easier pickings.

Despite my best efforts, when large loose dogs come charging I now have to fight to stay calm. Several times since we have been attacked by single dogs, twice so dramatically passing motorists stopped to get help us get free. Some days I personally don’t have the intestinal fortitude to risk it, and we drive somewhere else to walk or don’t go at all. It is almost a post-traumatic stress, not easy to overcome. i have reported all the major incidents, but the only time the authorities showed any interest was when I knew the address of the attacking dog as it had come bursting out of the front door to run across the road and have a go - the other times they basically said nothing they could do.

Your right Diva it is a type of post trauma stress that many of us are suffering from when walking our dogs- replays of past events haunt us even as we try to keep calm and assertive for the sake of our dogs. I am physically fit and active and yet I worry that I cant keep my dogs safe in public, I hate to think how older and less abled people feel. It is not fair that responsible owners yet again suffer because of the ignorance and just don't care about anyone other than themselves attitude of others

I have had some awful experiences with my dogs in public. The latest was only last week when I was walking my two dogs, a woman was heading towards us on a narrow walkway with her Anatolian Shepherd running off leash in front of her, I sat my dogs and stood in front of them and called to the woman to place her dog on the leash, she ignored me and the dog started to run at us, I yelled that one of my dogs was reactive and for her to put her dog on the leash, eventually she caught the dog and hit it putting it on the leash and walking past me, I was shaking with anger and fear by this stage, Abbie remained sitting behind me but Yogi Whippet was barking and carrying on( but still under control) as the woman passed me I told her that dogs had to be leashed in public and she told me that aggressive dogs weren't allowed in public.

I rang the ranger when I got home and asked if I was at fault in anyway or could have handled the situation better, he said that I did all I could to keep the situation safe and that if he had seen the incident the woman would have been fined for having her dog off leash and not under adequate control.

Unfortunately I now I feel that I do not want to walk my dogs in the area where I had this happen as I don't trust that she would put her dog on the leash if she came across us again.

Just heartbreaking, my thoughts are with the little boys family

No winners in these situations, the information about children and dogs just isn't getting to where it needs to go unfortunately. All our dogs are going to suffer if these disasters keep occurring and society starts to demonise dogs rather than irresponsible owners.

How horrible for both your poor ole ewe and yourself. I believe if it were feral or hunting dogs the ewe would have been dragged down by her throat, most feral dogs go directly for the throat area. I think pony boy may have some answering to do? One other strange option could be bats, I know that probably sounds ridiculous, but I have heard of bats attacking elderly or frail sheep on occasion.

SheWolf

I hope I never meet the bats that you have in your area here in the Adelaide hills we have micro bats http://www.backyardbuddies.net.au/buddies/Microbats.html not sure if we have the large ones, I have never seen them. The old girl is doing well, she is not bothered by her ordeal fortunately. There has not been another incident so I think that pony may well have been the culprit. I am still keeping everyone in the paddock near the house just to be on the safe side though.

When I was telling ponies owner about the ear incident I just got the feeling that she wasn't surprised, I said that maybe he could go in their paddock with their two little dexters cows they have and she said that she would keep him separate. I just wonder if he may have done something similar.

Pony has been banished back to my next door neighbours, we had been minding him as his paddock mate had been put down and he was lonely, but now I am too worried about him injuring any more of my animals.

All sheep are present and accounted for this morning and the old girl is still on her feet and eating.

Thank you all so much for your support and suggestions, it is a nice feeling to have so many people to support me and bounce ideas with, I would not have even thought of the pony being the culprit, now he is the number 1 suspect.

Krislen,not that I noticed, the old ewe and her friend are now separate from the others next to a shed in a very secure little yard and shelter, and pony will be put in the small paddock very shortly. As I am typing I am looking out the window and the sheep and pony are all grazing near each other.

Earlier when I was spraying the ewes ear with the good old purple spray Yogi and Abbie my dogs were standing quietly in the yard watching what was going on, the ewe was not at all worried about them being near her. I don't know what to think, sometimes I wish they could talk.

The pony has been here about 6-8 weeks, he didn't even come into my head as he has behaved well since he arrived not even nipping at the other two horses, but now hearing about other ponies attacking sheep I have to consider that this may have occurred.

Behluka, I am sorry to hear how many animals have been attacked in your area over the past few months, I realise that I am very lucky to have only an injured sheep.

I had a sweet old Alpaca for many years, he was a wonderful guardian, we never lost a lamb when he was in the paddock, I will seriously consider obtaining another after this incident.

Grumpette, at the moment we are minding our neighbours Miniature pony, my horses have shared the paddock with the sheep for many years but Napoleon the pony has previously only lived with other ponies, is it possible that he may have bitten the old ewe, I hadn't even considered that may have happened.

My son has just told me that on his way to school this morning he saw a blue heeler type dog scavenging in a bin on our road.

I am going to be hyper vigilante and leave the flood lights on tonight and keep the sheep right next to the house and take Napoleon out of their paddock.

There are houses on my eastern border but national park all along my southern border, the neighbours on the western side would probably shoot a stray before it made it to my place. I don't have a gun but would try to catch any dog I find on my property and ring the council.

It is awful to think my sheep aren't safe at the moment, hopefully keeping them close to the house will make them a little bit more secure though.

Some locals in our area have had issues with morons bringing Pitbulls in to attack live stock so they have brought in shooters.

I would alert neighbours & council,you not accusing anyone of anything as you have no idea who or what did it but a warning of be aware goes along way .

Whether it be a sick human who thoughtt it was funny or dog issue

Good idea, I will give the council a call.

Nushie,I have decided to tactfully visit the new neighbours down the road this evening, unfortunately housing is starting to move into what was once all farmland in my area in the hills, people don't seem to appreciate that dogs and livestock don't mix

This is the first time in many years that I haven't had a ram with the flock so no lambs on the ground this year thankfully as they may have been more badly injured. Maybe time to get a guard donkey?

if it was wire there would be a bigger tear and there would be blood everywhere. Either some sick person cut it off or a dog got it, they grab face/ears easily if trying to pull a prey animal down. It's weird though that only the ear is missing.

Oh, I hadn't thought of a person doing something awful, she is very tame and would have been easy to catch but not many strangers around, still sheep will be in the house paddock for now.

"Could it have been caught on a fence or bit of stray metal or wire?"

I did wonder if it was an wire accident but I think it looks more brutal than just a wire tear but still cant know for sure.

My sheep are very tame and usually stay near the house in winter as I hand feed them but they can go down into a gulley, I have seen some foxes around.

Jed what is the best way to broach the subject with neighbours, I know most of my neighbours quite well but there are some new people down the road, they have two dogs and have only moved in about a month ago, I think that they would be the first people to visit. Do I say that my sheep has been attacked or do I just ask them if they have seen any loose dogs around?

One of my old ewes has had her left ear completely ripped off, she has some blood on her neck but otherwise is not injured, I discovered the injury this morning when I was feeding the flock some hay. My dogs have been with me or in the house for the last 24 hours and have never shown any interest in the sheep, there are houses near us with dogs and I do sometimes see dogs unsupervised on our road.

Is it acceptable for me to knock on peoples doors and ask them if they have seen any stray dogs near my sheep in the past day or should I put a sign on my fence warning about not letting dogs roam free near livestock? Do I contact the police?

The old ewe is coping but scared, I have put antibiotic powder on the stump where the ear was and will keep her in the pen for the next few days as I think she may be in shock, her old friend is standing close to her and keeping her company.

Could it be something other than a dog?

Beautiful pictures, beautiful dogs, beautiful location

What a handsome boy Teddy is in safe hands with you.

I use an eye wash that is made by Herbal Horse.

It is great stuff, I use it on the horses, the dogs, myself and my son

Run free sweet Hamlet, I loved hearing about your exploits and seeing your photos, you are well loved

Persephone, my thoughts are with you at this awful time

Rest in peace Buddy.

I have no words that can help take away your pain Cazz but my heartfelt condolences to you at this tragic time.

No more flying qantas for our family, if one family member is discriminated against then none of us will give them the time of day. Abbie is not a pure Amstaff but I wont support a company that is applying breed restrictions.....

What spectacular photos

Vulcan is very photogenic and his new collar is gorgeous. I think my favourite photo is the superman leaping one.

So sorry for you and your brothers loss, an awful way to lose a dog

Another good reason for PSL (Person Specific Legislation)

Some people dont have the sense to interact with dogs.A poor dog is yet again the victim of an owners idiocy