Can the self-defence of a third party include a dog?

First off, dogs off the lead is illegal unless on private land. Of which im not sure of the law.

So if your on public land put your dog on the lead.

Secondly, get cameras, it seems he wants to escalate the situation, the only way your stopping that is by evidence. Proof of him coming to your property aggressively will go well in your favour.

Dogs are classed as property, if your dog bites him your basically fucked, the police will take your dog and will check for aggressive nature and potentially lead to it being put down.

Now in terms of deescalating the situation you need to decide which route you want to go down. Do you spend a few hundred pounds on cameras in the hope he comes back and you catch him or is this most likely a one off and so long as you avoid each other nothing will happen.

As for their dog, report them for walking their dog off lead and that it was aggressive, attacked your dog. You want that on record if anything else is to happen.

Finally, if he comes back, and is on your property, and is aggressive to yourself or your animals (still aggressive towards you imo) you are more than entitled to use “reasonable force”. Now this is why i say its best to get cameras, him approaching your property with a weapon and you defending yourself or your property on camera will pretty much keep you squeaky clean so long as its reasonable force.

Depends how you want to play out the situation, but don’t just go out and instantly smack him, although thats what it sounds like he needs.

/r/unitedkingdom Thread