[VENT] [HELP] My dog was attacked at the dog park today. How do I handle the aftermath? What do I do if it happens again?

Unfortunatley I found myself in a similar situation several months ago when my smallish dog was attacked by a much larger stray (which turned out to belong to a new neighbor) in our front yard, my dog on leash.

Here's what didn't work: My initial response, as it grabbed my dog by the neck and shook viciously was to try to pull it off by the collar. Surprise- I'm not strong enough. I yelled for help, kicked it, but this didn't seem to phase it in the slightest. I hit it on the head with a garden trowel- still shaking my dog, which had stopped making noise. By this time, several neighbors ran out and helped restrain the dogs and get the owner while we used the garden tool to jab the inside of its mouth. Success, but it bit me and another neighbor.

What worked: same dog attacked on two other occasions. By this time I had done research and saw that picking up the attacking dog by the hind legs "wheelbarrow style" causes it to let go. This worked almost instantly, and I was strong enough to lift partially and pull it back (dog is about 85 points / I'm a petite person). And I wasn't bitten this time, though my dog received a puncture.

And the option I now use preventatively since we live in the country: little canister of pepper spray clipped to a D-ring on the leash. Keeps roaming dog(s) at a distance, and you can always spray it directly into the eyes/nose/mouth. Also, I now keep a spare carabiner to make a quick loop around any dog (mine or other) to save the time of clipping to a collar in an emergency. Also works to lead escaping puppies back home.

That was longer than I intended, but I hope it helps. I spent a lot of time thinking about the "what should I have done" and it really came down to prevention and the wheelbarrow maneuver.

/r/dogs Thread