When a Walk Turns Dangerous — And How One Owner Found Her Courage

Sometimes I’m reminded, painfully, how vulnerable we are when we step out with our dogs. We do our best — we train, we manage, we stay alert — but we can’t control the world around us. And when someone else’s carelessness puts your dog at risk, it shakes you in a way that sits deep in your chest for days afterwards.

This is something that happened to a close friend of mine recently. I can’t share names or locations, out of respect, but the experience itself is important — because too many owners never talk about what this kind of fear really feels like.

A Responsible Dog Owner, Doing Everything Right

My friend owns a large shepherding/guarding breed.

This dog is incredibly well trained, beautifully handled, and managed by someone who is both experienced and cautious — especially because her dog isn’t friendly with other dogs. Not aggressive, not unstable — just not sociable. And that’s absolutely fine when the dog is responsibly managed, which she always is.

They live in a small village.

They walk the same quiet fields every week.

And then, last week, everything changed.

The Moment Everything Happened

She heard barking somewhere ahead. That tiny warning was all she needed. Instantly she called her dog to her side, clipped the lead on, and prepared — exactly as any responsible owner would.

Moments later a large boxer-type dog appeared, hackles up, running straight for them with clear intent. There was no hesitation, no sniffing, no posturing. This dog meant business.

She recognised him immediately and shouted the owner’s name, hoping they were nearby. But there was no answer.

The dog launched.

Three separate times she managed to fend him off — full force, body against body — keeping her own dog behind her. Twice he made physical contact, teeth snapping at her dog, catching hold of hair but not skin. That small mercy was thanks only to her reactions, not his restraint.

And here’s the part that makes my stomach twist:

If her dog had engaged back, it would have been a brutal fight. Age and a degenerative muscle condition mean she is not as strong as she once was. It could easily have ended with serious injury — or far worse.

Her bravery is the only reason it didn’t.

The Aftermath: A Trauma No One Talks About

She walked home shaken to the core. She was unharmed physically, and her dog was okay — but fear doesn’t need teeth to bite.

There’s the adrenaline.

The shock.

The “what if” that loops through the mind.

The gut-deep knowledge of how narrowly disaster was avoided.

And then came the part that is, in some ways, even harder to swallow.

The Owner’s Response — Or Lack of One

When she spoke to the owners later, they shrugged it off.

“Oh yes, he disappears on walks,” they laughed, as if it were charming.

No apology.

No concern.

No recognition of the danger their dog posed.

No promise to prevent it happening again.

They were defensive. As though she was the problem. As though their dog charging across the village and trying to attack another was normal.

It is not normal.

It is not funny.

And it is absolutely not acceptable.

A Difficult Decision

I encouraged her to report the incident to the police. Not to “get a neighbour in trouble”, but to create a record — something that protects future dogs, future people, even future children.

She didn’t feel she could take that step. I understand that. Living near someone changes the dynamics. She wants peace, not conflict.

So instead, she’s doing something incredibly brave:

She is going to tell them, clearly and calmly, that if it happens again she will report it.

Sometimes setting a boundary is the first step in reclaiming your sense of safety.

What She Asked Me Next

Still shaken, she asked how she could defend herself next time.

And the sad truth is: she shouldn’t have to.

But we can only control our side of the lead.

Here’s the advice I gave her:

• Carry a small pot of gravel

• Thrown forward as a dog charges, it startles them just enough to break the momentum and interrupt the rush.

• Carry a stick, walking pole, or collapsible flag pole. Not as a weapon, but as a barrier — something that creates space between the dogs and discourages a dog mid-charge.

• Use your body effectively - A firm stance, stepping forward rather than retreating, can be enough to interrupt a determined dog’s focus.

  
  

  Most importantly, trust yourself

  
  

She proved that day that she has extraordinary instinct, courage, and clarity under pressure.

A Final Thought

My friend did everything right.

She protected her dog.

She prevented a fight.

She remained in control when most people would have frozen.

But she should never have been put in that situation in the first place.

If you take anything from this story, let it be this:

When you let your dog roam out of sight, you are trusting them with another dog’s life — and someone else’s heart.

Please walk responsibly.

Please keep your dog in sight.

Please don’t gamble with another person’s safety.

And if something like this has ever happened to you, you are not alone. I see you. And your fear makes perfect sense.

Please share this blog far and wide to help highlight a very real problem in todays society!