So how should I react when someone throws a brick at my (totally non-aggressive) dog?

[NonTocareLeTete]

So I'm riding my bike down a beach path near my house and my two dogs are running along with me, happy as clams. They see another dog and of course barrel towards it (they're totally non-aggressive towards dogs too, the greetings when they arrive are always friendly) and a guy near the other dog picks up a brick and forcefully throws it at my dog. You know how some people throw stuff just to scare the dog off? Yeah, THIS was not THAT. He was aiming for my dog, and the brick probably missed her by only 2 or 3 inches.

This is where I want advice. So it's not my country, my Chinese is not that good and perhaps there is actually a decent way to handle this that is appropriate in this culture, but isn't submissive or backing down. I'm not going to back down. They need to know that I will defend my dogs.

Anyways, I didn't handle it well at all. I saw red. Threw my bike down and got in his face. He got right back in mine, my dogs circling and growling, him cocking his hand back like he's going to hit me (If I was a dude I'm pretty sure he would have). Then he started to go back to where he'd been, and me, thinking this is over, gets back on my bike, and guess what!? Dude goes for another brick. So I hit him with my bike. Not hard, but it did kind of pull his pants down. Then I rode away. In the opposite direction of my house.
I chilled for a while, trying to think of how to pass them again, grabbed a beer bottle off the beach but come on, I'm not really the type of person to smack someone in the face with a beer bottle (although I guess I can see myself doing it if someone hurt my dogs) and I'm riding back home when I see the cops. They are arguing with brick-thrower's friend. And thinking this might be about me, I proceed to approach and tell my side of the story. Police tell me guys are drunk and stupid and yes my dogs are very nice but I should keep them on a leash. Police give me their number in case I have any further problems.

Long story short, I've got douchebags in my neighborhood now who hate me and my dogs.

So I'd love the thoughts of anyone who's been here a while and/or is Taiwanese (TeacherLin? Teach me!) and can think of a good way to 1) handle people who are aggressive toward my dogs- this isn't the first time. 2) how do I handle it if I see brickholio again? I hate that asshole but I wouldn't be opposed to buying him a six pack if it meant he'd leave my dogs and I alone in the future. I wish I could squash the beef in Chinese but it'll take me another 2 or 3 years to handle that conversation with all of it's nuances ("Don't fuck with my dogs. Here's a six pack. But seriously. Don't fuck with my dogs" followed by a lesson on canine behavior how brick tossing is neither needed nor effective.)

[jdsmith]

Wait til they're drunk. Buy beer and some GOOD whiskey (SUNTORY should do it ).

Approach and smile. Sorry sorry. I had a bad day. Sorry my dogs scared you. Dumb dogs. Have a beer. My Chinese sucks. I'm really sorry. Have a beer. Me? Smoke? Yes, thanks. I loves the cancer. Sorry sorry. Smile smile.

Then, GTFOOT.

Leash your dogs and this won't happen.

[NonTocareLeTete]

I'll certainly leash them down that stretch of beach- I know I ought to leash them all the time but running free brings them (and me) so much joy, and something bad happens like once every 2000 times I take them out. I finally decided that I'll just have to deal with the consequences if their leashlessness causes something terrible to happen But yes this incident definitely motivates me to put the leash on when I'm in more populated areas.

Any other ideas? Also, anyone have any idea if they're more, or less likely to give me shit in the future after my having talked to the cops? The brickthrower's friend was screaming at the cops and they were just filming him and yelling back.
(I actually wouldn't have spoken to the police, had I realized that the guy probably wasn't talking to them about me in the first place.)

[jdsmith]

I'll certainly leash them down that stretch of beach- I know I ought to leash them all the time but running free brings them (and me) so much joy, and something bad happens like once every 2000 times I take them out. I finally decided that I'll just have to deal with the consequences if their leashlessness causes something terrible to happen But yes this incident definitely motivates me to put the leash on when I'm in more populated areas.

Any other ideas? Also, anyone have any idea if they're more, or less likely to give me shit in the future after my having talked to the cops? The brickthrower's friend was screaming at the cops and they were just filming him and yelling back.
(I actually wouldn't have spoken to the police, had I realized that the guy probably wasn't talking to them about me in the first place.)

Wait.

If I was a dude I'm pretty sure he would have)

I missed that. Don't do anything. You're a fem. Our rules don't apply. You don't need to buy them beers or fake placate. Learn how to say, "Go fuck yourself" in Taiwanese. And chances are, he wouldn't have hit a dude either. Angry Taiwanese men are notorious pussies.

I doubt they'll say anything to you. But, bring your camera with you when you go out, and leash you dogs when you get close to home.

But, if you REALLY want to freak them out, follow my above advice and tell them you were on your period when you got mad at them. Go into great detail. Their fragile psyches will most likely implode.

[Indiana]

You should have your dogs leashed. I'm not okaying throwing bricks at dogs, but I know how I have felt when people's dogs run at me and their owners have said to me, "Don't worry, they're friendly!" I am a REALLY nice gal, but I have let loose on a few dog owners letting them know how I feel about their dogs not being leashed. I'm NOT a dog lover and the things scare the crap out of me to be honest. People need to leash their dogs and keep control of them, keeping them out of the way of others. Having them unleashed is inconsiderate....no offense to you.

[TainanCowboy]

NLTC -
JDs advice is good. Especially the details on period time (whether true or not).
Also, be very very watchful of your dogs for the next few weeks. Sneak attacks are SOP for Taiwan.
It is not unheard of for an attempt to poison your dogs to be attempted.

But a direct peace offering may temper this. Strangely enough, you might even make some taike buddies in the deal.

This can be a very weird place at times.

[Super Hans]

But a direct peace offering may temper this. Strangely enough, you might even make some taike buddies in the deal.

Yeah, I have a few questionable pals whose relationship with me initially started with some kind of argument or near-brawl.

I wouldn't keep a dog leashed all the time, especially on a beach unless there are signs saying so. I understand some people are afraid of dogs, but a beach is a big place where people do all sorts of activities - dog walking included. If you are a responsible dog owner then your dogs should have learned to obey your commands to leash up and you should have learned to recognise whether somebody is showing signs of being afraid of your dog or not. Making your dogs' presence known to others even before they get near them goes along way to allaying fears and gives other people time to react to them - and by you, I mean people in general, not specifically you.
That being said, I've had people attempt to kick my dog when on a leash, minding his own business while waiting for me outside a shop. Most people who do this do this kind of thing for fun. A person who is truly scared of a dog would not approach one to kick it or throw something at it.

[NonTocareLeTete]

But a direct peace offering may temper this. Strangely enough, you might even make some taike buddies in the deal.

Yeah, I have a few questionable pals whose relationship with me initially started with some kind of argument or near-brawl.

I wouldn't keep a dog leashed all the time, especially on a beach unless there are signs saying so. I understand some people are afraid of dogs, but a beach is a big place where people do all sorts of activities - dog walking included. If you are a responsible dog owner then your dogs should have learned to obey your commands to leash up and you should have learned to recognise whether somebody is showing signs of being afraid of your dog or not. Making your dogs' presence known to others even before they get near them goes along way to allaying fears and gives other people time to react to them - and by you, I mean people in general, not specifically you.
That being said, I've had people attempt to kick my dog when on a leash, minding his own business while waiting for me outside a shop. Most people who do this do this kind of thing for fun. A person who is truly scared of a dog would not approach one to kick it or throw something at it.

I have learned to say 'my dog is good, he won't bite you' in Chinese, but as we all know, these things happen very fast. I think it was about 2 seconds from the time my dogs changed direction till the brick was thrown. I was surprised by how quickly this guy reacted in his somewhat intoxicated state!
Anyways, yeah, I prefer leashless on the beach- dogs are SO much happier leashless, it's just a much more natural experience, and if there are people around I can call them and they will come (unless that person is a foreigner, then all bets are off because my dogs think every foreigner is their best friend. They recognize foreigners long before I do.)
Anyways, if I see the guy again...well, I still haven't decided. Wish I could speak to him in Chinese but even if my Chinese were better, the nuances and cultural references would be off. It's one of those times where I miss being in my own country/culture. OF course if I were in America my dogs couldn't be off leash anyways, so I guess there are pros and cons.

And JD, I've been pressing my "I'm a woman so he won't hit me" luck for a long time. I'm just waiting till the day I get clocked I don't try to get in altercations but for some reason I've become more aggressive since living here, maybe because I can't understand a lot of what's going on and can't communicate. Time to get that Chinese study scholarship!

[NonTocareLeTete]

NLTC -
JDs advice is good. Especially the details on period time (whether true or not).
Also, be very very watchful of your dogs for the next few weeks. Sneak attacks are SOP for Taiwan.
It is not unheard of for an attempt to poison your dogs to be attempted.

But a direct peace offering may temper this. Strangely enough, you might even make some taike buddies in the deal.

This can be a very weird place at times.

Sneak attacks are what I'm afraid of. Luckily my dogs are always indoors unless they're with me, but they have been known to randomly run off at times, and right now I've got a three-legged pup that I rescued so it's hard herding them all.
Guess I should swallow my pride and buy the guy a 24 of gold medal or something. Okay, a 24 is a bit much. Six pack should do the trick. Wish me luck.

BTW, anyone want an extremely sweet, three year old, black, three legged dog? He's amazing, has been in my house 4 days and no 'accidents', friendly with new dogs and people, well-behaved, grateful, and listens to me.... I'll post photos later, he's still recovering from his amputation but will be available for adoption as soon as the stitches come out.

[Feiren]

Do what JD says to patch things up.

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Anyways, I didn't handle it well at all. I saw red. Threw my bike down and got in his face. He got right back in mine, my dogs circling and growling, him cocking his hand back like he's going to hit me (If I was a dude I'm pretty sure he would have). Then he started to go back to where he'd been, and me, thinking this is over, gets back on my bike, and guess what!? Dude goes for another brick. So I hit him with my bike. Not hard, but it did kind of pull his pants down. Then I rode away. In the opposite direction of my house.

Ok, you say yourself you didn't handle it well, so I won't harp on it. He could have filed a complaint of battery against you and then you would have had all kinds of problems. Or he could get 10 of his friends to stomp you to show you just whose beach this is.

You should have ignored it or reported it the police.