Can't believe it

[itsme123]

out walking today..... we were given the go ahead to let pup go to the park for a run around a couple of weeks back, and he's been enjoying it. His recall is wonderful and he never wanders far.

We have to go through a hedge which leads from the houses to the park / playing fields. Once through the hedge we checked, no other dogs so 'ready, stead' and let him off. He ran, came back, ran a bit further, came back then ran as fast as he could, having a wonderful time....

Suddenly, this dog appeared, I think from the hedge, though we didnt see, he was just 'there', gave chase to pup, who started back towards us squealing with fright, and it got him

He stuck up for himself (we were running over) but this dog had his head in t's mouth and was shaking him like a ragdoll, we were screaming... got there and OH waded in, couldnt prise it's mouth apart so kicked it HARD, still it wouldnt let go, so he poked it in the eye, and it let go. OH scooped up pup, dog started trying to attack OH....

I looked round and a man was just standing watching, not even attempting to help!

We managed to get away, the other dog AND pup covered in blood and mud. Rushed him back home and had a closer look. Aside from one laceration to his paw and marks on his face he seems fine. Eye is VERY swollen though, and bloodshot too. OH thinks pup had hold of the other dog's ear in self defence as the other dog was yelping.

vet's given him an antibiotic shot and tetanus (though he only had one this year so thats just a precaution).

The dog we saw looked very much like one of the dogs belonging to the people up the road who have five or six dogs all staffies etc, though this one was a white boxer with a black ring round its left eye. Their garden backs onto the park, so maybe possible? or was the man it's owner? don't know...

OH's been and knocked on their door tonight, but no answer...

I'm so angry!!

Poor pup

I'll upload piccies later, am writing to the local rag to try and find out who owns this dog and to warn others... it could have been a child that got bitten!

Do i report it to the police or would they not care?

 

[GinaB]

Poor puppy

I hope it's ok

 

[CorvusCorax]

Christ Charlie, you're having a time of it. Hope Jack is OK.

 

[Spudlet]

Poor puppy

What a rough time you've been having

 

[sea_view]

Oh dear, that is terrible. Absolutely report it, next animal/child may not make it

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Bloody hell that poor poor dog and poor you

Loads of vibes for puppy xx

 

[CorvusCorax]

I know this was talked about the other night but among other things you can do is hurl and I mean HURL water over fighting/attacking dogs, if there is any to hand, or hang the attacking dog by the collar - lift it as far off the ground as you can. Or by the scruff if you can grab enough. Make sure you or someone else can also support the bitten dog or the skin will tear.

I have heard of the whole finger-up-bum and nuts-twisting thing but have never had to resort to this thankfully!

But hopefully you will not need to use this advice. It is easy for me to say, I wasn't there, but a kick can agitate an attacking dog, and as your OH found out, going for a sensitive area worked, glad it didn't go for him for real.

I know you talked about going back to training classes last week and now it would be quite important to do so, he may suffer no ill effects but socialisation is really important once he recovers, to make sure he does not start to display fear behaviour or defensive aggression to other dogs.

As with all the other issues, vibes and positive energy is very important - ignore cringiness and fear, no matter how pitifull it seems, ignore and check ballsy-ness, reward passive don't-give-a-hoot behaviour, don't overfuss him and try to keep a nonchalant air 'it's just another dog, who cares, look at this ball instead, wow!' if that makes sense.

 

[itsme123]

Thankyou everyone for your vibes. I know it isnt 'correct' but he had some tea with a spoonful of sugar in before bed

as he was still shaking

. This morning he's perked up again and is loving the bone I've just brought him back from the shops.

CC: OH isnt the most clued up about dogs

and I think it was just reaction to kick it... and I think he's realised now that it probably made things worse.

I've suggested that when we begin classes again (they start in feb) he come too and learn more about dog language and behaviour, I think even before this it would have done him good.

Jack's so confident with other dogs, not overly so in a bolshy kind of way, but he plays nicely. I think what will upset and unsettle him is the fact that he plays at that park daily, we know other dog walkers and all the dogs run loose and play with one another. We took him out last night, just to the front for a wee, and coming back in met the neighbour and their lovely staffie (who Jack is good friends with) and Jack rolled onto his back and peed

. We're (neighbour and I ) heading over to the park again with the dogs this lunchtime, as per normal. I'll see how he reacts... (and yes, i'll take his ball).

anyway, some pics. I'm suprised the teeth didnt penetrate the skin, just marked it around the eye, but the dog had Jack' whole head in it's mouth

and you can see the swelling

what hurts the most is that he's such a gentle dog, such a lovely nature, and through everything, it's whats shone through. The children were in tears

I'm still determined to find out whose dog it was and make sure that this doesnt happen again.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Well it's not as bad as I was expecting, cold comfort that it might be....

As I said, lots of diversionary tactics, balls, food, will be needed and lots of fun 'up'ness - however, when praising him, keep it very calm and long pats along his side 'gooood booyyyyy'. Make sure you praise his buddy dog too, so he can see what sort of behaviour gets the good response.

And sorry to go on and I know it won't be the biggest amount in the world, but caffiene is not good for dogs

 

[MurphysMinder]

Poor little lad, what a time of it he is having. Its a miracle the other dog didn't puncture the skin at all although that is probably little comfort at the moment. If you can get some arnica tablets and put him on those it should help the bruising, and to some extent the shock. Hope he perks up soon.