Irresponsible Owners

[SaddlePsych'D]

Not too cautious at all @SaddlePsych'D. However in your shoes I’d actively avoid enclosed areas like you describe above. If Ivy isn’t interested in other dogs, and is nervous then environments like that will be of no benefit at all to her or you.

I don't know why I didn't stick with my usual plan to avoid it and only go in there when it's empty. I think I second guess myself and think it will be okay, the owners seem nice, the dogs seem okay etc. I need to stop doing that. Last week she met a small dog and another greyhound but that was one dog per visit and both were equally as uninterested in her as she was them after an initial sniff so we stayed. She did play a tiny bit with the greyhound which was nice to see as she hasn't had the chance to do that off lead since we have had her.

ETA: sometimes it is a real free for all in there and then we really do avoid it completely.

 

[Clodagh]

I don't know why I didn't stick with my usual plan to avoid it and only go in there when it's empty. I think I second guess myself and think it will be okay, the owners seem nice, the dogs seem okay etc. I need to stop doing that. Last week she met a small dog and another greyhound but that was one dog per visit and both were equally as uninterested in her as she was them after an initial sniff so we stayed. She did play a tiny bit with the greyhound which was nice to see as she hasn't had the chance to do that off lead since we have had her.

ETA: sometimes it is a real free for all in there and then we really do avoid it completely.

If I meet someone and they are off lead and chilled I still make mine walk to heel so they greet politely. If I say ‘go say hi,’ they barrel along together, it must be horrible for the other dog even though they are genuinely calm and friendly.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

In the end the two sighthounds were okay but I did step between the other dog and Ivy because it kept coming back to 'say hi' (sniffing her) and it was too much. The other owner wasn't seeing it and I'm sure had no idea what my problem was but I will always try to step in to say enough before Ivy has to. Didn't quite get it right this time but hopefully intervened in time.

 

[Morwenna]

Not too cautious at all. My puppy still thinks all dogs and people are friends and wants to meet everyone but she is very submissive when she actually meets dogs so I only let her interact with dogs I know, in controlled situations, and not every time. I don’t want to be *that* lab owner whose dog bounds across the field to “play” with all dogs. My old boy was attacked by two “friendly” boxers which was awful to watch and he was a fear reactive dog anyway so I am very cautious of unknown dogs that approach us. Having had a reactive dog I know how hard it is and how frustrating when you put your dog on a lead and other people still let their dogs approach yours and then judge you when your dog snarls / snaps at them.

 

[misst]

Can you name and shame on FB? There can't be many dogs of that description called Barry

I don't do facebook!!

 

[GSD Woman]

Am I being too cautious or was it sensible to be wary of three unknown dogs coming over to us

Not in the least little bit. When my dogs are off lead I make sure to keep them away from other dogs. It is only polite. If there is no way to go the other way I put mine on lead. I think too many people don't have the sense god gave a goat.

Now my rant. A friend and I went to a large public park to track our dogs. We saw many off lead dogs. The last one was a large pit bull type. The owner had no off lead control, was on her phone and didn't notice when her dog left her, went into the middle of a field while she walked on out of sight. You can't fix stupid.

 

[scats]

I don't do facebook!!

Do you have a friend who can put it on FB for you? Sometimes dog walkers take photos of the dogs they walk and post them on their pages for owners to see, so someone could perhaps check the pages of your local dog walkers to try and find out who it was?

Id be absolutely raging if that had happened to a child I was with! I hope she is ok.

 

[Annette4]

I failed Dobby today but thankfully it wasn't a negative experience. He came with me to take OH to work as he missed out on training. We went for a wander but I don't know the area. Came across a park, there was a group of labs and goldens the other side of the park. They were concentrating on their owners and ignored us so I didn't think anything of it. We went further around the estate and came to what I thought was an alley which would take me back to his work.......I was wrong.

We were in the middle of the group of labs and goldens before I realised and they understandably said hello. Thankfully they were all polite and their owner was mortified when she spotted his muzzle and lead sleeve. I explained that he was nervous post attack and I hadn't realised where it was going to bring me out so wasn't her fault and actually, it gave him a positive interaction as they all just briefly sniffed then recalled to their owner. I still feel awful for putting him in that position.

 

[GSD Woman]

Annette4, I'm glad it turned out to be a positive experience.

 

[maisie06]

There have been rumours buzzing around here for a few days, but today I happened upon the daughter of an eyewitness, who called the police.
Last week in the local park a 4 month old puppy was attacked and killed by 2 off lead dogs. These dogs are described as merle, and large pit bull types.
I have noticed a rapid increase recently of XL Bullies around the area including some in a washed out shade of red merle, accompanied by young men who like to hang around outside shops looking like they are up to no good.

The police are asking for witnesses to come forward and as this happened in the middle of the day in the park opposite the shop (and school) there will be people who saw, I hope they are able to provide information anonymously and someone is held to account for this.

As if this whole incident wasn't bad enough, the dead puppy was put in the bin, in front of it's distressed owner.

I feel physically sick typing this.

Makes me feel sick reading it. I'm sorry but it's about time American XL Bullies were banned, so many fatal attcks involving this breed, they are basically a wild animal, I avoid walking locally even though we have lovely parks and beaches because the area is flooded with them having been churned out by a couple of local backstreet breeders. They are far too big and powerful to fend off once they have latched on, but it seems we'll have a repeat of what has happened in Liverpool, and wales before anyone in authority takes notice.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Oh I could just cry! I was really looking forward to a nice decompressing walk with Ivy, drove to a bigger local green space where there are dogs but it's nice and big so easy enough to find some space. I've not had any problems before so it seemed like a good pick.

Spotted a french bulldog on flexi lead had fixed on Ivy and laid down. It was already quite a distance off but I gave a bit more room. Unsure if I read it right but to me that's a dog either overly interested in mine or not happy about mine and making room was no bother. All was fine I thought as we passed and it seemed to move along with its owner the other way. Wrong! The bloody thing can absolutely pelting straight at Ivy, lead trailing behind. Absolutely no hesitation in its mind just...running at us.

I stepped in between before it reached Ivy, often this is enough to get them to have a think but not for this one so it got a very assertive "Ah Ah Ah!" Still not backing off so I kept stepping between it and Ivy then managed to get the lead.

Stupid sodding owner bloke then tells me off for 'needing to learn how to react'. I told him it's not safe and he was like what are you talking about. Adrenaline and rage couldn't help me articulate fully all the reasons we know letting your dog steamroller at a dog (and person) it doesn't know is a bad idea so all I could find was to roar "You don't know me, or my dog. LOOK AFTER YOUR DOG!!" He wandered off muttering something under his breath.

Honestly if getting shouted at is the worst thing that happens to your out of control dog then frankly count yourself lucky. There is absolutely no way in hell I am letting any dog approach Ivy (or me actually) like that.

 

[CorvusCorax]

This morning we met BELLA!BELLA!BELLA! and LUNA!LUNA!LUNA! the charming cockapoos, who delightfully charged up to my dog barking and sweetly ran off into the housing estate out of their owner's sight to chase squirrels.

Luckily it was my nice neutral dog so he did nothing more than make confused Scooby Doo noises/facial expressions.

At no point did owner attempt to put leashes on, apologise or, you know, indicate to the dogs that this was perhaps not desirable behaviour.
Such cute. Very teddy bear.
There was another one who politely remained at heel and didn't require their name screeched at them.

 

[ArklePig]

Mr AP got bitten just now by some lab/staffy thing. Fodhla was on the lead and the other dog was too and he jumped up at him. The owner said 'oh so sorry did he nip you?' nip?! He was pumping blood but the wound itself isn't so bad. He's so not the type to make a fuss though he just came home and was like 'oh I got bitten?'

I can't imagine being anything other than mortified and horrified if my dog bit someone.

 

[skinnydipper]

That's terrible, AP. That bloke can call it a nip but it's a bite.

Keep an eye out for infection, if in doubt seek medical advice, Mr AP may need antibiotics.

 

[ArklePig]

My husband is such a weirdo he just said 'it's a shame cause he seemed like a nice enough dog all the same he was probably just overwhelmed.' He's annoyingly and stupidly tolerant.
Agreed though, to me bleeding=bite, definitely not a nip.

Have just shoved the NHS page on bites into his face and he's promised to keep an eye on it. He's the type that would let his finger fall off (whereas I am the total opposite).

 

[skinnydipper]

Here is Ian Dunbar's dog bite scale for info, AP.

https://apdt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ian-dunbar-dog-bite-scale.pdf

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks SD, I wasn't aware of that but it's interesting. Was probably a level 3 which is good for the dog I guess, based on that. Hopefully the owners actually do something about his behaviour to fix /mitigate the chances of him doing it again. It OH was a child it could have been eye height.

I freaked out when he came in because the dog had blood on her but I was slightly relieved to find it was his ?

 

[skinnydipper]

The owner dismissing it as a nip doesn't sound very promising from the point of view of training and behaviour modification.

 

[GSD Woman]

Mr AP got bitten just now by some lab/staffy thing. Fodhla was on the lead and the other dog was too and he jumped up at him. The owner said 'oh so sorry did he nip you?' nip?! He was pumping blood but the wound itself isn't so bad. He's so not the type to make a fuss though he just came home and was like 'oh I got bitten?'

I freely admit I don't know how reported dog bites go in your area but my niece's oh so lovely pit bull has one strike since I had to report the bite. I believe another one and he'll be confiscated with a case to put him down. Which is a long way of saying he needs antibiotics and to report the dog. A bite that draws blood like that is a BAD THING.

 

[GSD Woman]

BTW, CC your post about BELLA!BELLA!BELLA! and LUNA!LUNA!LUNA! made me smile.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Mr AP got bitten just now by some lab/staffy thing. Fodhla was on the lead and the other dog was too and he jumped up at him. The owner said 'oh so sorry did he nip you?' nip?! He was pumping blood but the wound itself isn't so bad. He's so not the type to make a fuss though he just came home and was like 'oh I got bitten?'

I can't imagine being anything other than mortified and horrified if my dog bit someone.

That's not on.

Speaking as someone who deals with big dogs and gets bitten sporadically, I really do urge him to get it cleaned properly and an antibiotic. Dog's mouths are stinking and an infection in the hand, when most of us use our hands for pretty much everything, is a right PITA.

 

[ArklePig]

He is currently on hold to the out of hours doc at my insistence and now that he's come round and the shock has worn off he's calling the owners every name under the sun. Thanks

 

[CorvusCorax]

Also it will probably hurt more/later when adrenaline wears off. Arnica and a bath in/or soaking the hand in warm water with Dettol or Savlon also helps.

ETA just seen your last. Yeah they can sting like anything, especially in fingers and if there's bruising that'll come up later ?

 

[Clodagh]

It really does need reporting. That dog is dangerous.

 

[ArklePig]

I think I've just convinced him on that front @Clodagh

Tbf when he came in I think he was in a mild shock but now he's rightly fuming.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Mr AP got bitten just now by some lab/staffy thing. Fodhla was on the lead and the other dog was too and he jumped up at him. The owner said 'oh so sorry did he nip you?' nip?! He was pumping blood but the wound itself isn't so bad. He's so not the type to make a fuss though he just came home and was like 'oh I got bitten?'

I can't imagine being anything other than mortified and horrified if my dog bit someone.

Definitely call the police. That’s appalling. ?

 

[skinnydipper]

He is currently on hold to the out of hours doc at my insistence and now that he's come round and the shock has worn off he's calling the owners every name under the sun. Thanks

How is Mr AP today?

 

[ArklePig]

He is grand thanks, he got it cleaned out yesterday evening and is on a prophylactic course of antibiotics. The wound itself isn't overly deep so should heal up nicely he didn't need stitches or anything so I'm sure he'll be grand.

 

[GSD Woman]

That's great news.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Aggressive little podenco chased my two in the woods today, barking, growling, I bo//ocked the ar$e off it, verbally only, the owner struggled to grab it and put the lead on. Why have it loose if it goes for other dogs?

Then another owner gave me fair warning, I suppose, telling her companion she was going to put MILOMILOMILO on the lead. Milo had already bounced at mine, I told her not to worry, I’d put mine on the lead. They all came nicely, sat, had leads put on and heeled past her three leaping lunatics.