Was this the right thing to do?

[Elle123]

Hello everyone,
just a question about something that happened this morning.

Pixel is a 5 month old show type cocker puppy. She is almost completely blind but been working really hard to give her the most normal life possible and she is such an amazing puppy dog.

Anyway we were out on our morning 8am walk this morning with my mum, and the family dogs (Mac, 11yrs lab and Ronnie, 8yrs Goldie)

We were having a brilliant walk. Whole walk off lead, recall amazing. Even coped walking into the sun

Till we got to the last part of the walk. When suddenly a border terrier appeared. Looked back up the track (very long main track) no sign of owner. Waited for a minute, still no owner. Initially, it seemed quite friendly. Then it started trying to mount Pixel I have been trying so hard to get her socialised with other dogs, obviously she can find it a bit intimidating so has taken a while to start to get her happy with other dogs, but we were really getting somewhere. So I gently pushed terrier away with welly. But the damn thing would not let up. So tried to lead her away, but he just jumped on her and she screamed (she screams when she gets over whelmed)

In the end I had to pick her up, didnt have many options as he would just not let up and did not want all our hard work to go out the window. he was still bouncing up at me. Was worried Ronnie might go at him as he doesn't take kindly to dogs bouncing on his mates :S But luckily he was off chasing fairies In the meantime the owner appeared in the distance. Didnt even try to recall him. When he did finally get within talking distance mum called to him
"is your dog entire?"
"well yeah" (in the most patronising voice you could imagine grrrrrr)

He then preceded to tell us that this was the second time the dog had done it that day then lifted the dog up by the scruff spin it in the other direction and kick it :O
Was discusting, picked it up to waist level (and he was a tall guy )
Mum said shes seen it before and its 2-3years old.

Just wondering if you thought it was the right thing to do by picking Pixel up? I don't think shes coming into season yet as Mac is quite frankly a dirty old man! and would be all over her! Shes my first bitch so all new to me! When is the average for a cocker to come into season?

On a positive note, now out of puppy class and into big dog classes Her lead walking is the best in the class and he new best mate is a mahooosive 6month old labradoodle!

here are some pics of ickle Pix. A lot of the time you wouldnt know anything was different about her

Family Portrait

Pixel's first ever trip to the beach with her big mate Ronnie - She was amazing! Stayed on the longline onto lifejacket just in case

Hope that made sense, been quite poorly today and not quite thinking straight
thank you in advance for any replies

Elle
x

 

[Ginger Bear]

lovely pics of your dogs..i'm no dog trainer so no idea od the rights & wrongs of what to do in that situation..but if it makes you feel any better.. I would have done the same thing with Daisy (my bichon frise) if she was that scared..

 

[Vizslak]

Usually I would say dont pick the dog up but with Pixel yes I think you did the right thing.

eta..I would be very suprised if she was coming in at 5 months. The man sounds like a nob!

 

[tuppence's fortune]

its so good to hear she is doing well and you are doing well to overcome her sight problems, well done to both of you, you should be very proud! x
i would of said you did the right thing picking her up if the dog wasnt giving up his bit of "action". bless him. there was nothing else you could have done. she should be ok just keep an eye on her around other dogs for a while as it may have confused her a bit. she will not be in season i think the dog was just full of it being entire and possibly having his way earlier in the day to will have made him very excitable.

all dogs are different with regards to seasons some come in season at around 6-7 months others might not till 12 months maybe longer. i had a king charles who came in season at 11 months ! it is just one of those things that you can rough guess but never know until bits start swelling up ext.

that poor dog getting kicked, bless him . horrid man for doing it (shaking head) x

 

[CorvusCorax]

I personally would not lift the dog as it reinforces fear behaviour (oh my God! You are so right to be scared, let me pick you up and comfort you!) and also you run the risk of the oncoming dog jumping up and biting you.

I would actually use a lead or belt around the neck of the uncoming dog and remove it.
If you have to put pressure on it, do so.

I've been pestered by dogs before and I also use my voice and physical presence to make them go away, make yourself as big and loud and scary as possible and make a very gruff 'getouttofit!'.
I don't mean flap and scream and shout, I mean calm, loud, firm 'don't mess with us, now do one!!!'

Are you going to report the guy for kicking his dog?

 

[Spudlet]

Poor little Pixel! However, I glean that cockers do go through a screaming phase when they are little (Henry met one a few weeks back, he very politely sniffed it and it shrieked like it was being boiled), so I would try to resist the temptation to pick her up if you can. Obviously if she's in danger you may have to, but generally I would say leave her on the ground - also if you do pick her up in a serious situation you yourself may be bitten.

Horrid man

 

[Elle123]

CC I wanted to report him but was away from the car park so didn't know which car was his so not sure how he'd be traced. We reported someone beating the hell out of a Newfoundland once, gave number plate and everything, they said there was no evidence and couldn't be traced :S Tried the tough voice but don't think I sounded tough enough lol! I hated picking her up, it's my pet hate for people to do but because of Pixels condition and the size of the other dog, at the time it seemed like the only option. As far as picking her up, I didn't pick her up while she was scared. Pushed dog away, coaxed Pix away. Then picked her up.

Thank you for all the replies, she is very special Vizslak I hope your little mans improving.

Elle
X

 

[Elle123]

Spudlet - ah so it's a cocker thing! Never heard one do it before. Normally if she screamed I ignore her and then praise for positive. But in this case this dog seriously needed a cold shower and would not let her move and was trying to kinda drive her away from me and she was getting more and more distressed. I wish people would at least try and recall their dogs, and if it is that bad, longline it! If the goldie wasn't off chasing fairies he would have done something so quite happy we didn't end up with a dog fight on our hands too :S I don't think Pix is any worse for wear after it though as I don't think she saw it as a bad situation in the end and couldn't see the dog trying to get at her, just thought it was a long walk and we were giving her a break

Thank you for all your advice, hopefully it will be easier to deal with if another situation like that arises

Elle
X

 

[Pix]

here are some pics of ickle Pix. A lot of the time you wouldnt know anything was different about her

Thanks, kinder than most

Tbh I would normally do as CC suggests, but given Pixel is a little more vulnerable due to her eyesight, and you're trying to build her confidence, then I would have found it hard to resist removing her from the situation too.

I am sure she will soon forget about it anyway

The other bloke sounds like a complete moron

 

[Elle123]

Hehe Pix!!!
Thank you. Pixel says hi to her fellow Pix!!!

He was a moron, I don't know why some people have dogs :S

It is hard not to be over protective with her, hence why I asked to make sure I wasn't just being a paranoid parent! just want to keep her as confident as possible

She is getting much braver, and has learnt 'wrong way' and 'stop' very quickly

Elle
X

 

[littlemisslauren]

Border Terriers can be determined little sods!
I usually have a spare lead on me when we walk as B is longlined in big open spaces and we have a slip lead when some degree of control is needed! It comes in handy when we meet wandering pooches!

Pixel is gorgeous, I love seeing her updates

 

[Pix]

'Wong way, this way, wait!' are the commands I use most often with my lad out walking. Never occurred to me how important they would be if he couldn't see!

I honestly think you have a really difficult job. You have to help her confidence so much more because she has problems seeing... but you also have to protect her more for the same reason- in order to protect the confidence she has. It must be hard to know when to step in, and when not to. It sounds like you know what you are doing, so even if you are slightly over protective one day and not the next... I'm sure she will be fine

From one Pix to another she is also darned good looking! (As we all are! Honest! )

 

[tuppence's fortune]

its a shame you couldnt report him if you see him and his dog again get your phone out and take a pic of his registration no on his car (not sure if that is illegal or not) but that way you could report him and at least be able to tell them what car he drives, im unsure if they can search for a car reg or not??????

i think you are doing a wonderful job with her. i wouldnt know where to start! x

 

[AmyMay]

I too would have picked her up - and have done so with OH's son's little dog, when receiving the attentions of an over amerous Staffie, who simply would not get off.

Beautiful dog, and really lucky to have you as an owner.

 

[SecretSquirrell379]

I would of picked her up too, she is more vunerable than other dogs and as you are trying to build confidence then I think you did the right thing. Ditto the bloke sounds like a right dick :O(

Pixel is just scrummy, if Pickle grows up looking half as gorgeous then we will be over the moon :O)

xx