What would you do - dog on ice

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SplashofSoy

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They were also talking about it on Radio 2. I love my dog and much prefer them to children so by that logic he does the right thing by saving the dog and putting his life at risk as most people would agree that is the right thing to do for another human being. However by the frozen river yesterday i recalled henry away when he sniffed the ice just to be sure he didnt step on it. Part of me also thinks he is very stupid as he could die and he puts the lives of others (fire service etc) at risk if they had to rescue him and its a dog not a child.
 
Mollichop and I had exactly this on our walk yesterday:rolleyes:

We took the mutts on one of their favourite walks which involves various brooks and lakes some of which were frozen solid still others were not.

More then once they ventured on to the ice - Paddington going the furthest - we just called them back and luckily they all came when called:) Although they did insist on going into one of the lakes that had defrosted:eek::eek: can't imagine how cold that must have been!:eek::eek: but they did seem quite pleased with themselves:D:D:D

Generally speaking though no matter how much I love them they are better off left to their own devices while you stay on the bank and call for them - most of the time they will get out.:o
 
totally irresponsible in my opinion
dont get in that position in first place .my little dog wouldnt be off lead in that area with a semi or full frozen pond, she too is my baby .
 
Henry went flying over a stile yesterday and got wet paws and a soggy tum going through the ice in a ditch, the stupid boy:rolleyes: Would I have gone in after him if it had been more than wet paws... I've promised the OH I wouldn't, but I'm pretty sure I would if it came to it:o
 
Personally I would have mine on a lead away from the river, but if the worst happened and she got away from me I would go in after her, I'd never forgive myself if I didn't try.
 
If my dog fell in and I thought he couldn't get himself out, I, without a single doubt would be in there after him. I know some people think that it's just a dog, but he's my dog and I love him as much (some days more) than my own sister :P
 
I was thinking exactly the same thing yesterday when my little Ruby was happily skipping across a frozen lake, she had her hunting ears on and was completely ignoring me. Thankfully, the average duck probably weighs more than her.

I would resist going in, but it would kill me to watch her drown.
 
They'd never be off lead close to frozen water tbh but if it was the case I'd go in after them.

I'd have to, it would haunt me forever to watch them drown as I stood by.

Realistically I think we drown together though as they are bullmastiffs and not too light and easily helped.
 
I've done it. Silly little staffy x ran out onto a local river when my back was turned for an instant. She broke through the ice 5 metres or so from the bank. She couldn't get out and as the current is quite strong there I was so worried she would get dragged under the ice. I knew it was dangerous and stupid but I had to try. I got undressed to my underwear in freezing, snowy temperatures made a rope out of leads to attach to myself and gave end to my friends. Lay on the ice. The next part is a blur but in seconds poppy was free and we were both on the bank. Very scary when a man appeared who said that a dog walker had died doing the same the week before. Luckily we were both fine, but you never know. I'd like to say I learnt my lesson, but when you see your dog struggling and dipping lower in the water as hypothermia starts to set in you never know. I never take them out near water when it is frozen though. Ever.
 
First off my dog would be on a lead.
Second off no, I would never go in for a dog, harsh as it sounds. I am too important to my parents to die for the sake of a dog. Plus I have rarely heard of a dog drowning, how many of these stories do you hear the dog got itself out of trouble.
 
Mine would also be on a lead near frozen rivers/ponds. But, if I wasn't so sensible, then yes, I'd be in there like a shot. Couldn't stand and watch a dog drown. Not sure about the stripping off though, can't remember the last time I had my legs waxed and not as toned as I used to be....................................:o:D
 
He he blazing saddles! Yeah my pasty, hairy january legs were on show :eek: Luckily just two old friends with me, so not too much embarassment. Thought that removing clothes would stop them getting drenched and dragging me down. Bloody cold though, and had to walk back miles to car.
 
Noodlebug said:
I don't think you would know what you would do until it happened
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^^ This. I honestly don't know what I'd do and imagine that whatever I did I would just 'do it'. In the cold light of day it does seem irresponsible/silly whatever but I imagine logic could easily go out of the window in this situation.
 
I'd like to think I'd be sensible enough to not get myself into serious danger by going after my dogs.. but in reality I don't think I could stand by and watch. Agree with keeping on lead or away from ice, but when mishaps happen they can catch you out pretty quickly!

Back in the 2007 floods a friend and I were walking dogs down our drive when our other housemates dog joined us out of nowhere and proceeded to leap into a stream of fast flowing floodwater, immediately getting into difficulty. I don't remember actually communicating at all with my friend (other than a couple of expletives) but within seconds we were both in the water working together to get her out. The current was so strong we both got knocked off our feet and all three of us were lucky.

Another time our family lab ran across a bridge while walking by the river, without thinking my mum called her back and she came immediately... only this time she took the direct route and jumped off the top of a wier and got pulled under by the current, I went straight in after her and don't think she would have got out on her own, it took her by such surprise. It is silly, and I would shake my head at someone doing the same but at the time you just don't seem to think. This man was so lucky!!
 
Would hope I wouldn't go in after my JRT cos if the ice wouldn't hold him it sure as hell won't hold me...................................That said have been perilously close to falling in the river, trying to get my brothers dappy lab out that was being swept down stream by the current. She had followed Oz in, but he is a much stronger swimmer and got out easily, she panicked and stopped swimming!! Anyway managed to get her out, so on all honestly I would probably try, even though I have told him more than once that I would not be going in after him. :)
 
One of our labs lives to swim, we call her the pond seeking missile. So when its icy I would never go anywhere near a pond/lake on a walk - even on a lead as she would surely pull me towards the edge and if the footpath was icy it would be easy to slip and lose her. I have to plan walks to completely keep her away from water. Its probably a good thing for me too, as despite knowing its stupid and a deathwish, I'd probably try and rescue them.

I think its really really irresponsible of owners to not put their dogs on the lead around frozen water. The risks are obvious and you're inflicting them on your dog. Its not like we're under ice for month on end, its only the odd day here and there!
 
My PRT did this on a large pond the other day, it was a few days after the cold snap, I'm generally very careful not to let them near if I think its likely to be frozen but we had had a couple of very mild days, I didnt anticipate it would still be iced over...until I heard her fall through the ice. And yep, I dropped the other dogs (2 were on lead) and ran, I was going to get wet (although it wouldnt have been dangerous, the ice was thin, I could have smashed it in a path to her to get her out) luckily she got herself up and out over the ice without my intervention, my heart was pounding like mad.
 
How many times do you hear about people drowning after going in to 'save' the dog and the dog getting out ok.
Look at it another way, who would your family rather have, you or the dog?
 
I can definately see it from the point of "if you drown" you are going to leave behing some misery, I would be devastated if OH drown saving ours and Im sure he would be if I did (a bit less maybe):p I would never allow my dogs to fart about on ice but if the incident occured i do would my best to get the dog out obviously but i would not get in the water i don't think, I would possibly attempt to walk over it if my dogs head was bobbing out which is probably just as bad:o:p
 
I would do the same, but as I know my dog loves water I wouldn't let her off lead in those conditions anyway. If it did happen I think I have enough blubber to save me from the cold and I certainly wouldn't be doing no strip lol

But as others have said you don't know until it happens and hopefully never will to find out, I am very cautious where I let my dog off lead as she loves squirrels, birds etc she would just be off
 
I'd definitely try and save the dog if there was absolutely no way it was getting out. Irresponsible? Yes, perhaps. But I'd probably want to top myself anyway if I had to watch my dog drown so might as well have a bash at saving it, you might be one of the lucky ones......
 
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