OVEREXCITED PUP

[vicking]

:oops: Today i made a big mistake, i let my seventeen week old puppy out to take him on the field along with my eldest dog.Unfortunatley my pup ran straight up to a alsation dog who was on a lead he has a bite wound that needs treatin but i am beside myself how could i have been so stupid?                    

[PennyB]

Bet you won't do that one again. Sorry it was an awful lesson to learn. Hope your pup recovers without any lasting psychological damage (I take mine straight out after an upset like that and reintroduce them to as many friendly dogs as possible and thankfully they are fine—Ruby was attacked by 2 staffs one year and then 2 dalis the following year and came away with only shock, puncture wounds and bruising).

Every time I see another dog on a lead I recall my two and distract them long enough so they forget about the other dog or if I'm trail walking and we have to pass the dog I always put mine on their leads.                    

[Louie]

Hi, a few months ago whn i had taken all my dogs to the field, Alfie who was only seven months and wasn,t used to being off the lead was spooked by a Lurcher that just appeared from no where. This Lurcher made a bee line for Alfie and Alfie bolted and ran out of the field. No ammount of calling made any difference and as i had three other dogs with me i couldn,t run after him. I was panic struck but got the other dogs on their leads and followed. Alfie had crossed three minor roads on his way home but thankfully he was safe and was sitting on the front door step when i got home   . The experience didn,t damage him in any way and for a while i kept him on the lead if there were any other dogs about just in case he got spooked again. Alfie is happy to run about with the others and they all remain in their little pack never going that far from me and he is,nt bothered by other dogs now   .                    

[Laura]

Fancy meeting you here

Will be over later to give the wounded soldier a great big hug!!  Uncle Brogan sends over lots of healing Cocker kisses and Bailey is rooting for a quick recovery so that he can rough n tumble again soon!! :roll:                      

[Tracey J]

Hi Vicky

We met at the beach a few weeks back at the COL meet   .  I hope Roscoe hasn't suffered any long term damage and recovers soon.  

Molly is a fiend for running to other dogs, but through time has learned to approach submissively.  It's so sweet to see her sitting, smiling with the little tail stump frantically wagging, waiting for the go ahead to play.  To be honest I don't know how she learned to do this, maybe because when she is on-lead and we approach other dogs, I try to calm her until we know that the other dog is 'friendly'.  I think it takes a long time for cockers to realise that not all dogs want to be leapt on   .  It's a shame to have to curb their enthusiasm but worth it if it protects them against startled or aggressive dogs.

Hope you recover soon too and welcome to COL.                    

[Shirley]

Hi Vicky

That must have been really frightening  :shock:   I've had one experience of meeting a less than friendly GSD while out with Morgan and thankfully the snaps did no damage.  Two GSDs actually set upon and killed a Jack Russel here last week .  It's difficult to know what to do - I let my dogs off lead quite a lot and hardly ever meet any aggressive dogs but you just never know :? .

Hope Roscoe is feeling better and that it has not affected his confidence when meeting new dogs.  Sending him big hugs and kisses   .                    

[Sheila]

How scarey for you.

Goldie was attacked by a GSD as a pup. She needed stitches to repair the wounds. There seemed to be so much blood. It was really frightening.

Luckily the incident didn't seem to cause her any problems and she still loves all dogs, even GSDs

I still continued to let her off the lead and am doing the same with Lottie. It can be a bit worrying when a strange dog doesnt appreciate Lotties enthusiastic hellos I just keep a watchful eye.

I do think that pups learn so much though, by being off lead and meeting new dogs, I am just more wary around a dog on a lead.

But I don't think you should blame yourself and you will probably find that your pup is a little bit more careful when approaching a strange dog.                    

[PennyB]

Also dogs on leads often feel quite threatened by another dog bounding up to them which is why as a general rule its always best not to let your dog go bounding when off lead to another on lead dog (unless you know that its only because the dog does runners!)                    

[vicking]

:roll:Feelin better today cryed so much yesterday do not think i could cry any more.  Had little sleep last night due to Roscoe crying, having to bathe his wounds is a constant reminder but to be honest could not beat myself up anymore. Roscoe on antibiotics now he has extensive bruising and is very sore but will be ok.Thankyou all for your kind words and a special thanks to my good friend Laura she has been with me through this ordeal her support and friendship is invaluable. :wink:                    

[Laura]

:Thankyou all for your kind words and a special thanks to my good friend Laura she has been with me through this ordeal her support and friendship is invaluable. :wink:

Oh don't be daft Vick - see love you so much Roscoe that I will even tackle a GSD for you!!  :shock:  But please don't make a habit of it - don't think my nerves could take it again                    

[vicking]

:shock: Do not fear certain to avoid it in future. :?                    

[scoobie]

AAhh Vicking have just read this and I truly hope little Roscoe is feeling better very soon (and yourself) what a horrible thing to happen take care
Edith x                    

[Cathy]

Hi,
This is a fear of mine, I am always careful when I let Jazz off the lead, and If i see another dog on the lead, I will try to put her on it as well, although, this can prove tricky, if shes goes deaf to recall. I always have treats on hand to entice her, but easier said than done if shes spotted someone or something..

I Know the answer is probaly to not let her off the lead at all, but she loves running and bouncing about, i wouldn't like to keep her on a lead all the time..

So to be extra sure  i tend to walk her at a time, when I know my local park is quieter than normal, with not so many distractions... this way recall works much better.

Hope you are both feeling better this morning, and don't feel so guilty.                    

[Jaljen]

Stop feeling so guilty!

What about the dog responsible?
Owners with such dogs should shout a warning or muzzle their dogs.

Our two are off-lead as much as possible. My small boy runs up to nearly everything, plants himself in front of them and hopes they love him. Then he has a sniff at the back end and hopes to have a play! I couldn't keep them both on the lead, they'd have no fun.

Emphatically not your fault.
Best wishes.                      

[PennyB]

Stop feeling so guilty!

What about the dog responsible?
Owners with such dogs should shout a warning or muzzle their dogs.

Our two are off-lead as much as possible. My small boy runs up to nearly everything, plants himself in front of them and hopes they love him. Then he has a sniff at the back end and hopes to have a play! I couldn't keep them both on the lead, they'd have no fun.

Emphatically not your fault.  
Best wishes.  

Yes but sometimes dogs feel more threatened on leads and so react to a bouncy dog coming up to them as being threatening (mine are the friendliest around but don't always like having another dog barge up to them). I have two very friendly dogs which I don't force on any one elses dogs. An owner having their dog on a lead in th e1st place is responsible in doing so. Mine are offlead most of the time but I respect others who choose for whatever reason to keep theirs on lead—I do so by temporarily putting mine on a lead until the dog has gone or distract mine away from the dog or to me. Mine get plenty of socialising anyway so I don't see it a problem to respect another dog's space (I don't think I'd take too kindly to some, maybe friendly person, shoving their face into mine!)