CockersOnline Forum

Cocker Specific Discussion => General Cocker Spaniel Discussion => Topic started by: PollySpaull on April 20, 2016, 09:59:24 PM

Title: Such a scary experience
Post by: PollySpaull on April 20, 2016, 09:59:24 PM
So today, Monty and I set out on our walk. We go there all the time. It's a very secluded track between farmers fields, you can walk for hours without meeting anybody. Today,
Monts was off lead, as he usually is, when he caught a whiff of something in the hedgerow. I called him back, by saying"Monty, this side!" And he turned back to come over to me. As he was
Coming back he was sniffing the floor and managed to pull up a length of barbed wire from the dirt. He was stuck on his chest and his ear. Thankfully it was only the bottom of his ear, which I managed to free quite quickly. The chest was another problem. His fur was wound so tightly, it was pulling his skin at least 2 inches away from his chest. I was starting to panic at this point and was trying to hold Monty still, the barb wire still and also trying to untangle his fur. It had been about 20 minutes at this point (I must say Monty was still wagging) but I was terrified. In the end I managed to hold his chest fur and pull, resulting in some quite nasty cuts to my hands and arms. Monty pulled away for the last bit, and lost a good chuck of hair. Thankfully, he was fine. Not a scratch, I however, came off much worse than him! So... Lesson learned. Swiss Army knife purchased and arriving tomorrow. Just a warning to all those in rural locations xx
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: fionad on April 20, 2016, 10:16:41 PM
That must have been very scary. So glad Monty was a sensible boy and didn't struggle too much or it could have been so much worse. My Lexi has very long fur on her ears and last week, while sniffing in a hedgerow she got a caught up in a long bramble.She couldn't move an inch!

Luckily I got to her quickly and managed to get her out without too much loss of fur and she went on her way quite happily with ear fringes intact.

I won't forget that panicked look on her little face though!
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: Penelope on April 20, 2016, 10:19:13 PM
Whew! Well done Monty for staying calm.
Never thought that being in the countryside could be so dangerous!
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: EmmaRose on April 20, 2016, 10:25:20 PM
Gosh what a scare!  Glad to hear Monty is ok and what a good boy for staying still, sounds like it could have been really nasty...  Poor you though, hope your hands are ok :bigarmhug:
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: Pearly on April 20, 2016, 10:34:38 PM
It is very scary at the time - very pleased you are both ok albeit shaken with cuts and scratches

Pearl works in season - the Boxing Day shoot she had a brilliant time but her ears were about 6" wide, full of burrs, bramble and thorns.  Needless to say, the rest of the season she was very short and her ears are only just growing back  :shades:

Swiss Army knife is a great idea.....on my Christmas list now!
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: PollySpaull on April 20, 2016, 10:40:56 PM
Thankyou all, was so proud of my boy, no crying, whimpering or anything. He did give me a few hard bites toward the end, obviously being in pain and rather bored of his silly mum faffing! So I'll allow it! Was so scared, you know when the adrenaline is rushing and you start to shake?
Bloody countryside! There was me thinking it was so peaceful and easy!!!!
But still, he's my little hero tonight and has had a special meal followed by some apple which is his favourite! Phew! Not an experience I want to repeat any time soon!!!
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: tenaille on April 20, 2016, 10:47:26 PM
we always carry strong scissors when walking, due to a bad experience years ago with our first cocker baby.  He just disappeared in dense brambles and we found him firmly trapped by his chest hair, he couldn't move and was petrified. Very upsetting trying to get him free.
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: PollySpaull on April 20, 2016, 10:49:08 PM
Will always carry 'tools' with me when walking now. Especially in such rural secluded areas X
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: BobnDot on April 20, 2016, 11:47:18 PM
There's a pair of "Utility" scissors in our dog walking bag.

They came with a car first aid kit and have rounded ends so they're less liable to cause injury yet are capable of cutting through a car seatbelt if required. There's also a notch in the blades close to the pivot point for cutting wires.

Here's a similar scissors from Amazon…

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Princess-Care-Medical-Utility-Scissors/dp/B001G5ADVO/ref=pd_sim_121_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=31QC9V33lbL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=FVAH2084Y62BC009RBE7

Bob.

Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: julie1 on April 20, 2016, 11:58:21 PM
Glad it's all over for you both................are you up-to-date with  your "tetanus"  jabs  :huh:
Be careful about the Swiss army knife I think it is illegal to carry one.
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: SuzanneE on April 21, 2016, 07:55:26 AM
It is illegal to carry a knife in public, but a swiss army knife is allowed as long as it isnt to large so you will be fine with that. These spaniels do get in a tangle sometimes. If my Daisy gets caught in brambles she just stops and waits for me to untangle her (stands there like a little princess awaiting the servant to catch up and sort her out) I do worry what would happen if she took off and got caught up particularly if I didnt know which direction she had gone off in the woods because she doesnt make a sound and wont pull herself out she just stands still.
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: Geordietyke on April 21, 2016, 08:00:16 AM
Very scary, glad Monty was OK  :luv:
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: Finvarra on April 21, 2016, 08:58:06 AM
Glad Monty was OK, very scary. Like when Dylan got the fish hook caught in his ear on the beach. Good idea to carry a tool for emergencies, I hadn't thought of it.

Lesley and Dylan
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: bizzylizzy on April 21, 2016, 09:32:27 AM
Glad it's all over for you both................are you up-to-date with  your "tetanus"  jabs  :huh:
Be careful about the Swiss army knife I think it is illegal to carry one.

Yes, it is apparantly, but typical of the stupidity of the GB law! I have been carrying one in my handbag for the last 35 years ( and yes, I was in the girl guides!!!) and also carry one in the dog walking bags along with all the other paraphanalia! (and since an experience with a defective poo bag last week, a bag of disenfectant wipes has also been added!  >:D)
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: MacTavish Boys on April 21, 2016, 10:06:03 AM
What a horible experience for you both  :013:, well done for handling it so well ;) i carry a small pair of small blunt ended scissors in my bag on dog walks as the boys sometimes manage to get those horrible thin brambles completely wound around their feathering and flush to the skin >:D. Glad to hear that Monty is Ok, i hope the cuts on your hands and arms heal quickly and are not too sore. :bigarmhug:
Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: Londongirl on April 21, 2016, 11:25:24 AM
*adds safety scissors to dog-bag paraphernalia*

Big hugs to you and Monty. So very scary. Hope you recover soon.
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: lescef on April 21, 2016, 12:33:05 PM
We have enough trouble with brambles!
Glad you're both ok. Might be adding scissors to the doggy bag!
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: sodpot2000 on April 21, 2016, 01:19:31 PM
A small pen knife or Swiss Army knife is quite legal - see the link below to the government summary:
https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives

I have always had a little pen knife in my pocket since I was a lad for all sorts of little jobs. Apart from flights,the only place you must not carry any sort of knife is into a court. All the court buildings now have airport style metal detectors and any offending items will be confiscated.
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: bizzylizzy on April 21, 2016, 04:04:52 PM
A small pen knife or Swiss Army knife is quite legal - see the link below to the government summary:
https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives

I have always had a little pen knife in my pocket since I was a lad for all sorts of little jobs. Apart from flights,the only place you must not carry any sort of knife is into a court. All the court buildings now have airport style metal detectors and any offending items will be confiscated.

Thanks for that - (I just googled it and came up with all sorts of nonsense) !
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: Maggiesfriend on April 23, 2016, 03:27:42 PM
It's horrible stuff barbed wire, what it can do to horses legs is indescribable!  Do take special notice of your scratches and cuts, there are so many "bugs" in the ground.  Any redness and swelling and you should should visit your Dr.  It may need an antibiotic. Glad your'e both OK.
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: daw on April 23, 2016, 05:05:20 PM
Well done for getting him free. I've had a show-boy's ear caught in wire in the past and you could hear the screams in the next country. I too carry a very small penknife- it's actually an antique little thing but very sharp now. My story will be if stopped and searched that it is a family heirloom I'm taking to be valued. (Actually got it from a junk shop.)
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: Markr64 on April 24, 2016, 02:23:18 PM
Only just seen this and I hope you are both ok.
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: PollySpaull on April 24, 2016, 08:28:11 PM
Thanks everyone. And thankyou for the info regarding carrying a Swiss Army knife! We're both fine now! My scratches and cuts are healing nicely! And Monty is as gorgeous as ever!
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: JeffD on April 24, 2016, 11:58:06 PM
It is legal to carry a knife in a public place as long as the blade is not the type that locks, the blade is 3 inches or less and you have good reason for carrying it. To remove the debris our hairy bundles collect is good reason. 
Title: Re: Such a scary experience
Post by: PennyB on April 25, 2016, 12:59:24 AM
It is legal to carry a knife in a public place as long as the blade is not the type that locks, the blade is 3 inches or less and you have good reason for carrying it. To remove the debris our hairy bundles collect is good reason. 

Yep, I carry a small Swiss army knife (attached to my key ring), which is brilliant if I ever need it - I also asked a police officer friend if the one I had was legal and he said it was