After a ninety-minute walk this evening, we popped into a local pub with the dogs. We've not been in with the dogs for a long time, since I'm not drinking at the moment, but had some friends in there who I wanted to catch up with. A mug of hot water later, and we left. I walked out holding Shadow's lead in one hand, holding the door open for J and Willow in the other. Just as a cat walked across in front of us. Before I even saw it, Shadow ran for it, pulled the lead from my hand and ran straight across the main road!!!! I bellowed at him, repeatedly, as I ran towards him, all sorts of horrible visions crossing my mind. Thank every deity going that there wasn't a single car coming in either direction. It's snowing heavily, and I think that helped with the lack of traffic - of course, it could also have meant any car coming couldn't stop, too, so we're incredibly lucky. As soon as he was across the road, he stopped, I grabbed his lead and took several very deep breaths before working on attention with him and then carrying on our way. I can understand why people smack their children for similar things, it's absolutely terrifying and the impulse to react on that fear is strong. I was shaking like a leaf. So was he, but from excitement, not fear. Little beast.
Oh my goodness , my heart would have been in my mouth too It is incredibly hard to keep calm in situations like these, but good for you for getting his attention and carrying on , it is a shock , the thought of what might have happened , thank goodness it didn't x
God! Glad everything was OK...how absolutely terrifying! Can't help but comment...snowing heavily..and you have a mug of water????
I feel your pain! It happened to me once (no twice! did it with the GSPs years ago) I went out of the house holding the lead loosely as I had the 'good Lab' with me and then he saw a cat and whoosh he was gone across the lane, thank god no cars at that moment. I now make sure I hold the lead very tightly and scan the land for cats!
Oh lord, so frightening! Cats are the bane of my life (and squirrels!) and I've had a similar situation and it's very scary. Glad all was ok.
I have no idea what a cat was doing there! It's nowhere near any homes. I've never seen a cat there before in my life. You just wouldn't! They had been so good on the walk and in the pub, too. I still think he's a little beast, but he doesn't know I think that, and is happily curled up with his head in my lap. Hot water. J did tell the bartender that I'm weird. Hehe, I do feel guilty, but I don't like soft drinks and wasn't in the mood for a hot chocolate. So, hot water it was! 69 days down, 31 to go until Champagne!
Phew, so glad there is a happy ending. Do you have a slice of lemon in your hot water? Or just drink it neat.
I have a recurring nightmare that goes pretty much along those exact lines. Except there is a large truck involved. SO glad it worked out OK for you. Phew and double phew. Rxxx
Interesting how our hearts freely migrate through our bodies at times of dog induced stress. Yours went to your mouth and Charlie's (gone for 2 hours) went to her boots. Darn dogs, they've gotta stop this rearranging of our body parts. Hope your heart is back where it should be too, as Shadow himself is. REally, I'm on another Lab board and when a dog there did that he was hit, badly injured, it's months later now and he is better, can walk again and his limp is getting better. Scary to think it might have happened here.
@snowbunny Fiona, you and I could have both done with a stiff drink today and I don't even drink! So glad Shadow was OK. xxx
Thank goodness Shadow was ok. Must have been difficult to resist a large glass of something other than hot water when you got home, though!
Glad you both are OK, Fiona......! What is it about cats, squirrels and chipmunks that drive our pups crazy and yank our arms out of our sockets!!!??????
