That is exactly true. If she had stayed still, he would have avoided her. Stepping to the side also meant that she was unbalanced. But as you say, it wasn't her fault at all, it was just an accident. And he really is very clumsy...
If all of my dogs are running towards me, I will step out of my youngster's way and deliberately into the way of one of my older dogs. He can avoid me, she can't - and I know she won't move into the space he's in.
Labs just don't even try to avoid you though, when Maisy plays with another lab puppy it looks like the tasmanian devil cartoon - just a mass of fur and feet - and they barrel along straight into the back of your knees usually. I am dreading this happening, it almost has a few times. What a gorgeous fella Merlin is though, and what a lovely lady your friend is to be so understanding, maybe a bunch of flowers would cheer her up, from Merlin of course.
Really good to hear your neighbour wasn't badly injured and was gracious about it, that goes a long, long way. I'm sure we've all had similar stories or close calls. My lab once jumped up on an older woman and knocked her slightly off balance, she didn't fall down but she could well have in a different circumstance. He's actually really good about not jumping up so that was surprising. I was reminded of this news story I read a couple of weeks ago, what a nightmare! "Woman wins £115,000 from former friend after breaking her arm being pulled over by her Alsatian" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...00-former-friend-breaking-harm-pulled-german/
Good on you for treating this lady the way you did!!! While doing my reading several dog "experts" (to me that means someone who has a real degree in dog/animal behavior) have pointed out that bumping into people and other dogs is actually a form of play with them. Merlin may have learned from you and your friends reaction that this form of play is not good with people. Hopefully!!!! Murphy used to do it to me, come charging full tilt and BAM! I learned to turn sideways because we are much more stable side to side than front to back.
Oh what a shock! Like you, I would have been mortified and so worried. Large adolescent pups are just a nightmare, Bramble sent me flying the other day! I did note with interest the interaction between an older lab, he was 5, and his owner. They were using the whipit for training a good chase behaviour. The tuggy was moving fast and close, and so was the lab. It was lovely to watch the degree of spatial awareness from the dog. He was a large red fox too.
Merlin is a darling. That poor woman! Quite a fall. I would’ve been mortified, too. Poor you! I’ve been body slammed by a flat coat - he did it on purpose in play. Got a bruise, very sore! I just learned to turn side-on to him in the future and keep my knees soft. I am afraid of being knocked over by Snowie when he gets the zoomies and flatten myself against the wall. These dogs - entertaining when they race around, not fun being knocked over. I hope you aren’t too worried for future walks - your friend was extremely gracious, which I would take as a compliment to you - she obviously wants to keep your friendship!
*hyperventilates* You think there might be hope for Merlin??? Yay! Only 4 more years to go, then!! Dreadful dog is back in the dog house - chewed up two quite valuable books today, I can't even bear to think about it...
Oh dear!!!!!! I became extremely tidy after losing specs, sunglasses, sandals... my husband was delighted (about the tidiness), he’s very neat! Snowie did chew up the cover and some pages of a Cesar Milan book I’d bought - clearly he was giving me a message!! Hope you don’t feel too bad for too long about the books.
Thanks - and yes, we will be a lot tidier!!! Actually, it's all OH's fault - I am very tidy, he is famously untidy. Luckily almost everything chewed so far (including the books) has belonged to him. He just leaves stuff lying around, and then doesn't really pay attention to what Merlin gets up to, although he is at home with him most of the time.
Benson is 4 now, and at the weekend he ate a Jack Reacher book, hardback copy as well. I had popped it out on the landing reading to read. Bit difficult now though...
Luna chewed my Kindle a couple f months back. It still "works" but the menu doesn't come up. Pretty sure that when I get to the end of the book I'm currently reading, that'll be it for the bin!
As an aside, and not something that would have helped in this situation, I've been working on body language when Luna runs towards me. I've found that, if I stand up tall and slightly lean backwards, with my hands in fists by my waist (think pulling on reins on a horse), it really slows down the end of her approach, and she ends up sitting in front of me.
I’d rather stand with knees flexed ready to sit on my bum if he knocks me over! With Twiglet the problem was when she galloped up from behind and clipped my knee, toppling me over. Now any galloping from anyone and I turn round and face them with knees flexed. Luckily Keir has good spatial awareness, even ‘tho he’s growing like a weed .
Hehe, I get your point, but it really works! It's something I picked up at agility; bending over from the waist makes a dog speed up, leaning backwards slightly makes them slow down. I thought I'd try it against the stampeding hippo - ready to jump out the way if necessary. As soon as I do it, she slams on the brakes
