This afternoon on a walk with Harley we done a blind retrieve. As she was running out a collie ran full pelt into the side of her - the ball wasn't thrown and the dog wasn't in view when I placed the ball. Harley fave a little yelp then barked at him and tried to ignore him continuing towards her retrieve (a ball). He started barking in her face and was jumping into her - again she ignored him, found her ball and ran back to me. He then kept barking in her face and jumping at her, and again she ignored him. The owner walked up and said 'I think he wants to play but I think your dog is over protective of her ball' then carried on walking past. I took the ball from Harley, put it away in my bag and got her to sit to wait for the lady to call her dog, but she didn't. (Harley had played nicely with 2 labs 10 mins previously in the stream all sharing her ball with no problems - she happily lets any dog take her ball and is not defensive at all!) The dog again got in Harleys face and Harley did tell him off. After a few minutes I asked the owner to collect her dog and she ignored me . The dog jumped up at me and caught my shoulder - Harley really told him off. I've never seen her react so strongly. I will admit it scared me when she bared her teeth, had hackles up and the other dog done the same. I grabbed Harley and tried walking in the opposite direction but the dog kept following. The lady stood about 50 foot away calling her dog and saying 'come on, she doesn't want to share her ball, she's a bit possessive and aggressive'. I called out again that she needed to come get her dog. Harley stayed sat infront of me waiting for me to tell her what to do next. The woman eventually came over shouting that my dog was dangerous . Harley hasn't got a nasty bone in her body and tolerates a lot before telling another dog off. I was so shocked and upset that Harley felt she had to defend me/herself that I didn't say anything to the woman. Could I of done anything different? Did Harley do anything wrong? I feel so annoyed still
That has got to have ruined your day Naya. The woman should not have allowed her dog to interrupt what you doing. Then she should have removed her dog and continued on her way. These things happen so suddenly that you can't come up with things you could have said or done until afterwards. You asked her to take her dog, you did all you could apart from producing a big stick ! How are you both now?
Very upsetting! You didn't do anything wrong. Especially since you asked her to take her dog away! Yeesh. I hope you are feeling better now. Sounds to me that everything Harley did was perfectly understandable and not aggressive.
You didn't do anything wrong. That women was a nasty person who won't take responsibility for her dog's bad behaviour and her ineptness as a handler. Things like this do shake us up but I hope you can start to feel ok soon.
Oh Ternaya,you met one of those horrible people who knows nothing and but thinks they know everything....her dog is going to get itself and her into trouble if she continues in the same way.Sorry she shook you up but take no notice at all xxx
Pongo is outraged. Anyone who knows Harley knows how ridiculous it is to think she is over-possessive. Ignore the stupid woman, she is an idiot. Pongo wants to check if Harleys lovely tail is OK. ...?
What a HORRID woman!! Well done you for keeping your calm. Ridiculous to suggest Harley is ball aggressive. It is Harley's ball and you both made it clear, in the nicest possible way that you didn't want to play/interact. I get so annoyed with people like that. It is not for other dog owners to decide IF they can interact with ours, I know sometimes mistakes happen...or moments of poor judgement , but the way I deal with those is quickly getting my dog back, and apologising profusely! Harley is so great with our two..just LOVES playing ball with Benson. It is delightful watching them all play, smiling now thinking about how she keeps dropping her ball for Benson and how he squidges it into the side of his mouth so Harley will try and take it back from him Reminds me..think we are overdue a playdate! Fluffy would love to come and play too, maybe Oldbury Court?
What an awful experience for you. That woman and her dog are so wrong on so many accounts. You should be proud of Harley for how she behaved and warned the other dog off and even more so when it jumped at you. You have a wonderful, loving, gentle girl. Be proud of her
I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Harley, but I'm sure she was just reacting to a persistent bother. Sometimes, dogs need things spelling out for them and it sounds that's exactly what Harley was doing. It doesn't make her "aggressive". It's horrible when people think and say things like that about your dog, but try not to let it get to you too much; she doesn't know what on earth she's talking about and sounds pretty irresponsible. I can't believe she didn't remove her dog when asked - who wouldn't?!
Both woman and dog were rude and ignorant. Harley has every right to not want to share her ball with another dog. She wasn't agressive, she was just telling the other dog to ****** off. In my book agressive is to seek out and offer violence. Sadly, the wold is full of people who cannot be bothered to train their dogs and seek to blame other people and dogs for their own failings. Just write her off.
Second that!!! The only additional thing you could possibly have done was to put her dog on your leash, walk her over to the woman, and hand her her dog. I did that a few days ago when I had an infuriating situation with another dog. Now, just let it go and don't let it worry you or ruin your day. Harley is a lovely dog - and bless her for wanting to protect you!!!!!
It was Julie gave me the idea originally. It works well . Difficult for someone to be angry when you are bringing them their dog that would not come back to their call or whistle.
So sorry to read your post Ternaya , what a horrid woman . I don't think you put a foot wrong , and yes, dogs will be dogs and behave badly at times, but its up to their owners to collect them very quickly, lead on and take them right away . Of course, in an ideal world , the dog would have gone back at the first recall but the least she should have done was to remover her own dog immediately and apologise , profusely x
Thank you all for your kind words Harley has been out with our dog walker today and really enjoyed herself . I had a quick chat with our dog walker last night as I was about how Harley reacted. She assured me that Harley didn't do anything wrong and you guys have all helped reassure me too . My dog walker said that Harley was well within her rights yo tell him to get lost and that she hasn't got a nasty none in her body. She plays ball at daycare and always plays nicely, even drops the ball infront if some of the dogs to get them to join in . I am feeling better about it today . Next time I will try your suggestion Karen &Julie - if I feel brave enough! Pongo - Harley's tail is fine thank you for asking Harley would love a play date with Benson and Fluffy - let me know when you are free Kate
so sorry you had to go through this. your dog was fine and well within her rights to tell a bully to s*d off. The woman and her dog have no manners and the woman is very silly. you and you dog behaved very well under the circumstances. She didn't remove her dog because she couldn't she has no control over her dog. She's probaby upset loads of people before and has a bad reputation
Hee Hee - I find it takes the wind out of most people's sails alright. It's particularly pointed if you can leave your own dog in a perfect sit/stay while you do it and then quietly say "heel" as you pass him on the way back. (I don't risk that very often with a dog like Charlie, unless the distance is very short as it's begging for him to promptly demonstrate he is also an out of control hooligan ).
