Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

After doing really well on the lead for short walks I decided to take Lola a little further today. So I took her on the field at the top of my road where I know some other dogs are walked. Good walk and socialising, sounds good right? Wrong!

Immediately a big chocolate lab came bouncing over and he was lovely let Lola sniff at him and let me fuss him then he ran back to his owner who called him. Then another dog appeared out of nowhere (not sure the breed. It looked like it could of been a cross but to me the breed irrelevant, every breed of dog has the potential of being awesome) and snarled at Lola and Lola automatically jumped behind my legs and the dog followed snapping at her.

I have had a lot of experience with dogs but never have I heard a growl so aggressive. It bit Lola and Lola yelped then the rest went for her. Including the lab that had been so lovely. He went for her throat.

I picked her up and tried to walk away and this dog is still really snapping and barking. Then the owner of the one snapping walked over really calm and said "oh, just it's cause it's on a lead" it meaning Lola and laughed about it.

To which I snapped back "No! He BIT her!" and walked off still holding her.

The lab owner shouts "Where the f**k did she come from?" (not sure who he meant by that).

I feel so stupid cause what I really wanted to do was give them a good telling off, but Lola was petrified. That dog, in my opinion should not have been off the lead cause she had no control. But at the same time I am petrified thinking how quickly it could have gone wrong. There was a real 'pack' look to the way they all pounced and the owners did squat!

Now I feel like I can't take her up there anymore cause I don't feel it is safe enough. She is only 12 weeks so it is obvious by her size she is still a baby and if I were the other person I would be so apologetic and the dog would be straight back on the lead.

Am I just being soft or what? :'(

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

I think you did the right thing, and I have no tolerance for excuses - nothing cuts it with me in these situations, not "she was on a lead" and definitely not "he was just putting puppy in her place" (I think this is completely different from a dog who starts an interaction with a growl then pursues snapping). It sounds like the dog that was growling and snapping was badly socialised, at least with young puppies, and Lola's cries generated some kind of reaction in the other dogs.

A horrible experience.

Don't let it put you off though. Lola must get used to other dogs. I absolutely hated it when we came across unpleasant dogs when Charlie was young (I still hate it now). But I think it is critically important that young puppies get to meet other dogs. I just viewed the horrible interactions as the cost we had to pay in making sure Charlie was properly socialised so he wouldn't grow up to be objectionable around other dogs. And tried to stay very calm myself (so I wasn't telling him there was a reason to be fearful) and "let's go, Charlie", in a happy voice and play a game so he would forget all about it.

He learned really quick, and developed really good manners himself, and just preferred to avoid bad mannered dogs, coming back to me with a "let's go, they are not nice" look on his face - he never reacted to them himself. Perfect.

Mind, I'm nervous to find out what I have left of this now we've been away from other dogs so long.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

You poor thing how HORRIBLE, poor little Lola. Definitely NOT normal behaviour for dogs to gang up on a puppy like that. I would have been absolutely LIVID.

Just stay calm, check Lola over to make sure she has no actual bites, and then if she is ok don't make too much of a fuss of her, you don't want her to think things were worse than they actually are. If she has any bites, take her straight to the vet.

Long-term, you don't want Lola frightened of other dogs, so it would be very good if you could find some people with nice friendly dogs that she can play with. Perhaps a local puppy group? Most older dogs are very tolerant of puppies; they will put them in their place if the puppy gets too exuberant, but it is most unusual for an older dog to attack or bite a puppy, and a sign that all is not ok with the older dog.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

NO, you are not being soft. You did everything right.

Dogs, like children, will misbehave. It was the owners responsibility to intervene. We cannot always control our dogs, they are after all animals.

When our dogs misbehave it is our job to let them know that their behaviour is not acceptable and apologise to anyone they have hurt or worried.

If we don't teach our dogs how the hell are they going to know any better?

I am truely sorry you have both had such an awful experience. Don't let it put you off doing the right thing for your girl.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

Just read on your other thread that she plays with a Jack Russell and two other labs, so I wouldn't worry too much about her fearing older dogs.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

She gets a certain amount of playing with other dogs as pretty much everyone in my family has at least one dog but they live quite fay away so she doesn't see them as much as I would like.

I have only heard her yelp once before and that was when she banged her dew claw when she was bouncing about under my table chairs and that was nothing compared to the yelp she did today. Poor thing was so scared.

I still can't believe she brushed me off like she did. As though it was Lola's fault for being on the lead!

I understand that some times natural instinct will 'deafen' dogs to their owners but she made no effort at all. That lab owner didn't move at all.

I can't see any marks and she doesn't flinch when I fuss over her back. If she did the woman would be nursing a black eye!

She is such a sociable little girl and does as expected too. She'll sit for dogs to 'inspect' her and even rolls over to submit if the other dog is big.

It just really grates on me that I have a 12 week old who behaves and they were all adult dogs who can't!

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

[quote author=LovelyLittleLola link=topic=5119.msg64276#msg64276 date=1396003385]
She gets a certain amount of playing with other dogs as pretty much everyone in my family has at least one dog but they live quite fay away so she doesn't see them as much as I would like.
[/quote]

I think it's really important that she meets strange dogs - lots and lots and lots of them. I am lucky and live in a place where there is a big common absolutely packed with areas where there are loads of off lead dogs (thousands over the course of a week or so). I just let my puppy off the lead to play with all these other dogs. Every day from the moment his vaccinations were complete.

We had some bad days, and some bad interactions. :'( But I just kept on doing it, regardless. Charlie met upwards of 500 strange dogs, off lead, before he was 6 months old. I realise that most people won't live in an area where there are 500 strange dogs to meet. But the book I had really encouraged me to find these kind of numbers. So even after a bad day, when all I wanted to do was keep my puppy safe, I went back and let him off his lead again.

Added: Hah! This reads like we were searching out odd dogs! The dogs on Wimbledon common are mostly perfectly normal! I mean dogs that are strangers to Charlie of course. He met regular pals too of course.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

You exited the situation with your dignity - and most importantly Lola - still intact. We really do understand how you feel because I think we've all been there - unfortunately usually more than once! There are so many things I would like to say to owners like that, but when I get really angry, I'm far too likely to burst into tears, so contained rage is usually as far as I get!

The most important thing now is that you do not let this affect the way you behave around Lola and other dogs. It WON'T leave a lasting impression on her as long as you stay calm and keep up the socialisation work. There are lovely dogs out there and friendly owners, and the days that you run into them out walking make the others worthwhile!

Unlike Julie, I tend to avoid the times / places that I know there will be lots of off-lead dogs - e.g. parks after the school run! I'm lucky enough to be able to pick my times, so we walk when I know we will have the opportunity to meet other dogs because that is so important, but when it's not the equivalent of canine motorway traffic. I have an older spaniel who doesn't enjoy the company of other dogs, and meeting them one owner at a time keeps things calmer, but it all depends on where you are and the walks available.

Hope you and Lola enjoy some lovely outings in the sunshine this weekend,
Clare

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

[quote author=ClareJ link=topic=5119.msg64280#msg64280 date=1396004659]
Unlike Julie, I tend to avoid the times / places that I know there will be lots of off-lead dogs - e.g. parks after the school run!
[/quote]

I should say - I don't mean I let my puppy play with big packs of dogs (although sometimes did if they looked ok). It's just I could find small groups of off lead dogs again and again and again just by walking through the common. This is because the Wimbledon dog walkers (of which there are hundreds) walk dogs in groups of 2, 3, and 4. So you come across these groups all the time.

As Charlie got older, I put a limit on 3, no more. Otherwise he went deaf to recall.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

I can only agree with the advice you've had so far. It is scary as we all know but hang in there with the socialising it's so important. Hugs!

And I'd just like to say Charlie is sooooooooooo cosmopolitan 8)

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

Just got off the phone with my other half and after explaining what happened I'm blubbering again :'( and he if fuming

I am going to try again tomorrow and hopefully it will go better.

I know what you mean ClareJ about just crying when your angry. That is exactly what happened ALL THE WAY HOME! But now I am angry with myself for not telling her off!!

@JulieT that is what I want for her. I want her to be confident enough to play with new dogs. Fingers crossed today hasn't spoilt that dream :-\

By the way the owners were stood talking to each other it looked as if they might meet there quite often, maybe that is what "where the f**k did she come from?" meant?

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

What a truly terrible happening for you both!

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

[quote author=LovelyLittleLola link=topic=5119.msg64293#msg64293 date=1396005751]
@JulieT that is what I want for her. I want her to be confident enough to play with new dogs. Fingers crossed today hasn't spoilt that dream :-\
[/quote]

It won't - so long as you don't let this put you off, and let lola meet other dogs.

I wouldn't worry about what you wished you had said, or what the other owners may or may not have meant. No point - it is much better that you just walked away than got into a big fight. It was an unfortunate experience, best forgotten.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

Poor Lola and poor you that was a horrible experience.

Lola might have yelped with fear when the dog got hold of her though the dog might not have bitten hard which is why you can't see marks. Scout snapped at me sisters cocker spaniel pup to put him in his place and bailey squealed for so long you'd think he'd lost his nose. It was unbelievable the noise . Scout hadn't touched him. Im Not excusing anything just trying to find you a reason why no bite marks.

We had a run in yesterday with a rottweiller off lead up our drive !!!!! A woman was walking it down our lane it saw us as it passed our gate and started coming up. She called it and it took no notice. She got hold of it at about 6ft from us. I was not pleased as you can imagine. She apologised but in such a way it made me feel like I was in the wrong !!!!!! IT WAS UP MY DRIVE which is about 60 metres long and this dog was half way up. Unbelievable some people.

It's so annoying isn't it when your shocked,upset,worked up and you can't get the words out and afterwards think of everything you should've said.

I shouldn't worry too much about it affecting how she reacts to othe dogs. My old lab was always getting attacked, I don't know why. He was a big softy wih everything and always just wanted to play it never affected his temperament

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

Thanks everyone. I don't feel so silly now and although I still feel a little teary I will defiantly give it another try.

I have no problem with dogs being off the lead in fact I hope once Lola gets used to walking out and about I can let her off, but I also think if you are going to do that you need to know your dog better that you know yourself and need to be able to read your dog.

A friend of mine has a yorkie who after lots of training and persistence still doesn't like other dogs (maybe a bit of little dog syndrome lol) so is kept on his lead and is walked in quiet areas to avoid confrontation with other dogs.

I only ALL owners were so respectful!

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

[quote author=LovelyLittleLola link=topic=5119.msg64302#msg64302 date=1396009277]
in fact I hope once Lola gets used to walking out and about I can let her off
[/quote]

Have you seen this? http://www.thelabradorsite.com/let-your-puppy-off-the-lead/

You can let Lola off her lead now - the sooner the better. It's harder later.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

You poor thing, what a horrible experience. You did very well in an awful situation.

Those owners are unspeakable and also gutless for not taking responsibility for their dogs' behaviour. They are entirely at fault here.

Big hug to you and a big lick from Obi.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

OH had a run-in just the other day with a neighbour whose GWP had a real go at poor little Poppy… so I really can sympathize with the feeling of upset and fury!!! Unfortunately these things do happen; but as long as no real harm is done as Julie says it's best to forget what's in the past and concentrate on all the lovely walks and doggie friends in the future. So let Lola off the lead now, so she is the kind of well-socialized dog you want her to be.

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

[quote author=JulieT link=topic=5119.msg64305#msg64305 date=1396009552]
[quote author=LovelyLittleLola link=topic=5119.msg64302#msg64302 date=1396009277]
in fact I hope once Lola gets used to walking out and about I can let her off
[/quote]

Have you seen this? http://www.thelabradorsite.com/let-your-puppy-off-the-lead/

You can let Lola off her lead now - the sooner the better. It's harder later.
[/quote]

Unfortunately she has the attention span of gnat as soon as we leave the house! Even when yummy treats are on offer :

 

Re: Lola attacked by several dogs now I can't stop cryng

So sorry to hear about your horrid experience.

I have a slightly different approach to socialising puppies. I only let my small puppies meet strange, older, dogs in a pre-arranged way. I set up these encounters with friends etc. My own feeling is that the risk to the puppy of being attacked and made fearful, is too great to do what Julie does.

Though I appreciate that this works out fine for most people, and is probably essential for someone that has to exercise their dog in a busy London park. But I have come across several instances now, of puppies that have been traumatised through a rough or aggressive encounter with an older dog.

I personally don't think that puppies need a vast number of encounters with strange dogs to be well socialised. I think regular encounters are important, but probably not 'thousands'. All this is of course just opinion. No-one really knows for sure

I also don't want my dogs to be playful with strange dogs that they meet out in public once they are past the six month or so stage. So at that point I start to teach them to sit quietly as other dogs walk past and to ignore other dogs. We tend to reserve 'playing' for at home in the garden, or in a friends garden. The reason for this in my case, is because my dogs are intended as working dogs and interacting with other dogs on a shoot day would be inappropriate. But, it is also a useful management strategy for many young labradors, which can become excessively interested in other dogs if allowed to 'free play' with every dog they meet. This is what some trainers mean when they talk about 'over-socialised' puppies.