I spent almost an hour walking and looking before the "mad" couple arrived luckily I was in the car parking area when I first saw them they hadn't got the pup out yet. I put Sal in the car and walked over to their car reminding them about seeing them yesterday and their response was not what I expected the man who yesterday I considered "mean" is very nice the pup is 18 weeks old and called Syd. He's gorgeous and I would say "well bred" would not do him justice. He's so friendly and his owners Gordon and Val are equally nice, so what happened to turn them into crazy dog owners making people stand back before they passed like they did to me yesterday.

Well when Syd was on his second walk out they meet a man with a collieX they had Syd on the lead and the man had his dog off lead they called over "is he friendly" before they let Syd meet him and the man said "Yes fine no trouble" they let Syd still on his lead meet the dog and the dog went for him biting his face and Gordon's hands when he lifted Syd to safety. The man with the CollieX said "oh I thought he'd stopped doing that" and walked off.

Val was scared and shaken but they carried on letting Syd meet other dogs until they were walking in a local "green area" and two GSD's off lead ran over and Val who was on her own with Syd shouted to the owner a woman to call them back, the woman tried but the dogs ran around neither bite Syd but one knocked Val over as she was turning trying to keep herself between Syd and the dogs. The woman apologised as she tried to get her dogs back. Val then refused to take Syd out on her own.

Gordon managed to talk her into coming with him and they took him to "dog training class" they went to three nighjts then a man joined with a "out of control" GSD X Lab who was pulling his owner an elderly man all over the place. As Val and Syd passed by the man the dog grabbed Syd by the side of the face.
This caused Syd to have 4 stiches just down form his eye.

Go knows I think I'd be the same if I was them and it could of been me they walk in the same places with Syd as I do with Sal.

I talked Gordon into letting me get Sal out and meet Syd at 4 months is bigger than Sal .
She was brilliant and Syd even though he's had this happen was ready and willing to play nice.
Val had to sit in the car while I fetched Sal over she was to nervous. But she meet
Sal after she's played with Syd and you could see the tension start to drain from her.

I have arranged to meet them two eveningsthis week for a walk and told them of my Vet's puppy play classes and they are going on Tuesday. I have sugested they come round to mine and vice versa and let the two play. I have a friend with a Cocker bitch who's 4 who is really good with pups too, and will ask Steve to bring her on a walk with us soon.

So my apologises to them for thinking they were uncaring owners.

Any suggestions please ;D

Karen

Its nice to see someone taking time out to help these people. When I had my first Rott (many years ago) she was attacked as a puppy at a training class by the trainers collie X who then retreated and left the others (approx 6 dogs) do the rest. She was 6 months at the time and never got over it. Every time she saw a collie X when she was older she wanted to get it before it got her. So keep up the good work. The more socialisation with dogs (and people) the dog has at this age the better. Not sure where the owners live but we have a weekly training class in Shropshire (mostly Rotts) and they would be more than welcome to come and have a chat with fellow owners.
best wishes and keep up the good work.

Thanks I'll tell them I and they are in B'ham so not to far .
Maybe they will come over if they are interested I'll let you know.

Karen

We met a Rotty a couple of months ago on our usual walk in the woods . He was massive and I put Gus on his lead as we were passing but Gus being a nosey so and so wanted to have a sniff and say hello . I asked the chap with the Rotty if he was ok with pups and he replied that he was and that he was only 12 months old himself and a bit of a scaredy cat . So they had a little sniff of each other and they were fine . They met later on without any problems :).
We are quite lucky in where we walk with Gus as its a short drive away but its a huge area and the dogs can run free without getting in each others space but they can still meet. As you have to drive to the area it also tends to be considerate dog owners who take their dogs there ( if that makes sense ).

I know exactly what you mean :) It sounds perfect for my Rocky.. :D

Shows that the rotty must be a lovely chap to still want to be sociable after all that! Well done for bothering to find out more - you've probably made a world of difference to this couple. Good on ya!

Jo :)

I think the lady Val had got that scared it had made her defensive. Her husband was obviously trying to do the best he could for both the pup and his wife.

Hopefully walking with other dogs will bring her confidence back up.

Karen

Karen I think you are doing wonders, and it is a lesson to us all to not judge people on just one meeting ;)

You may have single handedly really helped both owners and the lovely Syd (who does sound gorgeous).

Do keep us up to date with the story, :)

Lindsay

There must be something about Rotts!

Do any of you remember Lottie - she was used as "bait" for training fighting dogs and ended up with no ears. She must had gone though hell but she was so friendly and not at all bothered around other dogs. Often saw her at shows with her charity boxes strapped to her back. Sadly she got osteosarcoma and lost a leg and did not live long after that.

Christine

Well done Karen, bet you're glad you took the plunge and made some new friends. Love to Syd, Va and Steve.:)

well done you :D

Helen

Hi people,

Just to let you know, meet up with Syd and owners today and walk went brilliantly, then talked them into trying the main park. Fantastic, if I'd arranged it couldn't have done better.

Obviously I was with Sal, first people we saw a nice man who is in constant motion with his GSD his dog is elderly now about 11 I think, but bomb proof a nice start, big dog large man. He had Sal's fav bit of smoked cheese, (it's a standing joke going back years) he only ever feeds my dogs ;) .
This went well and such a success Val took the lead :)

Next on the walk (thank god it wasn't busy time) meet lady/baby in pushchair and a cuddle me I'm gorgeous Golden/Retriever pup about 9 months old called "Beau" really friendly, went to Sal's puppy class.
Then on the way back to the cars two loose dogs ran over and Val froze the two loose dogs were collie's and were quickly followed by a loose GSD, Gordon had taken Syd's lead by now and I said just let them meet, Sal (my crazy, you must love me Stafford) meet the two collies nose to nose no prob, them the GSD nose to nose Syd followed suit by did the normal puppy greeting (When did mine grow up and stop being a puppy) to the loose GSD and it worked the GSD licked him the, two collies were called back by their owner and the GSD was ordered into a down by his owner. Nice owners nice dogs although I'd never seen them before they were taken with Syd the GSD owner was bowled over by him.

Happiness Val held the lead while we all talked and Syd lay down next to Sal his head on her back as she lay Stafford style legs flat out behind her.

We are meeting again Wed (my day off) and hope to do better they are going to puppy meeting classes at my vets tomorrow evening so. The upshot Sal's got a new friend (lord knows what her best friend Bruno the St Bernard will think when he gets back from hols) in fact he should be good for Syd as there not much bigger than a St Bernard is there :)

Karen

In fact I must prewarn Val about Bruno, he's almost the size of a small elephant :D :D :D But he does walk and play nice, even though Sal can run under him now ;)

That's really fantastic Karen! Give yourself a day off work, a payrise and a huuuge glass of champagne. :D

Things could have been so different if you hadn't made such an effort. Good on ya!

Jo :)

Lady, I think u better keep your pitbull & that devil dog puppy under control before they both tear each other limb from limb!

Pete Bull

Karen.....You are an absolute bloody Star!!

I swear, I thought the dog and the owners were doomed to failure....and maybe they would have been.
I feel awful now that I said they were prats...they just needed a helping hand. (think I've learned something here)

I really think you've changed their lives.....it may take a while for Val to get over her nervousness, but she'll do it now.......and you've made that happen......well done!!!!
It's so nice to hear of something really good happening...(I know it's nothing really to do with me, but I have a really big smile on my face whilst typing this!!)

You've made 3 new friends there, and helped people as well........absolutely brilliant. I'm so chuffed!!

OK....gotten over being all silly.....do you know if they have the internet? Champdogs would be a great place for them to learn more.....mind you, don't suppose they'd like what we originally said.

Take care

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

No don't worry I've already told them I though they were owners from HELL :D and complete and utter idiots, so anything they read here wouldn't be a shock.

No point in starting off with them with an untold truth is there ;)

Something made me go back to look for them, I don't have any idea what though.

Seeing them tomorrow so will suggest Champdogs Good idea :D Thanks

Karen

Having registered with champdogs today in an effort to get some help with Jack I read your messages about the Rotty and his owners. What a fabulous story and thanks to you, one with a happy ending. At an all-time low I logged-on and already feel I'm not alone, as so often people do if they have a dog with vicious tendancies. Well done Karen.
Love and light Kitty

Just like to tell you all Syd passed his bronze good citizen today. Having already passed the puppy foundation a couple of months ago.

Karen

As a newbie I missed this story but I'm so glad you bounced it :D

Tell Syd and family well done - and all thanks to you :)