Had to take Sal to the vet tonight as she has been bitten on the ear close to her head by a boxer dog.
As some of you are aware Sal in just 11 months old Staffie bitch. This man and lady had the dog on a lead but to be honest having seen them before they can't seem to control him. Any way this evening he managed when he saw Sal (who was on the lead) to pull the man over and escape. I hadn't seen him coming as I was walking away the first I knew was when this large and I do mean large Boxer had my "babies" head in his mouth or so it seemed. Luckily the man was quicker than I would have given him credit for and arrived a few second later (although it seemed like hours) and pulled his dog off, apologising like crazy.

Sal has a bad bite to her ear and was slobbered all over as well as being almost flattened. Owners of the boxer followed me to the vets and offered to pay the bill. I couldn't let them do this I told them but when I came out of the surgery they had paid the bill already.

Coming out of the vets we meet another boxer dog and his owner just going in. Sal (totally unphased by this it seems) offered him the end of her kong on a rope and he took it and they had a nice game of tug for a couple of minutes. What else could I do I don't want a Staffie that dislikes boxers I had to be confident and let her meet him like I normally do. I figured any nervousness or uncertainty on my part would make her think something was wrong. I hope I did right.

People who own the "attacking" boxer have contacted me via my mobile and inquired as to Sal's injuries, I can't see what more they could have done. It wasn't really anyones fault. I just hope he doesn't get loose again and have suggested two leads to walk him in future or a muzzle?

Karen(shaken but not stirred )

Sorry to hear about Sal, at least the owner did their best to make matters better, taking the responsibility for Sal's injury and asking after her. Lets hope for their and everyone else’s sake they take up your suggestion that he wear a Muzzle, they will be able to relax when walking him and should he slip his lead again other dogs and people will be safe.

Aww poor sal, she's very lucky it could of been worse.
A while back i was walking 'charlie' my 9 year old staff, who rarely batters an eyelid at any dog walking in his direction.
This one particular day, there was 2 off their leads coming in my direction. By the time id got there charlie was in the middle of the 2 boxers with them growling and be pratically s***ing myself.. i had to reach down for charlies collar, all the time they were really going for charlie. This wasnt long after charlie had had his operation. I was scared they were going to attack his scar.
The owner just tutted at me... luckily i havent seen her again.
But! what id like to mention is these two boxers had like cuts and stuff all over them, like they had been fighting. I mentioned this to me other half who said we had a lucky escape.
Ive never been as scared in my whole life!
Having said that though, i know a lovely well behaved boxer...

Take care
Donna and charliex

They sound like people trying to do the best for their dog - but do they have any help/support in the form of classes? Maybe the dog needs to be socialised a bit more, so I'd suggest an APDT trainer with an interest in dog/dog agression (and maybe a vet check to rule out any medical problem on the Boxers side......) What a good job another Boxer came into the surgery which will leave her with some good memories of those funny squishy faces, good for Sal to not let it phase her - she must have trusted her Mum wouldn't let it happen again :-)

Karen
you should have mailed me to let me know !! :(
Is she ok, any marks etc . Lucky he never caught her eye or anything . Poor little girl , hope she is ok .
Gus sometimes meets two boxers in the woods . They are HUGE but getting on a bit now and they have always been ok . I didnt realise boxers cold grow so big actually.
As you say the important thing is to act nomally which is VERY difficult when you meet any other dogs you dont know after whats happened . I know my heart would be in my mouth after an experience like that !! :(
Mail me later

Karen,you are being so understanding...... but why do you think that they shouldnt pay your vets bill? ! I think that they are right in accepting responsibility, By all means be understanding, but think about what might happen next time..If you tell them its ok, they have no reason to change things. ....... if the dog had bitten a human it could have ended up being put to sleep.

It is not correct to say there was nothing they could have done....they should have the dog UNDER CONTROL on the lead.
He should not be in a position to drag his owner over. I am very tiny, and am aware of the difficulties of a large dog, but the law rightly says that we must have control. As he clearly is unreliable on voice command, the first thing they need to do is make sure the dog is secure on the lead....as the dog is physically strong, they will need a headcollar, or any device that will stop him from dragging his owner about. If he is secure on the lead, a muzzle will not be needed, as HE wont be the one that dictates where he goes. :) then they need to go to training classes where they will learn how to get more control of him In general.
im sure that you are a really kind and understanding person, but try to help them by insisting they take action.

Thanks for all the replies, Sal is fine and on tonights walk she was her normal self with other dogs she meet although my heart was in my mouth, she's letting me bath it with salt water as the vet said but only takes the tablets in grapes (not stupid my girl)

The owners of the boxer have phoned again tonight. Apologising again it appears that they usually had a head collar on him and he'd been previously upset by some lads throwing bangers by the paper shop outside the park (I know thisis true because we saw them when we went in being told off by the shop owner) The banger unsettled him and he panicked. Could have happened to anyone I suppose, and Sal didn't even seem to realise she'd been bitten.

Actually I never thought about them paying at all and I think it was just manners that made me refuse, but they did the same as I or anyone on this board would have done and paid.

Sal is fine and it's just my nerves now that need calming. But hey it's dog ownership isn't it.

Karen

Glad to hear Sal is OK after her ordeal.

Glad your baby is okay.
I would accept all monies offered in terms of vet bills. If people cannot control their animals they should at least take responsibility for their actions!

Hi,

This afternoon we meet the Boxer that attacked us, the man and lady still in tow but coping better apparently the attack on Sal scared them more than me :)

Thye enrolled in dog training classes and have had one to one with a good trainer. He was much better behaved (although there are no fireworks around now which helps)

Sal (dense as she is) didn't realise it was the same Boxer or if she did she didn't care. She was more than happy to play and even be slobbered over.

Just thought you all might like to know.

Karen (owner of the stupid Staff) :D