Well today my worst nightmare came true; we were attacked by a dog :( I will explain;
Today we were walking through a wooded area and Sal was being brilliant her recall has really come on (almost out of teenage stage now) and she ignore people (ie no licking them to death now) she just sits and waits for joggers horse/bike riders to pass, barks at the odd squirrel but thats all. Anyway we were walking and we saw a man and a mongrel (looked about size of a B/C but frizzy haired) well I called Sal back and was about to pop her lead on when this bl**dy thing flew over to us hair up and really snarling  well I hadn't quiet got Sal collar and she and moved away from me turning away from me but facing the dog her ears were up and she stood dead still I moved forward slowly to reach for her collar (not panicking, but boy was my heart pounding)

Well all hell let loose this dog dived at her and Sal went down all I could see was this dog with his jaws around my baby. I screamed at the man who was STROLLING over then something changed I don't know what, but Sal suddenly must have realised this was serious and she somehow got up and away but before I could move she grabbed this dog by the side of his face and God did he scream...she started to push the other dog down into the floor...at that point his owner started to run forward...I took a breathe and tried to get my voice to remain calm and walked away calling Sal to my astonishment she loosed the dog and ran over to me. The bloke grabbed his dog picking it up; screaming abuse at me and my devil dog. I put Sal on her lead and I must admit I gave as good (if not better) than I got in the slanging match that followed. My hands were shaking all the while. I got Sal to a quiet spot and had a look at her as she was covered in blood but when I washed her down in the stream none of it was hers no marks from his teeth nothing. Not sure about my nerves though.

Walking back we meet a man who we often stop and speak to Gordon, and he said he knew the man and his dog and it always went for dogs and was never on a lead. How do I tell in future. I am not keeping her on a lead forever and hope this hasn;t changed her at all...she played happily with Callie and Beano ( Gordon's two dogs) so i am praying she isn;t too badly affected. Not sure about me though.

What do I do if this happens again?
Karen                  

Unfortunately its just one of those things with dog ownership. I bet that dog thinks twice before going for Sal again though ;) Pour yourself a stiff drink adn congratulate yourself on having a well socialised and well trained dog - my old staffie would have killed his mutt! :D

Exactly my thopughts Chloe, both of my two other bitches would have killed him straight off Sam (my big stoftie) would have dragged him by the throat and put him in the lake ;) ) but Sal is a BABY not yet 15 months old and I don't want her to fight...perils of ownership maybe but a drink sounds like a good idea in fact I may have two or three. I couldn't believe it when she left the "fight" because I called her :) immensely proud of that though.

Karen (planning on getting drunk)   

I  probably would of sank my teeth into the man and his dog the way Ive been lately.  Bradley wouldn't get a look in. Probably not the best answer though.

Oh dear, this sounds horrible.  Hopefully both you and your dog have now recovered.

I know this is easy to say and not so easy to do but the first rule in a dog confrontation is not to scream; this can be a trigger to dogs as they often take their cue from us.  Hence your observation that "something changed".  If I ever feel that a situation has gone out of control I tend to wade in with my very heavy lead, if it is not "all talk and no trousers" which in fairness most incidents are.  It is usually human intervention that imbalances the situation.

It is rare for one incident to "ruin" a dog, depending of course on the severity, nature and temperament; and I would remain relaxed at your next venture out.  Keeping the dog on the lead will not particularly help as tension travels.

It is easy to be wise after the event, but entering into a slanging match with the other owner again only postpones the "easing of hostilities" as dogs are very aware of the atmosphere. 

If I was in your shoes I would always try to get a written statement from other dog walkers such as you mention and it slightly annoys me that this behaviour is bound to continue if people cannot be bothered to report it so that the dog's behaviour (and that of his owner) keeps getting reinforced!

It will be interesting to see if this man takes any further action, bearing in mind that the blood indicates his dog was bitten.

Please relax in the knowledge that these incidents are not that common but if they were ALL reported they would reduce even further!

Perhaps you could get in touch with your local dog warden?

I never thought of him taking action. Right I'm off to the police station to report it. I'll also ring the number the park ranger gave me last week and report it to them,and pop into the "warden info centre" and report it again tomorrow with Sal in toe. I'll phone to dog warden tomorrow when they are open.

And try and get a few statements three men were fishing by the lake and they were coming to my aid when Sal broke off,  we'd passed them earlier and they gave her a drink of their tea :) They told me that Sal was the 4th dog the mongrel had gone for while they were fishing, two being (little black and white dogs which fluffy ears) I know who they would be an elderly couple and their two papillions (sorry about the spelling)  and a man with a boxer pup (no idea who that is) and the fishermen were pleased he'd got his comeuppance. I'll see if they are still there tomorrow. 

I tried to remain calm but very hard, I wasn't screaming at the dog just at the STUPID man who was just strolling over no urgency at all. I will attempt not to loose my temper, but...tis hard to do.

I hope she is okay and I think she will be...it's me I'm worried about.

Karen(moving onto another glass now)

I am sure you were not screaming at the dog :D but the dog will have heard the scream and reacted; a bit like shouting at barking dogs :D

I am sure your dog will be fine and you just need to relax and not overeact in "normal" situations.  Counting or burbling nursery rhymes helps!

Have another drink :D

I'm having a glass of red in sympathy Karen, and I am sure Liberty and JG will be along soon to join us (any excuse those two :rolleyes: :D )

Thanks I'll join you in  a glass of red then the white has run out ;)

Karen

I necked a £40 bottle of red that the ex bought last night (nice). Found another in the loft so girls lets enjoy and have another on me.

Save me the bottles and I'll throw em at this man next time I see him :)

Off to the police station now...will get a reference number to so if I have any comeback :( I will have something to go on.

Karen

Did someone mention red wine ??? What a great idea, just to sympathise with Karen of course :D

liberty :)

8 minutes from the mention of red wine to you appearing - now thats fast ;) I'm impressed. Large glass Liberty?

Glass!!! Naww no point, I just pop a straw in the bottle ;)

liberty :D

But you will run out of straw before you get to the bottom...how about a piece of hose? :D

Oh excellent idea Chloe :) *sound of footsteps dissappearing into garage........ snip........slurp* Aah much better :D

liberty *hic*

Was that the sound of a cork popping? Am I too late?

No the sympathy wagon is still rolling, welcome "red madam?"

Police station closed :( will go tomorrow.
Karen

You lot are hilarious can we all live in the same street. God imagine. 

Yes good idea and as by me the police station closes at 5.30pm we won't be in any danger of being arrested for being drunk in charge of a dog :)

Karen

Will you save a glass for me for when I get home???  Plleeeese - I'm just leaving the office NOW!!

Margot

I have to leave for Hull tomorrow morning at 5:30...so I want to try to go to bed at 9pm. Trouble is, I can never sleep that early...so I am making my way through a bottle of red now in the hope I will be out like a light by 9pm (no dinner) :D :D

I'm impressed Chloe, you can make a bottle last that long???

liberty :D ;)

Have you seen the 2-litre bottles Chloe means, Liberty? ;) :D

  :D :D LOL @ JG :D :D

liberty

I don't have any red - will home made do?

I've got 3 bottles waiting to be opened. :)

Can I have one now - please - I NEED IT!!  Just finished walking, feeding, cleaning puppy poo, playing with puppy and then cooking dinner and NOW I'm sitting down - actually I have a nice large (tumbler sized :D ) G & T in my PJs!!

Only another 16 months to retirement.....if I last that long....
Margot

Margot, why have you got a glass of G&T in your pyjamas??? 

liberty :D

Margot, put the G&T in a glass instead. It stays together better.
:D

     Right; Have reported it to the police; the park warden; and the dog warden. Spoken to fishermen (who are camping) and they have given the park warden their names and addresses and willing to say "not my fault" which I wasn;t sure about their version it could have made matters worse but it seems not :)
     Plus Sal been off lead today and actually dropped like a stone when I called "down" so a lady could call back her boxer pup. Then Sal meet him like a "proper grown up bitch" I was immensely proud :)
     She then got told off for taking liberties with a "mature" Lab dog Sam; I think she had forgotten her manners but soon regained them when he roared at her. She then decided to treat him with the respect he deserves and expects and played with his daughter Fleur (6) and his granddaughter Daisy (14 months) who is Sal's commrade in arms against squirrels ;)
      So all is well that ends well.but I will be keeping her on the long 30' lead for a while until I'm sure of the other dogs intentions.
Karen

oh... i'm a day late.. is there any wine left ? i'd like some..
:D

I've schtill got some (hic) I'll shend you shum (hic) :D

Karen I'm glad you reported it. These people need to learn the law regarding their dogs. I reported one a few years ago and the police made the owners put a muzzle on it when it was out of their garden. This was after it had hurt several dogs.