Cross posted :)

>> One of my puppy buyers from last year rang this morning to tell me of an
> experience she had a few days ago ...
>>
>> She was walking her 6 month old pup on her own not far from her home in
> Darwen (Lancs) when a car went past slowly on the other side of the road,
> the occupants (man and woman) looking very interestedly at her and pup.
>>
>> Car turned around and came back driving slowly next to her. The occupants
> admired the pup then started intimating that it was not hers, saying they
> had lost one recently and it looked just like theirs. They started being
> quite intimidating
>>
>> So sensibly, realising they were probably hoping she would head for home
> so they could see where she lived, she carried on and went into the first
> shop she came to. They stopped and still continued saying the pup wasn't
> hers (he is tattooed so they wouldn't have a leg to stand on) so she
> called
> the police from inside the shop.
>>
>> Police duly arrived and sent them on their way....afterwards telling her
> that they knew who they were....gypsies/travellers.
>>
>> This seems like a new ploy to find where dogs live for future 'napping'
>> so
> be careful folks.

Thanks Lucy ...one to remember

Roni

what a sensible idea going into a shop - I would have headed straight for home :rolleyes:

Thanks for that. I had an 'experience' myself recently whilst walking pup on flexi lead, a car pulled up slowly beside her, spotted me and the lead and sped off. It may have been innocent passersby thinking pup was loose, but again, you can't be sure these days.

Sad times when you can't relax on a nice walk with your doggies.

Poppysmum, I'm a little concerned - your posts suggests that your pup's flexilead was extended while you were walking her beside a road. Please, please, please don't ever do this - it's terribly dangerous. If she's 10 feet in front of you she could be 10 feet out into the road before you can do anything about it. I've seen this happen when a dog on an unlocked flexilead shot across the road - or rather, it tried to. It never made it, and a squished dog still on a lead isn't a pretty sight. :(

Flexileads should always be locked short whenever you're near a road, and only allowed to extend in fields or in the park - somewhere safe.

We were on a big dog walking green where there is a quiet road that runs alongside it.
I would never have the flexi extended near a 'proper' road, a 9 mth old springer would certainly end up under a car if I did

We have a seperate lead for the walk to and from the green (much shorter).

Thanks for raising that point though

Phew! :)

Thanks for highlighting this new ploy.