We went out nice and early for our long walk this morning, as the country park we walk through gets a bit busy with families on a Sunday. Everything was fine until I saw a man about 100 yards ahead with 2 GSDs running alongside him - I thought one was on a lead, so stopped to put Sparky's lead on, then the man shouted - "It's OK love, you can leave him off, they won't bother him". I left Sparky offlead and as soon as we got within a few yards, the two of them came running up, barking, then it turned to growling and one in particular got really snappy. I called Sparky, and as he started to come to me one of them lunged at him chased him 50 yards in the opposite direction, not letting him get past to me, took him by the neck and pushed him over the bank into the river (OK, a very shallow one, but even so - quite fast running today). Every time he tried to scramble up the side, it went for his neck. It was horrible. :(
The owner was shouting them, and eventually I managed to get Sparky to swim far enough away from them to let me grab him and drag him out. He wouldn't leave my side for the rest of the walk. He was nipped by a GSD when much younger, but thankfully we have met lots of friendly ones (under control!) since so he has been OK with them. I just hope this doesn't make him aggressive towards them from now on.
What made me really cross was the man's reaction  "Sorry, love, they do that all the time". Defies belief. Can't print my reply.

There. I feel better now.

What an Idiot

I hope Sparky is ok.  What a shock for both you and him.  This man obviously gets a kick out of letting his dogs do this.  It is so unfair.

What a horrible experience and the reason why I keep my dog on the lead.  I know he's horrible with other dogs and I don't see why I should subject other dog owners to distress because of my dog's bad behavour. Hope it doesn't happen to you again.

CG

If they "do it all the time " mabe you should report it to the police , no one should have to put up with agressive dogs and prats of owners , tracey if you dont then the next persons dog or even kid could get injurd , this man needs to realise what he lets happen is wrong ,

I too would say something that is uncalled for...Do hope your furbaby is ok:)

Just an update. Thanks for all your good wishes. Sparky was fine on his walk this morning, playing with his pals as usual - I've just called in at the warden's office on the park and they are going to keep a watch out for this bloke - unfortunately we are right on a motorway link for the M6 so people come from all over to the park I walk in - he could be from anywhere.
Like you say, Lovelylady - it could have been a kid.

Maybe I speak a different language, but "Its OK love they won't bother him" and "Sorry love they do it all the time" mean totally different things.

Men really are from Mars!!

Glad Sparky is OK

Poor Sparky, thank goodness he is OK and back to his usual self. Nutters like that do such damage to the GSDs reputation they should be culled from breeding programmes forthwith. Trust your instincts Tracey, Mum usually knows best - are you okay after this nasty interlude?

Exactly, Julia!

As for me, Lorelei - I'm fine, just angry. Will definitely trust my own instincts next time. Irony is, I was only putting the lead on in consideration of the man in the first place in case Sparky jumped up at him!

Lorelei
It's the owners that should be culled from the human race
Kat

Hi, Sorry to hear about you and sparky; but had always the same type of thing happen today to not nice is it.

Karen

There's nothing worse!  I had something similar happen to me last year at training ( it set my nervous dog back months).  Needless to say, I stopped going there for training!!

Sarah.

Yes Kat thats what I meant.

what an awful experience for you and your dog, it makes me so damn mad especially as i have a gsd puppy and idiots like that owner give us gsd owners with control a bad reputation for gsd's.
it is so unfair that because of incidents like this many general public walk across the road when they see a gsd even though they are on the lead, it makes me so mad as like my gsd even though she is just a pup she is always under control and very gentle natured, in the past i have had gsd's and they have also been great dogs.
It does not matter that that owner said its ok they wont do anything they were free and there is always a danger that ANY breed will turn, i never let my pup nor did i let my old gsd run free untill i saw that there was no other person or dogs around, this is why i find fields and country walks hopefully to avoid things like this happening.
sam