I've pinched Margot's expression - but I'm not smiling :( Took the dogs out just now. We were walking in a small field that has grass from 3-5 foot high. We were walking along the back of the field which is about 100 foot wide. A man with a boxer, that I don't know, was walking the opposite way on the other side of the field. I was playing ball with Tara as we walked. The next thing that I know was that the boxer was charging across/through the grass towards us. I picked up the ball, as some dogs just run of with it. Tara snapped at him :( Now, she is normally fine with other dogs that we know and so I'm not sure whether it was because it was a boxer or whether she sensed that he wasn't friendly. I yelled at her and she came back to me straight away. I got hold of her collar, but the boxer was coming at us, so I tried to walk away still holding her collar. The boxer started to bite at her - she, obviously, was wriggling around trying to defend herself. I didn't know what to do - the owner was coming across the field, but as the grass is so high, it was taking him a while - if I let go of her she could have a go back :( Finally the owner caught up with us and eventually managed to pull his dog off. I apologised, as I felt that Tara was a bit to blame as she had snapped at him - he also apologised and said that his dog was 'a bit naughty' :( Now I feel bad as I didn't like the fact that Tara had snapped at him, nor that I didn't know whether it was better to let her run free and defend herself or hold onto her to stop any aggression on her part :( Tara never approaches other dogs, but can be a bit defensive if she feels threatened or pestered. Opinions please :)

Daisy

Hi Daisy - don't be down, could've happened to anyone :)  It's a judgement call in that type of situation about whether to hold your dog back or let it defend itself.  Unless you've been in a similar situation previously, you really wont know whether Tara may have made a real big deal of it or just enough to see the dog off.

It sounds as though both you and the other owner did your best and handled it well.  I would probably have let mine go but then my current residents aren't likely to have a real go back at anything but I've owned a dog in the past that would have taken no prisoners had he thought I was giving him the all clear :rolleyes: ;)

Chin up!  Teri :)

Well, it doesn't sound like a huge disaster - was either dog physically hurt, or were they just air snapping?

Personally, if it had been me, with my dog, as soon as I saw a boxer in the same field as me I would immediately have put my dog on a lead and then left the field, staying as far away from the other dog as possible.  But then, I am known to be draconian in my avoidance of strange dogs...

No - neither dogs were hurt. Fortunately, Tara has a thick coat and the other dog didn't get a hard bite. Because the grass was long, I didn't even see notice whether the dog was on a lead or not. Tara probably didn't see the dog until he was a few feet away. I don't know if it would have made any difference if I'd put her on a lead. Possibly the dog was attracted by the football - but I was only throwing it a few feet along the path in front of us, as it has a hole in it and is fairly flat :D We don't get a lot of boxers around. Mostly they are on lead and I always avoid them, but this time we had to continue along the path, there was nowhere else to go and I thought that the distance between us was sufficient :( Hopefully, the chap will keep his dog on a lead if we see him again.

Daisy

Chin up - it's one of those things! Dogs are unpredictable creatures, even our own. It sounds as though both you and the other owner are sensible and realise that disagreements aren't the end of the world, distressing though they are. :)

well a similar thing happened to me today, wont bore you with the story, but as my dog is a bit fearful and wouldnt retaliate I always prefer to let him go so he can run away if he is being run at, having said that sometimes dogs run over to him and when they get close and see how big he is they run away, then he chases them etc etc etc, who can say what is really for the best, we try our best thats all you can do.

Daisy - I'm sure you did the right thing - and after all, she came straight back to you.   She might have snapped at the boxer - but if as you say, he came out of the long grass and she wasn't expecting it - and it is her "territory" - she reacted as I would expect an Aussie to act.    

You also did the right thing in hanging on to her - she's obviously a very sassy girl, and could have really gone for the boxer, if she perceived him as a threat (remember the damage caused to Gypsy by Loki & Vinnie) - so although you are feeling rather shaken up, you acted correctly.

Now find a bottle & glass .......

Aussies - eh? :D

Margot

Thanks, Margot :) I'm just about to take her to training where she is always a little angel - not a feisty little madam :D If I see the chap again, I'll put her on a lead and try to get out of his way - hopefully he'll be a bit more careful in future too. Fortunately, where we walk, we know virtually all of the dogs, so this is a rare occurence :)

Daisy

Just one of those days we all get owning dogs :rolleyes: :D

I am sure the owner of the Boxer was trying to get to the dog and perhaps should work on his recall as you have obviously have got that sussed

How was madam (aka ickle angel ) at training tonight ? :)

Lucy
xx

I totally agree with all the comments made. I'd just like to add one thing. From the sound of things Tara may well have only snapped because she was taken by surprise. If I see a dog heading for any of mine and they are clearly not aware of it I always warn them - simply Tara dog coming or something like that. If they are both aware of each other things rarely develop.

Obviously if you can get the dog to you before they meet then that is best but you don't want to call your dog unless you can be fairly sure it will get to you before the dog catches it. The last thing you want is for your dog to be running away from the dog approaching, hence putting it in danger, because it responded to your call.

Once the dogs are in a face off situation judging when to call your dog off is also very difficult. If you call your dog you are asking it to turn it's back on the other dog, clearly submitting. That can be a very hard thing to ask some dogs to do and could also be putting it in danger. You need to be a good reader of dog body language to get the timing right. Basically get your call in as soon as you think the other dog wants out but be there to back your dog up if the dog changes it's mind.

I'll be interested in other people's opinion.

Daisy,

To be honest it was probably 50/50
The chap walking his Boxer probably didn't notice that you were playing football with your Aussie (he was walking the opposite way to you)
The Boxer however probably did notice (and it was too much of a temptation to resist - alot of Boxers are VERY ball orientated)
hence why the Boxer made a detour to come see and try to join in the game.
He probably isn't good at recall hence why his owner said that the dog is a bit naughty. Perhaps he isn't good with other dogs (Who knows)
Your girl decided to say in her own terms 'bog off this is my ball' and the Boxer may have tried to assert himself...(again can't really comment as wasn't there)

So in reality perhaps both dogs should have been on leads and ball game avoided until field clear of other dogs.
Thus avoiding any temptation for other dogs and possible 'conflict'.
This is what I do with my Boxers they are only off lead when in field on their own - when other dogs around they
are on lead. I don't trust other dogs until I know them and that they get on my dogs and vice versa. Mine are devils
for balls - they love them and constantly play with footballs etc in their own garden.

Not all Boxers are nasty nor should be tarred with the same brush....just the same with all breeds.

Responsible Boxer owner x 3 and proud of it :)

I agree with Boxacrazy .
the boxer owner probably didn't see you until it was to late,
and your dog probably got startled, she came back to you when you called,
good on her and you :-)

Don't worry, and don't let it affect you walking her where you like going,
and having  fun together. Sounds like you handled it fine.

Donna

Hi

Just reading this post with interest. What's wrong with Boxers and other dogs? Surely it's not a breed thing? I thought it was how you brought up a dog that counts ie early socialisation etc. Although saying that, my staffy has a had a couple of run ins with Boxers but I don't put it down to the breed, just a dog thing.

boxers are a lovely breed and i've known several beautiful boxer boys. however, they can be extremely bouncy and "in yer face" which can sometimes be offputting to other dogs. i like the natural exuberance of boxers but i think the owner of this one would be well advised to take more sensible measures to ensure his dog is the pleasure to be around that the boxers of my acquaintance are! saying he's "a bit naughty" isn't an excuse for sensible measures either!

but i don't think you could have done other than you did, daisy given the lack of visibility and certainly your quick response avoided the situation getting worse.

I totally agree with you roz.  The boxers I know and have met are all totally in your face and it really gets to me when people say that the dog is 'only playing' or 'thats just what boxers are like'.  I generally tell them that it is only a game if both dogs are playing and that mine will snap if their dog is getting to be too much for her. 
Generally I have found that dogs that are really in your face do not respond to more subtle signals from other dogs e.g. mine will turn her head away, walk away or come beside me and sit down before she gives out stronger signals but bouncy dogs do not take this on board and keep hassling her
They are beautiful dogs though and their natural happiness and joy of life is great

I think Boxacraxy has explained it well. It's one of those judgement calls. I've only had the one really bad experience with a dog (not a boxer) coming up and believe me, you know when it means business.  Whether I did the right thing or not you kinda act on your instinct and that is to protect your dog. So I let go of mine and grabbed the other and put him to the floor with my foot on his neck to hold him down and keep him away from my face. Stupid some might say but at the time I didn't care about myself, just protecting my dog.
I do think that we shouldn't go down the route of sterotyping boxers, they are lovely if not slightly mad and playful. Some breeds and dogs play harder than others but it applies to any breed that they should be under control.
Daisy, I would not worry if your dog snapped. For whatever reason it sounds like she was telling the other dog to bog off. My bitch does this if another dog gets in her face and I will not apologise for it. Like humans dogs like their personal space. Encroach on that and it puts anyones back up. It doesn't sound like the boxer meant serious business. In terms of what the boxers job was and the jaw structure, surely if they meant business the other dog would know about it.