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Location: Motherwell, UK
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,088
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Upset, and not sure what to do...
Some of you will know, that there is a dog in my local park who has attacked Jake a few times. Jake has never been injured (well, not that i can see but he could be bruised etc), but he has been seriously scared by it. Whenever he sees Rocky, he gets all nervous and on edge, and would keep a distance from him… if Rocky approached him, then Jake would come running behind me and Rocky would never dare start anything with me nearby. Rockys owner used to shout at me for avoiding her, and therefore other dogs owner who I was walking with stayed away coz I was… also, Rocky attacked another dog and the dogs owner called the police, who said that he may get PTS. Which of course never happened, but she seemed to blame me even though I wasn’t the one who called the police… I think now though, she sees how scared Jake is of Rocky and has been nice to me.
Last week though, there was another incident… and I totally take responsibility. I was standing with two other people who were talking to Rockys owner, so I stood back coz Rocky was there and Jake stood further back (offlead). Rockys owner then approached Jake, who was standing with his head and tail down, to give him a biscuit… Rocky has followed his owner, and then launched at Jake. He tried to run away, but Rocky was knocking Jake sideways so he was struggling to keep standing, never mind run away… Rockys owner grabbed him though, and Jake took off. It took ages for me to get him back, and he had run to the other side of the park, he was terrified. I should have told her not to approach him...
The next day she came up to me (without Rocky) and apologised, saying that she hope Jake is ok and that she will keep a distance from us now. The whole time she was talking, Jake was pulling back on his lead. So, we have seen them since and Jake has watched them, but when he sees they are going in the opposite direction, he calms down and is all happy again.
Today though, I was walking with another dog walker and his dog. His dog wandered off though, and we were looking for her for ages and she wasn’t coming back. Rockys owner saw us, and so went home to put Rocky in the house (she lives right next to the park) and came to help us. I thought Jake would be fine coz Rocky wasnt there. But the second Jake saw her, he took off running… he ran right round the edge of the park in a big circle, and then out the gate. I was tearing after him, calling his name… and thankfully I also live right next to the park, so I went home to find Jake sitting on the step. He looked so scared… and so sad, and wouldn’t come to me when I called… as soon as I was in reach though, he jumped all over me, wanting cuddles. I took him in the house, and he just lay in his bed… I went back out to find the Willows owner to let him know I got Jake back. I saw Rockys owner heading home, so asked Jake if he wanted to come, and he wouldn’t budge so I left him behind.
I just don’t know what to do… it is so upsetting and horrible to see him so scared, and upset. I sometimes cant help seeing Rocky in the park, coz his owner changes the time when she goes out… and I meet up with the same people every morning, and we walk round the park together so the dogs all have a good play… the three dogs are thick as thieves and adore each other… Jake would hate to not get his morning play. I would hate to have to completely change the time I walk him, and it would have to be a completely different time to definitely know I wont see her… He seems fine though, if both her and her dog keep their distance (he must now really associate her with fear and pain, since last time it happened when she was going to give him a treat)… but the woman still walks her dog off lead, and although he usually keeps his distance, he sometimes has come close so I just put Jake on the lead and he doesn’t come right up to us.
I just don’t know whats the best thing to do… What would everyone else do?
The incidents with Rocky has also affect Jakes behaviour when he meets other male dogs
Sorry it is so long