First, she is OK. This was Gracie's first weekend free to go on the grass after getting all of her shots. We decided to go to the city park-leashes required. Previously, we were invited to join a small dog group that meets there every day at arranged times. The sun was out and Gracie wanted to play, so off we went to join in the fun. We met some really nice people and other Yorkies, then went off on our own.
We were out in the grass, away from anyone else. Gracie was on her leash, playing around in the grass. There was a small group of people some distance away, with their dogs all playing. Out of the blue, this little white Chihuahua (no leash) runs up barking and pounces on Gracie and starts biting her. Gracie was yelping horribly. I instinctively just grabbed her leash and lifted her by her harness. Shortly after that, the Chihuahua's owner comes running up from the other side of the park and says he is sorry. He asked if Gracie is a puppy, I said "yes". He said, "Oh, my dog does not like puppies". He said he was sorry again, did not ask if Gracie was OK, then off he went with his dog. It was like it was some imposition that I showed up there with my puppy!
I was so angry! This man had been visiting with other people I had visited with earlier, people that I liked. As this was our first day, I did not want to say anything that would suggest I was not a friendly person, or was too good to join their group, if you know what I mean. I bit my tongue and thanked him for saying he was sorry, but had so many other things I wanted to say.
I am half tempted not to go back to that play group again, at least not until Gracie is out of puppyhood. That really is not fair to Gracie and the other dogs who do get along and play nice, and to the other dog moms and dads who control their babies. We walk there all the time, and I know I will be asked to join the group again, or will be asked why I don't join.
What would you do? I really fear exposing her to strange dogs again right now. We learned in puppy school that older dogs often view puppies as "rude" and we were told to keep our bodies between our puppy and other dogs and people until we know how they will react to the puppy. I always do that anyway. I just did not see that little mutt coming!