It was supposed to be a nice walk for them

[Rerun201]

Yesterday I was going golfing with my dh and son who was visiting, so I thought I'd take the furbabies for a walk before we left them at home. Getting Toby to walk is sometimes a challenge as he has LP and doesn't always want to cooperate. Lola is always trying to break free and run a marathon so she's not an issue. Yesterday Toby was doing awesome, trotting along like he owned the world. We turned the corner onto our own block and he was in the home stretch, which always means he tries to walk as fast as he can. Then I heard someone yelling a name, and it got more urgent the second time. I turned and saw a beagle already in the middle of the boulevard headed for us. Of course the owner is telling me "he won't hurt them". I managed to grab Lola up by her leash (thank God for firm harnesses!) but couldn't get Toby in time. I can't even begin to tell you what that felt like. I was trying to kick the beagle away but didn't want to kick Toby by mistake. I kept trying to pull him up but Lola was fighting me trying to get down there to protect her brother I guess, so I was trying to hold onto her. The owner of the beagle got him and picked him up and I got Toby. He was so scared, the screeching he was doing was sickening. I checked him all over and didn't find any serious injuries, but the poor thing was so scared he pooed all over me, was shaking so bad it broke my heart. We got home and he was a little spooked, but after awhile he seemed ok. He woke me up during the night pacing on the bed, so I took him out thinking he had to potty. We came back in, and he was hiding under the bed, then he'd get behind my pillow, shaking like a leaf. This went on for about 2 hours, I kept holding him and talking to him. He finally settled down and fell asleep in my arms. He has never acted this way before. DH loves to tell me that dogs don't have the same memory capacity humans do, but I always argue. I think the whole issue during the night was from the trauma. What do you guys think? Toby seems ok now, sleeping on the couch, but is there anything I should be doing to avoid him having the same problems tonight? BTW, I will NEVER take my dogs for a walk again without carrying pepper spray with me. I know it only took a couple of minutes but it really seemed like forever

[chachi]

Im glad Toby is okay. I hate when people let their dogs run loose. It happens in our neighbor hood also. I always pick mine up even if the owner says they are friendly. Sometimes the owner is offended but I dont care. They are not being responsible dog owners.

[Rerun201]

Originally Posted by chachi

Im glad Toby is okay. I hate when people let their dogs run loose. It happens in our neighbor hood also. I always pick mine up even if the owner says they are friendly. Sometimes the owner is offended but I dont care. They are not being responsible dog owners.

Thank you. It always amazes me that people don't stop to think about the size differences. The owner tried to tell me Toby was just crying because he wanted to be able to "sniff" the beagle. Yeah, right.

[Sweet Apple]

I'm so sorry you had to deal w/such an unpleasant experience, and your baby too ...I always carry pepper spray w/me, but fortunately have not had to use it...But in answer to your question, I just heard, the other day, about how dogs seemed to be developing more and more w/congnitive skills...It was a study done comparing cognitive skills of wolves (I believe?) and dogs...At one time, they were equal in these skills, but the dog has developed, and the wolves haven't...The study said it was to do w/their emotional connection w/humans...I'm sure your baby did recall the incident, but like humans, I think the "feelings" will heal over time...I hope he feels better and is not so upset really soon....

[FlDebra]

So sorry you and your babies had to go through that ordeal due to someone else's uncaring actions. Why do people not have enough respect for others to keep their dogs on a leash? I agree with you about their memory too. Toby's unsettled night was too coincidental NOT to be his memory of the day's fright. I believe dogs have a GREAT memory.

My dog Kate is not visitor friendly at all. It takes her quite a while to warm up to people. But once she has accepted someone, she will remember them forever. She turned 17 years old this month. She had not seen one distant family member for 7-8 years and only the one time at that! She still remembered them and gave them a greeting to beat the band when they came to visit, this past year. Now that is a good memory! So, I am sure Toby has no trouble remembering the fright from earlier in the day.

Glad at least you had good reflexes and quick action to ensure there was no physical damage.

[Cerise]

Awh! Poor baby! My heart goes out to him and you too because I know that had to make you nervous as well.

Try finding Rescue Remedy Pets and give him a few drops. It is a good for trauma or stress especially after situations like this one.

[Rerun201]

Thank you all. I knew the YT family would understand! Maggie, that story about the study was so interesting and makes so much sense. They have so many human characteristics, why wouldn't memory be one of them? Debra, I loved the story about Katie. What a smart girl, to remember after all those years! I really appreciate you guys sharing with me. Cerise, I will look for that if he continues to have problems. Thanks again to you all.

[BaxtersMommy]

So glad he was not hurt! I totally believe animals remember! We rescued a Lab mix puppy 2 weeks ago, Vet said she was approximately 8 weeks old. She was in the FREEWAY scared to death!!! Can you imagine what she went through before we got to her?!

She was scared of everything and she even woke up in the middle of the night screaming, scratching and biting my husband. We think she was dreaming. We had to hold her tight for a hour before she calmed down again to go to sleep.

It will take him some time, but he will feel better soon. But, my oppinion is he will always remember it happening!

[MI Yorkielover]

Poor little Toby! I hope he's feeling much better today. There are too many people that think the leash law we have here applys to everyone BUT them. We have a person in our neighborhood who puts a leash on their big dog and doesn't hold on to the other end but instead lets the dog drag it behind him! WTH?

Jackie & Sophie

[lil fu fu girl]

Poor little guy!
Hope he is back to himself soon.

[ritzydaisy]

Oh, poor little Toby. Try some of that rescue remedy. It usually works pretty well. It must be so hard with 2 dogs keeping them safe.

Daisy & I go for walks, but I plan to go when I am pretty sure the neighbor dogs are not out. Two of our neighbors think their dogs are special because they don't need a leash. (We have leash laws in our town) The same thing happened to us only I was able to hear the owner yelling and caught her up in time.

On long walks or unknown neighborhoos we use a pet stroller and I carry a stun gun. Never had to get it out, but I am not prepared to lose my little girl to a pitbull or something. Any dog can break loose, too. At any time one could bolt through an opening door, and there you go!

It is nice to have a dog small enough to pick up. What to do if you have a bigger dog and the same thing happens??

Hope Toby gets better. Give him a big hug from Daisy.

[sandyapk]

Poor Toby. I hope he is back to his normal self very soon. How scary. Glad he was not seriously hurt.

[Sookie]

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

I'm so sorry you had to deal w/such an unpleasant experience, and your baby too ...I always carry pepper spray w/me, but fortunately have not had to use it...But in answer to your question, I just heard, the other day, about how dogs seemed to be developing more and more w/congnitive skills...It was a study done comparing cognitive skills of wolves (I believe?) and dogs...At one time, they were equal in these skills, but the dog has developed, and the wolves haven't...The study said it was to do w/their emotional connection w/humans...I'm sure your baby did recall the incident, but like humans, I think the "feelings" will heal over time...I hope he feels better and is not so upset really soon....

I just saw a book dealing with this reviewed in People Magazine.

[kjc]

OMG! I can't imagine, he was soooo scared! Poor baby! This may bother him for life! I hope not .... you may need to do socialization all over. You may want to take him to the vet just for a check up, and some suggestions on what you can do for him. He'll probably end up with a bout of collitus anyway after that one! (and give the bill to the beagle owner ???) And the psychological stress even you suffered! It's a shame we can not walk our dogs without being armed! My neighbor carries a big stick. Other neighbor keeps a baseball bat handy. I want a tazer (sp?) but they're illegal here in Maryland! And the Big dog owners don't worry because their dog won't be the one getting hurt or killed! My neighbor owns two pitts, well one's a mix. They've attacked a groundhog and a racoon in the past year. And the pitt's not utd on rabies. She asked me to temp her dog yesterday a week after the racoon incident, and I said sorry, no way, I'm not going to risk that. I tried explaining the risk of rabies to them when it happened ... but it's like they just don't (won't) get it. Well, I hope everything works out for the both of you. I have to go now and check my fences! The only other thing I can offer is if he starts dreaming, you know the feet going a mile a minute or barking while his eyes are closed, I'd wake him up (carefully) before he gets too far into the dream (nightmare).

[Princes mom]

Originally Posted by chachi

Im glad Toby is okay. I hate when people let their dogs run loose. It happens in our neighbor hood also. I always pick mine up even if the owner says they are friendly. Sometimes the owner is offended but I dont care. They are not being responsible dog owners.

I absolutely hate when people say their dog is "friendly!!" The dog may be friendly to some people and / or to some dogs, but you never know.

I always pick Prince up in a second if we see another dog. I once told a women who was walking a small shepard that I didn't want my dog to hurt her dog, and walked away.