*****Tibbe Almost Attacked But Umbrella Saved The Day!!!*****

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Some people put too much trust on their dog...what makes them think they're not going to run out to chase something, what if a car happens to drive by??? I am so glad that you & Tibbe are ok! We've had a big unleashed GSD trotting up to us & as soon as I bent down to scoop up Princess & Turbo, the GSD already had his nose on them. After the fact, I realized that the GSD was very friendly but I wasn't sure how Turbo would react (he nips @ other dogs if they get too close) & thus provoking the GSD. Turbo is even more fearful of other dogs after this experience bc of how I reacted.=/ I'm working on him, sitting whenever a dog passes by or going the opposite way if he gives a negative reaction (this seems to work the best for him as long as we're moving away from the other dog!). He'll do good on some days, others not so much esp if the other dog is barking back lolll...total chaos.

Your right. People do not realize that no matter how much they love their dogs and their dogs love them the dog may react in a totally different manner in a different sort of situation.
One of my sons has a Chocolate Lab. He has been to my home and was a perfect gentleman with Gracie. I took Gracie to Thanksgiving dinner at one of my other son's house and Bear was fine there also......until we went outside. When he saw Gracie outside, on her leash, he came running and wanted to step on her and he would not stop. He is very big and she is very small and his big feet going for her could have done some big damage. I picked her up and he went up on his hind feet at her. He was not vicious but dangerous. I had to take her inside. People beware! Don't leave a little dog unguarded with any dog that you are not well acquainted with!

[Ahis_Mama]

I am so glad that you and Tibbe is okay. Does he normally growl at other dogs when they come barking and running up? He must have felt the need to protect you.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I called 911 from the vet's office after Tibbe went back for treatment, since the dog was possibly a danger to the public - especially little kids, being loose like that and after he stalked us - and I needed him quarantined to be sure he didn't have rabies, etc. Animal Control and the police visited the people and he was quarantined and thankfully given a clean bill of health. They actually kept him at my vet's clinic where Jilly was that first night post-op B4 they let her come home! He stayed there another 9 days. I was there when he was picked up bringing Jilly back for post-op care. Animal Control issued a ticket of some type to the people - can't recall what it was. Thankfully, that house is blocks away from where we live - as our walk that day was farflung - and I just never walked in that direction again.

Glad you had that purse when your dog was attacked. Imagine that person getting mad for you hitting the dog trying to eat your baby!!!!!! A vicious dog attack will kind of mark you for life and makes you super sentient from then on. After that attack, any walks included an umbrella, even when no dog was along, and that was in 1998 or 1999, so I have used umbrellas for a whole lot of walks and a whole lot of dogs coming my way so far with 100% success. But these dogs got closer than any others and I really think it was they weren't privy to the intimidating opening up of the umbrella before their eyes and ears. That is something for me to remember for the next rainy day walk!

Oh, gosh. Made a big typo - in that first line of my reply to "gracielove" it should say "Jilly" instead of "Tibbe"! I am so used to typing Tibbe's name now I guess I just did it by rote. After Jilly went back for treatment after she was attacked and at the vet, that's when I called Animal Control and 911 all those years ago. Sorry! I think I need a brain transplant!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Ahis_Mama

I am so glad that you and Tibbe is okay. Does he normally growl at other dogs when they come barking and running up? He must have felt the need to protect you.

No, he's in love with all other dogs but once they snarled at him, he went postal! He's the biggest dog lover in the world. He loves cats, squirrels and any thing else he sees. Surprised me to see him flex up like that but he was apparently royally ticked off when they rushed at us snarling and growling.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Your right. People do not realize that no matter how much they love their dogs and their dogs love them the dog may react in a totally different manner in a different sort of situation.
One of my sons has a Chocolate Lab. He has been to my home and was a perfect gentleman with Gracie. I took Gracie to Thanksgiving dinner at one of my other son's house and Bear was fine there also......until we went outside. When he saw Gracie outside, on her leash, he came running and wanted to step on her and he would not stop. He is very big and she is very small and his big feet going for her could have done some big damage. I picked her up and he went up on his hind feet at her. He was not vicious but dangerous. I had to take her inside. People beware! Don't leave a little dog unguarded with any dog that you are not well acquainted with!

Oh, boy, are those wise words. A Yorkie around any big dog in any new setting or situation could be at risk just from their tiny size if the dog gets rowdy or anything. Just one big paw whacked across the back with enough downward force could really hurt a little dog weighing 60 - 90 lbs. less than them. Yorkie moms and pops have to be super careful with them a lot of times.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

No, he's in love with all other dogs but once they snarled at him, he went postal! He's the biggest dog lover in the world. He loves cats, squirrels and any thing else he sees. Surprised me to see him flex up like that but he was apparently royally ticked off when they rushed at us snarling and growling.

Tibbe's a lover and a fighter
You're story about Jilly's attack has me rethinking that just picking up Buster is not enough to stop a dog intent on getting him. One arm to fight off a larger dog is not enough. I am sorry that you had to go through both of these experiences. When I first was walking Buster he was nipped by a neighbor's Chi that ran out unleashed. They yelled out oh she's friendly and she was so small I did not worry until she bit Buster. They then said well she sometimes does that. I was furious and felt so bad that I had not properly protected Buster. I told them never to tell anyone she was friendly that to warn people that she might bite. I was lucky it was a small dog and Buster was not hurt badly.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Oh, BB, it's true. Just picking up a little dog didn't stop that Dalmatian from wanting more. He was fixated on both of us and kept walking slowly after us, head slightly down and forward. He was intent on more action I am convinced. Most dogs after a bite or an attack will retreat, act somewhat scared, usually aware that the presence of a human is about to bring retribution of some type on them. But this guy - he was emboldened. I truly think if I hadn't the stick and started acting somewhat intimidating as I tried to get Jilly away and home to the car and vet, he would have gone after both of us. And when I saw the people he belonged to, I even wondered if he hadn't been maltreated by them and had some hatred of humans. But that dog stalked us after his attack. Ugh!

[Micah my love]

So glad that you two are okay

[southernbelle04]

Oh my! That is so scary! I am so glad you guys are ok. What a good idea to use a umbrella! I need to carry one with me.

[Princes mom]

I am so happy that you and your baby are ok!! I didn't read all of the posts, but did you file a police report? I would have. I hate irresponsible pet owners!!!!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Princes mom

I am so happy that you and your baby are ok!! I didn't read all of the posts, but did you file a police report? I would have. I hate irresponsible pet owners!!!!

Well, since this time the dogs only ran at Tibbe snarling and growling and when it put the umbrella between us and them and they tried to get around it but never did - thank God - no, I didn't call anybody. But back in the late 90's when little 3 lb., leashed Jilly was attacked and bitten causing 6 lacerations by a 65 lb., off-leash Dalmatian who dashed from his porch behind bushes, I called 911 & Animal Control. The police and AC visited, quarantined and ticketed the appropriate parties.

[yorkietalkjilly]

(Here is the post I always place on threads like this for anyone who is interested. It didn't work as well with these 2 dogs as I had the umbrella open, over my head to keep the rain off us & the dogs were almost at my feet before I saw them, realized what was happening & took the open umbrella from over my head, putting it between the dogs and Tibbe and me. So these dogs didn't ge the full effect of witnessing that tiny stick about 16" long spring open into that big, wide, noisy thing right before their eyes and ears.) Here is the usual post:

I walk with a huge black umbrella that self-opens when I push a button. It is a big thing and impressive as it opens with a snap/whoosh! It give me a large appearance to the approaching dog, having that big, black, wide structure spread all out before me.

The thing I found most helpful to me about the open umbrella is the distance it will keep a troublesome dog away from our immediate vicinity. I have yet to have one ever get even remotely close to me and my Yorkie with the trusty brolly fully employed. They either go the other way immediately(99% of the time), stand their ground if the owner is making them or give you a very very wide berth. They don't get close enough to or try to keep an aggressive attitude when they hear the umbrella whoosh open and see that imposing shape blossom open before their eyes. It is very disconcerting to any dog. It is a good diffuser of tense situations but should it not be, a sturdy or actual defensive umbrellas can serve as a real weapon should you actually run into a dog who is bent on attacking. When my little 3 lb. Yorkie, Jilly, was attacked by a 65 lb. Dalmatian on a neighborhood walk, my simple wooden walking stick(pre-umbrella) was how I saved her life and got her free of the big dog's jaws. It was after that attack that I decided to use a button-operated umbrella for future walks as a deterrent - even if I have no dog with me.

But the role an open umbrella best serves is just a dissolver of bad attitudes. Most approaching dogs aren't really bad, they just are inquisitive, excited and out of control and this tool helps them to settle down rather quickly and become serious about how they can best stay well clear of you, your dog and your umbrella. And it gives you a wonderful sense of security, which a dog can read from quite far off.
Train your dog to sit/stay when you open the umbrella so that in an emergency situation, your dog will not be running around at your feet or shying away from the umbrella opening, thus adding to the stress of the moment.

[Princes mom]

I would still go to the police to get a record of this incident on file. The next time you may not be so lucky. By doing that, you may be saving someone's child's life, as well. Think about it. It's not too late.