Gracie attacked today, need advice!

[veguroev]

Poor Gracie! I'm glad she is fine, but I'm sure she was so scared. I don't understand why people don't obey rules.

[romeos mommy]

unfortunately these things happen. if he know he dog is not friendly w/pups why is he off the leash??? irresponsible pet owners stink.

[kaymo]

Poor little Gracie. She must've been terrified! What a beeeeeeep! The nerve of him telling you his chi doesn't like puppies, like that makes it ok. I would have asked him if his animal was up to date on its vaccinations since it attacked your puppy and that an aggressive dog has no place in the dog park but should be muzzled and leashed when he's out in public. Embarrass him into taking responsibility and not belittling it by saying his dog doesn't like puppies.

Make sure you take Gracie back to the park so she's not afraid of other dogs. Remember we are our dogs advocates just like we are for our children. They need us to speak up for them! You can do it, you have the total support of all YT members and there are a lot of us!

[alaskayorkie]

I'm so sorry. That sounds like a horrible scare. I hope she's OK.

I agree with some of the others that you should continue to go to the meetups and help with Gracie's socialization. Also, speak with either the person putting the meetups together or the other dog owner or both. If this is a leashed park and a leashed group, everyone should obey the rules.

That said, we all really have to be alert at parks with our dogs. A lot of dog owners break the rules. Just because it's their fault doesn't make it any safer for our pups. I'm constantly on the lookout for unleashed dogs. There are times I lead mine another direction, there are times I scoop them up, and there are times I let them sniff each other. But don't let unleashed dogs surprise you.

And please don't take that as an admonition. I don't know the circumstances. Just a general tip for situations like yours.

[Peters]

honestly i probably would have smacked that chi if it jumped on my dog and told the owner if it doesn't like puppys why the heck don't you have better control over it? some people are just so rude irresponsible and careless!

[Saleswman]

If he knew his dog did not like puppies, why did he let him run without a leash.?

Of course, I would have said something in the form of a non direct statement..........like......."Wow, I did not realize the dogs were permitted to run with out a leash........If I would have known this, I would have "chosen" another group to play with.", this time is so important to puppy development, I would not have wanted her to pick up BAD HABITS!!!!!"

I think sometimes "sorry" is an easy way out for ignorance.......

I am glad she is ok....

[ARCHIE]

I am so glad Gracie is alright. That could have been a disaster. Some people are just plain rude. If he were there with others who visit the dog park they should have told him to leash his dog and they probably did! I was always told that adult dogs are usually tolerant of puppies and will put them in line if they feel the need too.
To attack a puppy would lead me to believe this dog has major problems.

[BamaFan121s]

Regardless to if his dog likes puppies or not, he should have his dog on a leash! You said they were required, right? I am very glad she is OK, but yes, I would be tempted not to return there either!

[Gracie2006]

Gracie and I went back to the park today. There were 7 dogs in the grassy area, 6 were off leash. Guess which dog was on leash? MINE! We found an area of grass were we did not think we would be disturbed. Gracie was excited to be there. Until...

Out of the shadows comes a little white poodle barking and chasing after Gracie, off leash of course! This time I saw it coming and I picked up Gracie before the poodle got to her. The owner came over, apologized and we got to chatting. It turns out the poodle was also 4 months old. We let our two dogs get acquainted the correct way, but Gracie was still scared of the other puppy. Later, we were sitting on a bench and a lady comes up to us. Turns out she has 3 yorkies and frequents the group meet-up at the park. She asked if we had participated yet. I politely explained what happened last Saturday, and said we would be easing our way back into the group as Gracie is still scared of other small dogs off leash. She wanted to know which dog bothered Gracie, and I told her it was an aggressive, off leash Chi. This woman then said that it is an off-leash group! There are signs clearly posted.
I said nothing more. So, I guess I am odd woman out. I plan to write animal control and the city parks department to complain and demand some enforcement of the leash law or a change in the park rules. We may visit the group again, but only with me holding Gracie when anywhere close to the other dogs.

[Saleswman]

So what......I dont care if it was an "off leash" group.....who gives a flying flip......an aggressive dog should not be tolerated......if they are going to promote "off leash" activities...then they should have trained they dogs to behave accordingly.......

Oh, now how I really hate excuses....and justifications for ignorance.......

I say "go for it girl" It is contradicting the laws.

[Brookef18]

i would go back, and if that dog tried to get near gracie I would stick my foot right in it's path... I have two huge dogs down the street and I get right in their face and stomp toward them and look them right in the eye and tell them NO...and they back off... they used to follow me down the street barking and growling... now they don't even come half way across their yard... THEY KNOW I mean it! try it it works... Don't show fear... never back up, and stand your ground... if it starts up and the guy is there tell him he needs to keep his dog away if it doesn't like puppies because she is one! Dont let this idiot keep you and gracie from having fun! People get away with what ever you allow. don't allow this!

[Monday]

Originally Posted by Gracie2006

If I see that man and his Chi unleashed again, I will be calling animal control. That is an agressive dog that needs to have a permanent record. I wonder how his homeowner's insurance would like that? Yup, the number for animal control is going in my cell phone. We will avoid that group for awhile. If we are invited again, I will politely explain what happened (without mentioning any breeds) and say that we would love to join them if everyone can follow the rules and leash their dogs. I have given Gracie all of the hugs and kisses that you sent. Thanks again!

Hugz and yorkie kissez to poor little Gracie .... Too bad people do not have license tags on them so you can refer to them when you call animal control. I am afraid I would have been as passive as you were b/c I am not confrontational HOWEVER, if my little Monday were hurt ... I'd be using words like a sailor (whatever they are) ....
if you know where this creep lives, you might want to drop him a note, writing things you were thinking at that moment. and how rude and inconsiderate he was ... I know itz awkward if you meet up with him and his chi again ....
But the bottom line is that Gracie is ok ... but be careful next time ....
tell him to take his dog to an "adult" bark park next time.

[Gracie2006]

Just because "everybody does it" does not make it OK. I just finished my letter to animal control, asking that they patrol the park and cite the leash law violators. I don't care if everyone figures out it was me that complained. Friends like that Gracie and I don't need!