Gracie attacked today, need advice!
 

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. :mad: 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!

awwww poor Gracie! I bet she was terified!
I think if it would have been me, I would have asked why his dog was not on a leash, he would have been responsible if something worse would have happened that needed vet attention.

I'm so glad she is ok! Not sure If I would want to go back or not.

Gracie
 

That is terrible! I can't believe he didn't ask how Gracie was. I don't think I'd go back ever--or at least not while Gracie is a puppy. He definitely should've had his dog on a leash!! That makes me so mad.

Awww...that sucks that she was jumped on and she could have been seriously hurt or killed - if that man KNOWS his littl Chi doesnt like puppies then HE should have his dog on a leash like anyone else who knows their dog is prone to fighting - that was so wrong on his part.

You were really nice about it and I know what you mean about sometimes not saying something - but to tell you the truth - I would tell whoever invited you about what happened and how it made you feel but don't let that take away from a next time if you enjoyed it otherwise.

What a bad first time at the park....I hope she isn't afraid of other dogs after that poor baby...Chanel and Cheri send her big smoochies and hope her next time is more fun -

Aww.. im so sorry..but i agree..i would have asked why he wasnt on a leash...plus me and the owner would have had to talk about that..and if my furbaby was hurt he would have been paying for it...i hope ur gracie is ok...many prayers for u and her :hands:

I would have asked him why his dog was not on a leash, and remind him of the rule, let him know how inconsiderate he is because if he knows his dog doesnt like puppies then why was it not on a leash. I'm glad Gracie is ok. :)....I'm sorry that happened.

Aaah this is an issue that Bruce and I know a little something about, as we have basically been prisoners in our own home for a couple of weeks due to our neighbors constantly unleashed unnuetered pitt. This would be my advice for future incidents:

(1) Speak to the owner very condescendingly but not rudely about responsible dog ownership and how that includes obeying leash laws and avoiding situations in which the dogs poor temperment will be set off.
(2) Do not avoid going out like this again, because if you avoid situations with other dogs because of one bad incident all that will likely happen is Gracie will get scared of encounters with other dogs and poorly socialized.

So sorry to hear this-how scary for you both.
You ARE very nice, and I understand why you didn't want to get into an altercation like that, however, IF there is a leash law he was breaking that law and needs to be told.

Can you get some of your friends to band together and make an annoucement that ALL dogs must be supervised and on leashes at all times for this play group as is required by law (or make it a rule of the play group?)-it doesn't have to be personal or directed toward this person (although hopefully he would take the hint). Then it wouldn't come off as a persoal argument between you and this owner but a general consensus that ALL the dogs are safer that way. I mean you could point out that dogs will be dogs and that would protect both the owner of the potential "attacker" as well as the "attack-ee"

I can't imagine that ANY dog owner really wants to be in the horrific situation of having thier dog cause another dog serious harm...not only is that emotionally trying, one has to pay for the vet bills. By asking all to use leashes you are actually helping protect those owners from emotional and monetary trauma, as well as protecting the doggies!

Also, some cities are much more stringent about leash laws-I have lived places where one can actually call the police and report an off leash dog and the
police would respond and ticket the person! You might mention that next time someone might not be as understanding as you were and might turn him in.

I feel so bad for what happened to you and Gracie, but so glad she came through it unharmed! That was so irresponsible of that chi pet owner!

I hope this doesn't affect Gracie so that she is scared of other dogs now. Maddie was attacked twice by larger dogs...I did what you did and pulled her away with her harness and leash....but, she definitely is not the same puppy as she is very cautious with strange dogs...she has to slowly get to know them before she can play and have fun with them. Maddie sends kisses to Gracie!

Thank you all for your help. It certainly is not about the vet bill, it is about Gracie's life and the innocense and vulnerability of her being attacked while on the leash that makes my blood boil. I need to be more assertive, and I will be. Gracie needs to learn to socialize, even if we don't do it as part of that group. There was a Yorkie there off leash, 12 years old, who did not especially like Gracie, but her mom and dad held onto her and scolded her for being snooty. I also held Gracie a lot of the time that we were visiting. Interesting, it was that Yorkie's mom that warned me about big dogs at off-leash dog parks-she almost lost her Yorkie due to an attack.

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!

I am so sorry. You both must be terrified.........I am thankful nothing grave happened to her.

I'm sorry to hear what happened to Gracie. It is DEFINITELY that man's responsibility to control his Chi and to be rude like that towards you is quite selfish. Perhaps you can write the meetup group leader in private and let that person know what happened and see where it goes from there. Gracie will make friends, I can't see her being rude at all, not with that cute little face. :)

I would have asked why his dog wasn't on a leash! I'd probably done it in a really nice way like saying "not trying to sound mean or anything, but why isn't your dog on a leash?"

What makes his dog so "special" to go without a leash in a park that is restricted to leashed dogs?

So glad you thought fast enough to pull yours up by the leash to get it away from the dog that "doesn't like puppies".

Uh, if my dog didn't like puppies, he'd certainly been leashed! Well, my dog gets leashed anywhere they go out of my yard, anyway!

Some folks are just plain stupid:thumbdown

I would not let that incident keep me away from an "otherwisw" njoyabloe outing.

I would go again and keep an eye out for the chi. If they show up, and are unleashed, I would ask him to please keep his dog on a leash because you would not want him to have to be sorry if his dog injured yours.

I would take her back and let her play so she will not be scared but I would watch for that dog, and if you see him off leash I would grab Gracie up and go find that man and tell him his dog has gotten off its leash again...and when he says something like he let him off, I would politely tell him that all dogs are suppose to be leashed.....I would also say politely that you are surprized he would let him off leash since he attaches puppies.. and I would tell him in front of everyone.....:)