Do you think something was wrong

    • Bronze

    Do you think something was wrong

    This morning at 4:30am I had the scare of a lifetime.  If I NEVER go through it again I will be ok, but something says I probably will.
     
    I took amelia out for her morning potty.  Thank god I have an outside light.  She was doing her normal thing and on a trail of some critter.  She is always on a trail of something.  Bear in mind I have 3 acres but only maintain the first acre.  Anyway, she ventured over behind the garage (this is her normal poopie spot) which is still in the light.  I had my back to my house and amelia was against the fence on the farside of my house behind my garage.  All of the sudden I felt the need to turn around (thank god).  As I turned around there was a rather large black and white pitbull coming towards us with his head down (aparently on a scent trail, maybe) walking very very slowly.  I backed up closer to Amelia and locked her leash down short.  At that point she saw him coming towards us.  I thought OMG, 2 pits going at it with me in the middle........  scared the bagebus out of me.  Thankfully she didn't bark or growl, but she did lunge towards him.  But with her leash locked down short she didn't go far, but her tags jingled.  He heard that and raised his head.  My heart was beating ninety to nothing.  At this point I realized he had been coming up my driveway in the pitch darkness when we came off the porch.  He was maybe 20 feet from us at this point.  He put his head back down and started his slow pace again. I took amelia as far out as I could, into the darkness (worried about snakes too) along the high grass through the trees around of the front of the house.  All the time praying that he hadn't turned around and was waiting for us.  He had been between us and the front steps (no other way into the house at that point).  We got to the front side of the house and amelia lunged again and her tags jingled again.  He stopped but didn't turn around.  I pulled amelia up the 4 steps and shut the short gate on my porch.  I knew if he took off running towards us he would beat us to the steps and even if we won the foot race, he could easily clear the gate.  It is a short gate.  As soon as we got back in the house I looked out the window and he was gone.  Have no idea where he went, where he came from (I had never seen him before, not one of the normal dogs around there) or if he was sick or anything.  Now I am scared that he might come back.  Thankfully Amelia did not do her normal barking or growling.  I was very proud of her.  When we went back out around 6am for her last potty before I leave for work, she was looking for him (as was I, but for different reasons I am sure).  I couldn't call anyone, didn't have my cell phone. 
    Do you think there was something wrong with this dog?
    • Gold Top Dog

    Why do you think there was something wrong with the dog?  He seemed to very uninterested in you he was just following a scent.  If he were going to be dog aggressive I think he would have.  He was just someone elses pet who was out unsupervised and checking out the surrounding probably.

    It sounds like you handled it fine.  The key is not to show fear, don't look the other dog in the eyes and its best if you can turn you back and walk, not run!

    • Bronze

    I have never feared a pitbull. And I know better than to run.  But this dog did not even acknowledge us. I have never seen a dog, even one on a scent trail, that didn't react in someway.  He was at such a slow pace.  It was just weird.  I live out in the boonies where most people don't even keep thier dogs contained.  Most of the dogs coming into my yard are easily shooed away.  They might bark, but they leave. I always have Amelia on a leash when outdoors.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Ok you saw a dog off leash, and? i really dont see a problem here 

    • Gold Top Dog

    Not all dogs are interested in strangers, even strangers with dogs!Stick out tongue  I have two dogs who really couldn't care less about strangers when we're out and about. Unless they're known to them, or doing something alarming, they're not going to waste their energy on them.

     If he was on a trail of something, that could also have his mind shut off to other things

    • Gold Top Dog

    Not all dogs are interested in strangers, even strangers with dogs!

    ditto. Don't know why you were so alarmed- dog calmly walked on by paying you no attention.

    • Gold Top Dog

     Tootsie, my corgi is like this, She could care less about strangers, especially when shes found a good scent. I don't see why you were scared?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Just bring something with you on your nightly potty breaks.

    It could be a whistle, a baseball bat, some direct stop spray, or heck even some treats to throw at him, LOL.

    I can almost guarantee that if he had ill intentions he would have acted upon them instantly.

    I don't balme you for feeling a bit wary about it. Where did he come from? Where did he go? However for all you know he coulda been sweet as pie but I dont blame you for being cautious.