Dog Community

Scary stuff- (and some advice needed)

Posted : 7/29/2008 10:03:22 PM

I probably should post this in the behavior section, but I figured this place gets more hits.

Tonight, I decided to take Lucky on a walk. I realized I left all his other leashes (regular ones) at my old apartment (long story short, I am home for the summer, and living with my parents). The only leash I had here was a retractable one. (I know, i know).
So everything was fine, I don't keep him much on a loose line, it was probably about 6 ft away from me, and I see this BIG BLACK beast of a husky mix thing tearing down the street at us with about an 8 year old boy running after him. Who lets a kid that age walk a dog that powerful? This dog must've been about 70 pounds, and on a retractable leash as well. Flew out of the boy's hand.

The dog tackles Lucky, who is freaked beyond freaked at this point. The dog does just want to play- (thank God, otherwise I have no idea of what the outcome could have been). The boy then catches up with the husky, and takes back the leash. This is about 4 houses away from our house btw. Lucky manages to somehow evade the husky's grasp, slips out of his collar and makes a beeline to the house. I have never seen that dog run so fast in the 3 months we've had him.

The boy appologized profusely, and I really don't think it was his fault, but he at least should have been walking the dog with some supervision.

Now, here's the problem. Ever since we got home, Lucky has been barking Non-stop. At everything, and nothing. He wasn't hurt, but he was scared out of his mind. And I haven't coddled him, or anything. I dont want to praise him for it, but he won't SHUT UP!!

Any ideas??

sandra_slayton

Posted : 7/29/2008 10:10:01 PM

Your poor little guy was probably scared out his wits and is still shaking on the inside. i really don't have any advice, just wishing you and him luck.

rwbeagles

Posted : 7/29/2008 10:53:29 PM

hmm maybe a game involving some yummy treats? Some Bach Flower remedy? Some quiet time in a crate with a cover?

I am so sorry he and you...got so frightened.

Krissim Klaw

Posted : 7/30/2008 12:02:45 AM

I know the feeling. I have gotten charged a lot in my neighborhood but one of the worst was actually a young dog about 40 pounds that came tearing down the street, no leash, with his owners running behind him screaming he is friendly. He was friendly all right but his version of friendly was to try and pounce Kirby like he was a toy. He was also completely oblivious to any commands and practicly knocked me down while I was trying to body block him from Kirby.

My father happened to be with me, and tried to grab the other dog since the owners had been chasing him for some time trying to catch him, but when he stepped in, Kirby ran between his legs, still trying to escape the dog and got his leash caught around my father's leg, resulting in a scared yelp and him for the first and only time since slipping out of his harness. Thankfully at that moment my dad finally managed to grab the other dog, and Kirby only bolted back to me for safty.

My hands were shaking when I reharnessed Kirby from both anger at the owner's stupidity and the adrenaline at the sudden charge. I think what made it even worse was at the time I was still working on fear leash reactivity to other dogs with Kirby and all I could think of was how much of a backslide it might cost me in his training. Thankfully he seemed unfazed and after a gruff roof at the offending dog he went back to merrily prancing along in the little lallaa land he always seems to be in when we walk.

My suggestion would be to try and carry on as if nothing is wrong and try to draw your dogs attention elsewhere. See if you can invite him in one of his favorite games or make an extra special treat filled kong or other chew to distract his jaws from yapping. If you didn't already do so, you might also want to releash him and take him out for a short walk to show him everything is back to normal and he just needs to brush himself off and get his little tail wagging again.