Not Sure I Did the Right Thing

Personally I don't think you did anything wrong.  You went with your instinct.  If I had been in the same situation being approached by a strange dog I would have done the same.  In fact for me, the dog does not have to be bigger.  One time I was walking Dasher in our neighborhood and a small dog came running after us barking.  His elderly owner was yelling at the dog but the dog wasn't listening.  I scooped up Dasher simply to aviod any issues and I knew if I picked up Dasher there would be a better chance for the owner of the loose dog to get him/her back. 
 
I think you did the right thing, better be safe than sorry. []

No, you cant be to cautiouss around a strange dog and you were doing your job of protecting your dog. It might have been neat to let her meet him after the boys gained control so he isnt fearful and maybe ease the anxiety he felt from you but thats just a after thought

Some shih-tzu was chasing my big ol' Malnois around my yard. It isn't fenced in, but it's about an acre, so we keep him on a 100 ft. lead with it anchored int the cement peeking out from our foundaiton on the house.

Anyways, this dog was HARASSING poor little Knox! This thing was about 6 pounds and KNox is around 75! I brought him inside. Since he didnt have any tags I named him charlie and put a crate for im in the basement, because anytime Knox would try to play with him (he's really gentle with little kids, small dogs and cats) he would start to get get snarky and try to bite him! Knox has a scar on his leg form when charlie bit him. Knox let out a cry like he was being chewed to death and left the dog alone. Luckily the owner called up reluctantly (he never liked the dog)  and said Oreo (real name) was his.

haleigh

ORIGINAL: mrstjohnson

I was letting Charlie out in the backyard today at lunch.  We don't have a fence so he was on obviously on his leash.  All of a sudden this other dog comes bounding into the yard.  He was much bigger than Charlie...I am not good with breeds, but maybe a Rottie/GSD mix.  Anyways, he was way bigger than Charlie and I had never seen him before.  He wasn't showing any signs of agression, just quickly walking over to us with his tail wagging.

I didn't know what to do so I quickly scooped Charlie up.  The dog had tags so my plan was to put Charlie in the house and come back and see what the deal was.  Before I could do that, three young boys came to the yard to get him (he had gotten out a few blocks away).  They gathered him and took him back but it was obvious they dog just wanted to play.

The dog looked friendly, was it bad that I scooped up Charlie instead of  letting him investigate?  Did I teach him somethind bad?  He does play with other dogs (a small dog next door and another beagle), but I guess I was just freaked out because the dog was so much bigger (we don't "know" any bigger dogs) and I didn't know him. 

 
I don't see anything you did wrong.  I would have done the same.  Gut feelings or instincts are there for a reason.  I try to listen to mine, even if it seems odd, ya know?

Thanks - I guess I am just paranoid about being too protective.  I would have loved them to play, but the dog wasn't on a leash and I was afraid that these boys wouldn't have been able to control him if something set him off.  My biggest fear is that I let him do something that will cause him to get hurt.

There are times when I wish I could scoop mine up like that.  My girls each weigh about 75 lbs though, so when I get in situations like that I turn on my best fakey voice and say "oh look, a nice doggie's coming to say 'hi'"  and hope that all goes well []. 

ORIGINAL: cakana

There are times when I wish I could scoop mine up like that.  My girls each weigh about 75 lbs though, so when I get in situations like that I turn on my best fakey voice and say "oh look, a nice doggie's coming to say 'hi'"  and hope that all goes well []. 

I know exactly what you mean. I don't weigh much more than my dog and he's a big dog. I have to laugh when I throw myself in front of Kobi. He has this thing about being petted when he stands between my legs and I rub his butt (tailless). So here I am, feeling threatened enough that I feel I have to protect my dog. Kobi pushes himself between my legs and I'm thinking "If anything happens here, there goes those thighs I've been wanting to get rid of!!!"

I have had two loose dog episodes in two days. [:@]

The first was when coming in the door at the music store where I have my studio. The door opens into a foyer. I have to close that door and immediately turn and open the door to the stairs. It's a real cluster funk trying to manage Sofia, my purse, and multiple instruments  in that tiny space. There IS a door that closes that goes to the store. The foyer is about 5' x 5' or LESS. It's really hard to get everything in, close the outside door, TURN, OPEN the stairway door...you get the idea? The doors clonk against each other if both open...[&:]

In the winter the door to the store is closed and the outside door is closed. The stairs door is always closed. In the summer the inside and sometimes outside doors are open because we like warm weather. )

Anyway, I come in the door,managing multiple items plus Sofia, and I hear an extremely high-pitched YIP YIP YIP as something that looks like a hairy tennis ball hurtles toward Sofia and I and I realize that one of the people from the store brought in their obscenely small 'teaspoon' Yorkie. I mean, this dog's head is the size of a large walnut.

We've just had a vole in the house at home. My first thought is that she'll see this thing and EAT it. I'm holding Sofie up in the air by the leash and trying not to step on the doglet that is insanely trying to do I don't know what.....and I'm yelling "GET THE DOG GET THE DOG!"
[:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]
Which someone does. But it was a crazy insane 40 seconds!


Yesterday I was taking Sofia for a walk at a park and while on the way to the car saw a man let his flat-coated retriever out of the car and just SIT IN HIS CAR while the dog looked all confused and lost and darted around the parking lot! As Sofia and I walked up to my truck I yelled "CALL YOUR DOG!"  He didn't even look at me or acknowledge that he heard me (he might not have) but thankfully got the dog back in the car and drove away.

ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH

The only thing you might have to worry about with scooping him up like that is if the other dog does turn aggressive and goes for him, then you're a target, too.  I don't really know how else I would handle it, though.  I've only dealt with the Saints, and the only time they're small enough to pick up like that would be for the first 3 or 4 months of their lives.  [sm=happy.gif]

And, hi, mrstjohnson!  I'm in the Milwaukee area, too.  Good to see fellow Wisconsinites/Milwaukeeans on the boards. [sm=biggrin.gif]

Oh, what I MEANT by those stories is YOU DID THE RIGHT THING! [][8D]

You did the right thing.  I wish I could pick Sally up sometimes.  I guess if I HAD to I could, as she is 55 lbs, but it would be somthing to see.

I think you did the right thing too!  I often picked up FeFe if I thought a child or other animal was a threat (kids always went for her tail).  I even pick up my 40 pound, big baby Gracie if I get that same feeling.  That gut feeling is something you should always listen to, even if you feel you're overreacting.  You never know. 

I did that numerous times with Kayla when she was about 6 months old right after we got her.  I never thought about it causing issues and it didnt.  When I did leave her down (when the dogs looked nice) she was fine after that. 
 
Even when she ws 42 pounds and 2 years old I did it one time when a big dog got out of someones yard and came running all mean looking.  Kayla wen running towards him, I ran and scooped her up and held her high and walked home lol. 
 
I would rather get bit than let anything happen to them.  And you should do it again if your instincts tell you to.[]

ORIGINAL: sillysally

I wish I could pick Sally up sometimes. I guess if I HAD to I could, as she is 55 lbs, but it would be somthing to see.

[sm=clapping hands smiley.gif]