Big bullies...

[Shelbie]

I'm hoping my American cousins can help me with a bit of a problem. Mum and Dad took me to the park on Sunday and I was walking along quite happily sniffing flowers and er, things, when all of a sudden these four German shepherds came bounding out of no where and started being loud and chasing me. Dad said they were only playing and wouldn't have hurt me but Mum said something very rude about irresponsible owners controlling their blummin' dogs (but under her breathe - she IS English). Any advice?

[pluto'slanie]

Do you have leash laws in London or are dogs allowed to run free in parks? Do you have specific areas designated as dog parks or runs? The shepherds may have only wanted to play, but I agree - it is irresponsible to let 4 large dogs run free - cause as much as we think of them as our babies - they are still dogs. (I may be drummed off this board for making this statement.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/blushie.gif)

Shelbie, maybe you should learn a few German expressions - like halt - or how about a kiss handsome http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/kiss.gif since you all speak the same language the shepherds might respond to that. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/lol.gif

[Wienergal]

No, Lanie--you would be drummed off THAT OTHER board for saying that dogs are dogs, but not this one, where we read books.

Ahem. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/devil.gif Moving right along...

Shelbie, I find that a good, firm stamp of the foot, and wave of the arm, and loud "SHOO!" from me usually runs off any big dogs who want to "play" with my two in the park. Little do the big dogs know it's for their own sake--the wieners are totally ferocious when big dogs come at them!

I'm curious too--do you have leash laws in London?

[WOTANSMUTTI]

Welllll, out here in the 'ol West where even the dogs have guns we just run 'em off our range by swattin' 'em with out cowboy hats...

No,really! 4 agaist 1,even in play is pretty scary for a weenie dog. You could carry some "biscuits" and toss them at the mutts when they bother Shelbie and then make a dash for it!

Good luck!

[Mrs.F]

Hi Shelbie,

I like the ideas the other guys have already given you, and I'll have to remember them. WE have the same problem at our house. Last summer 2 big german shephard/collie dogs came after me when Mom was taking me for a walk. We weren't even NEAR their house, but they didn't think I should be walking on their ROAD! I got scared and laid down in the middle of the street and one guy put his teeth around my belly - he didn't bite me, he just growled - but I got so scared I peed all over the place! My mom went kind of crazy and started hollering at him and yelling "GO HOME" in her meanest voice. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angryfire.gif She finally pushed him away from me with her foot. Thankfully, just then the dogs' owner came by in his pickup truck and whistled and the dogs jumped in the back of the truck. Mom was very upset, and the man said he was really sorry and it wouldn't happen again - but guess what! It did, just a few days later. Mom called the man's wife and she was very nice but we still kept seeing the dogs running around town. My mom decided SHE was going to have to teach those big dogs to pick on someone their own size so she put some amonia and water in a squirt gun and brought it on our walks. It took a couple of times to make a difference and she had to be very careful of their eyes, but those big dogs DO NOT like that smell on their fur. Mom says they think she PEED on them! Ha, ha, ha! They don't bother ME anymore!
Penny

(Actually, Mom still brings the squirt gun with her, just in case! These particular dog owners seem to think that the rights of THEIR dogs are more important than the rights of mine! I just spray at their backs, sides and tails and yell like a maniac. My vet assured me that with the water mixture I wouldn't do permanent damage even if I did accidentally squirt an eye or nose.)

[Penny's Aunt]

I don't know what you have in GB, but here we have some kind of dog ray-gun. It think it probably controls attacking dogs with sound, but I'm not sure. It looks like a TV remote control. It may be a dog version of a stun gun, but I'm not sure, & I can't find one in any catalog right now. They cost about $20-22.

[Shelbie]

Thanks everyone. Haven't worked out if I can reply individually on this thing yet but I love all your ideas! Mum is going to have a stun gun in one pocket, a spray bottle in the other, shout and stamp and wear a cowboy hat and I'm going to borrow some of her lipstick and just pucker up!!! I'm not sure what the leash laws are here - I think we're allowed off the lead in an open area as long as we're under control! (which I always am cos I'm so good) (not, signed Mum)
ps Mum started laughing because she said she was glad everyone realised she was talking about breed of dogs german shepherds and not four big, blond blokes in smocks - she's off again - sometimes I think I'm the only sensible member of this family!

<font color="#00FFFF" font size="1"></font>

[pluto'slanie]

How about 4 blond German Shepherd dogs in smocks and liederhosen? http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/lol.gif Do you think they make liederhosen to fit doxies?

[LisaH]

Shelbie, I like the way your Mom thinks! Those guys bully sheep, and then they think they can bully ANYBODY.