My Horrible, Horrible Scare

[Camilla and Darwin]

Something truly frightening that happened to me last week. It really made me stop and think about how much more careful I need to be about my pup's safety.

Darwin loves to play with a yellow lab named Mauii that lives at our apartment complex. We wanted to find a place at our complex that we could let them play off leash, so we didn't have to drive 20 minutes to a dog park. I doubted we would be allowed, but thought I'd give it a go. I asked our landlords if they were okay with us letting our dogs off leash to play with each other. They suggested an area nearby our apartment that is a huge grassy area, with very little person or dog traffic. We checked it out, and it's great. Huge, grassy, and secluded. It's about a 1-2 minute walk from my front door, so it's literally right next to where I live. Perfect, right? We take our pups there two or three times a week to play.

Well, this last time something truly horrible happened. As they were playing, a man walked by, with a HUGE looking pitbull on a leash. I think that he must have been a mastiff pitbull mix, because he was definitely over 100 pounds, and much taller than your average pitbull. My guess is around 30" at the shoulders. Well, Darwin decided to run over to say hello. I immediately called him back, prepared with a treat, but he ignored me and kept running. I saw that the dog was hunching down and growling so I called him more frantically, trying to get his attention.

Once Darwin reached the dog, he lunged at Darwin. I mean LUNGED. Like, yanked the man off his feet. Darwin quickly got the picture and ran away but the dog was chasing him down, dragging his owner across the grass. I was horrified, running as fast as I could towards them. The owner somehow jumped on top of the dog and pinned him down to the ground with his entire body. I got a hold of Darwin, leashed him up, and handed him off to my friends. The dog was STILL trying to attack. He was snarling, foaming, and snapping and desperately trying to get out from under his owner. The man had to pick the dog up and carry him snarling and struggling away from us.

He returned a few minutes later (he had walked over to his apartment and put the dog inside) and I apologized profusely for Darwin. He said there was no reason to apologize, and explained that his dog had MAJOR aggression problems. Apparently he has almost killed numerous dogs he has attacked. He explained that had his dog gotten away, he would have attacked and tried to kill Darwin.

Personally, I think it's dangerous to have a dog that aggressive, not under your control. But really, it wasn't a designated off-leash area, and Darwin was off-leash. so we were technically in the wrong.

We haven't been back to that area since. I have to say, I really try to be a responsible dog owner... and I feel so ashamed of myself. I can't even think about what could have happened, it's too horrible. Not only do I need to work on Darwin's recall, but that area isn't even a designated dog park. I really wish I had been smarter about where I let my dog play off leash, especially when his recall is less than reliable. It was just, so convenient, that I ignored my better judgement.

I am so glad nothing happened... and I have a whole new resolve to be more diligent with training, and more selective about where I let him play.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Camilla, Darwin is fine, which is the main thing. We've all learned from your experience, and I think that's one reason life throws us these kinds of awful incidents; some good usually comes of them. I think most of us who've had a dog for any length of time have had some kind of scare that taught us a lesson; I know I have had more than one.
In defense of the other dog owner, I have to say that I am sure Jack would have reacted much the same way the pitbull/whatever did if he was on leash and another dog came rushing at him head on. I'm sure he wouldn't kill another dog, and I don't feel a dog who has should be out in public, leash or not, without a muzzle. But Jack could easily hurt a smaller dog in the same situation. Some dogs are very threatened when they are rushed by another dog while on-leash, it triggers the "fight or flight" instinct, and since flight is not an option, they only have "fight" left. I do give the other owner credit for doing whatever it took to make sure a tragedy didn't occur.
I'm very glad that Darwin is okay. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, and big doodle hugs to you & sweet Darwin from JD & me.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Thanks for sharing the experience. I am so glad Darwin is okay. I am pretty crazy about keeping Peri on the lease for this reason (unless at dog park). She is so darn friendly, she would go up to the meanest dog and just roll over and let him have her.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Yes this was a good lesson for all of us. Please don't be to harsh on the other dog owner. He was able to stop the dog. We don't know the whole story - perhaps this is a rescue dog that they are trying to rehabilitate. We all love our dogs no matter what their issues or problems are.

Today I met a woman with a beautiful docile Great Dane - BJ. She had rescued him six months ago. She explained that BJ had aggression issues with other dogs but otherwise was the perfect dog. While we were talking she saw another dog about a block away and said she had to walk on so that BJ would and this other dog would not meet.

So remember there are two sides to the story.

I am glad no one got hurt.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am so glad Darwin was not hurt. Before we fenced in our yard, I took Fudge over to some nearby tennis courts and would let her run off leash inside the fence. I also met a friend up there with her dogs. Usually, tennis courts are completely fenced in and the one nearby us is never in use. Just an idea. It is scary to think a dog like that is in your neighborhood and if he is like that with dogs, I bet he would do the same to a small child. Darwin was a smart dog to run the other way.

[Diane]

Thanks for sharing that experience with us. It is a good reminder to us all, as Jane said. Even at dog parks there can be dogs that have aggression issues and owners that think it's ok to bring such dogs to that environment. Don't be too hard on yourself but I'm the same way, always trying to think of what I could do differently the next time. It's the only thing we truly have control over.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thank goodness Darwin wasn't hurt. We are all so tempted now and then to let them play off leash, but your story is a great reminder that it isn't a good idea. I also think the man with the aggressive was in the wrong. He shouldn't be walking a dog that he can't control. Even if Darwin was leashed, this dog may have been able to break free from the owner and try to attack him.