B****y dogs

I was shocked to read this, Luckygirl. I hope your GD hasn't been harmed. As a dog-lover, I cannot think of one reason to excuse your neighbour having an out of control dog, especially one that could have inflicted serious injury. Friend or not, she needs to take immediate steps to control and train her dog so that it never behaves like this again. That was not 'just playing' and it demonstrates her lack of understanding about responsible dog ownership. It's examples like this that bring down the reputation of careful dog owners who think ahead about what could possibly happen, even with tiny dogs who might get spooked and run into the road, causing an accident.

From a child protection perspective, there would be justification for informing the police so she could be visited and warned. It's not fair on the dog, either - another incident like that could result in it being taken off her.

GD is fine katyk I am glad to say. No scars - at least not visible ones. I will see my neighbour later and suggest that dog should not be off the lead. I think she thought it would be OK because so few people live round here.

I hope your GD is ok Luckygirl.

I have recently had an 'episode' with a Staffordshire bull terrier going for my face. It was so frightening. It was a stray and my neighbour was looking after it in her front garden whilst waiting for the police/dog warden to come and collect it. I bent down to it (I should have known better, I am not a dog lover but it looked a bit forlorn). It leapt up and went for my face. I managed to back off and run inside. There was a court case as this dog had been left alone in a back garden and got loose whilst the owner was at work. Fortunately he pleaded guilty and I didn't have to go to court. This dog also went for the dog warden when he came along. He couldn't catch it and it went tearing up the road just as children were coming out of school at the top of the road. It was my third frightening encounter with a dog. I keep well clear now.

Neighbour or no neighbour I would report this to the Local Police asap I would not take the chance of it happening again to another child the out come may be completley different a second time ?
The recent change in the weather one cannot gauge how a dog will react at the minute they get overheated and snappy and can change attitude in a second and any sensible owner would know this and act accordingly this neighbour does not sound like a very responsible owner.I hope your little one is not traumatised too much and it doesn't make him frightened of dogs in the future.

You are very understanding Luckygirl but no dog should be out of control. I had a friend who re-homed two rotweillers (sp?), they had been mistreated - one having been injected with drugs by its former owners and the other badly beaten. They could have become vicious and dangerous but she had them under complete control, they were devoted to her and very protective. When she was diagnosed with terminal cancer they seemed to know and never left her side. They were the only dogs I felt comfortable with

How frightening for you both luckgirl. My sister was badly scarred under her eyes by a 'playing' dog who bit her when she was about 4. I would make it very plain to you neighbour/friend that this was a very frightening experience. I know you know this dog but I think if it happened to me I would try to get a photo of the dog concerned on the mobile or something to show local community support officers- they could pop round and 'have a word'.

merlot - I am not sure, but I do know that one of the neighbour's children has not visited with their children for over 3 years, and they say it is because the children are frightened of the dog - and they do not want to receive visits with the dog. I can understand this. I really can. Although the neighbours is a bit non-plussed about it.

Even as a non-dog-lover I have to say that I do not think the dog is vicious - it is just large, boisterous, neurotic and out of control. To be honest is it blooming nuisance. Luckily the word "neighbour" round here means someone who lives about half a mile away - so we are not normally troubled by it.

The neighbour is fortunate you're being so understanding, Luckygirl. Has the dog done this to any other children?

Yes nellie I will have a word with her - I know her well enough.

I too had a dog incident when I was small sunseeker and can also remember it very vividly indeed - I was (and am) about as sporty as a bread pudding, but I shinned up a maypole that was on the playground where it happened - it was an alsation that went for me.

I was attacked as a small child by a large dog who was "only playing". I have grown up with a life long fear of large dogs. I even get nervous around small dogs. A small child doesn't know that a dog is "only playing", in my case all I knew was that the dog had a large paw on each of my shoulders pinning me to the ground and what appeared to be a huge mouth of very sharp teeth just inches from my face. This happened when I was about 4 years old I am now 66 and can still see those teeth!!

I hope your DGD is none the worse for the experience and the neighbour is now keeping the dog under proper control

Luckygirl* If you know her well I would suggest you could mention that you DGD is a little scared of dogs and could she keep hers on a lead when you GCs are about. A white lie maybe but its in the interests of diplomacy.

It is slightly awkward as she is a good friend of ours - to be honest, I think she got the message and will keep the dog on the lead from now on.

It is so frightening for little ones. The dog was taller than my DGD. I cannot imagine she will be very enthusiastic about going for a walk with me again.

My own view is that when in a public place all dogs should be on a short lead and thus under control of the owner. Husband would go further and say any dog in public should also be muzzled. Our dog is old and deaf and can occasionally be snappy for often no apparent reason. He always wears a muzzle when being walked. Friend who is terrified of dogs says she is happy to visit our home because she knows our dog is kept under control.
I don't buy the argument "he/she is only playing" nor the one " he/she won't hurt you".
Can be difficult to approach the owner- a bit like criticising someone's child.
I remember a dog owner shouting abuse at me for being afraid of his running free Rottweiler.

LuckyGirl I really think you should you report that incident to the police community support officers (or whatver they are called) Then at least if they know about this particular dog and it happens again they might be able to take action.

This has happened to us to us on two occasions. Don't they realise how frightening it is for very small children - not to mention Granny! One of the dogs was yapping and snarling. But, of course, it was "only playing".

Not good. I hope you made your feeling clear Lg, though it would be more difficult with a neighbour.