Last night we were walking all the dogs around our neighborhood. I had Paula and Pup. We were (thankfully) on a dead-end side street, when we noticed another woman walking with a GSD a few houses ahead of us. She stopped at a house where there is a freindly outside dog, and it was then that we noticed that the GSD had been off leash, because it was running the length of the fence with the other dog, playing. Well, suddenly, the GSD saw us standing there, with our four dogs, and bounded over (across the street) to make friends. Well, Paula freaked out at this dog twice her size running up to her, and started backing up and jumping around. She is very tiny and skinny, and even though she wears a humane choke collar, she slipped right out! All I keep thinking is "Thank God she didn't bolt!" Greyhounds hit 45 mph - there's just no catching them. She didn't go more than 10 feet away from us - probably didn't want to leave her 'siblings' - and she came back to me when I jingled her collar at her (our dogs love their 'necklaces.') I was frantic - Greyhounds are so skinny, and have such short hair, that I didn't know where to grab hold of her! She will never, ever, go out in public again without her harness!
Why would anyone let their dog of leash in public? This is one of my biggest pet peeves, after rescuing 3 strays last year. Even if a person thinks their dog is under control, if another dog or a squirrel or rabbit comes along, all that training can go right out the window! Yes that GSD yesterday might have been friendly, but its uncontrolled behavior spooked my dog. I kept backing up with my dogs, but the other dog kept inching closer! This whole incident could have been prevented if only the other dog had been on leash! As it was, Paula was already out of her collar but the time the GSD owner wandered over to restrain her dog (and she didn't rush, mind you).
I'm just so upset at irresponsible dog owners!
P.S. GSD lovers, please don't think I'm saying anything negative about the breed - it's the dog owner I'm mad at, not the dog! (I grew up with my grandparents GSD, and LOVE the gentle giants!)
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