Just had a horrible scare

[K9soul]

I took Tasha with me to PetCo. She loves going places with me and she loves sniffing and checking out everything at the store, and then getting a treat at the checkout counter. Well I was looking at some bird stuff and this boy came over.. I'd say he must have been around 10-12, and he asked if he could pet Tasha. I politely tried to explain to him it wasn't a good idea. Tasha is wary of strangers and she feels most threatened when someone leans over her and tries to pet her.

Well the kid just ignored me and started coming towards her with his hand out, Tasha laid her ears back and crammed herself against my legs I started getting more forceful and telling him not to pet her. He kept coming and was reaching towards her back/rump area to pet her and I could hear Tasha growling in her throat and as he got closer the growl got louder and I grabbed her head and shouted at the kid "DON'T!" and he finally stopped and said "don't pet her?" and I said "Don't pet her!" and he walked away.

A couple minutes later I went to the checkout and was just wanting to get out of there and he walked by her again and she lunged at him. She didn't growl and didn't bare her teeth that I saw but he was staring at her as he approached and then he jumped as she lunged in his direction (I had a tight hold on a short leash at that point).

I was so shaken up when I got home I was in tears. You know the saying "I saw my life pass before my eyes" well I felt like I just saw Tasha's pass before mine. It wouldn't have mattered how much that kid provoked her and how much I told him to stop it, if she had bitten him that could have been the end of her. I will never take her there again because I don't even want to take the even most remote chance, and I know now I would be nervous every time a kid approached her and Tasha would sense that.

At the checkout the lady handed her a treat and she wagged her tail and took it. She's never minded being around a lot of people, she does beautifully at the Companion Walks every year, it's people that are just DETERMINED that they MUST pet her where she feels cornered and threatened. Why must people be so pushy?

Still just very shaken..

[tatsxxx11]

Oh Jess I'm so sorry for you and Tasha You did all the right things Jess. I don't understand why that boy wouldn't listen! You probably were trying not to offend him. Thank goodness nothing happened. Take a deep breath friend and give your girl a hug. She was just frightened. A lot of dogs become protective when someone reaches for them from behind, pets their hindquarters/ I think you're right though. If you're fearful of someone approaching her inappropriately, especially a child, you guys might do better staying away from Petco {{{HUGS}}} Sandra

[dukedogsmom]

There are words for that little brat but I can't put them on here. I would have been so very angry!! How dare he not listen to you? Where were his so called parents?

[Tonya]

I am so sorry that happened. Thank God there wasn't any physical contact. I totally know how you feel, it was devastating for me to have to put Rosco to sleep. You want to do all you can to keep her from getting into those situations. Good luck.

[GoldenRetrLuver]

What a brat. I can't believe after you politely tried to tell him not to pet her, he tries to do it anyway. I'm also wondering where his "parents" were.

Poor Tasha. I'm so sorry you're still shaken up about it. I also think it might be safer to not bring her to Petco anymore. Give her a hug and a kiss from me, Jess. {{hugs}}

[Holly's mom]

I was wondering the same thing, where were this kid's parents? This kid is old enough to know the difference between "yes" and "no". Where was this kid's common sense, when an animal lays it ears back and growls, that means STAY AWAY!! You handled it very well, Jessica, and I am so glad that nothing happened. It's too bad this occurance had to ruin your fun outing for you and Tasha.

{{{HUGS]]]

[K9soul]

I kept half expecting angry parents to come up to me after she growled at him and yelling at me for bringing a "vicious" dog in there, but no one did. Nothing like that has ever happened before. I've never had anyone just ignore me when I told them she didn't want to be petted. Tash doesn't like being petted and touched until she really knows you or at least approaches you first. Sometimes people stick a hand out towards her and she takes a couple steps back away from them. I explain she's a bit shy and they will nod and smile and just talk to her or go on their way then. Sometimes they will squat down and hold out a hand and let her approach them, and that works out pretty well.

I know she'll hate being left behind but I'm just taking Tommy cause he seems to like kids and the most he'd ever do is roll on his back with his tail tucked if he felt threatened.

I feel guilty though because I know her well enough that I know she might get defensive if she ever felt pushed hard enough, but again, I just never thought someone would ever get that pushy when I asked them not to...

[chocolatepuppy]

K9soul, Sorry you had to go through that. I've been there,done that. That's why I don't take Lacey to Petsmart anymore.Too many unsupervised kids so Lacey loses out. I can't take that chance. IMO petstores are for pets, Toys are us is for kids!

[ComedyDevil]

Poor Tasha! Give her a hug from me. What a brat that kid was! Why cant parents control their kids?!

Just so you know, not every kid is that stupid. I take my cousin (She's 8) to Petsmart all the time and she would NEVER pet an animal without the owners permission.

I also think its probably a good idea not to take Tasha to Petco anymore. Shame some idiot had to ruin your fun *hugs*

[K9soul]

Oh I definitely don't think all kids are that way for sure. In fact I've never run across a kid like that. I have had a couple unexpectedly try to pet her without asking, but she backed away and they stopped, or she even let them pet her before if she felt comfortable with them, as long as she doesn't feel cornered she's fine. Most the time they ask first and I have never had one ignore me if I told them not to. I usually say she doesn't really like being petted but if you put your hand out she will sniff it and may even give kisses. She just doesn't really like strangers trying to pet her.

There is definitely no way in the world I will take a chance on it happening again though. I know I'd just be nervous if I took her again, and she would pick up on that.

[dappledoxie]

I'm so sorry, I hate when stuff like that happens, it's awful. Hugs Tasha!

[micki76]

This is the very reason that we don't ever take Millie to Petco or Petsmart. She HATES other people with a passion and I wouldn't trust her not to bite. She's especially wary of kids & men, the two groups of people that always insist on petting her.

She gets so stressed that we rarely take her anywhere any more. Just on walks and to the vet occasionally.

[LorraineO]

So sorry you had such a bad exp,,, WHERE was this kids parents??? I think I would have been in his face the second time,,,,

[Tonya]

Today, I took Jaden and the dogs to the park. I was amazed how many kids just ran up to my dogs and stuck their faces right in my dog's face without asking first. Those kids are damned lucky that my dogs are nice.

I nicely explained to them that my dogs are sweet, but they should never put their face that close to a strange dog nor pet them without asking first.

I cannot believe that parents don't talk to their children about these things. That could be a fatal mistake.

[shais_mom]

how scary!
poor you and Poor Tasha!!
{{hugs to both of you!}}