[Loveoscar]

I didn't post this until now since i've been so upset since it happened this afternoon. So my kid sister and I took Oscar for a long walk today around the lake. It was great and he had a fantastic time, wasn't too impressed by the actual water but enjoyed his walk. We were walking across the attached dog park on our way to the parking lot and we passed quite a few dogs just fine. Oscar was on his leash and all of a sudden I saw a huge dog playing fetch with his owner and I was a bit worried so I picks Oscar up. His owner called to me and basically said oh you shouldn't be afraid of my dog he's really gentle and never chases smaller dogs. She seemed quite offended and since she said he wouldn't chase I put Oscar back down and continues walking by. As soon as this dog saw Oscar he came running up and Oscar got nervous an hod behind mt legs. The young girl who I'm assuming was his owner said oh your dog is so cute mine just wants to say hi. I was still quite nervous so we kept walking when all of sudden this giant dog ran back up to Oscar and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and tried to shake him. I immediately tried grabbing this dog but as he wasn't wearing a leash I had no luck. The girl didn't make a move until they were close to her and then he stomped on Oscar's leash to catch them! I was horrified and picked up Oscar immediately and checked for injury. Luckily he was fine but a bit shaken up. Then the girl looked at me and said you really shouldn't bring him to the dog park of he isn't up tO playing! What?! I was horrified an just carried him away. I wasn't planning on having him play at the dog park for this exact reason but she made me feel so bad I let him down. Now I feel awful that I put him in that position to begin with..I feel like a horrible mommy.

 

[Loveoscar]

Sorry guys for the long, rambling post I'm just still very upset. Oscar is totally fine but I never want something like that to happen again, I was terrified.

 

[svdreamer]

I'm so sorry. That is my fear, also. I would never take my little ones to a dog park. That owner is out of line telling you off. You should have let her have it for having an aggressive dog and lying about how friendly it is. I'm so glad nothing bad happened to Oscar. I hope he is able to shake it off.

 

[Loveoscar]

Thanks svdreamer. I have walked through the dog park quite a few times as its the easiest way from the parking lot to the trail. Oscar is always on a leash and I pick him up around bigger dogs. I really wish I had said something bUt I was so worried and shaken we just left. Im just appalled that I believed that dogs owner and let him down. I'm trying to socialize him with other dogs so I thought if the owner said he was gentle it would be a gOod experience for Oscar. Obviously not.

 

[AussieLass]

YOU did not let your dog down, idiots like her let the entire world down starting with the unfortunate animals their charged with supposedly caring for. You are not a bad mom at all, quite the contrary. Next time go with your own gut instinct & don't give a fat rat's about what anyone else says or thinks, it's YOUR dog, your choice, your decision how you handle any situation and no-one has the right to make you feel silly or embarrassed for take any path you choose.

A perfect example of why I will not go walking without a "weapon" and I WILL use it if an unleased dog comes anywhere near mine showing any sign of aggression, and god help it if it were to ever pick up or bite one of my dogs, it would be the last thing it remembered for quite some time in a comostose condition.

If any dog is going to try to kill my dogs (by picking them up & shaking) it had best be prepared to die trying, because I really don't care in the slightest if it meets it's maker whilst I'm saving the life/lives of mine - blame it's owner, NOT me defending my dog/s.

 

[OzChi]

Poor Oscar and poor you! Sorry you had to learn the hard way that people can't be trusted when they say their dogs are great with other dogs - in my experience most aren't and since our dogs are so tiny its best to err on the side of caution even if it means hurting someone's feelings. Maybe you can say Oscar is dog aggressive next time someone wants their dog to play with him?

I live in a house that only has a courtyard but across the road we have a huge park with a dog off leash area. I'm super cautious about taking my dogs to that area when other dogs are there, a lot of the time we just stick to the walking paths where dogs need to be on leash because I don't want to take the chance. If there are other dogs there I always observe first before I approach with my dogs. My dealbreakers are anything bigger than a lab since they could snap my dogs' neck with one bite, Staffys because they are built like brick s***houses and are generally hyper and have no recall, any little dog that's no obeying it's owner because Ax tends to tune me out when he gets really excited and if the other dog has no recall i'm stuffed, angry birds like magpies and plovers since they swoop and then Ax chases them and again tunes me out.

Basically it pays to be overprotective, sad but true. I believe Dee (AussieLass) carries a big stick with her when taking her babies out and about for this very reason.

 

[OzChi]

Haha Dee, you beat me to it talking about your weapon!

 

[OzChi]

If any dog is going to try to kill my dogs (by picking them up & shaking) it had best be prepared to die trying, because I really don't care in the slightest if it meets it's maker whilst I'm saving the life/lives of mine - blame it's owner, NOT me defending my dog/s.

A friend of my mum lost a chi that was picked up and shaken by a Doberman that was supposedly fine with other dogs, snapped it's neck - that gives me nightmares!

 

[Loveoscar]

Thank you do much you guys! I know it wasn't really my fat but I hate to think the worst of other dogs. I just want Oscar to have positive experiences and know most dogs can be friendly. You have made me feel sooo much better and I really appreciate it.

 

[Buildthemskywards]

That must have been horrible for you both. I would have been terrified. What a horrible woman to make you feel bad in the first place and then excuse such behaviour as if it was your fault. If my dog had done that to someone elses I'd have been mortified. You weren't to know something like that would happen and you were not in the wrong for trusting someone and wanting a good socialising experience for Oscar. I'm so sorry that such an awful thing happened.

 

[Loveoscar]

Once again thank you ladies so much! I felt so horrible after it happened and all I could think was that it was somehow my fault either for letting him down and believing that owner or that her dog for some reason jUst hated mine. Oscar is a pretty shy dog but usually loves to greeat other dogs Abd make friends. He seems fine but I really hope this wasn't a scarring experience for him. He absolutely adores my moms dog ( a 13 year old chi/poodle cross) who merely tolerates him lol. She is coming to stay with us next week for a week so that should be interesting as both dogs are used to my undivided attention.

 

[susan davis]

To a large dog, a chihuahua may look like 'prey', thus the attack and shaking. I'm SO glad Oscar came away unhurt. My chi (longcoat) was attacked by my neighbors TWO jack russels. She was grabbed by the neck, shaken, and rolled over and over. She came out of that with a bite to the shoulder/neck area (one tooth) severe corneal ulcer, and an ear that was very painful. Fortunately, she healed very quickly. They paid the vet bill. Fixed their back door so they couldn't push it open. I now use an exercise pen. The chi's hate it----want to go back to being able to run around.

 

[~LS~]

See the idea of a dog park is great, but unfortunately irresponsible dog
owners tend to mess it up for the rest. Many don't know how to read their rude
dog's behavior, and excuse it with the same old line "He just wants to say HI".
Listen to Dee, trust your instincts.

Glad your pup is ok.

 

[Angel1210]

I always err on the side of caution. Especially if someone says they just want to say "hi." Some people do that when I walk my golden. My response is that she is good with other dogs, even if she is. As far as my chi is concerned, nope - if I feel he is in danger, then it's in my arms he stays. I don't care what the other person(s) think. You have to protect your family!

I hope neither you nor Oscar ever encounter that again!

 

[Jennin24]

Wow, what a scary thing that happened to both of you! That would have terrified me. I'm so glad that Oscar is okay and hopefully this won't have any lasting negative effects on him. We have a dog park close by that is divided into a large dog side and a small under 20 lbs dog side. They are completely fenced in and have separate entrances so that the little dogs can be safer. I've haven't taken Khorra there though yet since she doesn't have all of her shots. I believe this is where the Chihuahua Meetup group in my area meets.

 

[KrystalLeigh]

I'm so sorry that happened to you! I can't count the number of times i've picked up Odie as a big dog runs at us, to have the owner tell me their dog is friendly. You were doing the right thing by picking Oscar up, and now you know that. I've been in a situation where I should have picked up Odie and didn't (thankfully nothing happened), and it won't happen again.

I think that a lot of dog owners that have never had small dogs in their home underestimate just how fragile they are. Honestly, it doesn't even matter if the bigger dog is friendly. If they haven't been introduced to little dogs, they're likely going to play with them the exact same way they would a dog their own size. This is why I started my local chihuahua (and other toy breeds) meet up group. We're lucky enough to have a small dog only park, with height and weight restrictions.

I think it's great for our chis to be comfortable around big dogs, but they have to be introduced in the right environment.

 

[KritterMom]

OMG pooor little dog. I am weary about Daisy being around big dogs too. The only big dogs she knows are my neighbors and Rocki. Even with Rocki because I know how she is in her yard very protective I will hold onto the lead while hes sniffing. Daisy I will scoop up. We have people around here that let their dogs roam free.

Not your fault at all and that lady probably didn't have an idea either, but still to say what she did after her dog did that was inexcuseable.

I hope your feeling less shaken and feeling okay now. I know Oscar probably better and hopefully it didn't have any ill effect for when he sees big dogs again.

 

[moodle]

That really isn't your fault. That dog wasn't just playing! That owner sounds crazy to me. I don't bring my pups to off leash places for that reason. Big dogs, no matter how friendly their owner thinks they are, are dangerous to little dogs.