Paphos People

I was taking the girls for their long walk early yesterday evening, but ended up nearly having a heart attack and for an hour after I could not settle down as I was shaking so much.

Story in a nutshell is whilst walking a giant german shepherd came pounding towards us with her hackles up. With obviously two small dogs I was terrified what was going to happen, so there I am trying to scare the dog off by kicking (not touching the dog) and keep my two under control, whilst I was screaming, the dogs were yelping like mad. This went on for a good few minutes as the dog was trying to get to the girls. In the end I threw my shoe at it and it went - so a happy ending, but it did terrify me.

Anyone got a walking stick they don't want as I am going to have to get something to protect the girls.

Does anyone else live in an area where the dogs are let out on their own for a walk or am I just the unlucky one?

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"Your dog is your friend, your partner, your defender. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true until the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion"

According to the Dog Whisperer you should have stood your ground, stood up straight, and been calm and assertive. You would then have been pack leader and the German Shepherd would have become calm and submissive.

Well, that's the theory. In reality I would have been terrified.

I think all dog owners have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control. Especially breeds that have a reputation, as these scare people most.

Verity.

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Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com

Sorry Trish, I know it won't have been funny but that bit did make me chuckle! What would you have done if that hadn't done the trick? Presumably you could have tried the other shoe, but then what next??

On a serious note, I think Verity's "Dog Whisperer" advice is probably about right - I have also heard that if a dog runs towards you then you should charge right at it and it will panic and back down, but how practical that would be in reality I'm not sure (probably about as much as my planned "punch it on the nose" shark defence, but that's another story....)

The other shoe would have gone as well.

Actually I didn't move but with two small dogs yapping their heads off and a big dog growling at them and my two wanting to have a go at it (not that they would have done much) it was hard work trying to keep them under control.

I am seriously thinking of buying a walking stick as it is happening too much. This afternoon a hunter came towards us - this time slower but it gave me enough time to pick them up one under each arm and just walk past, with the german shepherd I didn't have the time or the chance to do that.

I didn't fancy getting myself bitten in the process of running towards it, apart from the fact that I didn't see it coming.

I can laugh about it now but it was not funny at the time.

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"Your dog is your friend, your partner, your defender. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true until the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion"

The last dog that charged at me bit me. It was a huge great hound, and I turned to the side to stop it flying at my face, so it took a chunk out of my thigh instead.

It's dead now. It was old and grumpy. I didn't kill it, but I didn't mourn it's passing.

I wish I could have the faith of Cesar Millan. He just gets stuck in there. I am sure it works, but I would be too scared to try it.

Verity.

_________________
Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com