Sooty's in trouble

[love2corgis]

Need some advice please. He got into a fight today and the other dog's owners are putting the whole blame on Sooty and of course their dog, being half blind, is completely innocent. Let me set the story.

Haven't been on here lately. My father died two weeks ago and after the funeral I went to Spain for a few days with the dogs going into kennels.
Went to pick them up today and as I arrived home,as I was picking Cindy up to get her out of the car and before I had a chance to put him on his leash, Sooty jumped out of the car as he spotted another dog. He was attacked by two Westies many years ago and whenever he has met this particular Westie male he has growled but nothing more than that.

The lady with the Westie picked him up with Sooty standing underneath. The Westie struggles with his mistress who instead of waiting for me to put Sooty on his leash dropped her dog on the floor and the two started fighting.The fight lasted about 5 seconds and then I grabbed Sooty and took him away. My neighbour witnessed it all and said it looked like six of one and half a dozen of the other and both dogs were to blame. The dog owner started screaming at me that Sooty should be muzzled. By then I could see that he had cut his ear so just wanted to get him inside for me to look at it.She was still complaining.

Ten minutes later bang bang at the door and husband of said lady was at the door and said that if it happened again he would report Sooty to the police.I said that Sooty had a cut ear and that both dogs were to blame, He replied that no way could his dog start a fight as he was nearly blind.I just said that I would try to make sure it wouldn't happen again and that it was just an accident that Sooty was off the leash.

What advice can anyone give? Except keep a low profile!!


The ear looks okay by the way but I will keep an eye on it.

[Jespah]

1. Get a written statement from the person who said it was both dogs' faults.

2. Take a dated photo of Sooty's ear.

3. Get a statement from the kennel owner saying he didn't have a cut ear when you picked him up.

All you can do is prepare yourself just in case.

It's terrible that is had to happen and it's a scary thing when you think of the consequences.

Let us know!

Deb

[love2corgis]

My neighbour saw the bleeding ear. Don't know whether I can rely on her too much though- she's a bit strange. Was more concerned that her year old child saw the dogs fighting although he was just laughing and wasn't a bit concerned. I don't think he noticed as it was all over with before it started.

[manymuddypaws]

I think that the best thing to do is to lay low, and I doubt that much will come of it- the police for one arn't going to do anything about a two dogs getting into a scrap- unfortunately because Sooty was the one off leash you will be one getting the blame, so I would be extra careful in the next little while and start working with Sooty around other dogs so that you can say that you are working on the problem.

Poor Sooty, he was probably still feeling stressed from the kennel, and combined with the excitement of coming home his adrenaline was pumped. Sometimes the bad little corgi's get the best of the good little corgi's!!! and poor You- this is exactly what you didn't need on return from such a difficult few weeks. Sending positive vibes your way!

-Amanda

-Amanda

[corgiland]

Laura......I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your Father....and so sorry that this fight had to happen when you picked up Sooty and Cindy. I am glad that Sooty's ear appears to be okay.......will send good vibes your way and hope that nothing more comes of it.


"Corgiland"
Beverly

[ZdogZ]

Laura ~ I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. Sorry to hear about Sooty, too. I agree with Deb. Hopefully nothing will come of this and it won't happen again. Keep us updated.

[MVons]

Laura my condolences on your father's death.

I was so mad reading about the insane lady putting her Westie down on the ground I am thrilled to read the good tips Deb gave. I wonder if the lady baits other dogs with her dog. Reminds me of the idiot IMO person walking a minature pincher and her dog's hair was raised, tail raised, growling at Chester and she says "oh it is just the way dog's communicate" and kept coming closer. I said not with raised hair and pulled Chester back.

But back to the husband, who CARES who starts the fight, why put your dog down when there is a loose dog??? Blindness might cause the dog to be more aggressive. Obviously if the dog was in a fit to get down we are NOT talking about a submissive dog. I know because when I picked up Pepper, she never tried to get down, she would just snarl back at the dog. Anger!

Definitely get a photo of Sooty so if the police are ever called you can show them a picture of what happened to Sooty.

If you have Sooty loose in the car, you will need to leash him before opening the car door. Corgis are smart, clever, and can squeeze themselves down like a mouse to go greet a dog.

Do ask your neighbor if her son would like to see your dog in a peaceful setting and to pet it to know he wouldn't attack him.

Low profile isn't always my style. I'd wrap the ear up big as a balloon and take it for a walk right by the Westie's house to get THEM worried.

Anytime you cross paths with the Westie's, cross the street and avoid dog contact. The owner cannot be trusted to control her dog at all. Boy this really makes me angry about their attitude. Guess it reminds me of the too many parents in this town that believe their little child can't possibly do any wrong. Glad Sooty's ear is healing.

[love2corgis]

Thanks for all the good vibes.I was a little bit annoyed with the husband coming around and hammering on the door and being a woman living alone I did think about asking the police advice.We have an ex policeman working in school as security officer and I'll ask him what he thinks.
I never cross paths with the Westie on our walks. They walk past my house very occasionally.Don't know where they live.
Sooty being loose was my fault. I had forgotten that the kennels had used their own leash and that I hadn't then put ours on. Too much on my mind. He will not be loose again- don't want to give these people any fuel- maybe they will deliberately come around now to catch him out. I am going to ask other dog owners around if they have had problems with that Westie too as I am sure Sooty isn't the only one.
On a brighter note, Cindy is 8 today and looking forward to a big chew tonight.

[taflar]

Haven't been on here lately. My father died two weeks ago and after the funeral I went to Spain for a few days with the dogs going into kennels.

First my condolences on the passing of your father.

Went to pick them up today and as I arrived home,as I was picking Cindy up to get her out of the car and before I had a chance to put him on his leash, Sooty jumped out of the car as he spotted another dog. He was attacked by two Westies many years ago and whenever he has met this particular Westie male he has growled but nothing more than that.

The lady with the Westie picked him up with Sooty standing underneath. The Westie struggles with his mistress who instead of waiting for me to put Sooty on his leash dropped her dog on the floor and the two started fighting.

Ok, the first mistake was her putting her dog down. If you have your hands on a dog and it's NOT in the fight already you put that dog someplace safe where it can't get into the fight.

The fight lasted about 5 seconds and then I grabbed Sooty and took him away. My neighbour witnessed it all and said it looked like six of one and half a dozen of the other and both dogs were to blame.

Well, technically your dog did charge the other dog and "start" the fight. However, hers was NOT involved, she had her hands on him and she did not need to put him down. Putting him down, what was he susposed to do? Run? The owner of the westie is partly at fault for not giving you time to get your dog and allowing her dog to become involved.

Ten minutes later bang bang at the door and husband of said lady was at the door and said that if it happened again he would report Sooty to the police.I said that Sooty had a cut ear and that both dogs were to blame, He replied that no way could his dog start a fight as he was nearly blind.

Blind dogs can get into fights, blind dogs can start fights. And blind dogs might be more defensive when another dog's around because they can't see them.

Dogs adjust to blindness quite well. I've had several lose their vision as they got older. Believe me, if you didn't know the dogs were blind most of the time you'd never guess.

The ear looks okay by the way but I will keep an eye on it.

Just keep it clean and put some neosporin on it. It'll probably be fine.

I agree with the advice to lay low and let it die down. Do whatever you can to avoid this dog and his owners again. If they report your dog then we can go from there. I'm betting thye won't.

Peggy

[love2corgis]

THanks for more excellent advice. No sign of dog yesterday- as I say it is only rarely we ever see them so I don't think they live on our small estate. I did hear her say in her shouting the day it happened , 'we won't be coming around here again' GOOD
Just have to find out where they live so we can avoid them.

[Fluffypants]

My condolences on your father Laura. What a tough time you have had. I hope that Sooty's ear is doing ok. Poor Sooty was just keyed up from everything and it got the better of him. But what's with that woman putting her dog INTO a fight? Who does that? If some dog was trying to get at Jackie, I certainly wouldn't HELP them get her! Keeping my fingers corssed that this all dies down and you can get some peace.+WUBCLUB+