To the absolute IDIOT whose dog just attacked mine...

[Doodledumdums]

You are an absolute idiot.

My dog is the most gentle, placid, friendly dog that I have ever met, and I am disgusted with your behaviour. If you will notice, my dog was happily walking off lead, by my side, minding his own business, when from about 800 yards away, your FOUR out of control, untrained dogs came charging at him. Despite what you think about having them under control, you efforts to call them back fell on deaf ears, and they continued to charge. Your german shepherd ran towards my dog growling with his teeth bared, and despite my dogs best efforts to hide behind me and escape your dog, he was subsequently attacked, all the while you just stood there like a muppet, saying 'he's not my dog' (as if that somehow excused the fact that he had his teeth firmly around my dogs leg) while my poor dog squealed and cried.

Once you had finally got your dog under control, and you passed me and my PETRIFIED dog, did you not think that maybe letting go of him again was possibly a VERY bad idea? I had just screamed at you to put him on a lead, yet when you were no more than 50 yards away from us, you let go of him. How could you not have anticipated that he would just turn around and run back towards my dog for another go? Which of course was exactly what he did.

You not only put my dog in danger, but you also put me in danger, because trying to wrestle a german shepherd off my poor dog could have resulted in serious injury. And while the law does not seem to give a stuff about a dog attacking another dog, they do not look kindly on a dog attacking a human.

Thank you for standing there like a fucking muppet and doing nothing.

I do not give a flying fuck that the dog was not yours, as a dog walker it is actually your JOB to ensure that you keep uncontrolled aggressive dogs ON A LEAD. It actually makes it worse that you are walking a dog that you clearly don't know very well, along with three other dogs, and allowing them ALL to be off lead. Had they all been aggressive then my dog wouldn't have stood a chance.

May I also highlight that while he was being bitten and growled at, ALL my dog tried to do was run away, he did not attack, he did not growl, he just tried to escape. He did not even go near your dog in the first place.

I am SO angry. You probably won't ever read this, but I am horrified at your lack of responsibility. I cannot believe that after allowing your dog to attack mine TWICE, you STILL allowed him off his lead once we were firmly past you. You absolute utter moron. I sincerely hope I see you again, because you owe me not only a huge apology, but I would also like a significant contribution towards the vet bill that this has incurred.

People like you should NEVER be allowed to own a dog.

[50shadesofbrown]

I'd report this to the police. If it was a professional dog walker surely they have to have insurance or something?

Hope your dog (& you) recover soon. Sounds horrendous!

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

Christ. I don't blame you for being furious. I really hope your dog is ok.

[EleanorFarjeon]

You poor thing, how awful.

Sadly, I don't think the police will be interested as it didn't involve an injury to a human.

[Doodledumdums]

I am absolutely seething!

I told the police, who said that as it was dog on dog, that there is nothing they can do, as apparently a dog is not classified as dangerous and out of control if it attacks another dog, only if it attacks a human. They told me to speak to the dog warden, but they only work during office hours, so all I can do for now is sit here and seethe!

I imagine as a dog walker she must have to have insurance, but I was so desperate to get my poor dog as far away from the other dog as quickly as possible, that I did not get any of her details :-( My husband went out as soon as I got back to see if he could find her, but she had vanished.

Luckily my dog seems to be okay aside from some puncture wounds and being really shaken, but it could have been a lot worse for me and for him. I quite frequently have my DS in his pushchair with us on our walks, so I dread to think what could have happened if he had been with us.

I know that there must be a lot of responsible professional dog walkers out there, but if you are offering to walk people's dogs for money, then surely you should have some sort of animal experience/common sense? It horrifies me that there are people who are paying for this womans services!

[Doodledumdums]

(I didn't dial 999 when I spoke to the police by the way! Just in case that is how it sounded!)

[gymmummy64]

No advice, but lots of sympathy. I do hope your dog is not badly affected, it sounds horrific. I think walking multiple dogs offlead is a hugely specialised skill - I wouldn't dream of doing it however well behaved the dogs were. It seems incredible that people can just set themselves up as dog walkers. We have a couple near us that know their dogs very very well and have brilliant control but we also have a number that I avoid like the plague

[ExitPursuedByABear]

How bloody awful for you, and your poor dog. Is he badly injured?

[Doodledumdums]

To be honest, I think that if you are walking four dogs offlead then unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing, then there should be four people to control each dog if anything gets out of control, and then you have enough people to control one dog each. It may seem extreme, but like you said, walking multiple dogs offlead is a specialised skill, and is not to be taken lightly, dogs are animals and will act as such.

Luckily my dog seems okay this morning and is much more like himself. He has got some puncture marks that we need to keep an eye on, but nothing too bad, mostly he was just shaken up. It could have been a lot worse. I am just so glad that I didn't have my DS with me, as obviously I would have had to protect him from the four dogs, and wouldn't have been able to help my dog at all, not to mention the fact that if he had been with me then my son could easily have been seriously injured. My dog is 48kg and although he didn't fight back, he could have, whereas my son is tiny and in a pushchair- no comparison. It makes my blood run cold just thinking about it.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Gosh. What is he?

[NotSoNervous]

I'd report to the police too. This happened to my aunt once and the owners of the the other dog ended up having to cover all vet fees

Hope your dog recovers soon! Poor mite

[Doodledumdums]

He's a labrador/standard poodle mix- he just ended up enormous! He's a teddy bear though! I always knew he was really gentle, but I assumed that if he was severely provoked that he would at least defend himself, but it turns out I am wrong, he just cried and tried to run away, poor thing.

I did inform the police but they said to speak to the dog warden which I will do today.

[Cantbelieveitsnotbutter]

what is a dog walker doing walking 4 unknown dogs off the lead. I rarely walked mine off the lead and I knew he'd stick by me, his recall good but he did love a duck chase.
Here's hoping you see the owner walking the dog (on a lead) so you explain what their dog walker did wrong.
I hope your gorgeous sounding teddy is not too traumatised

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

I feel very for your poor dog. The man sounds an absolute fool. I know there are many...I was "ran at" yesterday by two enormous great dogs...can't say what breed...don't know...but think huge, muscly white things...they ran at me barking and growling and then circled me WHILE THEIR OWNER CHATTED ON HIS PHONE OBLIVIOUS!

I shouted "Oi you stupid bastard get your dogs!" and he ran up all flustered. At least I wasn't hurt though unlike your dog. Is he ok now?

[Doodledumdums]

God that sounds pretty scary neomaxi- I wish people just understood their dogs better. If you don't have control then don't let them off.

luckily my dog was off lead too, because he'd have been attacked regardless, and if he had been onlead then he'd have been a sitting duck and wouldn't have been able to even try to get away.

Luckily my dog seems much happier today, so I am very pleased about that. I'd have been so upset if it had caused him any prolonged distress. I am very much hoping that I see the owner, as I really want to speak to them about it.

[SauvignonBlanche]

What an idiot!