Horrible encounter with a dog

[Thoughtsforcoffee]

I was walking my dog this afternoon when a small dog ran out of its front door and onto the pavement and started yapping and snapping at me and my dog. I got a fright and tried to move it away and it started snapping at me and my dog. A young girl came out calling its name and I suppose was in shock so shouted at her and she ran back inside crying. Her mum came out and I told her that her dog was trying to bite me and my dog and she raised her voice and told me I shouldn’t have yelled at her child. I was really annoyed and told her the dog had been Trying to attack us and she totally minimalist it, saying it’s a chihuahua and couldn’t attack anyone and hadn’t even bitten her. I told her I would call the police and she swore at me and slammed the door in my face, I was really unsettled and frightened and just need someone to tell me I’m not actually the one in the wrong here, I should be able to walk my dog without fear of being set upon.

Next time just walk away OP. Of course, you’d have nothing to post about then.

You shouted at a 6 year old child because the dog barked at you?!

Accidents happened & that wasn't a dog dangerously out of control.

If you are going to react like that then you probably aren't a suitable person to be owning & walking a dog yourself!

Mental image of what the chihuahua may have looked like attacking the op from the op’s perspective -

%3D%3D

By all means report to the police but be aware that if they do investigate they will listen to both sides.

If you have been shouting at a 6 year old child in a public place then they may well want to speak to you about that.

The dog didn't attack you or your dog so as far as the police are concerned it's an altercation between a grown adult & a 6 year old child.

A chihuahua barked at you so you shouted at a 6 year old? Get a grip.

How long have you had a dog? Do you know anything about dogs? Why were you so terrified of a snapping chihuahua that you were ‘rooted to the spot’? If you are going to walk your dog in public you’re going to have to get used to other dogs reacting. You sound pathetic, get a grip!

Have you had a bad experience with small dogs (or any dogs) before? Your reaction of being frozen on the spot and then shouting at a small child, suggests there's a trauma or anxiety to me as it's an overreaction in my opinion. Poor child must have had such a fright being shouted at when they were trying to get the dog back inside.

I do sympathise OP. I was once badly startled when a yappy snarling dog rushed out of a driveway at me. I love dogs and am never normally frightened of them but this one really did take me by surprise and I screamed. The friend I was with never let me live it down. You probably couldn’t help shouting when you saw the child, and the mother should have had her dog under better control.

Did you stay there being barked at and “nearly” bitten , or did you walk away?

It's incredibly easy for people who have never faced this sort of situation to be nasty to OP. But the fact is, when you have your own dog with you - who may bolt because of aggressive dogs (even small ones - because size does not matter when it comes to aggressive dogs and the reaction of other dogs) you do panic and freeze or react badly.

Chihuahuas are well known for being aggressive. And the fact is OP shouldn't have shouted at the child but equally the child should have gone to get an adult.

No. OP shouldn't have picked up the dog for people saying that. But, she should have given it a good kicking.

People saying 'but it's small' don't get it - any small dog can do significant damage to larger dogs, particularly if the large dog is timid and won't defend itself.

I’m shocked I tell you! Shocked.

Look I totally understand a small dog barking and growling is not a small matter, it’s horrible. But then over reaction from OP following an unpleasant incident is disproportionate. Do people really think this js a police matter?

They aren’t interested because it had plenty of opportunity to bite you but didn’t.

When I had to do home visits for work, I had more trouble with bloody chihuahua's than the big dogs, I even dragged one to the front door attached to my trouser leg trying to bite me. Nasty little biters.

Shouting at a little kid really isnt very helpful, is it?
I had a similar situation recently as one of my neighbours constantly leaves their door open and their poodle gets out. My main concern (other then it getting run over) is that one of my dogs is dog aggressive so I want to avoid a fight.
Last time it happened the only person trying to call the dog back in was a little girl. I had to try and juggle my dogs in my arms whilst explaining to her that they really needed to keep the dog in as mine wasnt friendly. I was doing my best to get the point across whilst not scaring or upsetting her as she was actually trying, bless her!

I def wouldnt try and pick up a barking chihuahua. They can be snappy when they are afraid. I have 2 of them who are actually very friendly and not snappy but as a breed Id be careful of strange ones too!

Oh well, if nothing else you’ve given them a good laugh 😂

imagine that phone call

”hello, 101 … “

“hi, yes I’m calling to report a dog attack”

“any injuries?”

“no”

“ok … what actually happened?”

“well, it barked at me!”

“It barked? Umm ok … can you identify the breed?”

“chihuahua”

(call operator tries to cover up her giggling) “a chihuahua?”

“yes! It barked and growled at me and I was frozen to the spot in fear!”

“ok, were the owners around?”

“Well, that’s another thing! A 6 year old girl was out on her own!”

“No parents?”

“not until I shouted at the child and made her cry! Then the mother came out”

“you shouted at the child??”

“yes! I was terrified!”

“umm ok … nothing we can do on this occasion I’m afraid”

(call operator puts the phone down and says to colleagues …) “hey, listen to this one!”

She retells the story and everyone laughs. Someone suggests the silly calls should ease up next week when the kids go back to school.

Some chihuahuas ( not all) are like miniature crocodiles. My friend has one that everyone is frightened of. It’s only because of their size that they get away with the shitty behaviour.

Have you met many Chihuahua's? They are some of the most aggressive dogs i've come accross, (worked in a Vets for many years) they may be small but can cause a very nasty bite and ime they absolutely will bite, it's not a warning growl!

You are absolutely not in the wrong OP!

I have had many dog breeds myself over the years and also worked with dogs of all sizes including the chihuahua. I have also been in situations where dogs have been aggressive and snappy. Also had a situation where a dog has bitten BUT I do feel your reaction is off. At the time I can understand it made you jump and you didn’t know how to react etc but to keep saying it ‘was hurtful’ and how upset you are over it a day later is not normal behaviour of a full grown adult. Are you leaving information out like you were attacked once or something because to repeat more than once it was hurtful is a strange response to the situation. Majority of people would just move on with their day.

I’m not sure you should own dogs if a chihuahua yapping at you leaves you “rooted to the spot” in fear. You’re doing a disservice to your own dog if you can’t keep your cool in a situation like that.

I’d of shouted at you if you’d of shouted at my 6 year old in this situation, she was trying to help by getting the dog back inside.

It didn’t bite you or your dog, some dogs are yappy without ever biting. This is a non-event, police won’t be interested.

If I was the owner, I’d of apologised for my dog scaring you but if you’d of shouted at my 6 year old trying to help that would have probably have been forefront of my mind not an apology.

Im really hoping for the big reveal that OPs dog is a Rottweiler 😂

I’m a bit torn here. The dog is a dick (they are - I have one) It shouldn’t have been out, but accidents happen. My kids have let our dog out before and she panicked and ran around barking before we went to rescue her.
If it didn’t actually do anything I wouldn’t report. Shouting at the kid was a bit mean but you were in shock. I’d let it go.
If it was a big aggressive dog that would be different. I wouldn’t test it but could small dog break the skin?

I’ll take back what I said then, I imagine them having quite little teeth but guess I’m wrong 😅

Don’t expect anything anymore OP and you won’t be disappointed. And chihuahuas can give a nasty bite.