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.

It was out of control due to an accident - the accident was someone allowing the dog to get out. So she just needs to say that it won’t be happening again. Ain’t nobody gonna tame that chi I don’t think. One lives near me - such a sweet little dog, I’d love to stroke her - but my god she is a vicious little bugger so I’d not dare. I reckon she thinks she could kill me, despite being the size of a bag of sugar.

I have a small dog of my own, not as small as the chi, but I have a yellow lead saying DO NOT TOUCH. As people think he’s a beautiful little plushie and he doesn’t take kindly to that.

She didn’t snap at you for daring to speak to her daughter, she was angry with you for shouting at and upsetting her daughter which, as soon as that happened, became the most important issue.

Highly doubt the dog warden will do anything either. Just move on.

You shouted at a 6 year old child and threatened her mum with the police. Of course she was angry. A chihuahua came and barked at you- yes, the dog shouldn't have got out but you shouldn't have shouted at a 6 year old girl and made her cry either. The dog getting out was an accident but your behaviour was your choice. And then calling the police about a chihuahua barking at you for a moment. I've heard it all now.

This can't be real

I agree with you op ...the dog should have been under control.

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
Nope. I have a small dog and I know that snappy dogs doesn't equate to do about to bite, whatever their size.

If the dog had reached her and her dog and started to attack, then that's fair enough, but a dog that just stands there barking, long enough for a young child to come out of the door and call the dog? The dog would have long done the biting if that was its intention!

Screaming to a child and calling 111 is a complete over reaction and everything but rationale. As already said, if you own a dog, and are therefore likely to encounter different dogs' behaviour, it is wise to have a minimum understanding of their behaviours.

This is a joke post surely?

Why did you even engage with the dog? As soon as you got past the boundary, it likely would have just gone back inside again. I would have carried on walking, crossed the road, done anything to pour water on the situation rather than petrol. You sound like you haven't got the first clue about dog behaviour. You also sound like a mountain out of mole hill type of person.

There was no harm done. The dog was a yapper but it bit neither you or your dog. Will you not be happy until it's been put to sleep?

You shouldn’t have shouted at the child, OP, but I’m concerned at the number of posters who think there was no issue with the dog escaping and barking at you.

I have four DC, the youngest of whom is terrified of dogs. This is entirely due to dogs bounding up to him when he is outside, running out of houses and barking, knocking him over….

it never ceases to amaze me how he is seen to be unreasonable in this.

Not sure the police can do anything
My son got bit by ,staffie. Type dog and the police couldn't help as I didn't know the owner ,
The dog hasent actually bitten anyone.

I can’t believe you actually rang 101 I’m so embarrassed for you.

It wouldn’t have happened if the woman had been supervising her child and dog though. So it’s still the woman’s fault and she’s deflecting by saying you shouldn’t have yelled at my child. Most people shout when shocked or scared. She shouldn’t have allowed her dog or 6 year old to be put in that position.

To add, I have previously been lunged at by a dog on a lead held by a young teen, I shouted out in fear and the mum came running and yelled at me. The child couldn’t control the dog and was completely overwhelmed. I gave the mom an earful saying she was irresponsible for leaving a child in charge of the dog she can’t control! It’s not fair on the kid or the dog, or anyone they encounter!

Chihuahuas can be snappy and it’s totally inappropriate for a 6 year old to be in charge of one.

I've been bitten by a chihuahua before and I think the owner should be grateful you didn't kick it away, frankly. You didn't shout anything unkind at the child.

As others say, police won't do anything though. My friend got bitten by a rottweiler and they didn't act

Not the dog's or the child's fault really...

The adult owner should not just let it free to run around the pavement/street like that unsupervised.

But no harm was done OP and a chihuahua is not exactly an XL Bully.

The woman should have apologised for the dog barking at you but I think you did rub her the wrong way by shouting at her child.

Agreed. The OP was not in the wrong.

Dog owners need to take responsibility for their pets and make sure they don't get out.

Presumably there would have been sobbing if it had been run over, so maybe make sure it stays in.

Shouting at the child is irrelevant - the issue is that people don't look after their dogs properly.

It’s not a tiger…it’s a small happy dog that did nothing but bark. A mistake happened and a child let out a dog they didn’t mean to. It’s nothing more than that. It’s a huge overreaction. No one is perfect.

A dog that was barking and snarling, so hardly happy.

Would people be saying the same if it were a pit bull that had escaped, or an xl bulky. Oh dear, a six year let out Fluffy by mistake, and it then barked and snarled aggressively at a passer by and their dog.

Tbf I think that was a typo and meant to say “yappy”
I was going to say the same as you until I re-read it

ETA - I do agree with you though. Although when you mentioned ‘fluffy’ I thought of the three headed dog in Harry Potter

@GundogdayOf course they wouldn’t because an XL bully that is charging at you and barking poses a completely different threat to a yappy dog the size of bag of flour. Shit happens. It’s really not the end of the world as evidenced by no one taking a blind bit of notice of her ‘complaint’.

Doesn't matter how small it was, it's aggressive and not under control. It could hurt a small child. Also, it will really piss off a bigger dog one day, whose bite will really damage it and guess what, the larger dog will get the blame!

Probably because you said you are a dog owner, but sound very upset about something that most dog owners might consider annoying, but still a rather minor incident all things considered. Especially when nothing actually happened to you, your dog or the escaped dog.

Of course, You were not in the wrong to be annoyed by the yapping chihuaha. I would have been very annoyed too ( I have a reactive dog and this would have resulted in her barking at every chihuahua we pass for the following 2-3 weeks), but I wouldn’t have shouted, wouldn’t still be thinking about this a day later and certainly wouldn’t have called the police.

I’ve been bitten by a small dog btw - a Yorkie of all things! There was no barking, snapping or growling. It just lunged and went for my leg.

OP, a yapping dog is obviously very unpleasent, but they are usually just trying to drive your dog away. It’s best to simply remove your dog from the situation as calmly as possible.

It sounds like OP will only be happy with a sincere written apology from the Chihuahua who mugged her off by looking smug.