BC Crazy

Geez... how awful for you & your darling westies I hope everyone has settled down again. Certainly sounds very strange. I would be definitely sending the food back to VIP to get it checked out. I'm sure they wouldn't want this happening too often. Especially hard on the older guys like gorgeous Mack as well.

Oh so cute Skysong I know of someone that may be interested. Will pm you if I find out they are :)

Snook pleased to hear another play date with Pax was successful That is just so beneficial to Justice in so many ways :) Wonderful really.

Exactly HD. You don't need to make a big fuss with every oncoming dog. I just do this with 2 dogs that I know. The rest we just walk past, usually without incident. I engage Stella while passing as well. Depending on how is with it at time I will either allow her to face the direction they are approaching or I make sure she has her back to them if she is unsettled. Do a sit/treat or something then continue on. If I can see Stella is becoming too anxious with an oncoming dog, it's about face & off in the other direction.

There are certainly NO winners in this horrible situation. The pup in question must be so stressed to lash out like that at a child. I totally understand & agree. DA is one thing & certainly a problem but human aggression, especially when children are involved just takes this sad story to a whole other level. As Snook said I too am so pleased you had the foresight to have her tethered. Would hate to think what would of of happened if you didn't I commend you on your handling of this whole very unfortunate set of circumstances Laurensingh. I shudder to think just how upsetting & extremely difficult this situation is for you Please keep us updated.

Hi Jemmy & welcome :) Nice to here from another dedicated reactive dog owner. That quick turn around response is a wonderful gift you have taught her. I also find if I already know the dog approaching & know they are bomb proof but Stella is still a little miffed, I act all happy & hi honey,talking to the dog approaching. Stella seems to settle straight away & handle the oncoming new arrival. Just seems to defuse her almost negitive mindset. I would never do this unless I was completely sure about the approaching dog naturally. I just find we have made a couple of friendships with this. Seems to reasure Stella when I act like we are really happy to meet & great these ' safe' folk :)

Gosh Laurensingh...be extremely careful with her until then around her if you have to wait till monday. Don't let your guard down around her. Be extemely cautious. Im worried for your safety. Please dont try & socialize her. Thoughts are with you in this aweful situation through no fault of your own.

Jesus.... what a dangerous , worrying & very sad situation. This dog is dangerous & she needs to be given her wings IMHO. I am no expert but she is going to do serious damage to someone I feel so very sorry for you. This is not your fault in any way. Hugs to you. Please keep us posted.

Well said Hankdog. I too agree... I don't know that I would have taken Stella on either in hindsight. I know one thing for sure I will certainly be seeking out a dog without a weak nerve next time. Yes I did adapt as well BUT it is very difficult. It is life changing in every sense of the word.....

Skysong what breed is bonnie again?

Oh cool Hazy, yes that's just 5 mins away. I usually don't go in there cause they sell puppies Just upsets me but I will go & check out what they stock & if I can place an order with them. Thanks so much for thinking of me Hazy. Hugs to gorgeous Stan & Maddie. Bet there is no space on the lounge today in this horrid weather :p

Beautiful photo's once again Huga Gorgeous spot, dreamy children :D

Raineth, Stella is very fast & she returns to me of her own accord 99% of the time before I even have the chance to call her. Snook, sorry need to clarify. Don't explain myself very well When Stella charges she usually returns as fast as she left without me even calling her. In the case of this ACD he is left on the beach, usually on his own while his owner is out paddle boarding Anyway, Stella charges him & she is returning to me, but he tends to try & follow her though. She then turns back at him, giving an extra growl, then comes to straight back to me. I then move us further away, wait till she calms down then we have another game or something. She is so unpredictable with this though. She could see him 20 times without issue. We walk past him most times without a problem. Sometimes she just gets a bee in her bonnet with him & wants him to get away. I find if I put her on lead when she comes back to me it makes her more reactive to the point where I can barely hold her. So I find if I just pick up my backpack etc, she immediately just follows me & we walk away a bit she settles down very quickly without further issue usually. It just is very frustrating because this behaviour is just so very random. We may have just walked past this very same dog without issue. So it has been an extremely hard habit for me to break. I have been thinking maybe because it seems to occur more when we are playing a game so her arousal would be heightened already, then that seems to be when she will race down toward him. She sounds very aggressive but she is very vocal & it seems to be more stand over tactic's. A lot of noise, sticks her chest out etc. He tends to lay down, then she runs back to me. I'm not having it though. She has had one fight in her life & that's one too many. My fear is she will pick the wrong dog one day & she wont be able to run back to me

As the owner of a very reactive/noise phobic/nervous girl I can in all honesty say by what you have told us thus far, sorry but I would be returning her ASAP.... It is a mammoth task undertaking ownership of a reactive dog. It takes every once of me mentally & physically most days. I don't know a great deal about giants apart from the fact that obviously they would weigh in full grown at least 3 times the weight of my girl & when something sets her off I can barely control her on lead. She has dragged me over on a number of occasions. That is just one of many negitive aspects in this situation that would be in my opinion an undertaking best left to a professional.

Yes Snook 90% of the time Stella just wants the dogs near us to get away. The trouble is the way she charges at them looks & sounds pretty aggressive so if they other dog is even the slightest bit defensive it takes 1 second for WW3 to errupt. She is very territorial & protective. She likes to keep darting back at them just to make sure they get the message. Stay away!!!! Or else. It is a very frustrating habit that I would love to break. She is better than she used to when she was younger. Little dogs are all good. Medium/ large size dogs on the move, look out!

Lovely perse... love the sunset one. I have a Tamron lens but I haven't tried it out yet.

That is so cool. Such intensity. Stella does sometimes, mainly when she is chasing birds. Oh & another time when she saw her first herd of cows she went straight into this low down eyeing stalk. Love watching it

I've just come home in a relived piled heap as i do after most walks... glad I'm not alone :p It's like 'phew' !!! thank dog for that. We are all home safely without incident. I do try to stay relatively calm & my breathing has improved some what. Just depends on what other off leash dogs are around on any given day. I used to avoid every dog that is medium size at all costs, cause they are her trigger but have loosened that up just a touch of late just to step it up for Stella a bit. I certainly don't take risks though. She is coping a little better at times but with this one dog in particular there is no way she will tolerate her within 100ft radius.... She charges at her. But she is strange because she gets fairly close to her barking & carrying on, then comes flying back to me. Only to do it all over again if I allowed her. So she doesn't even actually touch her. She gets about 20 ft away. Strange girl at times she is.

My childhood dog, Sooty, a Corgi cross from Yagoona Pound was 6 weeks when we got him, Great little dog. Was as healthy as anything his whole life. Annual checks ups was the only time he had to go to the Vets. He was feed a medium grade dry food + table scraps+ sardines. He went 'missing' one day at 14 which he had never done, he was just so faithful. So this was completely out of character. Dad found him in the paddock & had to put him out of his misery. He had lost his battle with a huge paralysis tick In adult life my rescue heart dog, Redman a red & white BC. I got him from under a guys house where he had lived for the first 15 months of his life pretty much. Apart from the VERY occasional meat pie, poor Red was feed nothing...The guy didn't want Red cause he let hm out once & he killed a chicken next door. I wonder why???? ERRRR. Anyway I had him for almost 15 years & he was a fantastic dog. I loved him to pieces. He was feed premium dry food & human grade raw meat + sardines mostly. I worked as a cook so he did also get sample restaurant quality meals on occasion as well :p He never had a sick day in his life. He went deaf at 13.5 & his laricks collapsed as 14. I had them tied back & I gave him his wings 8 years ago, just shy of 15. Hardest day in my life ever but he is waiting for me at the bridge. Beautiful dog....

Happy 15th Birthday Zedda At the grand ol' age of 15 I think you will get to do whatever you want today girl & enjoy

Have a great trip gapvic & return safely. Enjoy wont you. Looking forward to some lovely photos. Im a tad jealous too. Very yummy food & have heard the scenery is to die for :)

Great news Terri :)

Hmmm, Just doesn't sound right does it? Must admit I'm a bit suss as well. Why only take one puppy??? Certainly strange IMO. Doesn't add up.

What a great job Ute looks like new. I've always been a ute lover I can't get the new photo's to load for some reason