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My 10 month old GSD x Border Collie has always been slightly anxious and worried, but she has never actually done anything other than run up to people/dogs and then run back to us (she always comes back when called).
As we have no children in our family or friends, she has never been fully socialised around them so I am always cautious with them. Again she has never done anything before and is usually fine walking past them, I just ensure she is on a short lead and we give a wide birth.
Last week on the way back from a walk with the dog walker, as she was crossing the road outside of our house and a few of shops, a young child whizzed past on a scooter and freaked her out so she lunged and may have nipped his bum. The child was screaming and the parent caused a scene. Our dog walker was incredibly apologetic, offered a phone number which wasn't taken and they also saw her go back into our house so they must know where we live.
Please note, the dog didn't rip the child's clothing, knock him down, and cause any serious harm that we are aware of. At the most possibly just a bruised bum. He was also on the lead.
Unfortunately we don't know who the woman or child were so have been unable to check on them to apologise (we weren't there at the time).
The dog pulls on the lead, so we use a head harness which is assumed to be a muzzle (it isn't!). Our dog walker on this occasion hadn't put it on properly and it was only around his neck with the mouth piece hanging down which fuelled the parent even more asking why he has a muzzle (he didn't!) but isn't wearing it.
We have been expecting a knock on the door from either the parents or the police, but it's been almost a week now and still nothing.
We have also reported the incident to the police, but they haven't had any reports from the parents and didn't seem to phased by it.
However the parents have got CCTV footage of it happening and are showing it to local shops asking for witnesses. Which makes me think they are planning to take some action, whether it be police or try to sue us. We don't have pet insurance.
I have now bought her a soft muzzle, however I am in two minds of using it. I bought it as a preventative measure, but by her wearing it, does that give the parents more ammunition and makes us more liable in admitting she may be a vicious dog?
Of course I am worried about the worst, which would be for her to be put down. But equally I wouldn't be able to afford to pay thousands in compensation seeing as we live in a world who claim money for just about anything they can!
We are going to invest in a trainer/behaviourist to iron out the causes of his anxiety and nervousness.
I feel we have done everything we possibly can as responsible dog owners, however I have no way of contacting the parents and have no idea what actions they are planning to take.
I am absolutely devastated, and worried sick to my stomach.
Any advice or likely outcomes are muchly appreciated.
As we have no children in our family or friends, she has never been fully socialised around them so I am always cautious with them. Again she has never done anything before and is usually fine walking past them, I just ensure she is on a short lead and we give a wide birth.
Last week on the way back from a walk with the dog walker, as she was crossing the road outside of our house and a few of shops, a young child whizzed past on a scooter and freaked her out so she lunged and may have nipped his bum. The child was screaming and the parent caused a scene. Our dog walker was incredibly apologetic, offered a phone number which wasn't taken and they also saw her go back into our house so they must know where we live.
Please note, the dog didn't rip the child's clothing, knock him down, and cause any serious harm that we are aware of. At the most possibly just a bruised bum. He was also on the lead.
Unfortunately we don't know who the woman or child were so have been unable to check on them to apologise (we weren't there at the time).
The dog pulls on the lead, so we use a head harness which is assumed to be a muzzle (it isn't!). Our dog walker on this occasion hadn't put it on properly and it was only around his neck with the mouth piece hanging down which fuelled the parent even more asking why he has a muzzle (he didn't!) but isn't wearing it.
We have been expecting a knock on the door from either the parents or the police, but it's been almost a week now and still nothing.
We have also reported the incident to the police, but they haven't had any reports from the parents and didn't seem to phased by it.
However the parents have got CCTV footage of it happening and are showing it to local shops asking for witnesses. Which makes me think they are planning to take some action, whether it be police or try to sue us. We don't have pet insurance.
I have now bought her a soft muzzle, however I am in two minds of using it. I bought it as a preventative measure, but by her wearing it, does that give the parents more ammunition and makes us more liable in admitting she may be a vicious dog?
Of course I am worried about the worst, which would be for her to be put down. But equally I wouldn't be able to afford to pay thousands in compensation seeing as we live in a world who claim money for just about anything they can!
We are going to invest in a trainer/behaviourist to iron out the causes of his anxiety and nervousness.
I feel we have done everything we possibly can as responsible dog owners, however I have no way of contacting the parents and have no idea what actions they are planning to take.
I am absolutely devastated, and worried sick to my stomach.
Any advice or likely outcomes are muchly appreciated.