![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Dahlia, rescuer of pit bulls!
Nov. 3rd, 2010 12:57 pmLast night while out on our walk, we were just getting to the end of the street when this pit bull comes around the corner. He's off leash, no collar. He freezes. I freeze. I have no idea if he's dog or people friendly, but I don't want to leave him if I can catch him and try to find out where he belongs. So finally he breaks the freeze and comes over slowly to greet Dahlia. Who is happy to see him.
They sniff. He's friendly and greets well. Dahlia decides it's "PLAY TIME OMG!!" and jumps at him. He jumps back at her. She jumps and play bows. And he play bows and takes off at a dead run away from us.
OH NOES!! My dog is always so calm and NOW she decides to play? And the dog takes her invitation and is off like a shot. He's gone in like 2 seconds flat. Down two blocks and around the corner. *smacks forehead*
I decide to go after him, hoping he'll stop and maybe I can catch up to him. While he and Dahlia were playing and sniffing I was trying to reach around and unhook her collar so I could put it on HIM. Obviously no luck there.
So I'm heading down the street in the direction the dog went when I come across his owner. She's out with collar and leash looking for him. Apparently Artie, the dog in question, leapt a baby gate while the door was open and got out. She didn't think he could jump the gate and her older dog, an Australian Shepherd mix never jumps the gate. Artie is a pit bull though and one thing I'm finding out about pit bulls: They are SMART dogs with an overabundance of curiosity. So he got out.
I stop to chat with the owner for a moment and let her know which direction he has now gone in. She couldn't believe he ran not 10 feet away from her and she didn't even see him. But he's that fast.
She says "He always comes back when this happens." I'm thinking "Maybe it's time for a better baby gate?"
And then, lo and behold, he does indeed come racing back. She calls to him, he comes to us. And while he's stopped and again greeting and sniffing Dahlia, she manages to reach out and get the collar (with leash attached) around his neck. Artie is now safe.
Dahlia has done her civic duty for the day and we were able to head home.
---
Dahlia also met two other dogs yesterday while out on an earlier walk: One woman had a 10 month old puppy who looks SO much like Dahlia she had to bring her across the road so they could meet. She was a sweet dog and the woman got a LITTLE worried about Dahlia's growly face. I had to reassure her that Dahlia is just a noisy player. Because she is. When she rushes and pounces near another dog she does it with a great big scary sounding growl. It's total play, but it's noisy!
And then she met a lovely 2 1/2 year old Golden retriever named Lotus (yay flower dogs!). Lotus was a total sweetie and really wanted to just lean against us for attention. The woman had crossed in front of us a little while before we hit the sidewalk there (we went into the park for a fun run around for Dahlia) and then came back and asked if the dogs could meet. YAY! Dahlia was very happy to get to meet so many dogs yesterday.
They sniff. He's friendly and greets well. Dahlia decides it's "PLAY TIME OMG!!" and jumps at him. He jumps back at her. She jumps and play bows. And he play bows and takes off at a dead run away from us.
OH NOES!! My dog is always so calm and NOW she decides to play? And the dog takes her invitation and is off like a shot. He's gone in like 2 seconds flat. Down two blocks and around the corner. *smacks forehead*
I decide to go after him, hoping he'll stop and maybe I can catch up to him. While he and Dahlia were playing and sniffing I was trying to reach around and unhook her collar so I could put it on HIM. Obviously no luck there.
So I'm heading down the street in the direction the dog went when I come across his owner. She's out with collar and leash looking for him. Apparently Artie, the dog in question, leapt a baby gate while the door was open and got out. She didn't think he could jump the gate and her older dog, an Australian Shepherd mix never jumps the gate. Artie is a pit bull though and one thing I'm finding out about pit bulls: They are SMART dogs with an overabundance of curiosity. So he got out.
I stop to chat with the owner for a moment and let her know which direction he has now gone in. She couldn't believe he ran not 10 feet away from her and she didn't even see him. But he's that fast.
She says "He always comes back when this happens." I'm thinking "Maybe it's time for a better baby gate?"
And then, lo and behold, he does indeed come racing back. She calls to him, he comes to us. And while he's stopped and again greeting and sniffing Dahlia, she manages to reach out and get the collar (with leash attached) around his neck. Artie is now safe.
Dahlia has done her civic duty for the day and we were able to head home.
---
Dahlia also met two other dogs yesterday while out on an earlier walk: One woman had a 10 month old puppy who looks SO much like Dahlia she had to bring her across the road so they could meet. She was a sweet dog and the woman got a LITTLE worried about Dahlia's growly face. I had to reassure her that Dahlia is just a noisy player. Because she is. When she rushes and pounces near another dog she does it with a great big scary sounding growl. It's total play, but it's noisy!
And then she met a lovely 2 1/2 year old Golden retriever named Lotus (yay flower dogs!). Lotus was a total sweetie and really wanted to just lean against us for attention. The woman had crossed in front of us a little while before we hit the sidewalk there (we went into the park for a fun run around for Dahlia) and then came back and asked if the dogs could meet. YAY! Dahlia was very happy to get to meet so many dogs yesterday.