Just stopped shaking. Poor, poor Dexter.
Discussion
On a family outing to an event in a local town, completely unprovoked and without warning an Akita (I think) grabbed Dexter our Apso across the head and held on to him. It was approximately 10 seconds before the owner could get him off.
In that time, to all intents and purposes Dexter's eye was torn out. He's just come out of emergency surgery to remove his eye, and seems to be recovering well at the moment.
The Police believe they know the owner, and if so, that the local Dog Wardens have been involved previously. He disappeared after half a minute or so - let's see what happens there, if anything.
I guess it could have been worse (it doesn't seem like it though) but what in god's name possesses someone to take a dog like that into a very crowded and confined space.
One thing that will remain with me though was the kindness and help given by several complete strangers, who we weren't able to thank as we were driven to the Vets by the Police. Many people came forward as witnesses, too.
Rather a ramble, I'm afraid, but just helpful to tell someone as me and my family are in bits.
In that time, to all intents and purposes Dexter's eye was torn out. He's just come out of emergency surgery to remove his eye, and seems to be recovering well at the moment.
The Police believe they know the owner, and if so, that the local Dog Wardens have been involved previously. He disappeared after half a minute or so - let's see what happens there, if anything.
I guess it could have been worse (it doesn't seem like it though) but what in god's name possesses someone to take a dog like that into a very crowded and confined space.
One thing that will remain with me though was the kindness and help given by several complete strangers, who we weren't able to thank as we were driven to the Vets by the Police. Many people came forward as witnesses, too.
Rather a ramble, I'm afraid, but just helpful to tell someone as me and my family are in bits.
Poor poor Dexter. Physically he should recover fine given a bit of time but he may need a bit of help mentally.
What an awful thing for you to witness. Sadly I have seen the type of trauma caused by a dog before, usually with breeds such as Dexter.
I think this owner is going to be in big trouble from what you have said. The authorities will have to take it seriously.
Wishing Dexter a speedy recovery.
What an awful thing for you to witness. Sadly I have seen the type of trauma caused by a dog before, usually with breeds such as Dexter.
I think this owner is going to be in big trouble from what you have said. The authorities will have to take it seriously.
Wishing Dexter a speedy recovery.
Aw no 
poor thing
No worse feeling, I know how you feel.
Dogs quickly adapt to things and really do just get on with it. A few months will be back to normal
.
Our little boxer had to have a front paw removed and her back hip.... She is fine and daft as a brush these days.
Doesn't make things better and it does worry me how common these things are.
Just remember however you feel there would have been nothing you could have done about this.
poor thing No worse feeling, I know how you feel.
Dogs quickly adapt to things and really do just get on with it. A few months will be back to normal
.Our little boxer had to have a front paw removed and her back hip.... She is fine and daft as a brush these days.
Doesn't make things better and it does worry me how common these things are.
Just remember however you feel there would have been nothing you could have done about this.
Aggressive dogs (esp dog to dog) happens for many reasons. My old family collie was horrible to most other dogs.
The difference is how the owners deal with it. Too many do not accept what their dogs can truly be like and put them in situations like above which are bound to cause trouble
The other dog should have been muzzled and walked well away from popular dog walking areas or crowded environments.
The difference is how the owners deal with it. Too many do not accept what their dogs can truly be like and put them in situations like above which are bound to cause trouble
The other dog should have been muzzled and walked well away from popular dog walking areas or crowded environments.
horrible thing to happen
Lets hope Dexter makes a full recovery (despite loosing an eye)
The amount of people I see with big dogs, GSD's, Huskys etc who have no idea how to control them disgusts me. There is a guy who lives near me, I see walking his dog on lead most mornings and its mostly the dog dragging him around, if that dog decides to go somewhere he is stuffed. No control and a big dog are a very dangerous mix.
Lets hope Dexter makes a full recovery (despite loosing an eye)
The amount of people I see with big dogs, GSD's, Huskys etc who have no idea how to control them disgusts me. There is a guy who lives near me, I see walking his dog on lead most mornings and its mostly the dog dragging him around, if that dog decides to go somewhere he is stuffed. No control and a big dog are a very dangerous mix.
Thanks everyone for their kind wishes. Dexter's just back from the Vets and shows signs of being the dog we know. Actually, he's eating all the ham in the house at the moment.
The family is still in bits - I was with my wife and 4yo daughter at the time, who has had more than enough pain and loss in her young life already, so everyone's traumatised.
I keep replaying what I should have done. I think the damage was caused when Dexter was pulled out of the other dog's teeth. Rape alarm? Pepper spray? I was in fear for my and my family's safety as well as Dexter.
Just awful, awful. I feel so guilty.
The family is still in bits - I was with my wife and 4yo daughter at the time, who has had more than enough pain and loss in her young life already, so everyone's traumatised.
I keep replaying what I should have done. I think the damage was caused when Dexter was pulled out of the other dog's teeth. Rape alarm? Pepper spray? I was in fear for my and my family's safety as well as Dexter.
Just awful, awful. I feel so guilty.
otolith said:
What are people doing to end up with such nasty dogs, or are they just unlucky?
I suspect there's a combination of luck (lack of) or piss-poor training. Bloke I know has an Akita and although it's a big dog it's a family pet, daft as a brush and soppy. Differnce being, I suspect, is that he's a responsible owner who'll take time to train As for Dex - sorry to read that posting
hope he's ok and that your wife and daughter are not too upset/scarred by it
That's awful! Only mentioning this as you ask what you could have done differently OP. Fortunately I've never had to try it but I was told by a trainer that in circumstances such as this, the aggressor dog should be lifted (by the scruff I guess) rather than pulled away,and that lifting makes them release whereas dragging makes them pull harder. Maybe others could comment on whether this is correct?
Tyre Tread said:
Lifting an aggresive Akita by the scruff? 
Let me watch you do that and see how it turns out before I try it.
I hear you - but I was told that by a police trainer and at the time it was specifically in respect of GSDs. Akita will potentially be more aggressive I guess, but size is similar.Let me watch you do that and see how it turns out before I try it.
CAPP0 said:
Tyre Tread said:
Lifting an aggresive Akita by the scruff?
Let me watch you do that and see how it turns out before I try it.
I hear you - but I was told that by a police trainer and at the time it was specifically in respect of GSDs. Akita will potentially be more aggressive I guess, but size is similar.Let me watch you do that and see how it turns out before I try it.
All three have 'tried it on' with me, albeit I'm sure I've never seen full aggression mode from any of them.
Grabbing an already aggressive large dog by the scruff of the neck, especially a strange one, is going to be an ambitious action and IMHO is unlikely to get the reaction you are looking for if the dog's red mist has descended.
Are you sure he wasn't talking about cats?
Dexter's doing OK - likely better than we are, tbh. Seemed rather pleased to allowed to sleep next to the bed last night. Thanks for your kind words, everyone.
It's some, but little comfort that nobody can advise on any better course of action IYSWIM.
Let's see what happens v-a-v the Police investigation. I know they get a hard time, perhaps on occasion with just cause, but they were bloody outstanding when we needed them.
It's some, but little comfort that nobody can advise on any better course of action IYSWIM.
Let's see what happens v-a-v the Police investigation. I know they get a hard time, perhaps on occasion with just cause, but they were bloody outstanding when we needed them.
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