MONDAY 7th Mar: Not a fun walk. AGAIN
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Mum:
Not happy. Quite cross, in fact.
Yesterday we had Blunderer Max, and poor Tara had a hard time. She may be 110% bounce, but is rather intimidated by anything her size or bigger, and does a submissive roll to nearly every dog she meets. Tara kept me between her and him for the entire walk, and was particularly nervy. I really don't ever want to have a social walk with MAx or his owner ever again.
Anyway, today we went to the Squirrel Park in my lunchbreak. Nice and peaceful, familiar territory. Good for her to chill and beat Cato up without too many other dogs around.
And, guess what? We got another plonker dog owner.
This time, it was an elderly guy with a very very very boucy Yorkshire Terrier. One of the big ones. About the size of a Westie or a Scottie. He had it on an extending lead. It was very playful, and it had that jerky, nervy bounce that I always think is play-deprivation. When they are so over-excited at the thought of playing with another dog that they come over far too rough and fast moving and over-excited.
So this dog comes charging up (on his extending lead), the owner is grinning his head off, delighted that his darling pooch is going to have some fun with our two dogs. And suddenly this dog (called Brutus, for goodness sake!) is hopping and jumping and jerking all over both Tara and Cato.
Tara submits immediately. Brutus sniffs her, then bounces on Cato and shoves his nose at Cato's penis. Tara gets up and slinks behind me. I step to protect her. Cato steps away and disapproves. Brutus' Dad is completely oblivious that his dog is being rude, rough, and pushy. He lets Brutus' lead extend fully. Brutus dashes round me, and bounces on poor Tara, who lies down immediately.
I grab Brutus' harness, pull him off and ask his Dad to shorten the lead. I untangle myself. He ignores me. Brutus and Cato start 'playing', but Brutus is so rough that Cato yaps at him, tells him off, and is really quite annoyed.
Tara retreats and hides behind her Dad. Brutus goes to bounce all over Tara AGAIN. I TELL Brutus' Dad that we are MOVING AWAY because Tara is frightened, and can he please shorten the lead. He smiles sweetly and walks TOWARDS us, so Brutus continues to bounce on Tara.
I pick Tara up and TELL Brutus' Dad that she is nervous, and can he please keep Brutus AWAY.
FINALLY the plonker gets the message, looks embarassed, and moves away.
Pah!!!
It ruined the whole walk. Tara had some lovely fun and games 3 days ago with a Pom-Chi called Eddie. A little darling. She really enjoyed herself. But all that has now been erased by 2 unpleasant experiences. Both times it was caused/permitted by the gaumless owners, with over-excited under-exercised dogs - and the dogs were not intentionally doing any harm. They were just under socialised and bad mannered. But the effect is that Tara's confidence has deteriorated, again.
The rest of the walk was the usual mix of fun, frolics and sniffing. Pics below. I just needed to vent.
Tara:
We woz having a lovely walk til Nasty Brutus bounced on me. Didn't like it. But Mum picked me up to save me from him! That was nice! I like it. Maybe if I stand on her foot every time we see a big dog, she can pick me up every time? Wot do you think?
Me on one of my benches.
Me pooing!
Cato:
I had to tell Brutus off too! And Mum was cross, and told Brutus and Brutus' Dad off a bit too. But he was just being too bouncy. He wasn't really nasty. Tara is just nervous and silly and a girl. I mean, no one is NEARLY as interested in her knickers as she makes out! Or her poos, come to think of it.
Mum says this bark is amazing. But she means tree bark, not a proper bark - like I did to Stupid Brutus.
No sign of this chopped off tree sprouting. When do we give it up as dead, do you think?
Some red sprouty things Mum got excited about:
Something called a Corkscrew Hazel. Boring, eh?
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