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Monday, January 5, 2015

Mischief Monday - A Story About A Misbehaved Zaphod

Yes, you are reading that correctly, this is a story about Zaphod and mischief.

It happened last week after my parents had left. I took Hailey and Zaphod for our morning walk. As we were coming back, our neighbour came out of the bush on his ATV with his  off leash dog, a 10 year old weimaraner named Ghost.

The guilty party
This was very arousing for my two. I can't even remember the last time we saw another dog while we were walking. They both got out of control and I was doing my best to get them to sit and relax but ended up being dragged into a tree and totally tangled by Zaphod (it is a miracle I didn't fall). I made the wrong decision (I will take responsibility for this) to let go of Zaphod. I thought him being off leash and not wrapped around me may make him calmer. What happened is he took a flying leap, teeth bared on Ghost. I was able to grab him and put him in a submissive pose before anyone was hurt. Ghost looked confused and then to further torture my two walked very slowly down the road. (While his owner did try and call him away).

Why do I think this happened?
1) My dogs don't see enough other dogs on leash
2) They were both very aroused (the ATV probably didn't help)
3) Since we have lived here Ghost's owner fostered another weimaraner named Shadow. Shadow was aggressive with Zaphod several times (and actually bit the Man one time) and I think Zaphod has confused the two and was trying to protect us.

What I learned:
If I am going to let Zaphod off leash to greet Ghost (as he is the dog we are most likely to see and Ghost is never on leash), I need to do it before his arousal gets too high. I also need to find ways to have the two of them meet other dogs on leash. It is hard because our walks are usually very early before reasonable people walk their dogs and if I am alone, I can't control the two. Also, while there are a lot of dogs around in the country, I only see 2 other people out walking them at all (and one I know has unfriendly dogs). I guess when the weather gets better we are going to have to go to the city more to test his social skills.

That was Zaphod's mischief. I was left upset and shaking, but in the end no one was hurt, so I guess that is what matters.
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18 comments:

  1. The Daily Pip January 5, 2015 at 6:59 AM

    Ruby, our new dog, didn't have much leash experience or experience greeting other dogs. She would get very scared and get all twisted in the leash to get away from the other dogs. The other dogs seemed to sense her fear and would sometimes get aggressive. I started avoiding other dogs, but then realized this was the wrong approach and maybe she was sensing my anxiety. So, now we try to greet other dogs ...but keep things brief so she doesn't have a chance to get nervous. She is now much better and actually approaches other dogs on her own, etc., but we are still very careful.

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  2. Yamini MacLeanJanuary 5, 2015 at 7:57 AM

    Hari OM
    Your three 'mistake' points are well thought and pertinent. A common problem is that more and more, society enforces dog-on-leash and this is not natural for their socialisation... your plan to 'off-leash' Phod is a sound one. Jade was always good both off and on until the one big black poodle attack. After her initial shock, she fought back and ever after that time I had to be on alert whenever any large black pooch was about. It may be that Weimariners will be Phod's equivalent. I do wish you well as you seem to have (ahem) a grip on things! The city exercise sounds like a good plan... YAM xx

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  3. UnknownJanuary 5, 2015 at 8:50 AM

    Wow how frightening for you. I think you are right and he was being protective.

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  4. easyweimaranerJanuary 5, 2015 at 9:20 AM

    I had to read the headline twice...Zaphod? really? think #3 was probably the main-reason. Easy was attacked by a Vizsla in 2013... and if he sees one of that guys he turns into a silvermistygrey brush and is ready for rumble. Think Zaphod tought it's Shadow and tried to protect "his pack". I'm glad no one was hurt and it ended without tears.
    Easy Rider

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  5. Emily @ Adventures of a Dog MomJanuary 5, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    I'm glad that no one was hurt... off leash dogs can really cause a problem for dogs on leash whether it's wanting to meet, protect or just plain barrier frustration.

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  6. stellaroselongJanuary 5, 2015 at 10:19 AM

    I think all three of you did great, and you like my mom always goes back into the what went wrong mode, when actually it was just one more life lesson us pups like to each our humans. It is scary when that happens, mom says we are not very socialized (well we as in Maggie) and mom always worries when we meet another dog walking. That only happens about once in a blue moon.....anyway you did great and now have a plan for next time. stella rose

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  7. How Sam Sees ItJanuary 5, 2015 at 1:21 PM

    Oh yikes! Our Monty is so reactive that I actually have nightmares about coming in contact with off leash dogs while walking. He actually protected us once when on off leash pit bull plowed into us, throwing Sam and I to the ground. Monty stood between us and kept the dog from getting to us.

    Monty and Harlow

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  8. Two French BulldogsJanuary 5, 2015 at 1:29 PM

    Yikes mom would have had heart attacks. We can't ever be off leash
    Lily & Edward

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  9. Bella Roxy & MacduiJanuary 5, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    We are more aggressive on the lead whereas when we meet dogs and we're not on the lead....like down at the river where there are loads of dogs, we just do the doggy thing and slowly greet each other. We rarely have a fight.....unless there's food, then we sometimes snap.

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  10. Idaho PugRanchJanuary 5, 2015 at 3:21 PM

    We are glad it came out Ok with no one hurt. We are always leary of off leash dogs
    hugs
    Mr Bailey & Hazel

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  11. Frankie Furter and ErnieJanuary 5, 2015 at 3:48 PM

    OH GOODNESS..... and we KNOW that Zaphod is FULL of Goodness...
    This was just One of Those things... it happened and it really wasn't anyone's fault... it was just the CIRCUMSTANCES...

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2015 at 6:49 PM

    Yep...being the the first dog was mean, Phod took Ghost for the same on....they need time, just the two of them with supovision.......That ATV will set of any dog! we had one and Susie and Bites hated it!

    The Mad Scots

    The Mad Scots

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  13. Cat and DOG Chat With CarenJanuary 5, 2015 at 7:02 PM

    So glad that no one was hurt for sure. I agree that because the first dog was mean (and the noise of the ATV) Phod was probably scared. Also, when one dog is on leash and the other is off leash, the dog on leash is always at a disadvantage. Hoping that this doesn't happen again.

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  14. Millie and WalterJanuary 5, 2015 at 9:26 PM

    Glad to hear everything was okay in the end. Sometimes things just happen too fast for anybody to be able to control. The ATV probably didn't help the situation at all.

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  15. Tweedles -- that's meJanuary 5, 2015 at 10:16 PM

    Gosh,, were glad no one got hurt too!
    love
    tweedles

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  16. The Adventures of the LLB GangJanuary 5, 2015 at 11:47 PM

    Sounds like you handled things very well....and learned from the experience.
    In my book that makes you a great dog Mom!

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  17. UnknownJanuary 6, 2015 at 10:03 AM

    I am very glad to hear no one got hurt.
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  18. Marty the ManxJanuary 7, 2015 at 11:19 PM

    Glad there was no injuries too. It seems like it was just a combination of things. I know with Mazie I have to really watch what other types of dogs are out due to previous negative exposures prior to me adopting her too.

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