Pack Mentality = Nice Dogs Attacking

I took Gizmo out for his morning walk around 8am today. We stopped by the dog park, so he could go off leash. It was empty until a German Sheppard named Mia joined. Soon after a Hound-mix named Winston came in. Mia and Winston played tug-o-war while (for the first time) Gizmo played fetch around other dogs. Mia had to leave, and soon after a Black Lab named Zeus came to the park.

When his owner let Zeus off the leash he made a mad dash for Gizmo. I put my hands out in hopes of slowing Zeus down, knowing that Gizmo would not like the big dog coming at him that fast. Gizmo went behind me. Zeus didn’t slow down, but went right to Gizmo. Gizmo did what he always does and snarled to let Zeus know his boundaries. At that point Zeus LOST IT! He started trying to bite Gizmo. Winston joined Zeus when that pack mentality instinct kicked in, and they both started trying to nip and bite Gizmo. Gizmo was scared and was getting hurt, so I figured if I picked Gizmo up then Winston and Zeus would calm down because both dogs know me from playing together many times at the dog park and are people friendly breeds. Instead of calming down the dogs must have taken it as a challenge. I also became a target. They kept trying to bite at Gizmo and one actually came down with a mouth full of Gizmo’s hair. One of them got my arm, the other pulled out some of my hair. All the while I was trying to get Gizmo to the fence and away from the insanity. The two big dogs wouldn't let me go anywhere, and cut me off in every direction. One even jumped up on my back, placing a foot just behind my knee, and knocked me down. I let Gizmo go and said “Run Gizmo Run” (hahaha - I laugh at myself now when I repeat that part of the story). Gizmo kinda ran away, but kept his eyes on me. When I was down the 2 dogs stopped jumping so the owners finally got control over their pets. Gizmo came back to me and tried to hide under my legs. We left the park.

When we got home Gizmo was so dirty I decided to brush him to help sooth him. When I put him on my lap he yelped like he was hurt. I figured he had gotten bitten. I knew that if one of the dogs had pulled my hair, gotten a hold of my arm, and gotten some of the hair from his tail he must have been hurt. Mark had just woken up so we called Aunt Paulette and she told us to take him to the vet. The Vet told us that Gizmo was very lucky because he seemed to be fine physically. She said his nerves may be on edge for a while, and that was probably why he yelped in the house. To help calm him down we bought him a raw hide bone and he happily gnawed on that for 30 minutes and has now settled down into the couch. I am so happy he is okay!

Mark noticed a hole in the arm of my sweatshirt where one of the dogs (I think maybe it was Winston) got a hold of my arm. I was so busy worrying about Gizmo I hadn't even noticed the very obvious hole right around my elbow. He also found a hole in the back just above my shoulder blade. And wouldn't you know that it is one of my favorite sweatshirts! Why do things like this never happen to the crummy clothing I have had since High School? CRAZY! I am fine, no cuts or bite marks. My nerves are shaken up though. I grew up with dogs and have never been scared of a dog. Even big barking dogs pulling on their leashes don’t bother me. Today I was truly SCARED while it was happening though. I know those dogs weren't after me. They were after Gizmo who was crying in my arms. Still (shutter).

I think it is still important that Gizmo and I go to the dog park, but I will not allow Zeus to be in the park at the same time as Gizmo! It isn't that I am scared of Zeus, it is simply that I don’t trust that lab or his owner any more.