Crazy dog! Not to be confused with the cute robotic dog, Zoomer that I just reviewed. :) Last night my family went out to eat in a little sleepy town about 45 minutes from home. We live in a little town too, but this particular place has a restaurant with dishes that are s-c-r-u-m-p-t-i-o-u-s, so every so often we make the trip.
It has become tradition for me and the kids to walk around the little area (outside) while we're waiting on our food. Hubby stays at the table with a newspaper (and loves it). On this particular day there was a huge St. Bernard dog sitting on a porch we had to walk by. All three of us noticed him at the same time.
"Aww...he's cute," piped my son.
"Eww, he's just sitting there staring, and it's creepy," contributed the teen. ;)
I remember thinking vaguely that he looked like a statue, he was so still. That was right before we got directly in front of the steps he was on and he ran out as fast as he could, clearly trying to intimidate us. He succeeded.
The rest of the evening was filled with my daughter's spontaneous giggles as she remembered me wrapping myself instantly around the 5-yr. old.
"Hahahahaha, that was so funny the way you wrapped your whole body around him."
Whatever. People can do strange things when they're startled: Fight or Flight. For sure.
No harm, no foul, and I love dogs as much as the next person but in hindsight I'm wondering what the owners were thinking. Their dog could have easily snapped his line if he wanted, and he was way bigger than either me or the children. Call me overly protective or paranoid, but I'm thinking the pet should have been more properly secured.
Have you ever done something in a startling situation that totally surprised yourself? I'm sure I have before, but this is the first one I remember in a looooong time. :)
I don't know what I would have done in that situation, but honestly, I think the dog would have ended up getting hurt, which is a shame.
ReplyDeleteSeems they would take more care for their sake and others. No matter how well you know a dog, circumstances could make behavior different. Ya just never know. :)
DeleteWhen kids are little you establish family traditions. We used to go to a certain Chinese Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis.
ReplyDeleteWe tend to react to protect people.
You're right about the traditions. :) I think they're nice (most of them anyway ;) ).
DeleteIt's funny, my daughter isn't scared of big dogs at all. She laughs at them. But tiny yappy dogs? HATES them! I think because they come out of nowhere and are kinda scary. We have a big dog, so that's probably why. However, when we're around the neighborhood and I have my dog and the stroller, I always tend to protect MY dog when another dog comes out to him. He's more scared of them than my 22 month old lol!
ReplyDeleteI remember getting scared when I would walk my dog (when I was a young girl) every time another dog would walk by. My dog was little and yappie, and instigated others, lol. ;)
DeleteI think I would have definitely jumped or been startled by this for sure. And you are right fight or flight definitely finds us doing interesting things we never really thought we may have in certain scenarios!!
ReplyDeleteAh, if it's the worst thing that happens this summer, we're pretty lucky. ;)
Deleteah you are just being mama bear...i would totally do the same for my boys...i am usually running in, in the case of emergency...responding so that is my first inclination...
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to be around people who are predictably going to protect others in an emergency (or imagination-induced emergency like my brain must have thought it was going to be, lol).
DeleteHow scary... usually from my experience St. Bernards aren't usually mean... but GEEZE.... Didn't the owners hear it doing that. I might have called the cops and told them to tell the owners to take care of that mutt.
ReplyDeleteOur neighbor has a pair and they've gotten loose (once in the 6 years we've been here). I went to let the neighbor's know so they would't get hit by a car and both dogs came to the house when I was knocking...wondering who the heck was at their door, I guess. LOL They were gentle as could be. :)
DeleteIt probably just wanted to drool on someone new
ReplyDeleteHe/she didn't have grass or anything around either, so I am guessing sitting on that porch, on a rope, was pretty darn boring. Of course there was no need to amuse him/herself at our expense...lol!!
DeleteOk here's what I did once - soooo ashamed but here it is -
ReplyDeleteWe were all in the basement watching t.v. and a mouse ran by and I went out of my mind and actually pushed my kids out of the way to get up the stairs first LMHO........seriously - I pushed my way ahead of them - they were about 6 and 8 ( and I was the most overprotective Mother you could imagine ) I think of that often - how horrible!!!
They got a pet kitten 2 days later!
XOXO
buwahahhahahahahhahahahahahhaahahaha
Deletei don't blame you at all rosey! first of all with the way you describe how huge that dog was, i would probably run without the kids, lol! just kidding! :)
ReplyDeleteowners need to watch their dogs at all times though...
I imagine no one's going to try and sell something at their front door, lolol
DeleteLOL would be funny to see, but yeah I don't blame you either. The dog could eat him. Although probably just wanted to sniff your butt
ReplyDeleteIt's so funky that he didn't bark or growl or anything. Crazy dog. ;)
DeleteI was about seven or eight years old and walking in the woods as the sun went down. In the gathering darkness. I was hustling along headed toward my grandparents' cottage. Then I heard this loud sound of wings swooping just over my head. The huge owl landed on a tree beside my path, having just frightened the pudding out of me. I never broke stride but kept moving swiftly toward the safety of parents and shelter.
ReplyDeleteAh, you took me back to youth. I remember feeling frightened but still moving forward...walking home by the park at dusk w/a tree lined sidewalk comes to mind. I was so scared something/someone was going to jump out, hahaa
DeleteI've done volunteer work with an injured owl before. The first time they open their wings is startling. No way in the world you expect it to be that big or powerful!! I can see being frightened, especially as a youth. :)
Reminds me of the instantly slam on your brakes and protect the passenger in your car ...
ReplyDeleteI would have paid to see that reaction!
¤´¨)
¸.•*´
(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
Raising-Reagan.com
I've done that too...arm moving out in front of hubby who laughed at me. ;)
DeleteQuite sure you and my daughter would have had a merry laugh or twenty... lol. She'd love you!! :)
Good move on your part to protect your baby. I don't think this dog needed to be there though. Some people just won't admit their dog is vicious and I think this one is. It's a shame as many people get mauled every year.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. :)
Hubby's a mailman and has tons of stories about himself and people he works with over the years. I love dogs, but they can be dangerous and they should def. be looked after if you own one.
DeleteUsually when I'm startled, I fall to the floor in a crumple. That's not really a good response, I don't suppose.
ReplyDeleteLOLOL (sorry). I bet your kids laugh at you!!! Or get worried... My kids would laugh, most especially the teen. -_- ;)
DeleteSt. Bernards are so huge and with their jowls, their mouths look even bigger. I had a former sis-in-law who's parents owned one. They always claim he was friendly but 300 lbs friendly - isn't really friendly - if you know what I'm saying. But I did have to chuckle too about how your daughter thought that seen was funny. Perhaps more like 'comic relief' is more like it. LOL
ReplyDeleteOh and my camera is just a Sony Cyber-shot and it has an automatic macro setting that recognizes a close up and focuses perfectly ... if I am holding still that is. But, yes THANK YOU. I love details in posts, so that is why I include those close-ups; cuz my camera takes those shots for me. Yay!
Yeah, their size alone is intimidating, nice or not. ;)
DeleteIt's a Sony Cyber Shot??? That's awesome.
Mu husband says that I usually over react...so what? better be safe than sorry...next thing you know "Benji" (or in your case Beethoven) turns into a "Cujo" in 0 to 60!!!! I think You did exactly what I would have done!
ReplyDeleteLOL at the movie references. :) Beethoven on steroids does not a pretty picture make. ;)
DeleteIam very scared of dogs. My mom was bitten many many years back, maybe that's why?
ReplyDeleteI would have really screamed lol. Iam very expressive that ways! ;)
I'm scared of driving fast, and think it's because there was someone in our family who did when I was a kid and had to be in their car.
DeleteMy son wasn't scared of the dog, he was freaked out that I freaked out, lol
i would have done the same...
ReplyDeleteyet with my mouth i probably would have said something to the owners...
No way I was knocking on their door, hahahaha. That's where the dog was tied up, on the front porch in front of the stairs, right by the front door. ;)
DeleteI hate it when dogs rush at you like that! I am a dog lover, but that kind of behavior is very frightening.
ReplyDelete3 doors down our neighbor has 2 St. Bernard s. He doesn't leash them or anything and they laze around in the yard not doing much of anything. I wonder if they have an electric fence or that they are just that well behaved. The funny thing is, my boy boxer looks intimidating. Has no problem barking at other dogs, but when we walk passed their house and those dogs let out a bark, he tucks his butt and runs really fast down the street. Such a baby! lol
LOL, your mop picture just came to mind. Your dogs are beauties. :)
DeleteI have my share of seeing crazy dogs. My ma and I was surrounded by 25 crazy wild dogs in VN. It gave me the fright of my life! I would have done the same thing!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, your story is way worse than mine!!! I would have freaaaaaaaked! I'm sure of it. Glad there was a happy ending!
DeleteThat would've scared me too! And I do like dogs. But that would've been unexpected. And you never know what a strange dog might do.
ReplyDeleteExactly. :) I like dogs too but he freaked me out for a sec.
DeleteThat's good that your instinct was to grab him! I love dogs, but big ones do scare me. Especially if I don't know the dog. I think this was a bad move on the owner's part.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but wonder why they're leaving him out there like that...he can't be happy tied up and with no grass or anything.
DeleteThat would have scared the daylights out of me! I probably would have done the same thing. I've been harassed by dogs a few times it is scary.
ReplyDeleteIt can def. be scary depending on the situation.
DeleteSure he just wanted to give you a lick
ReplyDeleteThey say they're a nice breed. Our neighbor has a nice pair of them who've been nothing but sweet.
DeleteBe careful !
ReplyDeleteCool blog and lovely posts !
Thanks for the visit!
DeleteLooking at it from the dog's perspective... it wasn't a kind thing on the part of the owners to just leave him/her out there subject to the love or hatred of anyone passing by. He/she was chained and couldn't get away. As pet owners, we should treat our pets better. As pet owners, we also have a responsibility to other human beings. Leaving an animal untended like that could lead to someone getting hurt. It was reckless and irresponsible. Shame on whoever owned this dog.
ReplyDeleteI don't find your reaction surprising at all. It was protective of your most defenseless child.
Totally getting it. I felt bad for the dog too. He didn't have grass or anything. He did look great though, well cared for, I mean, so hopefully it was a rare thing.
DeleteHey we have a little dog and he can hurt you. I don;t blame you at all. sandie
ReplyDeleteLittle dogs are far less scary when they jump out at you. :)
Delete