I Felt Terrible About It
By Amber
@AmbiePam (120570)
United States
April 2, 2020 2:05pm CST
One of my dogs indicated she needed to go to go #1, so I took them both out. My leash is very long, and is the retractable kind. A lady outside was going to her car, and my two, small Chihuahuas decided they wanted to be friends with her. They made a beeline for her, and she starts screaming. I pull them back, and they don't get close to her, but I felt terrible. She said she's scared of dogs and they can sense it.
Well, dogs can sense fear, but she wasn't reading them correctly (fear taking away readon) as they were indicating nothing but a wagging tail. I picked them up so she wouldn't feel threatened, but she was almost in tears. I felt AWFUL! I don't know that I could do anything different. It was the first time I saw her, and I don't know her name or her apartment number, so I can't check on her.
Anyone feel bad about an interaction recently? Her fear was real, and I just wish I could have left her with a better experience. And maybe a few tips for intacting with dogs for the future.
16 people like this
17 responses
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
2 Apr 20
You will be more careful if you see her again, and with the experience of seeing them with you on occasion her anxiety may lessen. I would think that everyone is so stressed out that she reacted kind of "over the top". I am sure she knew you were concerned.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
2 Apr 20
Did you tell her that they aren't mean and were just excited? I'm assuming you apologized? There's nothing else that you need to do.
2 people like this
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
2 Apr 20
My personal opinion and practice is ,as pet owners we should be careful and resposible that our pets do not violate other people's personal space especially in public places, it's different when we are at home and people come in because our home is our own personal space and visitors are the ones entering it. I'm very sorry with what happened.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
2 Apr 20
@AmbiePam she must have had a very terrible experience with dogs to trigger something like that.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120570)
• United States
2 Apr 20
I wouldn't cure her fear, you are definitely right, but I thought I might help her with the fear of small dogs at least. Her reaction was in a way that would encourage dogs to keep going towards her. I wanted to show her how to get a small dog, like mine, to stop in its tracks.
1 person likes this
Fortunately, I never had any problems with dogs for some reason.
Too bad you couldn’t give her a few tips.
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
2 Apr 20
I would be here. But I'd feel the same as you.
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
4 May 20
little dogs can sure cause mayhem.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (38849)
• Philippines
3 Apr 20
That's terrible. Some people have fear of dogs. Hope you avoid that experience again
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
3 Apr 20
I think you did all you could keeping your dogs away.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208751)
• United States
2 Apr 20
Oh no. Even though I have had dogs in the past, I am scared of dogs too. I probably wouldn't scream if some little dogs like that came at me, but I wouldn;t like it and might be cross with the owner. Maybe send her an apology note, and say you would love for her to meet your dogs under better circumstances.
1 person likes this
