So Upset! Dog killed other dog.

[Cessena]

On saturday I had my dog at the dog park, and he attacked a little toy dog. I have had issues with him and small dogs in the past, but nothing to this extent. Usually he just looks WAY too interested. But this time he ran over and pinned the dog to the ground, shook him around and everything before I could get to him. I just found out today that the little dog died of its injuries.

I don't know what to do, I'm going to get ahold of the owner and deal with her bills and everything, but I'm just so upset. He's really been getting so much better with smaller dogs over the last couple of years, to find out that he just killed one is heartbreaking.

We obviously wont be going back to the dog park since people don't keep their small dogs in the small dog area and I can't control him once his prey drive kicks in.

I don't know what to do, and I know this is all my fault.

 

[Bailey08]

Oh my gosh, that poor, poor dog and owner. That breaks my heart.

I'm glad that you are taking care of the bills. I would suggest that you give the owner your sincere apologies as well, if you haven't already. [As an aside, absolutely do not say anything about where *you* think his/her dog should have been, since yours shouldn't have been at the DP in the first place.]

I think, otherwise, you just have to deal with the guilt and prevent it from EVER happening again.

 

[Doberluv]

Oh! That is so sad. It has to be just devestating for the little dog's owner. If you thought your dog was way too intent on little dogs, you probably should have kept him under control with a leash. When they are sooooo interesting, stiff, staring, but not jovial and playful, you gotta know that that is prey behavior and anything is possible. You can not put so much trust in your dog. Big dogs can definitely view little dogs as prey if they're not very, very accustom to them, often times, growing up with them on a day to day basis. Some don't, but a lot do.

But, you didn't know and you can't blame yourself too harshly for something you must not have read right in your dog or didn't realize. You've learned by way of a very serious mistake and I know you won't make the same mistake again. Sometimes in life, the best lessons come from the hardest consequences. I'm truly sorry for how this must make you feel as well as for the owner of the little dog.

You will have to suck up as best you can, pay the vet bills, offer to buy her a new dog, if that will help at all. And absolutely don't make mention of your opinion that her little dog should have been in the little dog section. It is our responsibility to control our dogs so that they don't get another dog, regardless. And just apologize a lot. There's nothing more you can do now, but try to make things better and then move on and forgive yourself for this mistake. We're all human and we all make mistakes. I'm just so sorry that this one was so costly.

 

[Cessena]

I wish I had a time machine. I will definitely apologize if I can manage it, I think I feel too horrible to even talk to her. What can you say to someone to make up for something like this?

And I would never blame her for this, this was obviously my fault.

 

[Fran101]

I wish I had a time machine. I will definitely apologize if I can manage it, I think I feel too horrible to even talk to her. What can you say to someone to make up for something like this?

And I would never blame her for this, this was obviously my fault.

I nice letter would be nice if you feel you really can't speak to them. tell them you're sorry, pay for the vet bills,.. other than that, theres really nothing you can do.
nothing can really make up for something like that :/ but be as nice and apologetic as you can

don't blame yourself or your dog too harshly.. prey drive is a hard thing for a dog to control. that is why small dog section/large dog sections EXIST. I have seen things like this happen at dog parks before and its heartbreaking

 

[adojrts]

I am so very sorry for everyone, including you and your dog.

At least you are taking responsiblity, however I also don't think it is entirely on your shoulders. If there was a small dog park provided, the woman certainly took a risk by going into the large dog park, and she too holds some responsiblity.

Stepping up and contacting them, paying for the bills is honourable and showing that you are feeling responsible is good, sadly it doesn't change what happened but it is at least the right thing to do at this point.

Good luck and you may also want to contact a good behaviourist to help you with his issues.

On saturday I had my dog at the dog park, and he attacked a little toy dog. I have had issues with him and small dogs in the past, but nothing to this extent. Usually he just looks WAY too interested. But this time he ran over and pinned the dog to the ground, shook him around and everything before I could get to him. I just found out today that the little dog died of its injuries.

I don't know what to do, I'm going to get ahold of the owner and deal with her bills and everything, but I'm just so upset. He's really been getting so much better with smaller dogs over the last couple of years, to find out that he just killed one is heartbreaking.

We obviously wont be going back to the dog park since people don't keep their small dogs in the small dog area and I can't control him once his prey drive kicks in.

I don't know what to do, and I know this is all my fault.

 

[Doberluv]

It is definitely going to be unpleasant to have to apologize and face her, but that is something you must do...not just for her sake, but for your own...for your own beginning toward healing over this. I know it can't make up for it. Nothing can. But it's the only thing you can do besides monetary compensation. Sympathy, empathy, sharing her sadness, no matter what her reaction is something that just has to happen. I'm so very sorry for you. (((HUGS))) But it will pass and get better...in time. It will.

 

[bubbatd]

I know you must be upset, but my heart goes out to the poor dog and the owner . Knowing he had these issues , you should never let him loose around small dogs . I'm so sorry that you have to go through this .

 

[Doberluv]

Maybe Adojrts has a point about the small dog section. I'm a moron about dog parks and am not very familiar with the usual etiquitte. Maybe she was indeed wrong to let her dog run around in the midst of large dogs she doesn't know....especially if it's a park where you couldn't see the little dog all the time because of trees or bushes. Wrong or right...it was pretty dumb. I'd be very paranoid to let my little Chis run loose with a bunch of big dogs they don't now.

At any rate, right or wrong...of course, you can't bring that up with this situation.

 

[PoodleMommy]

Unless it specifically states that small dogs ARE NOT allowed in the section of the park you were in, the other owner was not in the wrong.

Personally, I only take my dogs to places with a separate area and only allow them to stay if people dont bring their big dogs in to "see the little guys"... however, I know at most places it is billed as "small dogs" & "any size dog" and most times the "any size dog" section is bigger and nicer, so many people will take their smaller dogs over there.

If you knew your dog had this ability, he never should have been at a dog park.

 

[smkie]

Everytime i see a toy breed at our off leash park I pray it doesnt get hurt. I would not take such a small dog there because of the risk of injury. Sorry sad situation.

 

[Babyblue5290]

That is just a horrible situation I feel bad for both of the parties involved. I'm so sorry this happened

As far as the little dog being in the big dog area, is there a sign that actually says "No small dogs allowed" or that it is a big dog area only? If not, then it's not wrong for her to have her dog with the large dogs, who are expected to be non-aggressive to all dogs.

I know at the dog park here, there is a small area, and a large area. It's generally 'known' small area is for the small dogs and the larger area is for the larger dogs, but there is no sign preventing either from going into the other area.

Again, I'm just sorry this situation happened I can't imagine how bad you must feel.

 

[Bailey08]

Maybe Adojrts has a point about the small dog section. I'm a moron about dog parks and am not very familiar with the usual etiquitte. Maybe she was indeed wrong to let her dog run around in the midst of large dogs she doesn't know....especially if it's a park where you couldn't see the little dog all the time because of trees or bushes. Wrong or right...it was pretty dumb. I'd be very paranoid to let my little Chis run loose with a bunch of big dogs they don't now.

At any rate, right or wrong...of course, you can't bring that up with this situation.

From what I understand, small dogs are usually brought into the bigger sections because "no one" goes to the small dog side (I've never actually been to a segregated DP and my dog is medium sized anyway). I think that if a more knowledgeable owner had owned either dog, it wouldn't have happened because the dogs wouldn't have been given the opportunity -- mistakes were made on both sides. I still don't think it changes what this owner did (knowingly bringing a dog with small dog "issues" to a DP, particularly when small dogs were present), and think that an apology is in order.

I totally agree with your other posts, by the way. Life is sometimes painful, we all make mistakes, and the best thing we can all do is learn from them. Guilt is human but doesn't accomplish much -- so my suggestion is to deal with this situation and move on as best you can.

ETA: I actually brought my dog to the DP when he was still a puppy, something which I now think is a horrible idea. So, I didn't mean to sound holier than thou (or than the other owner). I count myself very lucky. This really is a sad situation.

 

[Doberluv]

I can't sound holier than thou either. I let my dogs run around where bears are.

It's just an unfortunate accident and you aren't the first or only person to make such a mistake. Not that that is much consolation to you now. But I hope you'll forgive yourself.

 

[Scooter]

I'm so sorry for you and for the other people involved. How heartbreaking. I would definitely reach out to them and apologize in any way you can. And you have to forgive yourself. It was horrible, but you can't turn back time. Just do what you can to help the people it hurt, and learn from it.

 

[ACooper]

Agree with the others who've said move forward, do what you can for the other owner, and learn from it.

I am sorry for you and the other party........sad day for all

 

[Cessena]

Thank you all for your comments, I have a lot to think about. I really appreciate everyones comments and I hope that I'll be able to provide some small consolation for the woman who lost her dog.

For the record, I never keep Vlad out or off leash around the other dogs when there are small dogs present. She walked in with her dog while we were there and I was walking over to take him home when the smaller dog ran over to him and he attacked it. He's never done anything to this extent before, usually he just looks a little too interested and then we leave. I just wish I'd seen her sooner, or that we'd left sooner, or a million other things.

Now I know better what my dog is capable of and I won't forget that as sweet as he may be, he's still an animal. I really just wish this lesson hadn't come with such a cost.

 

[elegy]

stepping up and taking responsibility, paying vet bills, etc is definitely the honorable thing to do, and kudos to you for that. it won't fix anything, won't bring back their dog, but you're doing the right thing.

i am so sorry this happened. sorry for them, sorry for you.

this is why i don't like dog parks. you knew he was overinterested but overinterested didn't say to you "my dog is going to kill a little dog". the little dog was in running with the big dogs and ran up to the wrong dog while you were trying to do the responsible, safe thing and leave. tragedy occurred. it was all a perfect storm of bad choices. dog parks aren't risk free for anybody, but i especially can't imagine taking a little dog to one.

anyway, this is all a rambling bunch of words trying to say that my heart goes out to you and to the woman who lost her dog.

 

[Doberluv]

But this time he ran over and pinned the dog to the ground, shook him around and everything before I could get to him.

She walked in with her dog while we were there and I was walking over to take him home when the smaller dog ran over to him and he attacked it.

So, did Vlad run to where the little dog was and attack it? Or did the smaller dog run over to Vlad and then Vlad attacked the little dog? That makes a difference. It doesn't make a difference in the outcome. But it makes a difference in how Vlad may have perceived things. Just wondering.

 

[ihartgonzo]

Honestly... I feel that little dogs have every right to be in the big dog side, just as big dogs do the little dog side. When people roll their eyes/make snide remarks about Fozzie being in little dogs it really upsets me. Not all dogs are the same - just like some little dogs are too rowdy for small side, some big(gish) dogs are too mellow for the big dog side. :/

I do know people who bring their Huskies and their Greyhounds to the dog park with basket muzzles for this very thing. Prey drive can kick in out of NOWHERE and can be deadly in a heartbeat. My relative's GSD mix was great at the dog park for years and years; until one day he chased after an old Toy Poodle and shook it like it was a toy.

I agree with Doberluv... if Vlad was chasing the little dog, it was likely prey driven. If the little dog was running up to him, it sounds more like aggression.