Today I went to take Wrigley on a walk around the block. I am trying to go on at least one a day for right now when he is still young. I know I will need to increase the walks and length when he gets older and has way more energy. Its also good practice walking with his harness and leash on.
So all was going well and we were almost home. Then two big dogs came running full speed out of their backyard WITHOUT leashes on! I freaked out since I didn't know if they were going to hurt Wrigley or me. He had his tail between his legs and was trying to get away. I wanted to pick him up so that he would be semi safe in my arms. Wrigley started to do his classic Shiba scream and I finally got him in my arms as the dogs reached us.
I cant even recall what happened then. I started to walk away slowly and the dogs appeared not to want to harm us. They started to sniff where Wrigley was standing. In all this commotion the owners never appeared from their house. I then smelled something stinky and realized Wrigley had peed or something on himself and me.
Time for a bath. I have never given him a bath but have been trying to desensitize him to the tub. I put him in it with peanut butter on the side of the tub and let him lick it while I run the water slowly. Now it was time for the big show. No more trial runs, he was going to go all the way in.
I had peanut butter on the tub again but once I started the water at full force to get it warm he was clawing to get out. I kept trying to show him the peanut butter but he wasn't having it. The water was finally warm enough and I got him under the faucet. He froze. OK, I can live with that. He just stood there under the water. I was able to soap him up and rinse him off with out major injury. He wasn't even screaming. He only tired once more to get out.
Finally I was done and he looked like a drowned rat. Once the water was off he went to licking the peanut butter. Soon after he wanted out of the tub and I needed to dry him off. He hates the towels normally when we try to just dry his paws off so his whole body was hard to do. I put some treats on the ground and while he snarfed those down I dried as best as I could.
He dried pretty quickly and by then he was pawing at the door to get out so I gave a finally treat and let him out of the torture chamber. I thought he was going to be pissed at me but he was fine and defiantly hyper. He went running around downstairs and trying to kill his stuffed toy. As I write this he is tuckered out and taking a nap.
I am so mad that the owners of the dogs just let them run around with out any leash on. Also that they didn't even notice what was going on and didn't come out to get the dogs or at least to say that they are not going to rip my dog apart! I want Wrigley to be comfortable with dogs so I would have put him down to meet them if I knew that it would be OK.
Now I feel that he is traumatized by dogs and by going on walks. These early months are so important for socialization and getting them acquainted to different things. I feel like all our positive work that we have done could be set back. I am hoping that this doesn't change his attitude to other dogs.
I'm also pissed at Husband since when I told him the story he was like did you let him meet them. I was like no, I was trying to make sure he wasn't going to be eaten or that I wasn't going to be mauled. He thought I should have just left him on the ground and waited to see what was going to happen! How faustrating, I really enjoy our walks and now I don't want to go on them.
We made it through 4th of July!
