Not a good day today - a couple of days ago a bloke Julia knows came up with his dog while we were doing our daily perambulation of the track. The dog's some kind of Staffy or staffy cross by the looks of it; anyway, Maddie went and chased it and all the other "wee" dogs joined in (3 of them and possibly isla, the boxer as well I can't remember). We called them away as the dog was getting inundated.
today he came up again and Maddie again made a beeline - this dog doesn't play, it just lies down (doesn't roll over so not as submissive as all that!) and Maddie basically chewed her ears. I pulled her away and she went back - at which point the guy started yelling at me, saying my dog was aggressive and I should have her on a lead. I actually thought he was joking at first, but it quickly became clear he wasn't. I was trying to tell him she didn't do that to the other dogs, said I wasn't trying to have an argument with him just saying she wasn't aggressive. That didn't help and he continued to yell at me so I picked Maddie up and said I was going home - he continued to yell at me as I walked away, I was in shock.
The others just all stood around and didn't say anything, it all happened so quickly but they wouldn't get involved anyway, you don't in that sort of situation. I want down to the end of the path leading in and sat on the ground and cried - I was in shock then very upset. Cried all the way home. Richard says he'll come up with me tomorrow but i think that could make it worse. I actually don't want to go back up there again, I don't want to run the risk of meeting him again, he was very bullying and looking back I can see there were signs in my previous meetings with him with the others.
And there's always the chance that the others think Maddie's aggressive too but haven't liked to say so. I don't think she is, I think she was doing to the dog what she does to Murphy and actually does to the other dogs too (well isla and archie) - chewing their ears and playfighting - but they all run away or chase her or play back but this dog just lies there.
It's quite ruined my day (well, when I remembered after classes) and I really don't know what to do tomorrow. I might take them up through the woods or somewhere else, or I might let Richard take them for their morning walk. Or I could brave it and go back but be prepared to put Maddie on the lead if that dog returns (actually I'd take them into the woods, they need to run around), I don't know.
Any ideas?
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