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Toby and I had a misadventure a couple of weeks ago. While on a walk, two large dogs woofed at Toby and scared him so badly that he bolted. He pulled me hard enough to knock me down and flip me over. I was stunned, and it took a few seconds for me to be able to move. In that time my little stinker pulled the leash off my wrist and ran away.
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*
I landed hard on both hands and both knees. My knees were torn and bruised even through my clothes. This was one hand after cleaning out the abrasions. (I left a nice trail of blood along the way home.)
Unlike the last time I fell, kind people stopped to check on me while others went after Toby. He was so scared that he was over a quarter of a mile away – heading home as fast as his little terrier legs could carry him – before someone caught him.
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I wasn’t scared. I was just being prudent.
Very rapidly.
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Toby has always been a scaredy boy, but he was calmer and more willing to try new things when Geordie was with him. Human children may have security blankets, but Toby had a Security Geordie. I wonder sometimes if he might not be such an emotional mess if he still had a canine buddy.
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Come see how much braver Toby is when he is with this big brother Geordie as they visit the Museum of the Imagination. In Dream Our World they view the world of art from a canine perspective while enjoying a day of unsupervised fun.
Dream Our World and other fine gifts are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
The Adventures of Bitey Dog 
Oh Toby! So glad he was heading for home, Maverick would be in the next county! He got away from me at the park one day and was heading for the development beside us, thank goodness for all that “Find Me!” practice we’ve done. A siren went off and scared both of us that day, he was about 6 months old. Now he would go looking for it to bite it
Oh my gosh, Maverick. You are a lucky pup. (Hmm, biting the siren. I never thought of that. – Toby)
When he was very young, we were playing in the tennis court at the park. He ran into the net. He turned around, gave it a look and then but it. 😂😂
😆😂😆👍
Poor Toby and poor you…thank goodness he was heading for home despite his fright
I am grateful his instinct was to head for the house. Otherwise I don’t think I would have ever seen him again.
He’s anything but stupid.
He’s a very instinctive pup.
How horrible it must have been. Start carrying mace.
The other dogs were behind a high fence. Toby is just a super scaredy guy. ☹️. (I do have Halt spray that I carry, just in case.)
Oh, no! 😦 Poor Toby! Poor you! This is so scary! 😦
I’m so glad Toby knew to run home. And that some people tried to help you both.
Coop says, “Hang in there, Toby. I’m an easily scared pup, too, so I know how you felt.” ❤️
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️
Thanks, Coop. Mom was kind of cranky when I messed up her hands. Sympathy feels good. 😊
Hope nothing scary happens around you!
Thank you, Toby! Fireworks always scared me, and thunder. But now that I’m so old and can’t see anymore, and my hearing isn’t as good…I don’t hear everything that used to scare me. Sniffs and Woofs and Licks for you!
Love, Cooper 🙂
Gettin’ old sometimes has its advantages! 😆
It do! 😉 🙃
😆
Omigosh, what a nightmare! Toffee is nervous and scaredy as well, and if he ever got free in a situation like that I doubt we’d see him again. Here in the city, it could only end badly.
A canine companion might be just the thing for him, if carefully selected. But would it be too much for you?
I wish I could have two again! Realistically, money is an issue, plus Toby’s behavior is unpredictable. I worry he might hurt another dog in one of his fugues. More is going on behind the scenes with us, and I am really feeling helpless as to how to deal with the situation.
The Reply feature wouldn’t work at the blog. I sent a reply to this e-mail. I hope that got through…
[image: shrug.gif] ~Marty
I got your comment on the blog! 😊
Ah, good.
I know you’ll find the solution that’s best for both of you. You’re a good mom! And Toby wants to be a good boy.
Toby is convinced he is a great boy, but he has serious concerns about my sanity.
I’m so sorry! Toby must be powerful for being such a little pup to knock you over and roll you. You really should sleep with one eye open around him. 😉
I have the opposite situation. Other dogs are going insane barking and spinning and my girl just looks at them, looks a bit bored and disinterested, then sallies forth. If she’s not interested, then she’s not interested. She’s has the cool confidence and presence of mind of 10 warriors. Gotta admire that, actually. I could use some of that energy in my own life.
However if she hears a strange noise outside she does lower her tail and head and run to find and hide behind me. Usually the noise is related to the wind or maybe pesky deer lurking around, but just to be safe I do lock the door quickly. One never knows…
It’s weird… as a kid my terrier protected me. She was a natural born killer and even protected me as I slept. As an adult I protect the terrier. It’s like I went from being a dog’s little sister to a dog mom.
As a fellow terrier mom I do hope your hand heals quickly. And seriously, what is wrong with the people around you ?? — no one checked on you after crashing to the ground ?? at least someone caught Toby, so all goodness of humanity is not lost.
Anony-mouse and The Terrier
This time people did check on me and offer to help. That was nice. Last time they just drove past me with my face in the mud.
I envy you your terrier’s temperament. She sounds like one cool customer.
Dear Abby,
I left a post, but it never posted. What did I do wrong?
Signed,
Anony-mouse and The Terrier
It posted! I’m not sure why it wasn’t showing properly.
Poor Toby. I am so sorry you got hurt by Toby’s craziness. I am so relieved people stopped to help and even caught your runaway Toby.
I was so happy to see someone holding Toby’s leash. The poor guy was confused why Toby wasn’t happy to see me until I explained that he had been running home. 😆
Nox is a good girl. I bet she’d never get scared and run. 💕
She looks at barking dogs with disdain and you can clearly tell she thinks, “What’s the matter with you?” She will often pee in front of their property and kick dance as if to show them that she doesn’t care if they bark at her. She has had some scary interactions with untrained big dogs when out walking. Bruce has had to pull her up into his arms to keep them away from Nox while the dog owners pull their dogs away.
Geordie got mad at me for lifting him whenever he was confronted by off-leash large dogs. He yelled at me that it was easier for them to reach his belly when I held him so
I should let him fight his own battles. After that, I did what he said, but I always wanted to lift and protect my little guy.
Ha! Nox is a gem! I wish I could meet her.
Bruce just yanks her up using the leash attached to her harness and instantly she is in his arms.Nox feels safe in Bruce’s arms. To Nox, Bruce is the her safe place when things are scary. (Loud noises, fast moving things, and things falling)
Aww! How sweet! Geordie (rightly) thought I was the dumbest thing on earth, and he needed to tell me what’s what. 😆
Dogs have such different personalities!
Aww poor Toby and poor you.
Thanks. We appreciate the sympathy!
STOP STOP STOPPPP BEATING YOURSELF UP !!!!!!!!!!!
YOU HAVENT FAILED TOBY ISNT A BROKEN PUPPY !!!
HE WAS IN PAIN THEY ARE BRILLIANT AT HIDING THAT IT IS AN INGRAINED SURVIVAL RESPONSE…. NOT REPEAT NOT YOU FAILING, HE ALSO IMPLY REACTS O SOME DRUGS JUST AS MANY FLK DO !!! DONT LOOK FOR A MORE COMPLICATED REASON
MISS L STOP THE BEATING YOURSELF UP RIGHT NOW.. THAT JUST TRANSMITS MORE HASSLE TO YOU BOTH
OK.. LECTURE OVER… ALL WILL BE WELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!
HUGSSS
THIS STOPIT WORDPRESS REFUSES TO LET ME REPLY !!!
Your first reply got through. I know this place can be screwy sometimes!
STOP STOP STOPPPP BEATING YOURSELF UP !!!!!!!!!!!
YOU HAVENT FAILED TOBY ISNT A BROKEN PUPPY !!!
HE WAS IN PAIN THEY ARE BRILLIANT AT HIDING THAT IT IS AN INGRAINED SURVIVAL RESPONSE…. NOT REPEAT NOT YOU FAILING, HE ALSO IMPLY REACTS O SOME DRUGS JUST AS MANY FLK DO !!! DONT LOOK FOR A MORE COMPLICATED REASON
MISS L STOP THE BEATING YOURSELF UP RIGHT NOW.. THAT JUST TRANSMITS MORE HASSLE TO YOU BOTH
OK.. LECTURE OVER… ALL WILL BE WELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!
HUGSSS