Question for dog owners.. 🐶

[F_Marturana]

Yesterday on our block was a small dog just wandering around and oblivious to the passing cars (not many but a few).

My son called me out to tell me and I looked out and didn’t see him. A passing lady asked if the dog on the corner was our dog. So we went out and saw the dog about a block away.

I brought the dog some water because it was pretty hot yesterday, and he lapped it up. He had a collar with a tag and phone number. My son called and left a message. Finally a couple came by and saw the pup and recognized him and called him by name. They were the neighbors. Pup was on his block.

My question after a long preview was would he have been able to get home on his own? Or would it depend on if he had a lot of experience walking around the neighborhood?

He sort of looked like Benji from the old movies. He did seem grateful for the water and gave my ankle an appreciative lick.

 

[Mtatum1958]

You know it just depends on the dog, his familiarity with the neighborhood, and his age (experience). Have had younger dogs who lead me home on a Leeds when they were tired, and older ones who were more or less oblivious.

 

[F_Marturana]

Hmm. The dog seemed in the older side he had some grey. Unless of course that was his natural color.

I’ve always been afraid of dogs sadly. My husband was surprised I helped this dog. But he was a little dog, with a collar. I didn’t think I’d be mauled.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Actually, little dogs are in general more “nippy” than big dogs, but, mauling is rare You did a good thing!

 

[F_Marturana]

My sister in law has a toy poodle and he chomped on my hand recently because I didn’t pet him correctly. It didn’t break skin, but hurt pretty bad.

 

[BartholomewB]

My question after a long preview was would he have been able to get home on his own?

It’s hard to say. How far away was he from his home? Is it the place where he has lived all his life, or did he move in only recently? It’s certainly a possibility that you may have saved his life!

 

[BartholomewB]

Actually, little dogs are in general more “nippy” than big dogs,

My sister in law has a toy poodle and he chomped on my hand recently because I didn’t pet him correctly.

Yes, that’s my experience too. The big, dangerous-looking ones seem to know that they have to be careful, while the little ones will snap at you for no reason at all. Perhaps when you stretch out your hand to stroke them, they think you’re threatening to hit them. I don’t know, it’s hard to tell. And poodles seem to be particularly quick on the draw.

 

[chessnerd321]

Some dogs are quite dumb. Others are smart. Others are smart enough to play dumb. It depends on the dog.

 

[F_Marturana]

Pup was about 4 blocks total away from home.

I’ve never seen him before.

There’s a canal nearby, with lots of overgrown grass and shrubs. He could have ended up covered in ticks or fleas. Or attacked by a goose.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Warms my cold, cynical heart

 

[BartholomewB]

Ticks, fleas, and geese he could probably handle. If he’d fallen into the canal he might easily have drowned. And yes, he seems to have been quite a long way from home. I’d say there’s a good chance you saved his life.

 

[Dlee]

or hit by a car - that’s my greatest fear.