I should be so excited about collecting my new pup but....

No Smurf , that poor child was only twelve and dog attacks like that are not a daily happening. Enjoy walks with your new best friend , I envy you x

No. It's such a horrible horrible thing to do. The image would stick in your head. It's understandable.
However, I'm sure you'll have a great time with your new little friend. Maybe be careful about where you go with him or her and when?
Good luck. Don't let these cruel bastards (no other word for them) affect you.

Of course you want to keep your pup safe. The good news is that puppies should not have very long walks for a few months in order that their bones and muscles grew and strengthen without strain. So little walks are the way to go to begin with. I kept puppy on the lead all the time unless I was happy that it was safe. Puppy classes are invaluable as they can get the vital socialisation they needs and you can ask questions etc.

Most people stick to the rule that if someone is walking towards you with a dog on the lead , it is good manners to put yours on as well, because their dog may be timid or aggressive or defensive etc. Of course you will always get the not so brights who are clueless, I wo Lydia personally pick pup up if I was really concerned.

Hope that helps and what a lovely busy Tim e you are going to have with your friend for life

Thanks all. Yes I will go slowly on the walkies aspect until she's bigger. My Westie was a rescue and five months old when we got her. I've never had such a young pup before so its a whole new ball game for me so I suppose I'm being overprotective....

Oh how lovely for you to be collecting your new pup next week. Please don't let this tragic story put you off . You can keep her on a very long lead so let her explore but you still have control of her. I hope to get a pup in the spring and would love to see a picture of yours and updates of how you both are getting on.

This incident is a rare occurrence, please don't let it spoil the enjoyment of your pup.
Sorry Whitewave but I disagree with your advice, picking the pup up will only result in you too being attacked, let the pup go, chances are it will outrun its predators.

I’m talking aggressive staffie or Alsatian here, not the normal aggression. There is no way a pup can outrun such a big dog. That has happened twice since I had our Cairn, I simply calmly picked him up and walked by trying to appear authoritive. but that is over 8 years so not a bad record. You get to know the dogs in your area, as well as other dog walkers who always alert others to dodgy dogs. But honestly it is so rare.

'But honestly it is so rare.'
I do hope so. I agree with picking up the puppy.
Planning to return to SE UK soon, with our elderly collie, who is used to open spaces, and needs her walks.
But I've come across a few aggressive dogs here. Alsations and one Rottie. I know it sounds strange, but what I've found works in an emergency is to turn to face the dog, bend down to their level, and growl as loud as possible. If you're carrying a stick wave it at them.
Never run away from them.

I am a non-dog owner who walks a lot in the countryside around our village. I meet lots of dog owners as I go and lots of dogs off their leads as they are out in fields and woods.

My tactic when be rushed by a dog is to stand still head-up and face immobile and if the dog looks seriously worrying to cross my arms. It has yet not to work, the dog quietens down and responds to its owners calls. If I had a small dog I would pick it up.

I can quite see if you’ve never had a dog how difficult it is to read the dog as it rushes towards you. Owners have absolute responsibility to keep their dog under control, and if you are frightened of dogs I think you should say so and expect the owner to respect you.

We’ve trained all our dogs from day one not to jump up and especially if someone is coming towards us dog free we keep him under close control.

Bum that last post of mine should be on the other dog thread. I’m too lazy to repeat myself — sorry to confuse

Fennel I simply cannot agree with you about bending down and facing the attacking dog. This is possibly one of the worst things you could do. As MOnica says stay immobile sideways on to the dog and cross your arms.
Smurf don't let this sad event put you off. Your pup needs exercise and its good for both of you. If there are other dogs around keep her on the lead. Training classes are good for socialization and teaching recall etc. Good luck and enjoy your puppy.

Please try not to be nervous when out with your puppy as the pup will pick up on this and then will more than likely become nervous around other dogs,
Could i advise that you asap find a good dog training club and join (alot have waiting lists but most you can join before you get your pup), go look at how the club is run, and as soon as your pup is vaccinated, take your pup along to the club, this way it will socialise your pup and hopefully give you confidence around other dogs when you are with your dog ,
(sorry for long post ,i have my dog trainer head on ) ,,lol lol

It's very important to socialise a puppy as it learns so much in the first few weeks/months of it's life. There are many dog walking groups, now; I'd check out dog walking groups on facebook. We're members of a whippet walking group even though our whippet can't walk on rocky terrain due to her poorly feet [corns]; we sometimes just meet with the group and walk with them sans dog, because they're such a lovely lot of people.

Christine I agree it sounds daft, but it did work on 2 occasions here. Perhaps I was lucky (and I was very scared.)
Perhaps french dogs are different from British dogs and certainly a group of dogs is another matter altogether, as in the OP's story.
What do people think about carrying a stout stick when walking a dog? Would it be a deterrent to attacks?

My D has a cavachon puppy, now about 10 months old.
She only walked him around the small estate where she lived for several weeks and increased it to a local park when he was several months old. Never any trouble, most dog owners are very responsible and keep their pets under control.
I think and hope you are being too pessimistic, I wish you well and DON'T WORRY.

Never bend down to face and growl at a dog trying to attack your dog unless you want stitches in your face or if a rottie you like the thought of it clamping it's jaw to your face, it's what several breeds do,they clamp their jaw. Monica and whitewave are right.

Isn’t there an Irish proverb ‘ speak softly, but carry a big stick’.
I would do as Monica advises, plus keep the walks short for the puppy and on a short lead, and yes, carry a walking stick.

Thanks all, I feel a lot better now having read your posts.
Izzywizzy - yes I'd like to swap photos when you get your pup. I too was going to wait until Spring but this breeder was highly recommended and this was the last litter. I dread toilet training outside in the cold.

Jacksmum and others who have mentioned puppy socialisation and classes. I am ahead of you! I've contacted a lady who does this locally and she us coming to see Lulu when I get her with a view to her starting after her final injections.

How exciting - enjoy your new baby and try not to worry too much. Attacks like that are very rare but as others have said standing stock still and crossing your arms is the best idea. Watch how Victoria Stillwell does it

Exciting times coming Smurf please try and put out of your mind those horrible thoughts that you read about and move on to welcome your new addition.
Its great that you have already organised classes with your puppy she will do well with having them so early on.
As stated she will only need short walks for the first few months and you may meet other people walking their dogs who will socialise with Lulu and yourself we dog walkers are a very friendly lot in the norm and know how to look after our animals there is just that odd% who need educating how to look after animals but I'm sure you will not encounter them.Enjoy your puppy xx

When walking my lively but sweet tempered little cocker spaniel I ALWAYS carry a stick. You just never know who or what you might meet. Much better to be safe than sorry!
Enjoy your puppy Smurf, they're so sweet when little and wonderful companions for years to come.

Please don't worry unduly. These attacks are very rare. Having said that my 3 year old cockapoo has been attacked twice in his life. The first was when he was a very young pup 8 months and was out with my daughter. He ran up to two bull mastiffs that were on leads and they broke free from their owners. Our dog, took off and ran across roads back home! Could have been more serious, if car had hit him. Dogs didn't follow. Note: Don't let him run up to dogs on leads.

Second was he was attacked by two off lead greyhound looking dogs when he was with me on holiday. They bit him really badly on the back. Owner had absolutely no control.

After that he was always wary of pack dogs (i.e. people with two or more of same breed) and so was I. I keep him on lead in new places.

You will find other dog owners and get to know 'safe' places to walk your dog. Socialise your dog as much as you can as they learn who to approach and who not to.

It hasn't made me worry too much - I just keep vigilant and so does he!

I wouldn't advise picking the dog up though if he's attacked and its a big dog as they will pull it out of your arms. Just place him between your legs and stand your ground. Very few off lead dogs attack people.

I guess I am not comforting you much but am just trying to make you aware, its rare, but can happen.

I'd be more worried about buying a puppy with the well known King Charles Spaniel defects than the remote possibility of it being mauled out walking.