Islander2013

I'll remember that then the next time my dog is bitten multiple times by a labrador - with all due respect, Pleepsie, it doesn't matter what breed a dog is, if the temperament is such, it will bite and continue to bite. I've met rotweilers, staffies, dobies and so forth that have been the most placid creatures going yet some absolutely horrendous labradors, poodles, poms, etc. Yes, it is the careless ones that cause fear and distress. However, I can't help but wonder why the OP remained on the beach or even went on the beach if they saw that there were two dogs off the lead - I won't venture onto a beach with my dog if there are dogs already there off the lead. The OP doesn't state that the dogs attacked her dog, how much they had socialised their yorkshire terrier, etc. Don't get me wrong, having had one of my dogs previously attacked viciously by a labrador, I do sympathise re dogs off the lead (and wish more were on the lead) but as responsible dog owners, if we have a nervous dog then we owe it to them to do all we can to alleviate the fear of dogs being frightened of other dogs, and many a time that involves overcoming our own fears and socialising our dogs with other dogs. Seriously?? Im sorry I dont have Xray vision of what's round a corner! My dog is not a nervous dog by nature she is super friendly and a little childs best friend and plays daily with 2 large breed dogs. Its when a huge uncontrollable dog runs over it understandably became very scared can you imagine the size ratio of something that big wanting a pop at you. No it didnt attack my dog, if it had there would of been hell to pay for I swear. The owner managed to run over and grab it BEFORE something happened its hackles were up and it was barking. I should not have to put up with that. To the owner of the German Shepard, I'm sorry but I dont agree that its acceptable that you allow your dog to run up to stangers barking off the lead ( sorry if I read that wrong?) Regardless of the breed thats unfair on people. I know that would scare my child and my dog and quite frankly me to.Really if your going to have a dog that needs plenty of exercise that really is your problem to solve without every other joe bloggs having to meet your dog to? Everyone says their dog wont bite anyone, How many times do we read in the paper that the owners of a dog who mauled " they never have done that before?" My old dog before he passed away was a larger breed dog, who would bark at strangers.. I would never of dreamt of having him off the lead in public for that very reason. My dog has plenty of socialising daily with 2 large dogs, I dont want or need every tom dick or harrys dog approaching us when were trying to have a nice walk out. I wasn't aware there were corners on a beach. I haven't been on a beach in Shetland (yet) where I haven't been able to view the entire length of it once on it and even then, if there were others on a beach with dogs off the lead, I'd promptly leave. I'm glad to hear your dog was not attacked. I agree with you, you shouldn't have to put up with a dog having its hackles up and barking. That said, I still stand by my comment that a child screaming will not have helped the situation but do appreciate that it is not easy with young children. Reminds me about how Police dog handlers always tell the person they are apprehending to stand still ... a dog cannot differentiate between someone waving their arms about or going to throw a punch and it's worth educating children (and adults) how to behave around dogs (not saying you don't, by the way). I don't have my dog off the lead in public. Re your comment "Everyone says their dog wont bite anyone" - err, I don't. If someone asks (and many a time, people just push, shove, poke eyes, allow children to slap their faces, etc., without even asking) I do tend to reply along the lines of "Hasn't bitten anyone yet and tends to have a placid nature". And I'd agree with you re "every tom dick or harrys dog approaching" IF they were off the lead or out of control. I know there's some dogs that don't get on with other dogs and if I see the owner of a particular dog that I know doesn't like other dogs, we (us human beings, that is) acknowledge each other, even turn and walk in the opposite direction/take a different route so a confrontation doesn't occur. Other dogs that are under control on a lead, I'm more than happy to meet on a walk because the more socialisation, be it with humans or other dogs, the better. Would you just want to socialise with 2 human beings simply because you hadn't got along with a taller person? I agree I do get very tired of dogs running up off the lead in a public place we had an incident on a beach path here on the westside last summer with 3 Collies of the lead ( with the owner ). We didn't have our dog with us that day, but one of the dogs knocked our youngest bairn over with quite a thump. The owner was not even carrying leads and they were all round us in a barking frenzy. Was very unpleasant. (I would also like to point out our local beach, from the car park is a path up before you can see the beach like the OP we couldn't see what was on the beach until we had got to it, ours must be a beach you haven't yet visited !)

Nobody asks you, or forces you to read it, if its not your thing thats fair enougth, however is there any reason for being so rude to a fellow shetland resident? I follow two blogs, that being one of them. I wouldnt dream of mocking anybody elses just because it wasnt my thing. ETA: For what its worth Frances I think your blogs are wonderful, and often make me smile. Your photography skills of the shetland ponies and your little part of the world are a pleasure to look at everyday.

First post Really interesting to read all the views and information on the problems effecting the more rural schools of Shetland, for my own family the closing of Aith will effect us alot. Where we live our bairn will have to board in Lerwick, which Im afraid as parents of a young lass at 11yrs old this is not an option for us as a family ( after alot of discussing) If we wanted our bairns to go to boarding school, we would of sent them.. not to be forced into it by the local council and especially not being boarded at some council supplied boarding which will be increasingly filling up with the closures, We had children to bring them up ourselves, not for ' staff members' to supervise them in the week. Our eldest is now away at university as a well balanced , compasionate and intelligent young person. AIth did a fine job with their younger childhood education and so did their upbringing. They are also totally against their younger siblings being taken away from the family all week and is really angered and upset over the possible Aith closure. They wrote a brilliant letter in support, and they could not imagine the travel times local bairns will have to endure from such a young age. 11yrs old is just to young for us as a family for our bairn to be away from home all week, and as for the bairns who would need to travel for those distances everyday I was staggered to believe some people think this as acceptable the poor bairns will be complete zombies. Its just all a complete mess Id also like to add about the viewpoints on the boarding, we have to understand every bairn is different, and some may have possible emotional needs more then the next one. Take for instance a bairn that has gone through care home/foster/adoption etc and now has a settled family home. Do you really think that child now wants to leave all week to go to a council hostel at 11yrs old? Can you even start to imagine how unsettled and devasted that child is feeling at future prospects? You can be isolated living in Lerwick if you do not join in anything, have any hobbies or attend any clubs? We have an active and fun family life, and our bairns do not wish to be stuck in Lerwick all week!!. believe it or not they are Very happy, well balanced and confident dispite being trapped in the confines of a 'stifling' rural setting apparantly rife with bullying with no where for them to run to! There seems to be a sort of picture painted by some posters on here about how terrible it must be for them living in a rural village and how held back and trapped they are?! totally ridiculous !! Every person is different - some may love it some not, just how some children would hate living in larger towns. We have many varied hobbies and attend clubs both in the village, and around the island including Lerwick. My bairns also take great pride helping on the croft, its our way of family life. Their choice, their life, their education... their future - Nobody elses, not even a person on an internet forum or sat in an office who thinks they know other peoples children and family life better then the people involved.