Trouble

So, Riley has learned how to jump onto the kitchen table. And by learned, I mean she just tried it last night to get to her frisbee, which we set up there specifically for the purpose of keeping it away from her, and suddenly all four little black paws were on the table. This was followed by a lot of yelling by Duff and I and the puppy being grabbed and placed back on the floor where she belongs. Then Duff and I exchanged very shocked looks...Hopefully, she doesn't try this with the dining room table, where we actually eat our food!

In another, much more disturbing note, Riley was attached by the dog across the street this morning. This is the dog that we don't like because its owner lets it run around its fenced in yard all day barking at everyone and everything. But this morning, the dog slipped through the fence just as Riley and I were halfway up their yard and came running towards us. The dogs name is Cola, by the way (we only know this because once Cola ran away and its owner was asking everyone in the neighborhood if they'd seen her--Cola eventually returned about 10 days later, inexplicably). So anyway, Cola comes running at us, barking. Riley is at first a little startled and then as Cola continues to stand in front of us barking, Riley decides she doesn't like this dog and tries to hide behind my legs. Cola zips around and nips Riley in her upper rear thigh. Riley yelps (poor girl!). I turn to try to keep myself between Cola and Riley and keep saying "Cola, no. Cola, stop." Cola keeps running in circles around us, ducking in to nip Riley (followed by a pitiful puppy yelp) every few seconds.

Riley, at this point, is so scared that she jumps up on my leg, trying to get me to pick her up (which only resulted in her getting bitten again, poor dear). I, however, know better than to do this. First, all the experts tell you not to do this (I'm not sure why but I know they do). Second, when Riley was much younger, maybe three months old, Cola got out, similar to this morning, and charged Riley. Since Riley was only about 10 pounds then, I swiped her up off the ground. This resulted in my holding the dog up as high as I could and turning in circles while Cola tried to jump up and nip her. This was dangerous for both me and the puppy and only further excited Cola. Also, since Riley is almost exactly Cola's size now, I thought Riley would probably be better off on the ground where she could fight back if necessary (and I can't lift her that high now that she's 25 pounds or so). It also gave me two free hands to use while trying to get control of Cola (I tried to grab her collar but she was too fast).

Finally, after 30 seconds, maybe a minute (I can't tell you exactly how long it lasted but it was at least about 5 puppy yelps, *tear*), I get my wits about me, look firmly at Cola and say "Sit." Magically, Cola immediately calms down, stops barking and sits. I am in shock. I stand there...what do I do? Luckily, I hear Cola's owner start to yell for her dog (finally!). I yell back that I've got her. Cola continues to sit nicely in front of me, while Riley continues to hide behind my legs, tail down.

When Cola's owner is about 15 feet away, its like my magic shield disintegrates. Cola once again starts going crazy, barking and nipping at Riley. Her owner says something like, "Oh, Cola, you don't have to be territorial just because I'm here." Me, in my head, "right, cuz your dog wasn't doing this like the whole time when you weren't here, too." Anyway, Cola's owner finally grabs her dog and makes some lame excuse about how her landscapers left the fence open (me, in my head: "this is at least the third time you've used that excuse for when your dog gets out, so maybe you should try something new like fixing your bleapety-bleap fence or controlling your **** dog"). I take Riley a few steps away where she again jumps on my leg, wanting to be picked up. I comfort her and pet her for a few seconds, just feet from Cola, until Riley seems to calm down and her tail isn't quite to tightly down against her bum. I didn't want her to be scared of going out, just because of what happened. Then we walk across the street toward home.

Poor Riley stalked me around the house after that. Usually, after our walks, I put her in her crate, get ready for work and leave. Today, I let her stay out and she just laid on our bed while I did my hair and got changed for work. By the time I put her in her crate, she was almost normal. She did have a few slobber marks on her fur, though, from where Cola had nipped her. We will check her tonight to make sure there isn't any bruising or cuts that I might have missed.

Duff is upset and thinks we should report the incident to the police (he also thought I should have yelled at the owner, but honestly, the thought didn't even occur to me at the time--I just wanted to get my puppy home safe and sound). I think making a police report is a little drastic. I want to say that next time we will do something about it--maybe say something to the owner or talk to the police. But this is the second time its happened and that's just to me. It must happen to other people in the neighborhood, too. Anyone have any opinions on what we should do?