We looked for 2 years to find the perfect Vizsla. He is a good looking pup from a line of Australian champions
. I was walking him while he was 16 weeks old near the athletic track at Sylvania Watwrs when a lady with a kelpie walked from the other side of the park asking if her dog could say hello. I was cautious and said he is only a pup and very gentle natured. She insisted her dog loved pups and was very friendly and it would be good for my pups socialisation. Big mistake. As she continue to approach while I held back my dog, her kelpie lunged at my dog, biting his neck and punctuating his ear. All about about 10 bites. She said sorry and walked off while my dog was bleeding. 2 weeks later the scar on his back is starting to heal, but the ear has 5 tooth marks and it seems the hair will not grow back. We were planning on showing him in March and later breeding him. I think he is now scared for life. We are all so upset and I feel guilt and stupid for letting someone bring their dog so close to mine.
The lesson for me; don't trust anyone and any dogs unless you know the owner and dog very well. Better to have a gentle, UN-social perfect dog than the vet trips and life long scars from being savaged by another dog. I wish I had been forceful and told her to take her kelpie back to the farm where it belongs ( I read later that kelpies are in the top 5 for dog bites and not recommended for suburban areas or families)