My dog jumped up at a woman yesterday and scratched her and she's reported him :(

[Geretrude]

I have an 18 month old Boston terrier. He is very loving and sweet natured normally - no aggression at all. Yesterday when we got home in the dark, we got out of the car and my DS was holding his lead and a woman was walking past the end of the drive as DS came out with the dog. For some reason, he growled at the woman and jumped up at her. I grabbed his lead, pulled him away and apologised profusely.

She's just come round and shown me a scratch on her hand which she said is a bite (it isn't - it's his claw), she's had to have a tetanus shot and that she has reported him.

I've spoken to a friend who is a dog trainer and asked her to recommend a local behaviouralist because obviously this is awful and I need to stop him doing it. I think he was frightened of her but that doesn't make it okay.

But fucking hell :( What's going to happen now?

[TwitterQueen1]

No idea tbh, but this woman is being very, very silly.
It's a territorial thing. My dog barks whenever anyone walks past our drive, or gets too close to the car when she's in it.

A scratch? I don't imagine anyone will be in the least bit interested....

[Geretrude]

Oh thank you Twitter. Do you not think the police will come round then?

It was horrible

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

I doubt anyone will be interested. However, you do have to keep the dog under control - particularly as it sounds like it wasn't on the drive.

If the community police come round, I would just apologise profusely and explain that you will make sure the dog is under control when out in public

To be fair, a dog scratch can be a serious thing for someone who is immuno-suppressed and in any event this lady is entitled to walk on the pavement without a dog jumping up on her. Accidents do happen but I think it's fair enough to ensure that you take steins to try and ensure it doesn't happen again rather than just dismissing it

[MrsJayy]

The police might come round and give you a telling off and a lecture about keeping your dog under control but I don't think they can do much else. Seems an over reaction from the woman imo

[GinIsIn]

She has seriously overreacted, however how old is your DS? Because if your dog is reactive it's probably best not to let your DS be responsible for him when you are out.

[Geretrude]

Fenella - he's not reactive. Well he never has been before - that's why I was so shocked.

I'm not dismissing it Gobbolino - it must have been very frightening for the woman.

DS is 10 and doesn't normally have control of the dog - it was only as the dog sits in the footwell in the passenger seat so DS gets out and then gives me the lead.

[Waltermittythesequel]

I think it's a hazard of owning a dog, tbh.

There's always a risk.

Some people are petrified of dogs so what doesn't seem like a big deal to you, might have been really traumatic for her.

She had every right to report but that doesn't mean anything will happen!

I don't think you can do anymore than what you've done. Try not to worry. Nobody is going to take your dog!

[ElsaAintAsColdAsMe]

She is in shock probably and she got hurt. Can't really blame her for her reaction.

You're doing the right thing with taking your dog to a behaviourist, and you'll be more cautious about your ds being in control of him now.

If the police or whoever come round, tell them of your plans and that you'll take more care and that should be an end to it.

[MrsJayy]

I think it's all happened quickly dog has been startled it was dark stranger walked past your son was caught out he is 10 so not irresponsible to have him hold the dog

[ElfOnMyShelf]

I've always said animals are a good judge of character 😉

[Crervan]

Similar thing happened to me, ended up being issued with a dog control order from magistrates court. Have to have dog muzzled when outdoors. Don't want to frighten you but if police get involved it can escalate.

[HeyRoly]

I can't blame her for being upset.

She was minding her business walking past your house. Suddenly a dog growls at her, jumps at her and she gets scratched.

He may have no history of aggression, but it was an aggressive act. He didn't jump at her in a friendly way, did he?

I doubt her report will come to anything, but you'll have to be more cautious in future.

[HeyRoly]

I see crervan knows more than me - I stand corrected. So maybe her report will go further.

Either way, it's happened now and you need to learn from it.

[Crazy789]

Tbh I wouldn't of been happy I don't like dogs . They need to be kept under control in public . It's wrong that she lied saying it bit her but I would expect a community officer will follow it up . Your getting it trained you can't do anymore now

[Geretrude]

Crervan - really? Oh god, that would be awful. Had your dog ever done anything like that before?

I honestly don't blame her for being upset and he is under control in public. He has good recall and usually just ignores other people

[Crazy789]

And I have to say if it happened to me I would if reported it .

[Crazy789]

Gertrude - could it of been something that startled him ? Have you had him as a pup ? My mums dog is scared of men with glasses and reacts aggressively

[PinkSwimGoggles]

if it happened to me I would (and have!) reported an incident like this.
the dog was out of control and you are lucky that it was just a small injury.
going forward do what others suggest, make a plan on how better to manage a situation like that in the future.

[Geretrude]

I think she startled him to be honest - she seemed to appear from nowhere (there's a massive tree on the pavement). I hadn't seen her at all and suddenly she was there.

I will of course be much more careful in future when we get out of the car and make DS give me control of the dog beforehand.

I have had him since he was 12 weeks, yes.

[Crervan]

No, nothing previous, someone spooked him and he snapped at their leg, caught the skin. The policeman was very understanding and almost apologetic that he had to take it further. I don't mind the muzzle actually, means he can't physically do the same again so feel quite relaxed walking him.

[DearMrDilkington]

I'm confused why the woman returned to your property if she was genuinely scared of the dog? Why not just report your dog and leave it at that. She can't be that fazed by dogs for her to return and risk it happening again.

Your dog shouldn't have growled or jumped up at her though.

[Crazy789]

I agree dearmr I wouldn't of returned ! It sounds like she is more angry than scared

[SemiNormal]

No idea tbh, but this woman is being very, very silly. - Why is the woman silly??? She was walking past minding her own business when a dog jumps up at her and growls, she has NO idea of the nature of the dog whatsoever and is possibly rightly concerned that it could happen to a child if it happens again.

[Geretrude]

Oh okay so yours was mouth contact then Crervan? I don't know if this is different. A muzzle wouldn't have made any difference I don't think as he didn't try and bite her.

I don't know why she came round. To warn me to expect a knock on the door? Dunno

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

If the police do get involved make sure you tell them that you're a bit puzzled as to how she's so certain that the dog actually bit her when it was dark, and how she appears to have a scratch because she's already shown it to you. Sounds like she's after making something of nothing and you'll end up paying for it.

Obviously dog needs a bit of help with the jumping up though.