Need advice badly!!!

[worriedandneedsomeadvice]

I've just been at the garden centre with my 7 month DD and my 4 year old cocker spaniel.

A man bent down to stroke my dog before I could tell him not to and my dog went for him. Badly. His hand was dripping blood immediately.

I apologised and apologised and my BIL (the manager of the garden centre) took over to make sure the man was okay so I could take the dog (and DD) out.

He's been a bit growly lately but has never done anything like this before.

I'm shaking. I don't know what's going to happen and I don't know what to do.

He's fantastic with my DD, gentle as a lamb with her but as I said, lately he's been growly, especially at children he doesn't know so I've made sure to keep him on a lead and mostly just at home. But he loves BIL so I always take him to the garden centre when we go...

I can't believe this has happened. I don't know what to do. I'm waiting for BIL to call me, but the mans hand looked terrible... Absolutely dripping with blood. It was so quick.

Please give me some advice if you can??

I've scanned over the thread and I'll refrain from passing comment as Valhalla has more than covered anything I would have added (so you know which side of the fence I'm on then...)

But I would like to suggest one thing that I haven't seen mentioned yet....

OP, I know your normal vet has checked over your dog but can I suggest that you also consult a certified Opthalmologist, if your vet hasn't already suggested it. Cockers, as a breed, are affected by hereditary eye conditions which can lead to the onset of blindness, usually by age 4-5. These conditions can only be accurately diagnosed by Opthalmologists; not normal GP vets.

My friend has a blue roan cocker who started to behave out of character aged about 4 and as time went on his behaviour got more and more extreme. Turns out he has PRA (progressive retinal atophy) and was slowing going blind. His behaviour change was from confusion at his diminishing sight...he would get frigtened at things that moved quickly or took him by surprise, or if someone moved a piece of furniture from it's usual place. He is now 8 and more or less completely blind but he has adjusted to his sight loss and is a normal, happy family dog again.

There may be nothing worin with your dogs eyes, of course, but it would at least rule out one more possibility.

WTAF - I would do that too, my Blue Roan had problems with her eyes as well, she had regular vet check ups and it was never picked up :( We just thought she was 'naughty'/'untrainable' being a 'daft spaniel'... it probably had a lot more to do with her eyesight :(

Worried It's great that he's not worried about him and the training sounds brilliant. I hope you & Dog really enjoy it.

That's a really odd coincidence WTAF. I was just coming on to say I have been mulling over 'the bite' and it had occurred to me that the problem could have been with vision. Actually, it popped into my head when I standing in bright sunshine in the school playground and someone I knew walked up to me - I didn't recognise them at all because they were is shadow.

I was wondering whether he might be having problems wih bright light - as you said it was a hot day, so I assumed the sun was probably bright.

I had a quick google and there are a few eye conditions that Cockers are susceptible to here. So it may well be worth getting a more thorough eye check done. As I understand it, a couple of the problems listed would cause problems with peripheral vision, so anything suddenly appearing in the dog's face would be likely to alarm him and could cause him to react in a defensive way. In the case of Glaucoma, I know from family members who have it that bright light is a particular problem for them.

shame on you op . i thought you were a dog lover and yet you have the cheek to call my beloved first pet a freak of nature.fun that you seem ready to make assumptions about a dog you've never met but condemn others when they offer you advice in similar circumstances.
by the way he was definitely not circus trained just a very agile determined little animal when he was after something usually mice.

you asked for advice some of which you obviously disagree with but telliing people to f* when you disagree with their responses just shows you up as downright ignorant rude .

A Jack Russell jumping a 6 ft fence??

your clearly circus trained jack russell is obviously quite the freak of nature because my dog can't jump into the crib

I just have to say my Jack Russell Terrier can scale my 5ft fence...that's with a huge leap and some climbing. I know JRTs are slightly bigger than JRs but not by much.

Great news to hear it went well with the dog handler worried

Freesias - I thought you hid the thread?

Thanks for all the advice re: eyes... I'll definitely check it out with the vet on Saturday!