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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the other owners shouldn't pay even though their dog injured mine?

26 replies

TheCunnyFunt · 18/08/2012 11:26

I'm pretty sure it was my own fault. Was walking my greyhound this morning and there was a couple walking a couple of staffies, both friendly looking so I allowed my dog to say hello, they were all nicely sniffing and wagging and then my dog growled and before I had chance to pull him away he went for one of the staffies, except the staffy was quicker, my dog ended up with a big split on his front leg, the staffy is fine, not a mark on him!

The vet said he is very lucky as the wound is right next to a blood vessel and it could have been a lot worse if that had been punctured. He is in the vets now waiting for stitches :(

DP is furious and thinks the other owners should pay, bit I don't think so, after all, my dog went for theirs in the first place and their dog acted in self defence!

He is BU isn't he?

OP posts:
honeytea · 18/08/2012 11:29

He is BU.

But maybe in future you should never let your dog say hello to other dogs if he is likely to go for other dogs.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 18/08/2012 11:30

Yeah he is BU. Your dog instigated the attack and came out on the wrong side. The other dog was perfectly entitled to defend itself.

Coconutty · 18/08/2012 11:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

daisydotandgertie · 18/08/2012 11:31

Yes. It was 6 of one and 6 of the other. An accident, if you like.

I'm sorry that any of the dogs involved have been injured, but that's bad luck IMO rather than something one could blame someone else for.

Hope he heals up quickly.

Thumbwitch · 18/08/2012 11:32

He is BU, yes. You are being very sensible about that bit - but does your greyhound usually growl at other dogs?

Original poster
TheCunnyFunt · 18/08/2012 11:43

Usually he is fine with other dogs, very very occasionally he will growl at others.

OP posts:
Debeez · 18/08/2012 11:47

YANBU he is.

You are being really sensible about this. Wish more dog owners were like you.

DrLobster · 18/08/2012 12:04

Well I think that the grayhound was at fault, it menaced the other dog. The other dog stopped the grayhound before it could injure it.

It will be best in future to keep the greyhound on a leash in future

janey68 · 18/08/2012 12:24

He is being unreasonable. Your dog instigated things. I also agree with the others that it's not a great idea to allow your dog to approach other dogs (or people for that matter) just because he's 'usually' friendly. It's clear that you can't rely 100% that he won't growl or get aggressive. And even if you were, you can't know how other dogs or people will react. I don't particularly like dogs, and I've hated it on occasions when owners allow their dog to run up and nuzzle or sniff because 'he likes saying hello'. What about whether I bloody want to say hello?!

Anyway you sound very rational about it all so pay up and put it down to exprerience

ClaireDeTamble · 18/08/2012 12:28

Please don't let your dog go and say 'hello' without checking with the owners first. Your dog may be usually friendly but you don't know that the dog he is approaching is.

My dog has really bad fear-aggression which we are trying to solve and is always walked on a lead. Drives me batty when people let their dog approach mine as it really upsets him - he seems calm at first but then he usually 'goes' for the other dog.

Even if it was the other dogs 'fault' I don't want to have an injury to someone else's pet on my conscience when I have done nothing wrong.

Original poster
TheCunnyFunt · 18/08/2012 12:49

He was on a lead, I never let him off because he has no recall. The staffy he went for wasn't though.

And I don't let him approach anyone and everything because he likes saying hello. If we pass people with or without dogs I always keep him tight to my side, and only allow him to interact if he and the other dogs are happy with it. They both seemed happy and friendly enough today so I let him say hello. Obviously it was the wrong decision today :(

OP posts:
FallenCaryatid · 18/08/2012 13:54

Your DP is being unreasonable, your dog started the aggression and the staffie finished it. How about a muzzle for yours when out. to avoid incidents with other dogs and humans?
You sound very clear-headed about this, I hope your DP sees it the same way soon.

diddl · 18/08/2012 14:15

I hate it when my dog is on a lead & others let theirs "just say hello".

He´s usually on a lead because there´s a female about & his recall can´t be trusted at that time!

But the only time he ever growls at another dog is when he´s on a lead.

Why can´t people just keep their dogs under control also?

Sorry, back to OP-yes, I agree that you shoul pay in this case, OP.

madbutnotbad · 18/08/2012 14:48

I agree with you - it sounds like your dog was having a bit of an "off" day and the other dog was defending itself!
ClaireDeTamble I have this exact problem with my dog - he either tries to hide or ends up growling or snapping at other dogs. I always keep him on a lead and try to keep out of the way of other dogs, sadly my boy is too old to start retraining so we just have to deal with what we've got!
OP you sound like a very sensible dog owner to me - I wish there were more like you around Smile

DeathByChocolate01 · 18/08/2012 15:18

Oh dear, sounds like an unfortunate accident more than anything - you weren't to know that the dogs wouldn't get on, and neither was the other owner. I don't think there's any real blame to be placed really, we all know animals are unpredictable. I'm glad the wound isn't as bad as it could have been, and hope it won't be too expensive to get it stitched up. :)

Original poster
TheCunnyFunt · 18/08/2012 18:34

Well he's home now, it ended up being a tad more complicated than just a stitch up, the vet explained but I couldn't understand most of what she said, she was Polish and spoke very fast, but the jist is, there was an 'empty space' in his leg and she said something about fluid, bubbles and she had to put a drain in. He can have it taken out on monday. Bless him, I've never seen him so quiet and sad :(

OP posts:
musicmadness · 18/08/2012 20:34

Firstly sorry your dog got injured and I hope he is OK.

With dogs whichever one was the aggressor is the one to blame, not whichever one wins IMO! Tell your DH to be thankful your dog will be OK and that there is no way in hell the other owners should/will pay.

If another dog attacked mine and came off worse and the owners came round looking for money I doubt my response would be very polite!

Ask your DH to look at it this way, if the staffie had growled at your dog then gone for him, but your dog was faster and the staffie got bitten on the leg, what would his response be if the staffies owner asked you to pay the bill? I doubt he would hand the money over!

Original poster
TheCunnyFunt · 18/08/2012 20:48

I said that to him Music, and he said that whatever had happened he would pay for the other dogs treatment because whichever way you look at it, our dog still injured their dog (hypothetically).

OP posts:
NovackNGood · 18/08/2012 21:04

Why is it that every few days there s a thread trying to make out that Staffordshire Bull Terriers are cute and cudly. And they are always started by someone who calls them staffies and not Staffordshire Bull Terriers which is the name of the breed which were bred to fight other dogs.

The other owners should pay as their dog injured yours. Di you report it to the police at all?

Original poster
TheCunnyFunt · 18/08/2012 21:13

Of course not, what would I say? "My dog attacked a staffy and the staffy acted in self defence and bit my dog before mine bit him." They'd either laugh at me or bollock me for allowing mine to attack another dog! The other dog could've easily been a lab or a spaniel or any other breed of dog. This particular staffy (and I type staffy because it's short and not everyone would know what SBT stands for), happens to be very friendly towards other dogs!

OP posts:
Debeez · 18/08/2012 21:18

"Why is it that every few days there s a thread trying to make out that Staffordshire Bull Terriers are cute and cudly."

I think every few days is a bit generous. Not all of them are, but those that are well trained and loved can be. Mine think's he's tiny and tries to sit on my bloody knee. He's a massive bugger, took a kicking as a pup, starved too. We rescued him. He's lovely now, honestly.

Original poster
TheCunnyFunt · 18/08/2012 21:28

Debeez my brother has 2 young girls, they are both as mad as a box of frogs but brilliant with his STBXW children. Very cute and cuddly :)

OP posts:
ceres · 18/08/2012 21:38

"Why is it that every few days there s a thread trying to make out that Staffordshire Bull Terriers are cute and cudly."

my staffie is cute and cuddly. i have never met a staffie who isn't, although i'm sure there are some who aren't. i often type staffie because it is quicker than typing staffordshire bull terrier.

Thumbwitch · 18/08/2012 23:45

Not all staffies are vicious attack dogs. I am not a massive dog fan but I know 3 who are lovely, very friendly, never attacked anyone/thing so far.

Cunny, I hope that your greyhound is ok and maybe it will teach him to be a bit more careful who he goes for in future!

Thumbwitch · 18/08/2012 23:46

And I only put "so far" in that first sentence above for absolute accuracy - I doubt they ever will attack anyone/thing but I can't be 100% certain, no one could be.

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