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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My dog bit another dog

119 replies

Lovemydogs11 · 06/10/2019 01:04

Ok so I have a little rescue dog from Romania. I have him him 2yrs 3months he is walked everyday and goes off lead. Today we was walking in our local wooded park and we was walking along a path with trees along one side and a lad with a spaniel walked past and his dog was in the trees with my dog. Suddenly his dog yelped and ran to owner and my dog had bit him on his side. My dog likes to chase so I dont know if his dog startled him and he chased it and grabbed its side but it was one puncture wound. I gave the lad my details. My dog had NEVER done this before. He will grumble and some dogs but never as much shown his teeth!! I am beside myself with worry he is such a loving little dog that plays and gets along with almost every dog he meets. The lad txt me saying dog had been to vets had stitches and antibiotics and they have contacted their insurance and he will let me know the outcome. I'm not sure what this means!!

OP posts:
MatchaMuffin · 06/10/2019 01:16

I think it means there maybe a bill heading your way!

Is it worth taking your dog to the vet too in case the behaviour was linked to underlying pain or something?

Aquamarine1029 · 06/10/2019 01:17

It is completely irresponsible to allow your dog to go off lead in a public setting. You are responsible for any damage your dog causes.

ilikemethewayiam · 06/10/2019 01:26

OP, you are liable for the costs. You should have offered that upfront. The insurance won’t pay out if you have admitted liability already. Accept and pay the bill.

From now on keep your dog on a lead.

avamiah · 06/10/2019 01:48

Lovemydogs11,
I am sorry to hear that this has happened as it seems very strange that your dog would react like this considering you say you have owned him for more than 2 years and he has been walked regularly.
Had he been socialised with other dogs, animals?

OrangeSwoosh · 06/10/2019 01:57

He will grumble and some dogs but never as much shown his teeth!!

he is such a loving little dog that plays and gets along with almost every dog he meets

These are two contradictory statements surely?
The fact he likes to chase also is not a good (or acceptable) thing to allow off lead either, plenty of dogs don't want to be chased.

He needs to be kept on a lead when you may encounter other dogs, he's given you warning signs in the past which have been overlooked and now there's been an escalation. Speak to your vet about a behaviourist referral to help you understand and work on your dogs behaviour. These imported street dogs often do have behavioural issues that need professional support

makingmammaries · 06/10/2019 06:02

Stitches and antibiotics for one puncture wound on a dog?

Wildorchidz · 06/10/2019 06:05

Stitches and antibiotics for one puncture wound on a dog?

Are you a vet?

Howlovely · 06/10/2019 06:07

Did your dog definitely bite the other dog or is it possible the dog was injured on some wire or a sharp stick or something? Stitches on one puncture wound sounds like it might be a larger wound than a dog's tooth might make.

Original poster
Lovemydogs11 · 06/10/2019 06:20

Right ok, my dog will only play chase if the other dog is interacts in it too... the place where we walk dogs are allowed to be off lead. I did offer to pay the vet bill, I said the the lad take him to the vets and let me know the outcome hence why I gave him my details. My dog was 7months when I got him and he was NEVER a street dog. He was rescued as a 4 week old pup into foster home. And i don't think my dog needs a behaviourist for this 1 situation as we have walked in the same area twice a day for the past 6months since I moved to the area and not once has my dog felt the need to bite another dog. I honestly believe that dog either ran to him and stated an issue for my dog to hen chase it and bite it or the dog simply startled him. I do not know as none of us could see the dogs or what happened. My dog is far from vicious this is why I am so upset over this

OP posts:
AmIThough · 06/10/2019 06:27

He's actually done you a favour by contacting the insurance company as you might only need to pay the excess.

Don't let your dog off the lead again if there are other dogs around.

Original poster
Lovemydogs11 · 06/10/2019 06:28

And just to clarify... both of the dogs was off lead!!

OP posts:
multiplemum3 · 06/10/2019 06:28

Well he's shown he has the potential to be vicious now and you'll have to keep him on a lead.

Original poster
Lovemydogs11 · 06/10/2019 06:30

AmlThough

I agree, he will be put on his lead when another dog is in sight.

OP posts:
Sux2buthen · 06/10/2019 06:51

Yes both were off the lead but only one was bitten. It doesn't really matter if your dog was startled or annoyed or whatever, it still shouldn't be biting. If a child made it jump and it bit them you'd be facing having it put down.
Now that it's bitten i would suggest a muzzle. It's warned you that it can turn
I hope the other dog is ok

SomeoneInTheLaaaaaounge · 06/10/2019 06:56

I think you sound like a responsible owner and this must be very worrying. Good to pay the bill and I hope the other dog is OK.
Seriously though couldn’t this just be an accident. I have big dogs that play rough with other dogs and they absolutely love it and each other.
Maybe minor or on the lead when there are other dogs. I would also see if it is that particular kind of dog that yours had a reaction to. Maybe find a friend with a collie and let them play for a bit together. I know some dogs are frightened / react to specific breeds.

Original poster
Lovemydogs11 · 06/10/2019 07:07

SomeoneInTheLaaaaaounge

I think it was an accident, these things happen. Its 1 incident.

OP posts:
AdoreTheBeach · 06/10/2019 07:09

The PP @someone has a valid point. My dog loves certain other breeds (or rather size/colouring) and is very scared of others (large/dark colouring). So we recall and move away when we see one we think he may be fearful of.

Additionally, as your dog has not had this issue previously, and clearly enjoys off lead walking, you may wish to consider a muzzle when out walking if he’s not in your direct line of site (in the woods) as in this situation. This will avoid any and all chances of your dog biting another.

Notwiththeseknees · 06/10/2019 07:19

Don't be too hard on yourself - and on him. It strikes me as odd that you didn't hear them having a bit of a dust up prior or during the incident. Unusual for a dog just to silently take a chunk out of another, so the injury may not have been caused by your dog...... FWIW I think you have behaved very well considering no one actually saw what happened. I would recommend you keep an close eye on your dog, don't just automatically put his lead on when you see a dog in the distance, but work on whistle training, recall, sit & distraction so that other dogs are a positive thing. Good luck !!

CornishCreation · 06/10/2019 07:26

OP you're not irresponsible for letting your dog off the lead as one poster remarked, if he's never bitten or been vicious before, dogs need exercise hence why they're aloud off leads in most parks and woodlands.
I let my dog off, he's never bitten and I don't believe he would so if he did out of character I along with most dog owners would be in your position.

A usually placid well trained dog will usually only suddenly bite if he's frightened or felt threatened and you've already said neither of you witnessed what really happened and as it's never happened before you were completely within your rights to have had him off the lead.
How has he behaved since? Has his temperament changed at all? is he showing signs of trauma, perhaps he was bitten first and no wound was present.

You've done everything you can for now, but keep him on the lead now this has happened.
Don't be hard on yourself, your obviously going to be very upset.

longwayoff · 06/10/2019 07:50

They are dogs. They behave like dogs. Dogs sometimes bite, no matter how wonderful they 'always ' are. If your dog injures a person or another animal you are responsible for any costs. Keep him on a lead. Get insurance.

Stressedout10 · 06/10/2019 07:53

@Lovemydogs11
Reading your 1st post I thought that you were a fairly reasonable dog owner, unfortunately your subsequent posts suggest otherwise.
Yes this was the first time that your dog has bit another dog, and you did the right thing by giving your contact details and (rightly) offering to pay.
Yet you seem unable to grasp the fact that you can never let this dog off leash again. If your dog ever attacks another dog or a person YOU can be prosecuted for having a dangerous out of control dog.
You are on legal notice that your dog has a perpenceity for violence/aggression, you clearly can't see your dog when it's off lead (or you would have seen the attack) so is out of your control.

Do yourself and dog a favour keep it on lead and yes a dog behaviourist is necessary if you want to prevent another attack

Original poster
Lovemydogs11 · 06/10/2019 08:06

Right let's get 1 thing straight here! I am not an unresponsible dog owner! I have 2 dogs 1 been a 7yr old rottweiler and 1 been a 3yr old rescue. Both insured! Both my dogs are walked off lead, in the uk this is fine. Both my dogs are well socialised, great dogs that are also of lead and keep walking. If dog approaches on lead then I put mine on the lead! My dog is not vicious, what happened was an accident all I wanted to know was where I stand regards the owner contacting their insurance? Will they want my insurance details or am I better off just paying the vet bill?

OP posts:
Stressedout10 · 06/10/2019 08:22

OP unfortunately none of that matters as you don't know what happened as you could not see your dog so it was out of your control and it caused injury to another dog, if you let your dog off leash under the same conditions ie out of control and it bites again you are going to be criminally responsible. I'm not telling you this to be mean but so you can protect yourself and your dog.

Silvercatowner · 06/10/2019 08:31

I am not an unresponsible dog owner
Your dog bit another dog badly enough to require treatment. Doesn't make you the most responsible dog owner in the world.....

Macaroni46 · 06/10/2019 08:50

How was it 'an accident? Your dog bit another dog. That's deliberate.
Please keep your dog on a lead from now on.