Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

Who was in the wrong here? Dog attack

135 replies

BlanketTime · 02/12/2019 16:21

I was walking my Jack Russel earlier along a path which runs alongside a field. My dog off lead so he could run around the field. In the distance, two big dogs playing together off lead (so I assumed them friendly as they were off lead). My dog ran over to the smaller of the two (later realised they were Doberman’s, the smaller one was female). They were nose touching and tail wagging so I assumed all was fine. Then bigger of the two (male) ran over and joined in the sniffing. A bit of play started, all tails wagging then I noticed my dog looked worried and was trying to get away. The big dogs were chasing him. I called him back to me and the big dogs followed. Two owners shouting of their dogs with absolutely no recall (the smaller female went back to owner momentarily but darted off again before she could grab her. Ended with my dog cowered near me and male dog growling and biting at him. Female also started to join in. I shouted at the owners to control their dogs. The female eventually buggered off back to owner and finally the male buggered off too. Owners said the incident was my fault as I let my dog approach theirs. I say it was their fault as, if they had no recall they shouldn’t have been off lead!! They then argued that their dogs were only playing as my dog would have been injured otherwise. My dog certainly did not enjoy the “game”.

AIBU to think this was 100% on them?

OP posts:

GruciusMalfoy · 02/12/2019 17:23

Is your dog badly injured?

BuildBuildings · 02/12/2019 17:24

I think you shouldn't let your dog off the lead if it has no recall or poor recall and isn't good with other dogs. Especially in a place like a park/play field. So I think they were in the wrong.

But as others say you can't control what others dogs do but you can control your own. So better safe than sorry in future and don't let your dog run off. However I really don't think you should have to do this just in case. But as this situation has proven people can't be trusted to know their dogs.

Original poster

BlanketTime · 02/12/2019 17:24

He’s not injured, just shaken up. If we hadn’t of got the dogs off him he would be injured. They were getting worse and worse the longer it went on.

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 02/12/2019 17:25

If he isn't injured then he wasn't bitten

selfhelpneeded · 02/12/2019 17:26

You said 'biting at him' and now you're saying 'biting him'. If a Doberman bit you're dog, there would be an injury.

All dogs should have been put on lead until they could meet each other in a controlled way.

50-50

SoupDragon · 02/12/2019 17:26

I see now that this is an "IANBU" though.

Original poster

BlanketTime · 02/12/2019 17:28

So what was it then?? Dogs don’t play by Cornering and growling and biting each other

OP posts:

GruciusMalfoy · 02/12/2019 17:28

If those dogs had really been biting they would have done some damage. My Lab has had blood drawn from a rabid little shih tzu before. I dread to think what a bigger dog could do.

Bom7 · 02/12/2019 17:31

If your dog is off lead in a park /woods/field then the expectation is that it is approachable and controllable otherwise it should be on a lead. If your dog is a danger to other dogs then put a muzzle on it. Don't ever moan that a friendly dog approaching your dog (that you need to keep on a lead) is a problem, why have you bought an animal that you can't control. My mum took a baseball bat to greyhound that attacked our jack Russel when I was young, many years ago now, the owner soon took responsibility of it then.

Fakeflowersaremynewnormal · 02/12/2019 17:34

I agree with you that they shouldn't have their dogs off lead if they can't control them, however also agree with a pp that you shouldn't assume the dogs are friendly just because they are off lead and playing together. The owners had clearly let them off to play because they know each other and get on well and if you had stayed a fair distance away and just walked past they probably would not have approached you since they were busy playing. It's better not to let your dog just run up tomorrow larger dogs that are off lead until you are sure the larger dogs are not just friendly but also will play nicely with a smaller dog and not get too rough.

Wolfiefan · 02/12/2019 17:35

Some dogs DO play by growling and bouncing. Your dog went over to join in the game then decided it was all too rough.
Biting? So he’s been bitten and needs a vet or they were playing using their mouths? Today a dog was almost swinging on my dog’s beard. She loved it.
I think you’re misunderstanding dog behaviour.

TheLittleBrownFox · 02/12/2019 17:37

Dogs do play with their teeth and growling though

I don't know if it was an attack, I wasn't there. But my JRT x will growl during play and my friend's Husky x and Spaniel nip each other, pin each other down and send tufts of hair flying frequently in the name of rough play. That wouldn't be for my JRT who is all mouth and no trousers and he'd have been terrified in your scenario play or not, but then I don't let him approach dogs we don't know, and I get fed up of other people letting theirs approach ours without asking me first.

Littlemeadow123 · 02/12/2019 17:39

@MrsFoxPlus4Again

So you don't let dogs have any social interraction whatsoever?

If your dog is friendly and has good recall then there is no problem letting themnoff the lead. You just have to make sure that you keep an eye on the situation and pick up on any signs that something is going a bit awrie.

Irisloulou · 02/12/2019 17:43

I think the breed Is the problem here. Doberman’s are frightening, I’m guessing you panicked, your dog fed off it and it was all made worse.

Keep him close in future, unless it’s a lab, they’re always nice.

Rubyroost · 02/12/2019 17:50

It doesn't sound like yours has recall either. Why did it go running off to two other dogs without you?

Also agree with pp soundsime rough play, if a bigger dog had come up to yours and yours played rough it would have little impact as you have small dog. But because the dogs were bigger it frightened your dog.

You shouldn't let your dog run off and chase other dogs whether they are on lead or not

Rubyroost · 02/12/2019 17:50

Sounds like not soundsime!

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 02/12/2019 17:52

@Littlemeadow123

You seem confused. I haven’t stated dogs shouldn’t get social interaction. I stated (the same as multiple posters) the OP should have recalled her dog when it started approaching the dogs playing so far in the distance she couldn’t even determine breed. It’s basic dog rules not to let your dog run up to strange dogs without talking to the owner first.

BalanchineBallet · 02/12/2019 17:52

Agree with @Wolfiefan

That is playing for some dogs. My dogs sound vicious when playing! They aren’t.

If your dog isn’t injured, it wasn’t bitten. Your story has escalated, from biting at to biting.

Your dog went to join a game he was not invited to, and didn’t like it.

The Dobermans should have had better recall I agree, but you shouldn’t be letting your dog go up to others like that.

Jellybeansincognito · 02/12/2019 17:53

You’re both in the wrong.

They shouldn’t have had their dogs off the lead but equally you shouldn’t be allowing your dog to go to any other no matter how friendly they look.

as a dog owner you shouldn’t really fully trust your own dog, never mind someone else’s after a few moments of looking tolerant first.

Brimful · 02/12/2019 17:54

So there was no attack.

All sounds a bit dramatic, OP. Maybe don't let your dog approach other dogs until you can properly access the situation?

BalanchineBallet · 02/12/2019 17:54

@Irisloulou

Keep him close in future, unless it’s a lab, they’re always nice.

You are kidding, right?

Rubyroost · 02/12/2019 17:54

Dobermans are frightening
unless it's a lab, they're always nice

Wtf? Total stereotyping of breeds here. Labs are responsible for more hospital admissions through bites a year than any other breeds. Attached is article about labs www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3717873/Labradors-worst-dogs-biting-responsible-highest-number-personal-injury-claims.html

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 02/12/2019 17:55

Keep him close in future, unless it’s a lab, they’re always nice.

They aren’t my neighbours lab hates all dogs and small children.

Somepoorbugger · 02/12/2019 17:55

IMO dogs should only be off the lead if they are a) non aggressive and b) have good recall. Yours came back to you when shouted whereas the other two bigger dogs didn't. So I would be pissed off too. A similar thing happened to me and it's very frightening.

Rubyroost · 02/12/2019 17:55

And before you slag off daily mail, I just chose the easiest to read article, lots of other newspapers featured the same info

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6