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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

My dog bit another dog.......

86 replies

kinnies · 07/01/2010 01:55

Dh took our dog out late the other night.

He kept our dog on a lead as we always do as our dog dislikes other male dogs.

They were on a comunal bit of grass, heading for nearby woods when our neighbour let her dog out her front door. She just opened her door and her dog ran out growling and barking at Dh and our dog. Neighbours dog ran right up to dh and he froze. Our dog reacted. He came round Dh and put himself in between Dh and neighbours dog.He snarled and and neighbours dog ran home with his tail between his legs.

We found out the next day that our dog had in fact bitten the neighbours dog. Dh did not realise this at the time as it was dark and was over in a flash. Had he known the dog had been bitten he would of corse told the owners.

The next day, my neighbour hammered on my door and conplained that our dog was out of controll and we should pay her vet bill.
I said that I was sorry for her dog and wished it a speedy recovery but I did not feel that we were responsable for the incedent as it was her dog who ran up to Dh growling and our dog acted in defence of Dh and himself. I think she is a twit to just let her dog run out of her garden and growl at people (I have had to shoo it away from Dc many times) The thing is she has said she will go and tell everyone she knows how horrid we all are. Would normaly not care as much but we have only just moved here and she works at Ds school.

I'm hormonal so want to know if I'm bu and what to do to stop this trouble before it gets out of hand.

OP posts:

echt · 07/01/2010 03:35

YANBU. Put it from your mind.

Do not give her any money, as this is admitting liability.

She is the one with the out of control dog and needs to be reminded of this if she brings it up again.

If she persists, I'd consider going to the police about the dog's aggression towards people.

You can't control her telling lies about you, so you'll just have to ride it out. I expect that most people who know her mutt will a) not be surprised it got bitten and b) be secretly pleased it got its comeuppance.

WhereYouLeftIt · 07/01/2010 08:19

Someone who would threaten to "tell everyone" and who demonstrably does not control their dog is likely to be known to do such things. I would imagine most people would disregard her tales.

As well as echt's suggestion re the police, I would consider having a word with the head of the school, explaining the incident and her threat to spread tales. Express the hope that this will be stamped down on by the school should she say anything. What does she do at the school anyway - is she likely to come into contact with your DS?

Casserole · 07/01/2010 08:50

In the incident you describe I think she is being unreasonable as hers was the dog who was not restrained.

However looking at the wider picture I think you both need to get your dogs some help. Go to socialisation classes or talk to your vet. This is a disaster waiting to happen, especially if you both have children.

MrsJohnDeere · 07/01/2010 09:09

YANBU. Her dog was the one out of control. Your dog felt threatened and reacted accordingly.

MitchyInge · 07/01/2010 09:13

it was obviously her fault, you responsibly kept your dog on a lead

is yours a staffie by the way?

catwalker · 07/01/2010 09:22

YANBU It's really very simple - your dog was on a lead, therefore under control. Her dog was not on a lead therefore not under control. How can anyone think it was your fault?

The fact that her dog was not on a lead meant that it was able to start a bit of a fight - which wouldn't have happened if SHE had had HER DOG under control!! A dog on a lead is bound to feel doubly threatened by an aggressive dog coming towards it as they are unable to get out of the way. Sounds like your dog was getting its attack in first as a form of defence, but it could just as easily have been her dog which bit.

I have a labrador - and they don't come much softer. Nevertheless, she has been known to go for other dogs - but only aggressive ones. I think she senses their aggression and wants to get in first. There's also an element of her defending me, as you mentioned with your dh.

I would also do what echt suggests and have a word with the head/deputy at school. Being as calm and reasonable as you can when talking to the school will highlight her lunacy and show you as clearly the better person.

QandA · 07/01/2010 09:36

YANBU and I agree with the advice already given and would second the advice to speak to the Head if you feel she is/has spoken about you at school. If she works for the school, in any capacity, she will have to be extra careful about her dealings with members of the school community and if your children go to the school she should be very wary of making such threats.

I wouldn't pay her vets bills either. She wasn't in control of her dog. Simple.

dreamingofsun · 07/01/2010 09:39

at the end of the day your dog bit hers. OK she's not perfect, but agree with casserole you need to take action to improve its behaviour. So what would happen if my dog bounded up to your HB and dog? If it didn't growl would it be OK? My neighbour recently got badly bitten by a dog when she was just walking past. You could get reported to the police for this. Not sure about vets bills though - is it not insured? Personnally I think that if people's dogs bite they should be muzzled in public.

MitchyInge · 07/01/2010 09:42

the police won't be interested, the other dog should have been on a lead or otherwise under control

am wondering if OP's dog is a Staffie?

rainbowinthesky · 07/01/2010 09:42

I don't think it's as clear cut as it seems. Your dog wasn't actually under control as it bit. I can understand why it did but imo both dogs were to blame. I would certainly speak to the school to ensure it goes no further as far as that is concerned.
I would also put a muzzle on your dog. Are you seeking help for it's aggression?

ScaredOfCows · 07/01/2010 09:48

You can't really do more than keep your dog on a lead and under control - as you did.

Are you sure that your dog bit hers. Have you seen the wound? If there is one, are you sure your dog caused it? Did she really go to the vet?

Saltire · 07/01/2010 09:52

Similar thing happened to us a couple of years ago. I was out with our 2 dogs - both very well controlled, when off the lead they would heel, sit come etc on command. This particular day though, I saw 2 children coming along with a great big German shepherd, off it's lead. I put my 2 onto the leads, stepped into the side and got them to sit either side of my legs.
The GS came bounding up, jumped on one of my dogs (btoh border collie bitches) and started nipping her neck. She was baring her teeth and growling. the children (aged about 8 and 10) were calling it but it was ignoring them. They tried to pull it off and it was growling at them. my dog which was being attacked was growling the other sitting to heel. This GS then tried to mount my bitch and she was having none of it, I tried to pull the GS off - whilst holding 2 leads, and it grwoled at me. Eventually my dog bit the GS to get it off. At this point a man came along and pulled the GS off mine and asked the children where it's lead was "oh we dont have one, it just runs around". The man told them to go and get a parent and he stood there holding this growling snarling GS. I went home, very shaken, my dog was almost collapsed. 15 mintues later, had the owner of GS at the door demanding that my dog be put down for "aggression".. He did actually call the police, who heard my side of events and his children's (both stories matched) and the story of the man who intervened who had been atching from his wondow, and told GS owner that he was actually the one with an agressive out of cotrol dog

rainbowinthesky · 07/01/2010 09:52

I think if the op's dog had been under control it wouldn't have bitten. THere is more to having an under control dog than simply putting a lead on it.....

chegirlsgotheartburn · 07/01/2010 09:53

This is a non event IMO.

Dogs bite each other if they are threatened. I would expect any dog who has another dog come flying at them growling to defend itself. Its normal canine behaviour.

I would be more concerned about a dog that didnt do anything. That would suggest a dog with anxiety problems.

Why train all normal behaviour out of an animal? That cant be right. It leaves the animal totally vunerable.

Your dog didnt chase a placid dog into its house and savage the occupants. It defended itself and its owner from a threat.

All dogs should be kept under control and trained to an acceptable standard.

Anyone who lets their dog out to roam unleashed is an idiot and has no recourse if something happens to their dog. They are liable if their dog causes an accident though so maybe you should bring this up next time she knocks on your door.

What does she mean she is going to tell everyone how horrible you are? What an idiot. And if you think she is going to use her position at DCs school to cause problems, you need to talk to her employers.

rainbowinthesky · 07/01/2010 09:55

Saltire - your situation is different to the ops. The op's dog is already an aggressive dog.

rainbowinthesky · 07/01/2010 09:56

I can see peoples points about it being the other dog at fault for running up to the first dog however if I knew one of my dogs was likely to be aggressive I would ensure it wore a muzzle and had training etc.

MitchyInge · 07/01/2010 09:59

chegirl has said exactly what I could not be bothered to but was thinking

MmeLindt · 07/01/2010 09:59

Why is the OP's dog not under control when it defends itself when attacked?

He was defending his owner from the other dog.

My parents had the soppiest Springer Spaniel ever born but if she felt that a stranger were threatening us then she would growl and I am sure if someone (human or animal) had attacked us then she would have gone for them. Dogs are protective of their owners.

123andaway · 07/01/2010 10:00

I think that if your dog can be aggressive then you should have a muzzle on him in public.

She should not have allowed her dog to run out uncontrolled as she did.

I think you are both BU.

ShinyAndNew · 07/01/2010 10:01

YANBU. Your dog was not out of control. It was on it's leash doing it's job of protecting your DH from her dog. Her dog was one out of control.

However your dog does need proper socialising and training. Neuetering might be an idea, if you haven't already done that. My dog was only done a few weeks ago and I can already see a difference in his behavior. Though he has never been aggressive to other male dogs. Quite the opposite actually, he was rather erm, enthusiastic to see them

Behaviorists will come and do one on one sessions to deal with the agression before you start an ongoing training session.

rainbowinthesky · 07/01/2010 10:02

Was it attacked though? Trouble is we're only hearing one side of the story. Playing devils advocate but it is possible the op's dog who doesnt like other male dogs was growling first. I don't know. I just know that if it were my dog it would have been muzzled.

claw3 · 07/01/2010 10:07

I suppose if your dog is aggressive to other male dogs and would bite another dog if approached, he should be muzzled.

midori1999 · 07/01/2010 10:10

You are both being unreasonable.

Neighbours dog a should not have been out unsupervised and certainly not allowed to approach another dog without it's owners permission, especially if other owners dog was on a lead.

If your dog 'dislikes' other male dogs, it should not be walked in an area where it is possible and reasonable other dogs will be off lead (and communal grass and woods are such areas) and it should be muzzled. It is your responsibility to keep your dog under control, and I'm afraid to say, if it is biting other dogs, it is not under control.

People saying 'ooh, you need to get it sorted if you have children' is typical scaremongering nonsense. A dog that is 'funny' with other dogs is just that, like ti with dogs, not people. Of course, ti may also be 'funny' with people, btut hat is a completely seperate issue and the two do not go hand in hand.

Socialisation/behaviourist is a good idea and would make your life easier in the long run, but dog/dog aggression can be quite hard to resolves, particularly in certain breeds. Neutering is not a substitute for training and socialisation and should nto be used as such. Some dogs become more aggressive after neutering, so I would think very carefully before doing so. There is a treatment you can have that mimics the effects of neutering fairly closely, but isn't permemant, so that si an option if you want to go down that route. I really doubt it will help though.

ChilloHippi · 07/01/2010 10:11

YANBU. Your dog does not sound like he needs a muzzle. It is perfectly normal for a dog on a lead to be aggressive to an unleashed dog that approaches it.
It was your neighbour's dog that was out of control as it was not accompanied.

GrimmaTheNome · 07/01/2010 10:11

The OP didn't say her dog was aggressive. She said it didn't like other male dogs so it was on a lead.

Dogs do bite each other as a means of defence. Its normal for a bitch to snap at a dog who's giving unwelcome attention. Should she be muzzled for 'aggression'? No, of course not. So why should a dog be muzzled if might snap at another dog who's threatening it?

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