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

[kinnies]

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.

lol sorry chillo, i just get when people assume its a Staff when they here a dog has bitten someone or some dog.

I love my Staff x

That's what I was asking too. A few people said is it a Staff, I thought I'd missed something?

ha ha mine could do with a bath too

My dog is an German shepard. A bloody big one at that. They have had a bad press of late but I do beleive in bad owners not bad dogs.

I've asked the vet about neautering him but she said at his age (9) there would be little point.
Dh had him from a pup before we met. Dh was 22,with no thought for the future at the time and a bit of a tit imho. He said he would have felt bad getting his dog 'done' but wishes he had now. Twonk.

He started to dislike male dogs after he was attacked by one and is kind of over sensative when they come too near him.

We do put a musle on him when we take him where other dogs are likley to be off their leads. This is the first time he has bitten another dog though (Dh was just taking him out for a short wander and it was 12am ish so no-one would usualy be about)

I've just been outside playing with Dc and my neighbour was looking daggers at me. Just held head high and took no notice. I really hate falling out with people.

I think if she starts slagging us off at school I'll speak to the head and vask him to have a quiet word.

On the plus side, her dog seems really well so thats a weight off my mind. Am now a bit about this vet bill. She said it was £125. The dog has no cone-coller thing and not limping or anything so I think she may have been trying it on with that anyway.

My dogs (springer spaniels) bark at other dogs. As a consequence of this, if I see another dog approaching I have to put them on leads. They have no interest in being in any actual fight, but I put them on leads because it is frightening to be approached by a barking dog.

If they ever approach another dog barking at it before I notice and get them on the lead, and they get bitten, it will be my fault.

A dog acting in defence as a response to what appears to be an aggressive threat does not need to be muzzled.

YANBU.

Kinnies, unfortunately legally the owner of a dog or any animal is responsible for any damage it causes.

Although it appears both her and her dog behaviour is what caused this incident, her dog didnt cause any damage.

Although on the plus side i suppose you could argue that your dog was restrained, but you couldnt then say that you were aware that your dog 'disliked' other dogs.

You would have to say that this was totally out of character.

I don't think it is "natural" behaviour for a dog to bite. A dog can defend itself, this may be by growling, turning away, lunging, etc but a domestic dog should not bite unless in extreme circumstances.

So a loose dog bounding over to another dog although not ideal is not a situation when a dog should bite. IF your dog will bite in this situation then a muzzle is essential. I would also consider behaviourist but as Midori says some agression can not be altered but may need to be managed.

Dogs on a lead should feel confident that their owner will not allow threatening behaviour to continue and so should not be aggressive and the owner should take remedial action by turing their dog away from the loose dog.

If you want to keep relations with your neighbour, could you ask to see the vet bill and offer to pay half?

If the dog wears a muzzle sometimes, why not just keep it on for all walks? It really makes no difference to the dog if you use the correct type, it can take treats, pant and drink and if the dog is used to it it is no different to the dog than a halti or even a collar.

I hear what is being said about the muzzle and will give it some thought.

Now I know she 'set the dog' out on whoever was walking by her house, I'm just sorry the poor dog got it and not her!

I will not be offering her any money and if she set her dog out again I will call the police and report her threataning behaviour or whatever I can.

I'm making a big fuss of my dog as he was just protecting his family and I'm glad he stopped the other dog who might have hurt Dh.

Thanks again for the replies