MIL bitten- what do you think?

[smartiejake]

Dh has just taken MIL to A and E with a dog bite. We had gone out for a walk with her 2 dogs ( a bichon and a manchester terrier) and my sheltie. We were in a popular place for dogwalkers (small country park) and most people let their dogs off the lead.

One of her dogs is kept on a lead as he will not come back when called and has done a runner a few times.

We were coming to the end of our walk when we were approached by a 6 month old staffie puppy that I had seen before -previously it had pounced on my sheltie (not aggressively) and would not leave off- owners did nothing to stop it and did not call it off until I asked them to.

MIL dog on the lead is petrified of staffies as had been badly attacked by one in the past (30 stitches). When the staffie bounded up it took no notice of MIL telling it to go away or heeded warning from MIL dog who was growling and barking.MIL dog then got hold of the staffie by the skin on it's head. MIL had her dog on a very short lead and desperately tried to prise them apart and got badly bitten on the hand in the process by the staffie who was obviously trying to get away from her dog. While this was going on the owner of the staffie was sauntering up to the scene and made no attempt to call the dog off.

MIL (bleeding) very tactfully said "I know my dog was the aggressor but I had hoped you would call your dog away!"

He admitted that the dog will not come when called so why the hell did he have it off the lead? I know MIL dog was the one who showed aggression but it was on a lead and if the staffie had been under control it would have never happened in the first place.

AIBU in thinking this dog should be on lead? What do you lot think?

I understand where you are coming from BG, I really do but it's the fact that the Staffie is still a puppy for me - I wouldn't report a toddler for violence or biting; but I would an adolescent IYSWIM.

I certainly would approach the owners though and suggest they get some proper formal dog training lessons - they obviously are pretty clueless about how to be a good dog owner.

BTW Smartie - that is totally inappropriate behaviour from the puppy's owners and they need to wake up!

MinorityR, our dog is treeified of staffs too. Shes been attacked twice by 2 differnt ones and can stop one from a mile off.

She scared of all dogs now because of those bloody creatures but staffs are her main fear.

My dog doesn't like yorkshire terriers as he's been bitten twice by the wretched things - whilst being under control on a lead I hasten to add! I do tend to think that dog's must be aware of breeds, but I think that is because specific breeds have specific traits/appearance rather than singling out a dog for it's general appearance.

My dog certainly dislikes a couple of particular breeds -- boxers and border collies.

It could well be that their are odour differences that correlate with breed, and that this is how dogs recognise breed.

there not their

TW - many dogs dislike boxers as their natural relaxed expression often shows their teeth (breeding!)

BTW, she can spot them an mile off, not stop them...would be ideal if she could beacsue be wouldn'thave to worry about the bloody things.

That's interesting. Also, my neighbour has a shar pei (sp) and she says that loads of dogs hate it! I wonder if they are an unpopular breed among dogs.

I've heard it's because of the wrinkles round the eyes to other dogs cant always read them well.

winestein - no, her own dog though it bit the other dog was legally under control. It would not have bitten the other dog if it had not been approached. That incident between the two dogs is the fault of the other dog, not the one on the lead, despite the fact it was the one that bit the other dog.

bg - what if it was a toddler who approached the dog and got bitten?

That would still legally not be the fault of the dog. There could be an arguement if there were a past issue with the dog biting that it should have been muzzled in public however, but I understand that whilst the MIL dog here had prevkiously run off, it has never bitten in anger before. The OP is quite sensibly now suggesting the MIL should be muzzled in the future however.

• obviously not MIL needs a muzzle but her dog!!!

ROFL BG!

I see what you are saying. However - genuinely - how seriously would the organisations take anyone who reported a dog that approached their dog and got bitten itself without showing aggressive tendency? If I reported every dog that came up to my dog unhindered I'd spend my life down at the police station!

LOL at my MIL in a muzzle!
Some of the posters on MNet would probably love a muzzle for their MIL (or perhaps a gag) but not me- she's lovely!

When she came back from having the wound dressed she told me she will buy a muzzle ASAP.

They dont even take most of the bad cases seriously I'm sad to say. The fact is that a person was bitten by a dog that was not under adequate control by its owner and this is what should be reported, rather than the incident between the two dogs as such. Yes the circumstances are a little in the favour of the dog as to why it happened, but ultimately the fact of the matter is the MIL should not have been bitten by the staffie and legally the staffie owner is responsible here.

smartiejake - the best muzzles to get are known as baskerville muzzles - they are a basket type of thing over the nose etc. The allow the dog room to open its mouth inside and pant so they are able to safely control body temperature, and if the dog were to be sick at all whilst wearing it, they have minimal chances of choking on it. Other types of muzzle are intended to keep the mouth closed and for obvious reasons these can be therefore quite dangerous at times. The dog will probably hate it to start with and try very hard to get it off with her front feet. You will need to make sure it is reasonably tight on the strap over the back of the neck once it is on, otherwise they often just lock their claws into it and push it forwards off the nose!! A little trial and error will soon tell you how tight is tight enough. Give it time and she will adapt to it, but dont expect the dog to be pleased about it - it is the right thing to do though.
Hope your MIL is over it all very soon and heals well.
Hmmm, the thought of my MIL in a muzzle at times is quite appealing.....

BG - yes, I agree wholeheartedly that an owner of a dog not under control is responsible. My dog got truly savaged by a german shepherd when he was about 6 months old and the police showed no interest. The GS went on to savage a great dane, a labrador and then another dogs owner who was trying to protect her dog.

Sorry to hear that Winestein - I hope your dog was eventually ok after getting treatment though? Did they eventually deal with the GSD after the other incidents?

Yes they did, thankfully! He had a muzzling order put on him. I moved from the area shortly afterwards so I haven't seen him since.

You might already be aware of this, but at the time my vet said that my dog would almost definitely scar due to the depth of his injuries, but said that application of aloe vera might help. She was absolutely amazed as he healed totally and the only way I know where the wounds were is one white hair at each site (2 on one of them). He also has no problem with GSD's - in fact often makes friends with them - which is why I think it is trait of breeding that other dogs remember and therefore appear to dislike all dogs of one breed (or physical expression with some breeds).

The great thing about dogs healing is that often there is adequate hair to cover the scars. Usually you can find them if you search hard through the coat, but I never cease to be amazed by the healing capability of some patients - and their incredible tollerance to what we have to do to some of them too. I have some fond memories of patients who have been through the mill and back with little or no complaint bless them. White hairs are a sign that the follicles were damaged at that site but still can produce hairs. I think they equate to being 'ard!!!
Glad to hear the other dog was made to stay under control in the end, and glad your dog is still happy around GSDs too. Some individual dogs do seem to have a fear/dislike for certain breeds and most others seem not to care thankfully.

BG - my dog became lame after cutting his foot on glass - the vet squeezed his foot and said he was showing no signs of pain. Admittedly she was very young and just out of "vets school" but I insisted his heavy breathing showed he was in pain. Eventually and in desperation she pulled out a huge magnifying lamp and said that, to her utter disbelief, she could see glass. She asked me if I thought my dog would allow her to try and get it out there and then after the squeezing ordeal and eventually pulled out a half inch piece of glass embedded in his foot - she wasn't quick enough as he turned round and licked her afterwards! I believe his breed is known as one of the more stoic ones! (and 'ard, innit )

The breed thing is an odd one - I can virtually guarantee that my dog will be fine with West Highland Terriers but have to steer him away from chocolate labradors - all except one whom he adores. Fickle creature

Ahh - I like patients like that!

Nope - thankfully no rabies in the uk (unless you count some bats, but that is a different strain and unlikely to be one that should bother anyone unless they handle a bat)