Please help, my dog bit someone

[Lisa231186]

I can’t believe I’m even having to think about this let alone write for advice but I just don’t know who to turn to and I’m so lost.
Some back story. I have a 3 year old male (neutered) Alaskan malamute. I know everyone says “my dog has never shown aggression” but hand on heart he never has. In fact, he’s sort of known locally for being so friendly and a bit of a dope if I’m honest. He loves people, he’s a fluffy sort of handsome dog and gets a lot of attention. And absolutely loves it. Loves being petted. Has only ever been very docile. We have 3 children who adore him and and who he adores. I’ve always been sensible as I know he’s a dog at the end of the day but never has any fear or worry of him being touched, petted, played with. When people have asked to to pet him I have always said yes he’s friendly. It’s hard to put into this short space just how friendly he’s been until now.
So, on Thursday, I was walking him (it’s usually me who walks him) he was on lead and just walking calmly next to me. We saw our local postman (who knows us and my dog by name) and he said hello (our names) we went to say hi. He was petting bear, and he sort of lent over him and got down to his face. And out of nowhere it felt, my dog bit his lip. I pulled him back as quickly as I could but it was too late. My dog didn’t pull to get back he just sat there didn’t show any further aggression. I know it was still aggression in first instance just want to explain he wasn’t sort of savaging him.
I immediately called 999 myself, the operator asked me what the dog was doing now and he was sat there like nothing had happened. I was a wreck. I’ve never felt so bad for someone and so guilty. They told me to secure him. I live a few minutes away from where it happened so I ran back and secured him in the house and went back to help the postman. By now people had come out of their houses understandably and it was a bit of a witch hunt of me being told what have I done etc. I was really crying and trying to help the post man who kept saying “it was an accident” but I felt like no it was my dog and this is my fault. Anyway, he really didn’t want an ambulance but he called his friend to take him to a local walk in centre and I waited for him to go. I called 101 when I got back and said I need to report what has happened. They told me it had already been done by the 999 operator and I needed to wait to hear from a police officer. I had a call around an hour later from a police lady. She explained she had spoken to the postman, a witness and the dog warden and they had decided it was an accident, not an attack. And that there would be no further action. She said the postman had been adamant he wanted no further action.
But I didn’t feel relieved, I am struggling to explain how I feel. I just never in a million years thought this could happen. I guess I feel like the trust is gone. And with having kids I think I’m catastrophising thinking what if it was a child, one my children, what if he was more badly injured and again, I just never thought this would ever be something he would do.
Since then, I’ve contacted the dogs trust for advice. I’ve booked him in for a vet appointment which is tomorrow. Explained to them, they were shocked too as they know him and couldn’t believe it as he’s always been so gentle and sweet even when having not so nice things done. I’ve also paid for a dog behaviourist to come to my home on Tuesday. He’s been great, he put my mind at rest a bit and has said it could be a totally isolated incident but of course before he meets us doesn’t know a lot more than about what happened Thursday. Both the vets and dog behaviourist have said try not to treat him too differently. But that’s the thing I can’t. I’m so worried, I’m on edge, anxious. I feel so scared of him even being around my kids now. I’ve been getting up at 5:30 to walk him before anyone is around and taking him out late at night in the evening. I keep saying it but I just can’t explain this feeling I have, I’ve never had it before. It’s like I just can’t believe he did it and I’m so fearful that it could happen again.
We’ve explained to the kids (the vet gave us this advice) that he has been feeling under the weather so to give him more space than usual. But even with them doing that, I’m just so on edge. My partner thinks I’m in a bit of shock from the whole thing. I don’t know, all I know is it feels like he was my best friend (he is a mummy’s boy we spend all our time together) to me now, if I’m honest a bit scared of.

I don’t…I mean I’m sorry this happened to you, it must have been very distressing. But what the fuck are you doing with a malamute in a house with children? If that dog turned on your child, regardless of reason or provocation, would you be able to stop it? why would you have something in your house around your children that you couldn’t overpower if you had to?

i don’t get it. It’s like people who choose to have XL bullies in their homes with their toddlers. Women lose their children if they insist on keeping a dangerous man in their house. Why are dogs different?

I was bitten by a dog approximately 18 months ago and was given 3 options by the police.

1. do nothing apart from have it on record
2. issue restrictions on the dog and owner, only walked by an adult, always muzzled etc
3. insist that the dog was put to sleep

What a load of rubbish. Dogs are animals, a very different line must be taken towards them, than people.

Sounds like you are going to be doing all the right things, OP. Like listening to your vet and a behaviourist who can actually assess your dog properly (and not a bunch of rando's on the internet who dont have a clue!).

Although I do think once a dog has bitten, even by accident, you really have to take precautions in future. Make sure people respect the dogs space and avoid situations where he could potentially bite people again.

Although a large dog of 3 yrs old is likely to just be entering their fully adult years and often some breeds can get less tolerant around this time.

No one should lean over a dog like that, it’s very threatening to the poor animal. A friend had a dog that absolutely hated people doing this, I have three dogs, they accept me doing it but I don’t think they’d appreciate strangers doing it. All you can do is ask people to not approach your dog from now on.

I re homed a Labrador that had issues, I asked people not to approach her, which surprised them being that most labs are big softies. She would growl and bare her teeth, she never nipped anyone, mainly because I had to work with her baggage and had to be vigilant.

Don’t despair, I know it’s shocking for you, but it was an accident and won’t happen again if you’re vigilant, 🌸

You mention your youngest is 8 and you have another two older DC. If you do decide to keep your dog, every time one of your kids has a friend over, I think you should tell the parents what breed of dog you have and that he has previously bitten someone.

We have a very soppy spaniel but when my DC were in primary and had friends over I made sure the dog was with me at all times and supervised the kids very closely if they wanted to stroke her.
You also need to consider, your dog could easily live for another 10 years, what about as your DCs get older and have more independence, maybe left at home for a few hours or have people over when you’re not there and are maybe more lax with the rules around the dog or don’t make visitors fully aware. I guess I’m saying its a big burden for all of you for potentially many years to come.

It's almost as if "genuinely never ever shown any instance of aggression" is a very poor predictor of future behaviour, isn't it?

I think the poster who quoted the information given about the breed, that they are unsuited to be family pets, has it right.
Too often, people don't research breed characteristics when selecting a dog.
But, as you have had him for some time and are bonded, it sounds as though, given appropriate precautions, that this may be doable.

With our large working dogs, we put the following uses in place:
No child ever to be alone in the room with the dog.
Children's interaction with dog is limited and always supervised
No looming in the dog's face.
No approaching the dog whilst asleep or in his basket.
No approaching the dog whilst eating or with a bone.
Muzzle on when outside off lead in areas where other people or dogs could be present.
Warning others that dog is not friendly/receptive to strangers and not permitting the inevitable idiots to ignore this warning.
We don't take our dogs into town apart from vet visits, or around crowds generally.
Time out always available for dog. In our case, it is a run with a kennel.

We currently have a large European shepherd, bred to be a watchdog and a guardian. Apart from us, with whom she is a soppy lump and a comedienne, everyone else is potentially a murderer or robber.
She gives everyone she doesn’t know a penetrating stare on walks and raises holy hell if they come up the drive.
We are really careful managing her and even we don't take liberties.

It didn't attack a human 😅 what are you talking about?

There is a huge difference between what happened with the post man and being attacked by a dog

Nearly there's still the tail end of the Game of Thrones influence here. Used to see loads of the poor dogs walked by people who had no idea what they were doing.

Your remorse and sadness shines through OP and I really feel for you.

I’ve never been a dog owner so I’m not going to pass any comments with regards to animal behaviour and likelihood of it happening again etc because they wouldn’t be based on anything grounded in knowledge and therefore wouldn’t be helpful or meaningful.

However, I am a parent any my advice would be please make sure you tell the parents of your children’s friends that this has happened if they are ever invited over.

Allow parents to make an informed choice as to whether they are happy for their children to be in your home knowing your dog has done this.

Taking risks with your own children is your choice to make (if you make the decision to keep your dog), but it is not ok for you to put other children at risk.

Yet more excuses, Biting a human is an attack.

Shame the stupid postman can't be pts. So many drama llamas on here.. IT WAS HIS OWN BLOODY FAULT.
Even the police are on ddogs side... Muzzle in public if you feel better about that op. But JFC not pts.

In your shoes I would rehome him, he probably needs an adult only environment with experienced dog owners. A bite like that could be devastating on a child as it doesn’t sound like a minor bite. I’m a mum of 2 with a dog and, as much as I love her, I feel this is what I would do in your shoes.

With all due respect, he’s really not an ideal breed to have around children regardless.

the "human" got down to the dogs face. If someone comes in YOUR face, would you slap them away. This is what the dog did. He did not stay aggressive and attack. This dog does not need putting down! I go in my two doggos faces all the time...just now, bent down and gave one a kiss on the nose. I am their person, they trust me. I would never allow anyone else to do that. They are large breed and do not have mean bones in their bodies, but if feeling uncomfortable, ANY dog can snap.

So many red flags here. Again…..it’s an animal that has attacked someone, it needs to be put down. Any responsible person would do so.

Exactly. Every dog that bites has never never been aggressive until. I would never have it around my children again.

I also wonder at the common sense of people who buy a massive arctic working dog, deliberately bred for strength and to be a working dog to pull sleds and have in a boring home environment with 3 kids and a couple of walks a day. You think that is going to go well.

Put it to sleep.

Your reply sums up the issue here. If someone ‘got in’ my face I would certainly not slap them no 🙈🙈 worrying that you would. This is an animal, that’s why it reacted the way it did. Rightly the postman should not have done this but it sounds like the dog is known for being supposedly friendly so he felt it was safe. What happens when a child makes the same mistake? Which they will. We cannot expect every single human being to understand the nuances of animal behaviour and interact perfectly with this dog at all times. This dog is a threat to humans and need putting down.

I'm sorry this happened but, you've a dog breed that I'm always really wary of and people with that breed near me also seem really careful around other dogs so I do think they're an unpredictable breed. Sorry but really not a dog I'd want around children.

More than one
Ddog bit me as a puppy and Dh when he was about 18 months, each time it was our fault.
He is 10 now and has never done anything similar ever again

Exactly this. Buying this type of dog is asking for trouble and now the trouble has happened, no responsibility is taken 🙈

So the dog has to bite twice before it needs putting down?

Talk in through in minute detail with the trainer, they will know better than anyone. There are bites and bites. My dog bit me and left a bruise when I stupidly put my hand in front of his face when he and another dog were yelling at eachother and he was very fearful. I asked my trainer if he now considered my dog to "have a bite history" and he just laughed.

I respectfully disagree. I had a man get right in my face once to try to kiss me. I slapped him away. I have the right to defend my body. I did not go crazy and punch and kick. IF this dog had gone on to snarl, lunge and attack. THEN yes I would put the doggo down, this is not the case . The OP is distraught enough. I personally feel (like you) that this is not a breed that I would ever have unless in a massive country area..they need more than a walk or two a day, and I would not have around young kids , not because they are dangerous dogs , but because of high energy, knocking over , jumping up. BUT IF it was as OP said.. the postie got in the dogs personal space, his face. That nip was a warning. My dogs love everyone, but I still am very wary and watch interactions as they are big dogs (standard poodles)

This is incomparable compared to what the OP is describing 🙈