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.

if i was the postie i'd be taking you to court

I know it's difficult
I can't imagine how awful you must feel
I really hope the breeder takes the dog back ,or someone gives him another chance, someone who knows what they are doing with a dog who has already bitten once.
Can you actually ask the breeder if she will re-home him for you
Are there any more rescues you could contact
If you didn't have children in the home ,I'd say use a muzzle every time you walk him ,and get a behaviourist in ..
But you have children
Anyway ,good luck ,with whatever you decide,I do feel for you ,this won't be easy whatever you do x

And what would that achieve? The dog has never shown any aggression to anyone before.

Probably the most sensible response on here.

Don't put him to sleep OP. Whilst I completely sympathise with the postie, he should not have got so close to someone else's dog. An awful lesson learnt.

Your dog gave him a warning, he was not savagely trying to attack him. If he had been then that is a different matter I would certainly look to PTS.

I have a GSD who bit a groomer a few years ago. An isolated incident and never happened again. Dogs are amazing family pets and we would all do better to read their body language. They can't verbally tell us they feel uncomfortable.

No you haven't 🤣

It's quite telling that the postie didn't want to take it any further and didn't see it as a major cause for concern. Not only is he the injured party but presumably as a postman he has plenty of experience with aggressive dogs!

I think that it's really not as simple as
'bite=bad dog'. ANY dog can and will bite, I wish people would understand that. If you routinely approach strange dogs and get in their faces, then your chances of being bitten will be higher and yes that includes small children. It's not the dog's fault, the responsibility falls to the owner that has allowed it to happen.

I personally would never choose to own a big breed like this that I couldn't over-power.

It doesn't sound like the dog was being aggressive, just defending it's personal space. However... I don't think you can take him out in public without a muzzle, nor can you allow strangers to approach him- most people will give a dog wearing a muzzle a wide berth anyway.

Having children complicates things. What is your home set up like? Can you keep him completely separate when you have visitors? Or when you have to leave the children alone with him?

Personally, I wouldn't be able to keep him. I'd feel too stressed. IMO he needs an adult only home with no child visitors.

Sorry this happened, OP.

That dog can't remain in a house with children though. It only takes 30 seconds where you just pop into the kitchen to grab a drink, and the dog could bite one of your children who accidentally stood over it, or behaved too vigorously. What if it was a young child/toddler it had done this too? It could have caused serious harm. Sometimes kids leg it and pet a dog. Children aren't predictable. Can you honestly say you will never lapse and leave them in a room alone together again?

Rehome the dog. Don't let your kids become an attack statistics.

I would bow out of this thread now if I was you. Because you won't get any more helpful advice, mostly just people who are held bent on you putting your dog to sleep or rehoming it. Tge incident sounds so isolated and you've made all reasonable steps in the aftermath. And I would bet that you never have a problem again

Not sure how I can prove it to you over the internet! I have always had working line, English Labrador’s and currently have one.

Your poor dog.

A man loomed over him & got in his face. STUPID STUPID man. Realising this was HIS own fault he didn't want you to involve the police. But you did anyway.

Now you're considering rehoming your lovely dog because of a virtual strangers stupidity.

Several professionals have told you it wasn't your dogs fault & aren't worried it's aggressive behaviour, but you seemed to be determined to think the worst of him.

I’m sure these parents/family thought the child was with a friendly dog. Do the right thing by your children and put them first.
Mahbe find a child free home with people that understand reactive dogs.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/baby-killed-dog-attack-caldicot-32798816?fbclid=IwVERFWAN0vDRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHkraJdrC4LvD6-ehyV1MpzYqQ8PR764ov-NcHYFtxHm5YHsbKItQYTmYmkPq_aem_oZTJ9KS3P43okyU2OW9-ZQ

I think it’s very clear that the OP loves her dog very much.

She doesn’t need you being this nasty and judgemental towards her because she’s choosing to consider the safety of her children (as would every responsible dog owner).

Ignore that poster OP, it’s very obvious that you aren’t “thinking the worst of your dog” and that you’re simply upset and conflicted about being in a really difficult situation.

How is this helpful? It's highly inappropriate and incredibly insensitive towards both the OP and the family involved in this tragedy. There are no similarities between the two cases.

If that's the case, then why have you been so vicious towards the OP? Next week this could be you with your Labrador. If you're a genuine dog lover then surely you would understand that and be a little more compassionate in your responses.

It's not up to you to decide what the OP 'needs'.

my post wasn't nasty & it may help her see things more clearly, so MYOB

If one of my dogs had ever bitten a person, I would have been heart broken but I would do the right thing and have the dog put down.

Even if the dog had been provoked and wasn't at fault?
I've never had a bite incident with any of mine either, but I think I'd have to consider the individual circumstances rather than just have a knee jerk reaction to pts or rehome.

Good. I hope OP will not be rehoming her dog. She has already stated she will not euthanize him thank god.
Absolutely no need, and I hope she will just be just as vigilant around her children as she has always been as of course one is when you have a dog and small children.

It’s an example of how powerful dogs can be and there’s consequences for families and especially children.
I am a huge dog lover, my dogs are part of my family. But my children always come first. I think this nation has gone a bit crazy with dogs and I’m so fed up of seeing dogs killing people in the press so often.
My dogs are soft as anything but I still wouldn’t 100% guarantee they’d never bite as they are animals at the end of the day and we can never fully predict how an animal will react in all circumstances.
This dog seems to have reacted in a way that could have serious implications on someone younger. Seemingly with no warning signs. That is not a dog that should be around children as children are also unpredictable.

I was bitten by a dog like this as a young child. I did nothing standing next to a parent.
The dog had a history very like this dog has now.

I was lucky only to have scar in my face and no real harm. But it's still a scar. My parents were terrified because the doctors said it was pure luck I wasn't harmed for life.

I would put it down. I wouldn't risk it.

As the owner of a giant breed dog, I know the risks better than anyone, but I still feel your post was highly insensitive. No excuses. The OP is an experienced owner of large powerful dogs, she fully understands the dangers they can pose, but your post last night was inappropriate and you are showing no compassion for her situation.

This incident was caused by the post man getting into the dog's face.

Dog's interpret direct eye contact as aggression.

The dog is not the problem here, so you need to warn people not to give your dog direct eye contact and to give him space or he'll bite.

Fuck sake. So why do many dogs manage to not do this

Presumably because they don't all experience a comparative stranger suddenly being in their face.