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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

My dog has just attacked a man at random- what do I do now?

78 replies

WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:04

I'm just back in from walking her, a border terrier cross, and I'm really shaken and upset. She was off the lead, not long arrived, quite excited, he was walking towards us minding his own business, and she just went for him- jumped up and bit his upper arm, snarling and growling. I got her off him immediately by hitting her with the lead and shouting "Get down!", re-leashed her and apologised profusely as you do, checking he was ok. He was- he had a thick coat on, and it wasn't ripped, but you could see where the fabric had been gashed at. He was uninsured, but obvious and rightly extremely pissed off.

She is a bit under the weather with a skin infection she keeps needing retreatment for- the vet says its like doggy MRSA basically, and very resistant to antibiotics, so it gets better with them for a while, but keeps coming back. She bites and scratches at her skin a lot (good diet,vet says I'm doing nothing wrong)- perhaps that has made her irritable?

She has done this once (well twice, i found out, as DH says she went for a teenage boy's leg once, but dodnt mention it to me at the time Hmm) before, again to a lone man walking towards me. It was more like jumping up aggressively and growling rather than biting though.

I paid for sessions with a specialist dog behaviourist, who helped me work on her recall and feeing that I was the protector, not her. This was about six months ago. We practice the recall all the time, and I can mostly get her back on the lead if I see another dog approaching, because it is more usually strange dogs she is arsey with, rather than people.

I don't really know what else I can do- she is extremely active and tireless, and I can't see her having much pleasure in life if I can't ever let her off the lead Sad. My mum was with me when this happened, and she thinks that the only responsible thing to do is to have her put to sleep. I can see her point- but is this an over-reaction? I have worked really hard these last months with her, but if she is going to be this unpredictable, I can't even have her on a long line in public, can I?

Please tell me what you think I should do- and please don't have a massive go at me either if you think I've done something wrong, I'm really upset and a bit teary writing this: I just want to know what to do for the best.

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:06

Sorry, I've just re-read that: I mean that you could see where the fabric had been gnashed at. Also, I don't know why a word autocorrected to "uninsured", I can't remember what I was trying to type, but not that!

OP posts:
JustHecate · 07/02/2012 15:08

Have you got his details? It would be the right thing to do to offer to replace his coat if it is damaged. I know you said it wasn't ripped, but if it's snagged or something? or maybe it now has a little tooth puncture mark?

Do you know if he is going to report this incident?

I'm not a dog person and don't pretend to be, but I know that you will have lots of great advice. I just wanted to give you a bit of a snuggle cos you're feeling sad.

CalatalieSisters · 07/02/2012 15:10

If it has happened three times, it does really seem like you need to keep her on the lead, at least until you feel you have been able to make some progress. It wouldn't be the end of the world. Not ideal, I know, but you can't really risk this happening again.

Do you have any idea what state of mind she is in when she does this? Is she generally fearful of people? Is there any specific trigger in the appearance or action of the people she has attacked?

snapsnap · 07/02/2012 15:12

Is this a joke - have the dog put down if it has bitten people twice. If you are not willing to do that then muzzle and keep on a leash.

And before anyone jumps up and down - I love dogs , always had them until I married my DH who is allergic (boohoo)

Eyjafjallajokull · 07/02/2012 15:15

We had dogs as children. I don't know if it's different times or what, but we were always told that a dog who bites, except in very special circumstances, should be put to sleep. (So we were told we must always always tell if one of our dogs ever bit.) And indeed my grandfather's dog had to be put to sleep because it turned on him. We later found out it had bitten a stranger too, but he'd given it a second chance.

D0oinMeCleanin · 07/02/2012 15:20

You don't need to get your dog pts. That's a massive over reaction.

You do need to keep her leashed and muzzled for the time being and contact the vet and an APDT registered behaviourist. Do it now.

mousymouseafraidofdogs · 07/02/2012 15:20

you really must keep your dog on the lead at all times in the public now.
and take her to the vet for a check up.
but as she has bitten before, even after extensive training, the dog cannot be trusted off lead/without a muzzle.
just be grateful that she didn't really cause any damage!

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:22

It's not a joke, snapsnap, I think you are probably quite right. I have just got off the phone, crying my eyes out, to DH, and he agrees that is the only feasible course of action. She isn't like some waddling Westie who would be happy to amble alongside her owner on gentle strolls to the paper shop. She'll have no quality of life being leashed up all the time, and I have tried so hard with her training. I don't think I can trust her Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:24

Doin- I've done both of those things though. She was at the vet only yesterday, and I spent all summer training her with a qualified behaviourist.

OP posts:
D0oinMeCleanin · 07/02/2012 15:26

Why will she have no quality of life? My terrier has to remain leashed 90% of the time because try as we might he will just not come back when he is called and has a tendancy towards being dog aggressive.

There are plenty of things you can do. Bike joring, jogging with her, keep a long line on (and muzzle) and let her run where appropriate, up the training inside the house to keep her stimulated and mentally tired.

Having her pts is unneccessary and a complete over reaction. If you can't be bothered to do the above and work with a trainer to solve this problem then at the very least attempt to contact a rescue who will work with her and rehabilitate her.

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:27

Just reading up, sorry. We didn't exchange details, so no further action on that front.

It was an older man in a black coat, just happened to be walking towards me, about twelve feet away. The other time is was an older man in a mac.

OP posts:
D0oinMeCleanin · 07/02/2012 15:29

You said you trained the recall, the behaviourist can only work on problems he knows exists. If you weren't aware she had a tendancy to snap at passers-by then how could he be aware of it? You need to phone him/her back and tell them of this new problem. They will be able to help you.

Re the vets: You've been about her skin, she needs a full health check, there may be something else going on that hasn't been picked up on.

Spero · 07/02/2012 15:31

Er doin, she has spent all summer trying to turn it around so you should retract your unhelpful comments.

Op, i am very sorry. I love my dog and I would cry for days if I had to have her put down.

But this sounds a dangerous situation. Either your dog has a very poor quality of life or you could end up with a criminal record. I think your DH is right.

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 07/02/2012 15:31

Everything D0oin said.

Is she a rescue?

MrsDeeBee · 07/02/2012 15:31

What

Please don't be too upset. You have asked for advice and the advice is what you really already know, to keep her on a lead when you are out.

Sorry to be so blunt but you are talking utter nonsense that she won't have a quality of life being leashed all the time. Do you have a garden she can run around in ? Do you have a sports centre near you where you could take her for a leash free run in a tennis court, or something similar ? Maybe that way you could continue the recall work, and have a chat with someone about what could be making her jump up and go for people ? There are always things you can try to improve behaviour, as long as you are prepared to work at it, which you clearly are.

Also, while she may well be on a leash full time in public, there is no reason why you couldn't get a 'flexi lead' or similar which lets her run but you have complete control over when to 'reign her in'.

Might be worth mulling over ?

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:33

No, I contacted the behaviourist after the snapping incident. She came out with me, observed her, and said the main problem was fear-aggression and that she had no respect for me and thought she had to look after me. Working on recall and being her "go-to" person was what she recommended to deal with her nerves and aggression, and make her happier and more relaxed.

Without trying to sound like I'm making excuses, the bike thing won't work as I'm just not fit enough (ongoing health condition).

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MiseryBusiness · 07/02/2012 15:34

Please do not put the dog to sleep. If you feel you cannot trust her and dont want to try training her again then please contact a local rescue, you can get recommendations from lots of people on here.

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:35

She's not a rescue, no- I've had her since a pup, she's six now.

I think I'll ring the behaviourist back and see what she says.

OP posts:
CalatalieSisters · 07/02/2012 15:35

I agree with Dooin that having to keep her onlead most or all of the time needn't ruin her quality of life. You can find lots of ways like the ones Dooin suggests to make sure she is still having a good time.

However, I'm absolutely sure, that your thoughts of having her put to sleep are NOT question of you "not being bothered" to put the work in to manage the aggression. You are really upset at the moment, and that isn't surprising. You want to do the right thing but you are stressed right now.

Buy a muzzle, walk her on the lead, take some time to think about things, don't make any decisions for a while.

toboldlygo · 07/02/2012 15:37

Being on a lead isn't a death sentence - you might have to walk further, take up canicross, seek out places that are safely fenced in for off-lead runs, pay for access to a dog training club's facilities etc. but it's perfectly possible. My own working dogs are never, ever off a lead in an unfenced space.

This dog must be muzzled without exception. Starting today, she wears a muzzle any time she leaves the house and any time you have a visitor.

What is she fed? The skin thing screams dietary intolerance to me, I trust my vet on many things but never on nutrition.

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:37

Oh, and now garden, no, just a small backyard (terraced house). But it's never been a problem exercising her as the local park is close by.

OP posts:
Spero · 07/02/2012 15:37

If a dog has a propensity to attack strangers and can only go out muzzled I think it is bonkers to have such a dog as a pet. I don't see what enjoyment you would be getting out of each others company - I would be on edge all the time.

But if you are prepared to do the work, give it another go but I think you have got to set some sort of time limit to how long you try.

MiseryBusiness · 07/02/2012 15:38

We have Dalmatians and most people know that they need tonnes of exercise and we have recently moved to Germany where in the majority of places you cannot let a dog off a lead - not even in woods etc.

We have just started to take them out for a bit longer and using a longer lead etc. They seem pretty happy with the situation still.

I mean, obviously they'd love to run free but for the next 18 months they cant. We have upped the mental stimulation in the house and garden too. They're pretty content.

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:38

Thanks Catalie, that makes sense- I shouldn't make any decisions in this state.

OP posts:
fairimum · 07/02/2012 15:38

I would put a plastic muzzle on if letting her off lead? At least them you know she is safe and so is everyone else and she still gets to run? put on lead when in areas that are busy and try to keep her away from other people. Also I would take to the vet again to rule out anything else that might be going on, if in pain etc from something? x

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