Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
D0oinMeCleanin · 07/02/2012 15:39

I'm not fit either. The dog does most of the work Blush I help him uphill. It's very hilly where I live. Occassionally if I feel like really pushing myself we bike upto the mountain of death Shock, this does not happen often.

He also does C25k with me when I am working on my fitness, which due to illness has not been for a while.

He has a padded harness designed for pulling so he is comfortable and not at risk of injury.

Ball games in our large yard or gated alley with his long line on and he is let to run on his long line in an enclosed area of the park when there are few/no other dogs and people about, usually when it's rainy or cold.

Clicker training in the house for short periods a few times a day to keep his mind ticking over.

If you feel you are not able to continue working on this, then contact a rescue who might be able to help. There are options other than pts.

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:40

Spero, that's exactly how I feel at the moment. But I'll try not to make any hasty decisions and consult again with the vet and behaviourist.

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:41

Thanks very much for all your advice, everyone. Sugary tea and more thinking, I think!

OP posts:
Chandon · 07/02/2012 15:42

Sorry OP how horrible.

You cannot let her off lead now though, whatever you do.

Spero · 07/02/2012 15:44

You are right, you shouldn't make decisions when emotional. But it's a tough one - just had a weekend of people pulling their children away from my staffy pup in fear when all she is doing is bouncing. If she ever bit anyone I would prob have a nervous breakdown.

Gribble · 07/02/2012 15:45

Theres no need to have the dog PTS, but if you do decide to then you might aswell contact some rescue centres who will take her in. Poor dog.

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:45

I'm sorry if I haven't replied to everybody's posts- I'm a bit rattled still. But I'll read this all through again this evening when I'm calmer and think about your suggestions.

OP posts:
Spero · 07/02/2012 15:48

Genuinely curious - what would a dogs chances of being rehomed if in a rescue because of propensity to attack strangers? Who would take such a dog?

I am slightly surprised at the 'poor dog' attitude. Poor bloody man who got bitten.

Gribble · 07/02/2012 15:49

Spero - chances are your pup/dog might 'bite' someone but it wont actually be a bite IYSWIM - staffies, IME, 'mouth' alot of the time, they are just playing, but if you get a soft bit of hand or arm in the wrong place it can feel like they are biting you.

Spero · 07/02/2012 15:50

Sorry, I don't mean to add to your woes op. But the welfare of humans must surely be put above the welfare of a dog.

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 15:52

That is my feeling too, Spero. And I do worry about her prospects in rescue too, tbh.

OP posts:
D0oinMeCleanin · 07/02/2012 15:52

There is a chance, Spero. The woman I work with fosters 'difficult' dogs to rehabilitate them. She is a single woman, with no children and dedicates her life to helping dogs.

My Dad (no young children, life time of experience) adopted one of these difficult dogs from her, after she passed it to a more suitable rescue for it's needs.

There are lots more people like these two, who dedicate their life to helping problem dogs.

Gribble · 07/02/2012 15:53

Plenty of dogs like this get rehomed. Maybe to people without children or other dogs but they do. They get rehabilitated or some might remain in foster care, better that than the alternative.

Dont know why you're surprpised at the poor dog attitude. Its obviously not right healthwise which might be contributing to its temper. Id have more pity for the man if he had been seriusly bitten but he wasnt, so my pity is for the dog in this case.

ChickensGoMeh · 07/02/2012 15:53

I really feel for you, OP. Your distress is coming through loud and clear. I don't know how I'd feel if Jasper ever bit anyone, and I hope I never find out. Can I just say that I agree that if a dog has to be leashed all the time I don't think it's the end of the world? You can still go on some nice, long, interesting walks with plenty of sniffing action. I think you do need to muzzle her, though, all the time when she's in public. I wouldn't make any decisions just yet while you're still upset.

Gribble · 07/02/2012 15:55

OP you dont need to worry about the dogs chances in a rescue, but even so surely its better to give her a chance in a rescue than have her pts if thats what you decide?

Spero · 07/02/2012 15:57

He may not have been injured but I bet he was bloody terrified and will join in future campaigns to get dogs banned from parks, beaches etc.

If there are people who would be prepared to work with or rehome dog then great, that may have to be your eventual choice.

Chances are my dog will not dare go anywhere someone with her mouth, that has been made clear to her from day one. It is clear to me from reactions of parents when they see her that if she even so much as s niffs their children they will call the police.

We really don't need to be encouraging anymore people to fear dogs.

RumourOfAHurricane · 07/02/2012 16:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
WhatTheActual · 07/02/2012 16:03

It's a stafflococcous infection (sp?). I don't know if it's stress-related, but it's bacterial anyway, and apparently hard to treat.

OP posts:
Gribble · 07/02/2012 16:07

I get that with my SBT Spero. Pisses me off.

I only mention the mouthing thing as it can take you by surprise, I love play fighting with my girl and she gets a bit excited and 'mouths', one day she did catch my hand with her teeth and it was bloody painful and felt like a proper bite, it wasnt of course, if she had bitten me properly my hand would have come clean off Hmm

Spero · 07/02/2012 16:17

I was warned about the mouthing! And I may have been a bit enthusiastic about warning her off, but she is brilliant now.

I was walking her off lead with my 7 year old in park and she was just bouncing along, man in front heaved his daughter into his arms, obviously afraid. I was a bit put out but then I thought have no idea what has happened to that little girl before and he could have been reacting based on previous bad experience.

So I do think we should take aggression very seriously as it taints things for all dog owners.

minimuu · 07/02/2012 16:37

I deal with situations like this daily so am aware of how gutted you feel.

First do not panic and you are right not to make a rush decision while you are obviously upset and concerned.

You will need more than one summer to change a fear aggressive dog and you will always have to learn your dogs triggers and situations that are too much for it.

However a terrier that bites is not uncommon and certainly can have a fab life and everyone around it to be safe no problem.

You will have to muzzle it when out - that really is no hardship for the dog at all.

You can teach the dog that a muzzle is fun and I can tell you how to do that if you wish to.

Someone suggested a bike - a great way to exercise a terrier, get the correct dog harness and attachment to the bike you will have a fit, happy exhausted terrier that is no way able to reach anyone to bite and will have his muzzle on.

You can also find a fab rabbiting field have him on a long line and sit down holding the line and let him sniff out rabbits to his hearts content (with his muzzle on) If you see people approaching then recall and reward have him close to you then off on a long line again as they have passed.

This is not a reason to have him put down - the idea that a dog that has tasted blood is a killer is rubbish. Your lad is frightened and anxious and is trying to protect his family. People do need to be safe around him and I can give you advice on how to help with that if you want to.

This is not a death sentence but a behaviour that needs to be managed correctly. You can do itGrin

bobbybearmummy · 07/02/2012 17:32

How long is this dog exercised a day?

Alot of behaviour problems are caused by lack of exercise.
I walk my dog with a jogging harness for 1-2 hours daily.

LaurieFairyCake · 07/02/2012 17:37

Agree that you can muzzle her and he can learn to like it - he will eventually see it as the happy part of going for a walk.

Once on a muzzle you can relax and let him off.

Have a good, relaxing evening - it's been a very stressful day Smile

ilovebabytv · 07/02/2012 17:45

A muzzle and a leash, and some more training. Don't get her put to sleep. As for the quality of life, Im 100000% sure your poor dog would infinitely prefer a life of a muzzle and leash and think this was a luxury if the alternative was being pts!

PandaWatch · 07/02/2012 18:08

I'd be very careful just trusting a muzzle if he has been attacking people for no apparent reason. The law is such that even if a dog doesn't/isn't able to bite, if a dog attacks whoever is in charge of it can be charged under the offence of having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place, which would lead to you or your DH getting a massive fine and a criminal conviction and, seeing as your dog has history, your dog probably being pts.

Tbh (and I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic) you've been incredibly lucky not to have been reported so far. If a dog went for me like that I'd go straight to the police for fear that the next person it went for wouldn't be so lucky.

Very very best of luck getting the situation resolved x