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

[WhatTheActual]

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 ) 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 . 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.

Sorry - she not he!

And just to clarify, when I meant not just trusting a muzzle, I meant using a leash as well (not the pts option which I really hope isn't necessary).

Speaking of things not been necessary, please forgive my 3 posts to say one thing!

My dog has never been out in public off lead, he walks on a lead or on a long lead and is retracted in if other dogs/ people are around. He has a good quality of life and it's a massive over reaction to PTS because he can't be off lead

Others who let their dogs amble over and say its ok love he's friendly, really annoy me as my dog is obviously on a lead for a reason ( no history off aggression, just I'm not confident)

You must muzzle and lead your dog in public now.

I suppose it depends on where you live, lifestyle etc. And why you have a dog. I am in a small terrace, no garden just a small yard. If I had to muzzle my dog the whole time, it seems to defeat the object of having her.

My dog is a member of the family, not Hannibal lecter. If I couldn't trust her to be safe around people who visit the home, for whatever reason, then I wouldn't keep her.

OP so sorry to read about this. Just wanted to add that this IS a situation that can be resolved safely and happily for everyone involved. Our greyhounds are always muzzled when out, and two of them rarely come off the lead. However they have an absolutely fantastic quality of life. Walks involve sniffing, weeing, squirrels, and all the usual fun things. Off lead play happens in a safe secure field we rent via a specialist greyhound charity. Many greyhound owners, and owners of huskies/northern breeds do this, and I can assure you our dogs are very happy, well adjusted and fit. DH also goes running with hounds too. Please take Minimu's advice and keep working on the behavioural issues.

You are absolutely right to give yourself some time and have a think about this, but in the mean time just take all the necessary precautions.

And I'm another one who would be looking very hard at your dog's diet when thinking about the skin condition. You might find switching to raw, with plenty of oily fish might be helpful (no wheat, or fillers or other crap).

Spero why does muzzling a dog defeat the object of having one? I really cannot see the connection at all - you only want to look at her teeth all day

Your dog is a family member who you would destroy if she is not perfect - blimey I worry for your DC'ss (this was said in the way of a cheap joke not obviously a serious comment!)

My border puppy jumps up (not aggressively) at people. It's really annoying and luckily so far we haven't found anyone who is made cross by it, but I am sure we will. I walk him off the lead until I see someone (we live rurally) then he goes straight onto the lead. The long leads (ours is 8m) are really good. I don't really understand why an hour's walk on the lead is any worse than an hour's walk off the lead but then my puppy tends to stay close anyway (until he sees another dog )

Minimuu - because she is a family pet. I need to be able to trust her around small children. I need to be able to take her out to the local park to play happily with my daughter. I want us to be able to walk together off lead.

if I have to have at the end of a lead a dog so dangerous it has to be muzzled, I could not relax and enjoy myself with her. I would not keep such a dog and frankly I think it's chances of being rehomed are slim to non existent.

So sadly I think the reality for these kind of dogs is they will be put down.

I do admire the strength of commitment shown on this thread, but I have to say that some of you live in very different worlds. I do not have easy access to some lovely field where a dangerous dog could roam uninterrupted. My dog has to fit in with my family and the time and commitment I have. Unless you are saying only people who live in the country and dontnwork are allowed dogs, I think a bit more recognition of the reality of others lives is needed here.

And if my daughter started attacking random strangers then she would be rehomed by social services. I don't have many family rules but one of them is that no one stays in my house if they are violent.

Putting a dog down because it has to be muzzled when out for a walk? Are you serious?

Think you're the one living in your own world Spero, sorry but if you think a dog should be pts because it has to be muzzled then you shouldnt own one because you clearly dont have enough understanding of them, especially as you think a dog should just 'fit in' with your life. Having a dog doesnt work like that.

No gribble. I am talking about having a dog put down because it cannot be trusted not to use it's teeth, therefore it needs to be muzzled.

My dog is a sbt. She could easily kill a child or very seriously injure an adult. If I could not trust her, to the extent that she had to be muzzled when out, I would not keep her. I would be too afraid.

I would return her to the sanctuary where I got her, but as she had six siblings who had not found homes when i picked her up, i would guess the chances of anyone wanting an older sbt with history of violent behaviour, would be nil.

My dog has to fit in with my life and so far it is working brilliantly. She is ok spending a few hours alone and I use a dog walker during the week. She has a far nicer life with me than stuck in concrete pen at the dog rescue centre. We all love her a lot and she is a great addition to the family.

But the moment she has to be muzzled because I can't trust her not to bite, out she goes.

You do need to have this dog pts, what if next time its a child, if that mans coat was gnashed, don't bare thinking about what it would do to a childs face.

Would you keep the dog muzzled all the time, at home and in the garden, just taking it off for feeding then, and for how long - who decides when its okay to leave the muzzle off?

I might try some training but I would not and could not dedicate months to trying to sort it out. I would get her checked out by the vet to see if she was ill or in pain but if after a few months there were still problems it would be the end of then road for us.

I really hope that doesn't happen and we have many happy years together - at the moment she is great, happy, bouncy and affectionate with pretty good recall. But when she is tugging on a toy I can see she is capable of and it is pretty scary.

We have to make the choices that are right for us. My dog is not the most important thing in my world and nor should she be. She is, however lovely, a dog and I value the health and safety of other humans more highly.

I think the criminal law backs me on this one.

No Spero the law does not back you up on this one. If the dog is muzzled and in control it is not breaking any law at all.

I have been a legal professional in many legal cases with dog attacks. Many of them are not pts but are enforced to wear muzzles etc.

Dogs that bite strangers are no more likely to bite people they know than any other dog, dogs that are reactive to other dogs are not going to become reactive to humans. You are panicking and over-reacting.

A muzzled dog means safe people and a happy alive dog

Can I ask some of the experts on here if you've ever come across a dog that couldn't be rehabilitated and had to be PTS? Does that generally only happen with abused animals, or very ill ones? I confess that shortly after we got Jasper, a friend sent me a very scary article about 'Cocker Rage' and it did shake me a bit. I suppose I feel that if my dog did bite someone, with deliberate intent to cause injury (rather than a reactive nip. I suppose I'm thinking of a sustained attack) I'd find it very hard to trust him again. I think that's what shakes people, when their seemingly harmless dog suddenly shows another side. I can see why people consider PTS. I very much hope I'm never in a position where I have to make that kind of call

The issue here isn't one of quality of life for the dog IMO.

The issue is that the op has an unpredictably agressive dog who will attack random strangers unprovoked. It cannot be trusted. At all. Ever.

And just because the dog has previously attacked outside doesn't mean it isn't going to attack when in the house - op said herself that the behavior is a protective instinct, so in fact the dog is more likely to be protective of its own teratory.

On the whole it is extremely rare for dogs to bite unprovoked. The idea that any dog can turn at any time is generally rubbish - most dogs have a reason why they bite, or are known to be agressive.

This isn't about a dog having once bitten tasting blood - this is about a dog who is agressive to people and cannot be trusted around them. This dog has bitten three times. And as yet no charges have been brought, and as yet no serious injuries have been inflicted. But you cannot be sure that the next victim won't be a child.

It is not reasonable to suggest a dog should be muzzled at all times, and in order to ensure that a known agressive dog never bites, that is the only reasonable solution. And really, why would you want to keep a dog that is that agressive?

And rehoming is utterly irresponsible - to pass a known agressive dog on to someone else, even if they are aware of the issues is to essentially wash your hands of the problem. But if that dog bites someone after you've passed it on it is still ultimately you who is responsible, because you knowingly passed on an agressive dog.

On the whole I think if a dog has a reason for biting then there are steps that can be taken to avoid that happening. But a dog that attacks randomly and unprovoked should be put to sleep.

Wannabe Can I ask what you base your dog knowledge on?

I have worked with dogs as a behavourist for to many years to mention and dealt with "aggressive" dogs on a daily basis.

In that time I have come across one dog that had to be put down. He had a brain tumour and it was causing him to act aggressively.

Other dogs have had to be rehomed as owners could not be bothered/were not prepared to put in the time to help the dog or change their lifestyle slightly to deal with the situation.

Today very very very few rescues will take human reactive dogs, or dog reactive dogs if the owners do give them up it is the same as killing them to be honest.

I have 6 dogs. 3 of which were "aggressive dogs". One was dumped on my doorstep and the other two people gave up on. 2 of these dogs compete regularly in agility and obedience, one is a PAT dog and the third give him time (have only had him a while!) is living happily with my lot and gaining confidence every day.

This is a typical panic driven post by people that are not professionals stating ridiculous personal opinions with no knowledge to back them up.

I think that until you can rely in her to be completely safe then she needs to be on a lead at all times.

If that means longer walks or lesser quality of life for the meantime then thats tough really.

jesus christ, all I can say then is its no wonder there are so many dogs in rescue - people are too quick to get a dog without actually making sure they are going to be good owners.

I think thats a bit harsh. Op has been as responsible as she can, to the point of undergoing months of (i presume expensive) behaviour training.

I am not panicking. I am quite calm. I gave a great deal of thought to the implications of owning a dog which is why I am a good owner and assessed as such by a dog sanctuary.

And if my dog becomes aggressive, if she doesn't calm down within few months of intervention, then I would have her put to sleep without hesitation.

Lucky to say Spero you are in the minority and that MN is full of compassionate educated dog owners

Cassetttapeandpencil - that is the whole point - there will not be a next time if the dog is muzzled and on a lead