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DH's friend hit our dog - am I over-reacting?

62 replies

DiamondInTheRuff · 02/07/2016 07:44

Because right now (the morning after the event) I'm still fuming.

We adopted a lab just under 3 months ago. He was estimated to be 9 months old, so is now a year. From straying, he was taken to a kill pound, rescued from there and put in foster, then adopted, then a few months later they gave him back, now he's with us. So probably four homes (at least) in the first year of his life.

First adopter told us that he was a lovely dog - dodgy recall and "a bit possessive of the sofa" but otherwise no issues.

We got him home and it was obvious he didn't want our girl dog on the sofa - he growled at her if he was on it and she went near. However with less than two days of me giving him treats whenever she went near the sofa he stopped and never did it again. They cuddle up on the sofa together now.

However it became pretty clear that DDog has some pretty severe fear-aggression when on lead and / or in enclosed spaces with other dogs. We took him to training classes but he couldn't cope in the environment so we're doing some one-to-ones and working on that in the hope of taking him back when he's more confident. The key point here is fear-aggression when crowded by other dogs.

Last night friend came over. He has 5 dogs. His dogs are not supposed to come in our house due to a mixture of issues from dog aggression and human aggression through to not being properly toilet trained. Yesterday DH had arranged to meet friend for a dog walk (they do once or twice a week). Friend came back to ours after. He usually either takes his dogs home or leaves them crated in his van (doors open but crates secure). Last night he brought the dogs into the garden instead. After a while he brought one of his dogs in (small dog he was worried would escape from our garden). This dog is human -aggressive but as our DS was in bed by then, with three stairgates and a door between him and us we said it was OK.

Friend and DH were sitting at either end of our sofa, with our pup dog sprawled across them, head on Friend's lap. I couldn't say if he was awake or asleep, but knowing him almost certainly would have been dozing. Friend's dog tried to jump on his lap, landing squarely on our dog's head. Our dog growled and snapped (Didn't make contact) - probably because (a) he was surprised and (b) the whole fear-anxiety thing. Friend immediately hit my dog hard on the shoulder, then pushed him off the sofa (violently enough that pup-dog landed on his back on the floor). He then swore at our dog. I was stunned but pulled myself together and told him he was not to hit our dog. He apologised, but TBH I think only because he realised I was annoyed, not because he was actually sorry.

The atmosphere was certainly awkward after that. Eventually friend put his dogs back in his van. By this point the dogs outside had dug up a lot of my garden, friend laughed but apologised again.

I don't want friend or his dogs in my house again. DH is pretty much not talking to me after then incident (and slept on the sofa last night) so I'm assuming has sided with his friend. Am I over-reacting? I've been working really hard with Pup Dog to try and overcome some of his issues and we've been making progress (using positive reinforcement) and if this sets him back I'll be livid. Pup Dog has been unsually clingy since last night. He usually sleeps with DH but came up with me last night. How would others tackle this?

And any advice if this HAS set DDog back?

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sonlypuppyfat · 05/07/2016 07:45

Who on earth needs five dogs, that's the bit I'm struggling with

DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 07:50

paddle I don't know that book - who's it by? I've read Think Dog (John Fisher) and a variety of others.

Our pup's aggression is very specific, fortunately - it's purely when he feels trapped / crowded by other dogs (so when he's on lead in a training room, or when another dog jumps on his head whilst he's asleep). It's a shame the previous owner / rescue didn't think to mention that to us really.

Fortunately he's really, really bright and learning fast. In fact we had quite a break-through last night. DH took him to his puppy agility class - it's held in a barn so more room for Pup to move away from other dogs. DH has been having to take Pup right to the other side of the barn in between his turns to keep him calm, however last night they were able to stay much closer and DH could keep Pup focussed with trick training and treats. That's a massive step forward for him.

Funnily enough DH has really stepped up over the last few days so I'm actually beginning to think what I thought was silent treatment directed towards me was actually his "oh fuck, I got that wrong, I shall just sulk and wallow for a bit", which he also tends to do. He's not spoken to his friend (ex friend?) either which is very unusual. He's put in loads of extra training time with Pup, too.

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BarmySmarmy · 05/07/2016 07:51

The friend has FIVE dogs, all (or many) with issues? And it doesn't seem as if he is very dog literate or doing anything about his dogs.

The friend is an idiot. Your DH was behaving like an idiot. The friend should not have hit your dog.

I really hope your poor dog settles down soon. I would never be putting the new baby on the sofa, I think.

Everyone seems to have suffered from over optimism: the dogs would be fine in the garden, the little dog fine in the house, I think it was pretty optimistic to take on a rescue dog when you were already pg, tbh.

I would try and have a calm serious talk with your DH about dig management.

Good luck!

DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 07:53

X post sonly - Nobody. Nobody needs 5 dogs (although technically 3 are his and 2 are his partner's. But they all live together). "Friend" does a dog sport, he gets a dog to train for the sport, the dog doesn't take to it instantly, so friend just gets another dog. He then does absolutely nothing with his previous "failures" and wonders why they have behavioural problems. The three that are "his" are actually the problem ones. The two that belong to his partner are not too bad.

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BarmySmarmy · 05/07/2016 07:54

X-posted. The update sounds good, and I hope your DH has realized what was / is needed!

DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 07:57

Barmy taking him on when I was already pregnant was obviously considered long and hard. It certainly wasn't part of our long term plan. however our girl dog is a rescue who really can't cope alone, she relies on other dogs to get her confidence. We had another lab who was absolutely bomb-proof. We had to have him pts in January due to cancer - he was only 6. This left Girl Dog in a right state, refusing to eat or go for walks.

Pup really is a cracking dog. The issue is DH and his friend refusing to do what I ask! Friend had a number of warnings about his dogs before I imposed the full on ban on them in our house. Friend will keep trying it on though with any excuse he can think of. "Oh, can I just bring this one in, she's hurt her paw" or he just brings them in when I'm not home, and I come home to absolute chaos. It's not happening again. I think DH has realised it's time to man up.

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DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 07:59

Sorry Barmy another X Post (I have a plaster on my thumb! Phone usage is very slow). Yes I think it's given him a shock. He's had a good stew about it!

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NameChange30 · 05/07/2016 08:27

Glad your DH has stepped up. Shame it had to get so bad for him to do so, but better late than never!

pippinandtog · 05/07/2016 08:50

Diamond, of course you are right to be upset.
Your poor dog needs to feel safe in his own home, and relies on you to be his advocate.
The friend's dogs do not have a loving owner like you; he sounds like a deeply unpleasant "man".
As others say, your DH is another issue.
Don't let your dog down, Diamond, as other people before you have; he deserves a happy and settled home.

DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 09:48

I mean, look at that little face. (Black dog is pup). How could you hit that face?

DH's friend hit our dog - am I over-reacting?
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MidniteScribbler · 05/07/2016 10:15

Nobody. Nobody needs 5 dogs (although technically 3 are his and 2 are his partner's. But they all live together). "Friend" does a dog sport, he gets a dog to train for the sport, the dog doesn't take to it instantly, so friend just gets another dog.

This guy's problem is not having multiple dogs, it's the fact that he's a dickhead. He clearly knows nothing about dog behaviour

I have six dogs, and may not "need" them, but I want them. I also do a dog sport (and I'm a registered breeder), but that means having to be prepared to put in the work and manage the dog pack that you own.

pippinandtog · 05/07/2016 10:22

Diamond, he's beautiful, and he looks so settled there with the pup.
He's relying on you to stick up for him ; you sound very caring, so I'm sure you won't let him down.

DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 10:27

Midnite apologies, I didn't mean to offend. I'm just grumpy. Our agility trainer has 12 dogs who are all perfectly well behaved (once she sorts out the issues they have as they are mostly rescues). You are quite right that this man is, in fact, a dick-head.

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MidniteScribbler · 05/07/2016 10:44

I can understand being grumpy, I would be too. Anyone who hit one of my dogs would find themselves out on their arse with a great big boot print in it. Anyone who I knew through the agility world who came to my house and did this would find out their name was quickly mud as I would have no hesitation in telling everyone what they had done.

Unfortunately, whilst most exhibitors love their dogs, you do get the few dicks like this who are in it for the wrong reasons. They really have no idea about dog training, and of course, if they don't win, it has to be the dogs fault. And instead of working through their training, they just move on to the next poor victim dog, never realising that they are the problem, not their dogs.

DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 11:04

Midnite I wonder if our paths have crossed? It's my husband that actually runs, although I often go along (and obsessively note down times and faults on every run!). He's not running at the moment as the dog we lost in January was the one that competed. Current pup is hopefully going to start competing next year, he's doing really well with his Pup Agility so far.

We are south west based.

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MidniteScribbler · 05/07/2016 11:12

I'm in Australia, so a whole different hemisphere of agility :)

Good luck with your young pup. He sure has landed on his feet with you taking him in.

DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 11:15

Ooh, lovely! I bet you don't often get your caravan towed off of the agility field by a tractor (7 times and counting here...)

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Godstopper · 05/07/2016 11:30

YANBU.

Fear-aggressive or not, most sleeping dogs would react to having another dog launch themselves at their head. Growling in response is perfectly normal behavior.

I would not allow five dogs in my house, or nearby, with a fear aggressive dog: if one is fairly calm, walks together might be an option in time. I have a fear aggressive dog, and you can make progress. When something like this happens, just keep things very calm for a day or two as it takes a while for the stress hormones to go away (if mine had a run-in, I wouldn't even walk the next day, just e.g. training in the garden).

MidniteScribbler · 05/07/2016 11:31

It's been known to happen here, except I'm usually the one towing people out of the mud because I have a 4WD.

BettyDraper1 · 05/07/2016 11:47

I would be absolutely and vocally, furious. Unless it was just a light tap, in which case I wouldn't be bothered. But from what you described I'd be completely apoplectic. My dog, my house, my rules.

I hope he feels ashamed of himself.

slinkysaluki · 05/07/2016 15:57

He has his fog into your dogs territory, wrong thing to do, the dogs should have met on neutral ground first. Surprised he didn't know this having 5 dogs. I foster dogs and have two of my own, never introduce dogs on either territory, always neutral. I've never had a problem.

slinkysaluki · 05/07/2016 15:58

Dog not fog Grin

DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 16:00

slinky they met out for a walk first then came back together. The dogs are all walked together once or twice a week so they're not strangers. After every other walk he puts his dogs in his van or takes them home, he's not tried to bring them in for a long time. I've no idea why he did on Friday.

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slinkysaluki · 05/07/2016 16:14

Diamond I'm sorry I didn't read op properly Blush I'm not surprised your dog snapped at the other dog I think that's a given in that situation. His dog was to blame for jumping up on your dog. Don't blame you being cross !

DiamondInTheRuff · 05/07/2016 16:51

No worries slinky, I did ramble a bit!

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