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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 jumped up at a woman yesterday and scratched her and she's reported him :(

238 replies

Geretrude · 23/11/2016 10:25

I have an 18 month old Boston terrier. He is very loving and sweet natured normally - no aggression at all. Yesterday when we got home in the dark, we got out of the car and my DS was holding his lead and a woman was walking past the end of the drive as DS came out with the dog. For some reason, he growled at the woman and jumped up at her. I grabbed his lead, pulled him away and apologised profusely.

She's just come round and shown me a scratch on her hand which she said is a bite (it isn't - it's his claw), she's had to have a tetanus shot and that she has reported him.

I've spoken to a friend who is a dog trainer and asked her to recommend a local behaviouralist because obviously this is awful and I need to stop him doing it. I think he was frightened of her but that doesn't make it okay.

But fucking hell :( What's going to happen now?

OP posts:
AlcoChocs · 23/11/2016 11:43

I'd report it if it happened to me, think its the responsible thing to do as would be worried same thing might happen to someone else with a worse outcome.

Original poster
Geretrude · 23/11/2016 11:52

Good point MsAdoraBelle. Thanks.

Will let the thread know what happens. Ironically, in his training, he does beautifully at people manners and just ignores the trainer when she comes to talk to me.

I'll see if they have any immediate advice too when we go this week.

It's just such a shock that he's done something like this so thanks for not crucifying me. I feel terrible about it.

OP posts:
TwitterQueen1 · 23/11/2016 12:19

there's a difference between a dog biting - or attempting to bite - and a dog jumping up and scratching.

A bite is obviously a lot more serious, but a scratch? No.

Twogoats · 23/11/2016 12:26

I'm sorry op, but I would have reported him too. Sad

If he jumped on a child, he could have done serious damage.

Hopefully he will grow out of it. Smile

neonrainbow · 23/11/2016 12:36

It's a boston terrier and it didn't bite. Very slim chance of serious damage to a child Hmm

Sounds like just one of those things and you sound like a responsible owner op. Just make sure your son isn't responsible for the dog on his own just yet.

Also would just say its not very safe to travel a dog in the footwell.. he should be in the boot ideally in a cage.

Original poster
Geretrude · 23/11/2016 12:56

Thanks neon - point taken re travel. He's scared of going in the car - he normally goes in the back seat in a seatbelt and harness which I think is safe so I will always do that.

I don't think he would jump up at a child because he's not frightened of them but I didn't think he'd jump up in fear at anyone :(

I will work really hard to stop him doing it - he's done his puppy and bronze awards for good dog citizenship and we're working on silver now.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 23/11/2016 13:03

No expert. If he's scared of the car could his heightened anxiety about that have caused him to act out of character?
Vet check to be sure he's not sore?
He jumped out and growled at her? Maybe she thought she was bitten? Would have been scary.

HopperBusTicket · 23/11/2016 13:04

I started reading this thread sympathetic to you but now I do think you're minimising it and even appearing to blame the woman - did she she startle your dog by 'appearing from nowhere' or was she just walking along the pavement minding her own business?

That fact is your dog was out of control enough to hurt her and she's seen fit to report it. Maybe she thought next time he might bite a child rather than scratch an adult. I don't know.

It sounds like you are taking the right steps in seeing someone about extra training for the dog. So perhaps that can be a positive outcome.

JenLindleyShitMom · 23/11/2016 13:08

OP get a gate for your drive that he can't get through.

Justchanged · 23/11/2016 13:23

Are you sure he didn't bite? I got bitten by a strange dog which was off-lead on a public footpath. It also had jumped up on DS but didn't bite him. The owner denied it and refused to keep the dog on a lead. I reported the incident to the police, who took it really seriously. Had the owner shown more concern, I wouldn't have reported it.

The best way to react is as you're doing and let police know you're taking him to a behaviouralist.

Original poster
Geretrude · 23/11/2016 13:56

I'm not minimising it. I feel awful, she must have been frightened. I'm just saying that I didn't see her approaching so assume the dog didn't either.

The drive is literally a car's length so there is nowhere for gates to go.

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 23/11/2016 14:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheSnorkMaidenReturns · 23/11/2016 14:10

I'd be really upset if I was walking along the street minding my own business and was scratched or bitten by a dog! I'm not sure whether or not I would report it but I don't think it's an over-reaction. You may feel she startled the dog, but the dog was 'out of control' and did attack her.
I don't think she's done anything wrong by coming around either - otherwise you might have felt she was being a bit underhand.

CharliePurple · 23/11/2016 14:15

I reported a dog a few years ago, I was walking past a house on the street when a large dog ran down the path and jumped up and bit my arm through a fleece and coat. The police had the dog destroyed.

Ilovehedgehogs · 23/11/2016 14:16

Complete over reaction, what was the women's aim? To get the dog put down?

WannaBe · 23/11/2016 14:21

I would bet money that she didn't report it and that she thought she might get a bit of compensation if she came round and claimed that she had been bitten.

If a dog jumped and growled at me I would have told the owner to keep it under control first and foremost, not scurried off to the police and returned the next day to show off my scratches. Or is this the society we live in now? Speak to the police first and have the confrontation afterwards? Really?

No, a dog growling at someone and jumping isn't ideal. But sometimes these things happen. I would have been annoyed at the time, but reporting a dog jumping up is a tad hysterical given the dog didn't actually bite and was on its own driveway. Would have had words with the owner but the police? No.

glasshalfemp · 23/11/2016 14:25

I wouldn't have had words with the owner as I tend to judge the owner by its dogs behaviour and would have been anxious that you too would have been aggressive. I would have reported it. I don't even like dogs touching me when I walk down the street and would be horrified if one jumped on meSad

NavyandWhite · 23/11/2016 14:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WannaBe · 23/11/2016 14:41

It wouldn't even occur to me to report it TBH. I would probably have had words because it's likely that I would have had my own dog with me at the time and unfortunately instances of dogs hurting or scaring guide dogs are quite high so would probably. Have reacted on that basis iyswim.

As for judging an owner based on the dog's behaviour, well, given the dog was on a lead I wouldn't have considered the owner to necessarily be irresponsible or aggressive. Why on earth would anyone make such a snap assumption.

Ilovehedgehogs · 23/11/2016 14:50

Unfortunately whether people like it or not, we share this planet with animals and animals are not robots.

I too hate the running to police/authority mentality that seems to prevail now.
You apologised, you clearly aren't deliberately using the dog as a weapon, it's a small dog.

Original poster
Geretrude · 23/11/2016 15:03

Glasshalf - I don't think she was worried I was aggressive. I was massively apologetic both last night and this morning.

I am also a dumpy middle aged white woman with an embarrassingly RP accent. I'm not very threatening.

OP posts:
stonecircle · 23/11/2016 15:07

Dog was protecting it's territory and family - someone appears suddenly out of the dark and takes dog by surprise. My dogs would react in that situation.

I think the woman should bear some responsibility. None of you were aware she was there. She was walking towards you so presumably saw you pull up. She could have given you a wide berth in case she frightened any of you given it was dark. Having been mugged myself I would never suddenly appear like that.

Not sure how she could prove your dog scratched her. Were there any witnesses?

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 23/11/2016 15:46

Would you really assume a Boston Terrier means aggressive owner?

Blumey. You lead sheltered lives.

neonrainbow · 23/11/2016 15:52

Anyone who thinks boston terriers means aggressive owners is an idiot. Is it because they have pointy ears and a brachycephalic face?

Thirtyrock39 · 23/11/2016 15:54

Any dog jumping up is really scary regardless of biting or scratching. A terrier startedjumping up at me when I had two very young children with me and I couldn't carry both kids it was awful and my daughter was terrified of dogs for years after just due to the dog jumping up at her. If you're used to dogs this woman's experience would seem ott but it would be scary. I wish I'd known who's dog the one that jumped up at as was.