What Happens If Your Dog Bites Someone When Provoked?

[OSoSwift]

it sounds like your dog was lucky the guy didn't actually make contact.

If he is anything like my Dobe was then I would say the guy was lucky he didn't make contact with the dog!

Hopefully you don't come across this guy again.

Edited December 9, 2010 by OSoSwift

[poodlefan]

The only manner of dealing with this experience IMO is to learn from it.

Keep your dog on lead in public streets at all times. Buy a shopping buggy or buy less if you have to wrangle dog and shopping.

It simply isn't worth the risk to your dog. I think you know that now. Tying your dog up outside while you shop is another activity I'd simply NEVER do.

Edited December 9, 2010 by poodlefan

[jacqui835]

I am sorry you felt afraid ..been there done that.. a few times.It shakes you up.

however, why think of calling the police? The man was not, by your post, attempting to attack you ... he was directing his outburst at your very large off lead dog...he reacted strongly, and tried to protect his little girl. The man was probably scared witless ,and tried to fix things in the only way he knew how....

Yes, it sounded awful, and was loud, and intimidating...but hardly worth getting police involved, IMO.

He didn't try to kick me that's true, only my dog I think (though since he was at my side, he came damn close to me as well), but he did follow me down the street while I was trying to walk away, yelling abuse and swearing at me, despite the dog still being off-lead (so if he was so scared why was he still coming closer?). He didn't even seem to recognise it as a dog. I don't think that is a reasonable response, and by the time I got home I was almost crying and shaking and I just don't think it's acceptable for a person to make you feel that way even if he was scared of dogs. We were on a straight long street, he saw me coming for miles, he could have crossed over, asked me from afar to restrain the dog, move off the path if he thought I should be the one to move instead etc but he did nothing and then tried to kick at the dog as we walked past. That is a not a rational, normal nor acceptable response in my opinion. Almost every person on my street has a dog, many of them large, if that's what he was even worried about - I'm still not convinced he didn't just flip out since he didn't do anything until he was next to the dog, and also the daughter's behaviour, begging her father to just leave it and please to not do this etc, but point is he can't just do that to everyone he sees with a dog, because I'm sure there will be some dogs that react differently, not to mention how much it upsets the people. I just really hope I don't ever see him again.

But anyway, I didn't post this to try and justify what I was doing, and I knew it would make certain members of this crowd angry to hear about a dog off-lead under any circumstances. My dog was certainly not growling, he didn't even look at the guy until he started yelling at us. He meets a lot of people so he doesn't really pay a lot of attention to every person we meet on the street, plus he'd just had over 2 hours of exercise so he was pretty relaxed and tired. Like I said before, if people show any signs of being uncomfortable with the dog (and sometimes subtle hints are all you get because people are too embarrassed or polite), I do ensure that there is some distance between us (as much as what is possible on the path) and have him on lead and behind me, and this is something I have also been thanked for.

I was merely interested in finding out what happens if your dog does react in this sort of situation, and where I would stand. I know now that off-lead, I'm probably going to be in trouble, so I'll keep him on lead from now on and I thank everyone who gave advice.

[W Sibs]

No one should be abused and harrassed like that... regardless of the situation.

That guy is just a mean bully...

If he had an issue about it, he could of said something about, walk across the street, report it or something... there was no need to carry on like a jerk to prove a point. He scared you and your dog, and that's not right.

You've learned your lesson about keeping your dog on the leash now.

Edited December 9, 2010 by CW EW

[TsarsMum]

sounds like the guy has issues. i feel for his daughter and hugs to you

[alpha bet]

Perhaps you can turn the situation into a positive learning experience.

You have a big dog who is pretty layback - get a small cart and teach him to pull it and he can carry the shopping home for you. Shopkeeper might even accept your ringing thru your order just because of the novelty that way you dont have to leave your dog outside. You just hold the leash and maintain control of your dog. Saw different little carts in the US and they even have carts that can hold a human - two medium dogs can easy run with a human and the dogs loved it, also a really good way to excercise the dogs. You can always unharness him when you get to the off leash park.

No one can then claim your dog has attacked them when hes walking with the cart. Besides everyone gets to know him and how cool he is.

[persephone]

Perhaps you can turn the situation into a positive learning experience.

You have a big dog who is pretty layback - get a small cart and teach him to pull it and he can carry the shopping home for you. Shopkeeper might even accept your ringing thru your order just because of the novelty that way you dont have to leave your dog outside. You just hold the leash and maintain control of your dog. Saw different little carts in the US and they even have carts that can hold a human - two medium dogs can easy run with a human and the dogs loved it, also a really good way to excercise the dogs. You can always unharness him when you get to the off leash park.

No one can then claim your dog has attacked them when hes walking with the cart. Besides everyone gets to know him and how cool he is.

[abed]

People have the right to walk down a street and not encounter off lead dogs.

This man may have been terrified of dogs. Put the dog on a leash. If you have too much shopping, then leave the dog at home.

This man may have been terrified of dogs and may have had no control over how he reacted.

Many of us have been at the recieving end of a growling dog that is "friendly". This man doesn't know your dog from a bar of soap. I don't trust owners when they tell me their dog is friendly either.

You own a large dog and like it or not, MANY people in the community would be scared of it. I would be. Show them that dog owners are considerate and responsible. I only have littlies but I always make way for people, move over so that the dogs can't touch them at the end of their leads and often put them into a sit. People always smile at this and say thanks.

I don't like off leash dogs either, because you don't know how much control the owner has over them and often especially walking your own dog encountering one off leash, they see my dog and bolt towards us and the owner has no recall on the dog and things from there can easily get out of shape.