Bit By a Co-Workers Dog...Pics and RANT

[Haviris]

If this is your friend, or someone you want to be your friend what you need to do it make them see how serious this is, maybe locate some local trainers for her to look into. If she brushes you off, or refuses to take it seriously I'd turn her in! If you do nothing and that dog bites someone else, that's a bite you could have possibly prevented! Dog's that seriously bite someone usually have bitten in the past, but usually it's friends and family that don't want to upset the owner.

I'd hate to have to report someone, if they take the dog(s) and put them down, that's something that can't be undone, but if she can understand how serious this is, and start working to fix it, she may end up happier to have well behaved dogs! It's amazing how many people tell me they wish their dog was as good as mine! And the only difference between me and them is I actually worked to have a sweet well behaved dog, and they haven't!

Now she definately needs to get a handle on the aggressive one (and it would be really nice if she'd train her dogs the 'off' command and teach them not to jump on people), but as for them ruling the house, it's her dogs and her house, if she's happy I'm not going to judge.

 

[Kansaseq]

That is completely unacceptable behavior, by the dog and your friend. Mark my words; that dog WILL bite again, and the next victim may not be so lucky. Your friend sounds like someone who does not understand dog behavior at all, and should not own a breed as dominant as the bullys. The bully breeds are not for submissive/permissive type owners; it's just a recipe for disaster. I would not go over to her house again, as she doesn't even seem to grasp the seriousness of her situation.
I love my pitty-girl, and she is allowed on furniture and the bed, BUT, I demonstrate, on a daily basis, the fact that I am alpha, not her. Simple things like obedience exercises (down, sit, stay, leave it, come) done correctly, and until I give the 'release' command, can do wonders. Somehow I don't think your friend has a clue, which is sad for the dogs. I'm really sorry you were bitten; I know how much dog bites, even small ones, can hurt. Have you had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years? You may want to get a booster in the next 72 hrs.

 

[SarahBeth9394]

The dog bit you. Not once but a few times and it continued to snarl as the owner pulled it off and put it outside. And you're not reporting it? By not reporting it you open the door to it happening again. Chances are the dog has been aggressive in the past and not properly dealt with. So it will more than likely happen to someone else. Why on earth did you stay there after that. You should have reported it and left. As far as her being a coworker and a friend goes; any "friend" that would let this cause problems at work is no "friend".

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

See, I don't understand how it wouldn't cause problems at work. I work closely with her. All of us are a team...somehow having her pet/child reported for biting would throw a HUGE kink in the work atmosphere.


Her dog bit me, yes...but it was my fault. I had to do something to provoke her. In biting cases, my belief is that the victim is at least partially to blame for triggering the instinct to bite. I have no issues with pitbulls...but Australian Shepherds yes. I'm wondering if the dog wasn't part Australian Shepherd. That entire breed seems to hate me if I'm within 30 feet of them. No idea why?


I know a child could be injured, but the dogs never leave the property. They are tied up and fenced and there are no kids in the house. She said it's never happened before, and the weird thing is that the female that bit me wasn't the alpha female. The alpha was too busy getting a belly rub from me.

I've been racking my brain all night trying to figure out what I did wrong to help bring on the biting, but the only thing I can think of is that I have two dogs of my own that live in my apartment...maybe she smelled them on me?

 

[greeneggsandham]

RoPo sorry, but this was not your fault. You can try and think of things that you did, but in reality you did nothing.
The dog may not like adults if you say the neighbors kids stopped by and the dog was all happy. But again it is not your fault that the dog bite you not once, but three times. I could see if you were robbing her or attacking her, but you just walked in the house. No reason for a dog to attack someone.
Had this been me I would call and report the bite. Heck it could have been my mom's dog and I still would have called, why because I would not want it to happen to anyone else.
Dogs like any other animal out there can be unpredictable. You really never know what goes through their mind.

 

[mypicklebird]

This is NOT your fault. This is the fault of the owner, and to some degree the dog's innate prey drive or protectiveness. Sometimes behavior of the 'victim' is related- like being s small child and running away or jumping and screaming can cause/trigger a prey response in a prey-driven dog, BUT it is not the child's fault that the got bitten/mauled/killed, just like it is not yours. You were invited into her house, and her dog appears to be either owner protective or property protective- and was not kept under control. Your taking the blame unto yourself for this seems more rationalizing why you should not take action.

One of the most common dog bite situations is with dogs that are tied up somewhere and are improperly socialized. Then somehow they get out, or someone comes onto the property (sometimes family or friend, or wandering kid) and they wander into the dog's area- and get attacked. This dog is an accident waiting to happen- well one has actually already happened. Even if her property seems tightly enclosed- there is the risk that this dog will get out by accident, and a dog that bites once *on purpose*- is very capable of biting again. This dog is also a risk to anyone that comes to her house. I wish she would take action herself, and deal with the dog- that would be the truly responsible thing to do.

Reporting or not is up to you. It is really hard to turn a friend, family or co-worker in for something- because you will likely have to face them again. If she is sorry, they at least she seems to realize there is a problem- I would not let this drop with her. You can start by being totally honest with her----pull her aside after work and show her the bruises and say something like- This really hurts, and I was really scared I was going to be severely injured. Several friends have recommended that I report your dog- I have not done this yet as I don't want to damage our friendship and working relationship--- BUT your dog is dangerous- I did not do anything to provoke an attack. Ethically I feel like I should do something to prevent this from happening again- so I was wondering how YOU planned to make sure this doesn't ever happen again to anyone? See what she says- maybe she will take action, whether it is euthanasia, report the dog herself, doggie boot camp, home training, ect- see whether it makes you comfortable that the dog is not a danger anymore.


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[Redyre Rotties]

You have to think what might happen. The next person this dog fixates on might be an elderly person. Or the next kid that walks up into the yard.

IMO this dog is a time bomb. I know you would be sick if this dog really hurts someone in the future and you did not report what happened to you.

 

[Kansaseq]

Ropo, I totally agree with what is being said here; the bite was NOT your fault. Regardless of whether or not the dog has bitten before, there has undoubtedly been dominant/aggressive behavior that the owner has either missed, or ignored. Because no action was taken to correct it, it has escalated and now resulted in an actual bite. I've seen this before in other situations, and this dog WILL bite again. Accidents happen, dogs get out, and someone else is going to get hurt. I agree with going to the owner and showing her your bruises and making her take responsibility for making SURE it never happens again. She needs to understand the seriousness of the situation. At present, I don't think she 'gets' it. We see this all to often at work when a dog tries to take my face off "Oh, he's NEVER done that before!"
Are any of your wounds punctures? You may want to get antibiotics (and make the woman pay for your medical bill)
Sorry again you were hurt.

 

[esthermgr]

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IMO, you have a responsibility to report that dog, especially if it is around children. That dog should not be allowed to be around kids. I had a neighbor who wasn't a responsible dog owner, and her dog came into our yard and tried to attack our infant son. My mother in law only saved my baby by jumping into a parked car and closing the door. When I confronted the neighbor later, she admitted that she had aggression problems with the dog in other settings and didn't know how to control him. Later we learned that the dog had seriously attacked someone and had to be put down. I know there are no "bad" dogs, but this dog is probably going to really hurt someone one day if it remains in that setting. It needs to be taken to a home where there are no children, with an owner who is capable of doing real training.

 

[wegotchickens]

RoPo, picture your bruises on the neck of a child, ask the owner to do so. The owner may not have kids, but you said the dogs were happy when some kids stopped by so they're clearly in the area. If this dog ever gets out it could be a real menace. If a kid ever hops the fence to play with the 'nice doggies' there could be a tragedy.
She said the dog has never bit anyone before? I kinda doubt that. And even if it hasn't, it has now and the owner really does need to take action. You have to at least try, even if you don't turn her in to AC. Those are some scary bruises you have there!