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

[mamaKate]

My guess is that she went after you because she sensed your authority and she's used to being pack leader. I don't care for the idea of reporting someone. I would have a really serious talk with the owner, though. What if one of those kids tells the dog "No" about something? Maybe get her a book.

 

[Skyesrocket]

I have seen this type of behavior in Shar-Pei and a friend's bully breed. When a stranger walks in the dogs get over excited and without some kind of training or guidance they will bite either each other or the person.
Once the excitement wears off the dogs are fine. I'm not enough of a dog trainer to know what the dynamics of the situation are but can share what I have observed in the past.
Part of it is the nature of the dog. Part of it is from having multiple dogs in the area the person walks into. Dogs all get excited and low dog on the totem pole acts out by biting. It just doesn't seem to know what the acceptable behavior is. That's where training comes in.
I had a male Shar-Pei that would grab a stuffed toy and carry it around until the excitement was over. I guess biting into the toy was his way of releasing that excitement.
Hopefully Jamie will stop in and explain the dynamics of a pack of dogs being over excited and how to handle it. It's possible that the dog that bit you did it to get your attention away from the dog getting the belly rubs.
The best way I found to handle it in a friends home was to ignore the dogs. And like you did, make no eye contact. Wait until all of the dogs have settled down and have themselves under control before having any contact with them.
But the owner really needs to look at the situation and find out how to handle it. Even if it is to keep the dogs out of the area where people come into the home and then bring them out one at a time after the dogs calm down.
You did NOTHING wrong. How are the bruises today?

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

They're a bit painful and alot more purple...I was hoping they'd be a bit less but I swear I hear my boyfriend grind his teeth when he looks at the marks. It could have been a LOT worse. If I hadn't pulled my arm out of the dogs mouth when I did, I'm sure I'd have some puncture wounds there.

 

[lishah2000]

The owner NEEDS a wake up call. She knows her dog will bite and that changes everything.

I understand about not wanting to report, but the owner MUST step up and make some changes. Might be easy, might be a life long commitment.

I have a dog that bites. He has triggers, but they are so slight, most wouldn't see them. He has been worked with his entire life and made huge improvements, but in times of stress those behaviors can surface. Excitement can cause aggression or redirection.

It requires a lot of work to keep a dog like that safe. My dog doesn't interact with visitors and we have double fences to prevent escape. He is never left outside unattended.

Most would never know he has issues. We can go out in public and he listens very well. I have to always be on guard to prevent anything from happening. He is fine in group classes and agility. Even played the role of "stable dog" to help a dog with dog-dog aggression.

I believe his issues are genetic and he most likely came from a puppy-mill (he is a rescue). I don't normally let him interact with children, but the few he did interact with during training, he was very gentle with. He would most likely be fine with children, but not worth the risk.

It's a lot of responsibility and a big commitment. She should see a behaviorist right away. The more the behavior is practiced the harder it is to change. Those look like pretty hard bites, but a bully breed can do a lot more damage. Not something to wait on. It will happen again and could be worse.

 

[Skyesrocket]

I swear I hear my boyfriend grind his teeth when he looks at the marks.

There you go! When she comes over have the boyfriend read her the riot act! That might wake her up.​

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Here's some photos from a few minutes ago:

My knee doesn't look that bad, but howdy...there's some definite scratching and it hurts like a...well, it wouldn't be family-friendly.

Yes...that is my foot on the sink.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Another option is to go to the doctor and ask if you think you should be on antibiotics, for the bite that opened the skin. Go while you are still this bruised. Let them be the bad guy and report it. Around here, doctors report dog bites, just like possible abuse to children gets reported or gun shot wounds. That would take you out of the line of fire at work. I don't know what the laws are down there.

I know that might sound like the coward's way out, but I'm just trying to be sensitive to your situation at work. Trying to get involved with her over this to educate her on what a bad job she's been doing raising her dogs and telling her she needs to shape up could cause conflict, too. Of course you wouldn't express it that way, but that may be what she hears and she could resent it. Think about how much mothers like unsolicited parenting advice. She may have felt bad when it happened, but after the fact, people sometimes have different attitudes. She might prefer to go back to living in denial.

Dogs aren't usually just perfectly nice dogs one day and madly aggressive the next. Aggression is a path of behavior, with signs along the way. Usually the aggression increases as the dog matures and tests it's behaviors, while the owners live in denial. Then it's "suddenly" a problem. I'm just worried about what will happen in the future and who it will happen to.

I'm really sorry this happened to you and that you have to deal with all these issues, that aren't your fault.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I'm going to work for the first time after this bite happened...it's nice and purple now. Looks like I've been beaten.

My arm doesn't hurt bad, but my knee is kicking my rear. I'm going to be going to the doctor for it and see if there's anything I need to get a shot for.

 

[babyblue]

you could try first to have a reasonable and rational sit down talk with the owner and demand she gets the dog into some serious training or else you have to report it. I am telling you without hate or malice that you have to report this and something needs done. the victim is just that, a victim. you did not cause the bite. the irresponsible owner of the dog did by not training and containing her dog. this dog will bite again and I am telling you, it could kill an adult let alone an small innocent child. I could not myself nor do I want you to have that on your conscious.

 

[Kansaseq]

Quote:
I'm glad you are going to have it looked at. I understand not wanting to report it under the circumstances, so hopefully the Dr will take care of that and it won't be 'your fault' in your coworker's eyes. What a difficult situation to be in! I hope you get to feeling better soon. As someone who's been bitten several times in the past 20 yrs (during work) I know how much they can hurt!