My dog just bit someone!

[WalkingWolf]

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Your dog is doing exactly what nature intended him to do. You should have a box for mail packages or a arrangment to pick them up at the post office. If you have beware of dog signs the post person or a neighbor has no business being close to your fence. Wish I could take him off your hands my wolfs are up in age and I would love to have a younger dog that knows not to back down.

As long as he never leaves your property and is not aggressive to the children and obeys commands in your presence I'd say you have KEEPER!!

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

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It wouldn't take a "sue happy" person. All it would take is a person that got bit by a dog.

I would expect to be sued if my dog were to bite a person. Hence the reason we make sure he doesn't EVER get the chance.
He is in when the mailman is delivering. I am on top of all deliveries. We moved our mail box so that the mail man doesnt have to come up to the porch. We put two gates up. One to keep him off the porch and with us in the back yard and the other at the top of the stairs to the porch. He can not get NEAR a delivery person or the street.

 

[SarahBeth9394]

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Excellent advice Felicia.

I just don't think I can agree with that advice. My dogs are my pets but they are also here to be watch dogs. Teaching your dogs that strangers are here to give treats could lead to unwanted people being able to enter your yard. Our fence isn't just to keep the dogs in, it's to keep unwanted people out.

 

[byrandom]

Beware of Dog signs on the fence? That's all the warning that people need. I would be completely PO'd if someone pepper sprayed my dog. I would complain to the meter reading company. It is YOUR property. If they have a problem with your dog, then they should schedule a time (or at least warn you) before they go out there.

I would give him a treat, and tell him good doggy!

Maybe then people will learn to read?

 

[TriciaHowe]

Thanks.
All 3 dogs were at the vets in Nov. for their shots so they are utd on everything (thankfully). Being where we are we are butted up to a state park - can you say rabies/racoon central? - so we don't slack on those at all. Thankfully they just got their 3 year rabies shot so that is one less shot for next time.
He seems himself with the kids and everyone else. He has NEVER been agressive before. No one comes through our gate without permission except for the meter reader. That's why I am locking him up the day he is supposed to come. I am definately moving the box so no-one has a reason to be near the fence. We have a large bell at the front gate with a rope - that's our door bell. Again the rope is away from the fence so there shouldn't be an issue there either. I will look for a sign that says to stay away from the fence as well. That way there is NO confusion.
I like the idea of someone giving him treats at the gate. Maybe to reinforce that all people at the gate aren't bad people.
We also have a farm sitter that comes to take of the animals when we are away and she has never has anything but good things to say about him. The last time being in November for Thanksgiving.
Like I said this change has come just since December......
Up till this point he would have licked someone to death at the fence. We used to joke about how happy he used to be to see the meter reader so I don't know if someone new came and they sprayed him when he came to greet them or someone kicked him?
Also, I don't know if it makes a difference, but him and my lab mix were both adopted from the humane society when they were 8 weeks old.
Sorry for another Edit but wanted to add as well that he isn't aggressive with us either and the kids still crawl all over him and he loves to play with the kids. He follows them when they are outside and is always with them...Our labx on the other hand isn't aggressive with them but would rather not be bothered with kids. She lets Sonny have all that fun.
Here is our gate so you have an idea of what I am talking about. Our mailbox is on the opposite side of the road but we had a rubbermaid box attached to the fence (outside of the fence) for packages and such.

 

[flopshot]

as far as the meter reader goes either get set up to send in your own readings ( i did) or see if your utility company is in the process of installing wifi meters. (what i have now). the dog was not loose and that's a plus for you. he's doing his job and for some reason feels his (your) property was threatened. you could try teaching him it's ok for strangers to be in the area but that defeats one of the reasons for having a dog in the first place. hope it all works out ok for you.

 

[b.hromada]

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yes, thats' Cesar Milan, he is on National Geographic channel. He is something else. All of his dogs are rescued from the pound, and he has like 50 of them. As he will state, HE IS THE PACK LEADER, and this is what you have to be with your own dog or dogs. He can turn around any dog, I have seen it. Watch him, I'm sure you'll find some good tips too. Good Luck.

 

[Chirpy]

I'm leaning heavily on the pepper spray incident. You say that he is now aggressive at that gate - where he was sprayed but is fine with people coming in other areas of your property?

I have a wonderful shepherd mix that has never been aggressive to anyone. One day, about 8 years ago, I saw him attack the fence between our yard and the next door neighbors yard. I was shocked. The neighbor kids were playing on their side of that fence. So, I started watching him closely when he was outside on that side of the house. A couple days later I was upstairs watching and the neighbor kids came out and, after looking around to make sure no one was watching, started throwing rocks over the fence at my dog!! They also beat on the fence with some wood to antagonize him. I was furious and let the kids and their parents know AND I called the police on the kids and made a report. The reason I share this story - my dog always was 'angry' when he was on that side of the house after that. Thankfully we moved to the country within a few months of that and he loves being out here.

I think your dog is having anxiety that's turned into aggression due to the pepper spray. Mix that with his desire to protect his property and you have a live bomb waiting to explode.

I agree with those that say once a dog has bitten - he will likely bite again and is a probable liability from that day forward. I'm surprised you haven't been approached by the post office already. Hopefully they are willing to let you take appropriate action without threat of lawsuit.

You have to decide, as others have said, if you are willing to take the responsibility for a future bite - possibly of a child or resulting in serious bodily harm to someone. If you can post a hand written sign on your fence asking people to please call the house before coming near the fence so you can bring the dog inside - that might help. Training is always a positive approach but he will not be able to be completely trusted ever again.

I also watch "The Dog Whisperer" and Cesar is very gifted with dogs. He took a vicious Rottie that bit multiple people and was going to be put down and rehabed it and then gave it to his oldest son as his personal pet. He's done that again and again with 'red zone' dogs. But, he's always the first to say that training is for the life of the dog and that we (humans) need to be pack leaders and always keep an eye on our dogs as something could set them off in the future.

I wish you the best in whatever decisions you make regarding this boy.

 

[chooniecat]

It IS POSSIBLE to train an older k9 but you HAVE TO PUT THE EFFORT into it and be consistant. The Dog Whisperer on National Geo (OR Animal PLanet?) HAS done some amazing things. I would say he NEVER fails altho it may take longer/different strategies for different dogs but he knows his stuff, he's firm,consistant. I am not a dog lover (I have 2 exceptions at home but they were easy to train from pups) and I must say if a dog is "bad" it is something the "owner" has , usually unintentionally, taught the dog. Given your dogs breed, looks like golden ret. mix-should be more do-able. Much luck to you and your family.

 

[bishopschickens]

just to let you know I know someone who had a dog bite someone and it ended in court. Found out when you have a beware of dog sign up its an automatic guilty as you are admitting the dog is aggresive. I would have the dog put down as you may be luck with only having two people bit and nothing major happen but the last thing I think you want is a lawsuit. Also if that dog is being that aggressive towards people I would be careful with your child hanging on close to him. Sad situation your in and I hope it all works out in the end for you but make sure that child is safe!

God Bless,
Brandon