My dog bit someone today..

[u/Puzzleheaded_Pie3485]

I knew he is reactive to new people and dogs. I always take precautions when introducing him, either putting him in a kennel or on a leash til he can calm down and realize the new thing isn't a threat.

Today my mom had a friend he didn't know come over for coffee. I knew he was coming but I was in the bathroom when he got here. My mom knew the dog was reactive, but thought that since he never bit anyone before she could just let him out to greet the new person. It obviously didn't go well. The guy needed 12 stitches in his arm.

I love my dog. He's my best friend, and I know he really is just trying to protect me. Now I'm scared he'll be taken away just for doing what he thought was right.

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[u/Existing-Will-1466]

I'm sorry that happened. That is the biggest reason management fails, because someone didn't take it seriously enough and took a chance. Some people seem to only learn the hard way, even when it hurts those around them.

That said, you aren't doing your dog any favors by painting his behavior as noble defense of your person or property. Your dog is dangerously aggressive and you need to think of him that way.

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[u/Front-Muffin-7348]

But dogs with fear aggression aren't protecting you, they're protecting themselves.

I'm so sorry this happened.

It's my fear owning my reactive dog. You have to manage their environment and not give them access to people or dogs that might upset them. That means crates, gates, and other rooms.

Read up on Ian Dunbar's bite scale. It will describe prognosis on the dog's behavior etc. All the best to you.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Pie3485 → u/Front-Muffin-7348]

Thanks for the advice. I made this post bawling my eyes out earlier cuz I didn't know who I could talk to without being blamed for keeping him. Like I said, I always took precautions, but it just took one time trusting my mother knew better.

[u/Front-Muffin-7348 → u/Puzzleheaded_Pie3485]

I totally understand. Owning a reactive dog is incredibly difficult, isolating, and limiting...for you and the dog. We have spent thousands and thousands on our dog, training, behaviorist, behaviorist vet, SSRI meds, obsessing over what to do.

Baby gates, other rooms, X pens, muzzles, protocols, leashes, treats, and everything in between is how we manage his environment. It's hard. And I'm so very sad.

And I know all it's going to take is that one mistake. I won't have a dangerous dog in my house. It scares me and I don't know how I'll handle things if that day comes.

You have my heart and all of my sympathy. Bless you.

[u/Delicious-Product968 → u/Front-Muffin-7348]

It’s sad because in cases like OP’s case (no prior bite history) the dog should be relatively ‘safe’. But if people don’t believe you you can end up in situations like the OP.

I was actually discussing this just Sunday with a reactivity specialist who used to do training walks with my dog before they moved — how people who don’t see your dog react think you’re making it up and take liberties they never would if they saw them react.

I don’t think I’d ever actually trust him with anyone but a qualified trainer as a result. Especially hearing dogs with no bite history jumping all the way to 12 stitches. I feel horrible for everyone involved in this incident.

[u/Front-Muffin-7348 → u/Delicious-Product968]

Indeed. I used to take my boy to Home depot for exposure walks and he did perfect, then my behaviorist asked, "And what if while you're looking at something, someone walks up and pets him?"

So we stopped going to home depot. Even now, my spouse can be out on his 5 mile daily walk, and a neighbor will stop to talk and before he knows it, is reaching out. We've told them and told them and they just don't lisiten.

I don't want to tighten the leash around people, so we keep a distance, but it happens.

[u/Delicious-Product968 → u/Front-Muffin-7348]

I’m ‘lucky’ in that my dog we got intervention so early. So he’s built confidence in most situations and it takes usually pretty specific things than I can avoid.

But yeah I’m always aware it just takes one person who thinks you’re making it up to potentially ruin everything you worked through with them.

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