A dog bites a child. Lab? Cocker Spaniel?

[smitbret]

It didn't. I've been around dogs my entire life and it's not hard to tell when they are about to snap. This was totally out of the blue with zero warning of any impending issue. I raised the dog from a puppy and I knew him very well. The fact remains that dogs, even calm breeds (golden retrievers), are still animals and can be unpredictable.



You seem to not have a good grip on this language. Unpredictable doesn't mean it can't also be instinctive unless you're going to try to convince me that you're some kind of dog whisperer and you know exactly how every kind of dog will respond to every situation. I can't roll my eyes hard enough right now.

I couldn't predict that the dog was going to have an instinctive reaction that would lead to it biting me all in a span of about two seconds when it had never done anything like that in it's entire life. I'm not being emotional about the incident. It was almost 10 years ago. I'm using a heavy dose of sarcasm because your kind of stupid won't be able to interpret anything else. For all intents and purposes, it was totally random and definitely not predictable considering he had been in the exact same environment with the same people dozens of times. That's pretty much the definition of unpredictable.

I think the stupid finger is being pointed in the wrong direction. I'll also cast my vote as "The Dog gave you signs and you weren't aware enough to read them".

 

[Blitzvogel]

Pit bulls are always owned by hood rats and anyone else who wants to use the dog for "protection" and intimidation.

FTFY

I used to be in the bad dogs are bad because of bad owners, but I'm starting to move into the camp against pit bulls even though I've never had a bad experience with them. Just too many bad stories. Seeing attacking pits get shot by policemen or whoever actually puts a smile on my face.

 

[surfsatwerk]

In other news man bites dog, more at 11.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I agree, it's VERY rare for a dog to just 'randomly' snap.

Most people really don't read dogs very well, even their own dogs, and seem incapable of realizing when their pet is about to let loose on someone. But, people who can read dogs see these accidents coming from a mile away.



I have a shiba inu. He is a great dog, very good/nice personality but reserved towards strangers. He's ok with adults who 'know' dogs, but if you quickly stick your hand in his face he might just bite you. He's also extremely protective of me and my SO.

So, while at the beach we gets lots of people who want to pet the "fox"... I tell them he bites, so there's no worry of some accident.

I had some idiot teenager who says "he doesn't look like he bites!" while continuing to reach for him...... My shiba is growling and going psycho... I shove the kid back so he doesn't upset my dog... Call him a fscking idiot..





Moral of the story... People tend to be dumber than dogs. Don't trust that any dog won't bite you unless you are comfortable with how they behave.

 

[momeNt]

I agree, it's VERY rare for a dog to just 'randomly' snap.

Most people really don't read dogs very well, even their own dogs, and seem incapable of realizing when their pet is about to let loose on someone. But, people who can read dogs see these accidents coming from a mile away.



I have a shiba inu. He is a great dog, very good/nice personality but reserved towards strangers. He's ok with adults who 'know' dogs, but if you quickly stick your hand in his face he might just bite you. He's also extremely protective of me and my SO.

So, while at the beach we gets lots of people who want to pet the "fox"... I tell them he bites, so there's no worry of some accident.

I had some idiot teenager who says "he doesn't look like he bites!" while continuing to reach for him...... My shiba is growling and going psycho... I shove the kid back so he doesn't upset my dog... Call him a fscking idiot..





Moral of the story... People tend to be dumber than dogs. Don't trust that any dog won't bite you unless you are comfortable with how they behave.

Did you purposely not break him in with strangers for personal protection? Or did you get the dog after this behavior became part of his personality?

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

As a person who assesses risk for a living, it just doesn't make sense at all to own a pit bull or other aggressive dog. To me, its akin to riding a motorcycle. Unnecessary, and you invite more risk into your life. Nothin against bike riders...but I have a kid, so I try pretty hard to make sure he'll grow up without having to bury my corpse.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Did you purposely not break him in with strangers for personal protection? Or did you get the dog after this behavior became part of his personality?

Oh absolutely not. I actually did the exact opposite. It's a breed trait of shiba inus.

We got him right at 7-8 weeks and immediately started taking him everywhere... Letting him meet strangers, always stopping at yard sales just to go around and meet people... Dog parks, the beach, vacations, shiba get togethers, and we still do all that.


And, he's fine around 'dog people'... Someone who holds their hand out, and knows how to interact with a dog.

But if someone jumps in his face he reacts like a protective dog who is paying attention to his surroundings should react.

While I didn't train him to be like that it is part of why we got a shiba inu. Should someone enter our home or attack my SO or me he would without hesitation react accordingly.


I love goldens and those types of 'comfort dog' breeds, but imho they just don't really pay much attention to what's going on, which is why they're so calm.

Shiba inus are much more 'alert'... Think almost like a husky type of personality.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Sounds like a bit of a liability Spatial, but I suppose if you're in control of it at all times...

However, it seems like if the dog got loose, there might be a problem.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Sounds like a bit of a liability Spatial, but I suppose if you're in control of it at all times...

However, it seems like if the dog got loose, there might be a problem.

He would never, ever approach a person like that. If he was loose you would probably have to corner him (and good luck even doing that) and put your hands on him to get him to react. I never let anyone play rough with him, or play any of the games that can cause the more aggressive tendencies to come out. It's really just his personality.


Also it's not at all an offensive type of aggression... Purely defensive. The problem is that a dog doesn't have enough logic to know offense/defense and when it's appropriate, so the owner has to make sure everything is ok.



It sounds like a lot, but it's really not. It's not like he's growling or snarling or anything like that, it's just how the breed is. At 30lb it's very manageable and safe. At 130lb, not so much.

Actually a 130lb shiba inu is an "akita".... Which have their own reputation.

It's worth reading about these dogs, they're very interesting and super intelligent animals.


http://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traits


http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Breeds/Shiba-Inu/Personality.aspx


All of that being said, I do keep a hefty insurance policy which covers him, just in case something were to happen.

 

[MrDudeMan]

You got 300 stitches from a bite from your own Golden Retriever?

Yes. It did a lot of damage to my lips, gums, inner and outer nose, and a few deep lacerations on my cheek. I decided not to put the dog down, but it definitely changed our relationship permanently.

I think the stupid finger is being pointed in the wrong direction. I'll also cast my vote as "The Dog gave you signs and you weren't aware enough to read them".

I can tell you know everything about the situation even though you weren't there. Thanks for providing such keen insight.

Actually, and I'm not sure why I have to keep repeating this, there were zero signs. It doesn't take a dog whisperer to know when a dog is going to bite. You know, the tell-tale signs are pretty obvious - growling, showing teeth, obvious anxiety, heightened alertness, etc. None of those things are secrets or beyond my grasp. Also, none of those things happened. We were rolling around on the floor like we'd done 1,000 times in the same house with the same people (my family) sitting around the room. I know this is ATOT so everyone here is an expert on canine psychology, though, so surely I should have interpreted being licked in the face and the fact that his tail was wagging right up until he bit me as obvious signs of impending doom.

I agree, it's VERY rare for a dog to just 'randomly' snap.

This is my favorite fallacious counterpoint. Just because something is unlikely doesn't mean it didn't happen, which makes your argument irrelevant as you said nothing other than an inapplicable statistic. The argumentatively-ignorant tend to rely on this tactic heavily.

Most people really don't read dogs very well, even their own dogs, and seem incapable of realizing when their pet is about to let loose on someone. But, people who can read dogs see these accidents coming from a mile away.

Please provide a worthwhile link to back this up. I'm fully willing to entertain this statement, but for now it's just a bunch of BS you're spouting to try to prove a point. Even so, it doesn't apply to me. I've raised and trained many dogs. I'm also about to get a foster dog for the seeing eye dog program. I can read dogs (not that it's hard; certainly it isn't as hard as you're making it seem) and mine showed no signs.

Moral of the story... People tend to be dumber than dogs. Don't trust that any dog won't bite you unless you are comfortable with how they behave.

Finally, a statement that makes sense. You're walking a dog around that you know will bite strangers and you have the nerve to call other people idiots. Walking up to a random dog and touching it isn't the smartest thing to do, but most people probably assume the owner of a dog that definitely bites people wouldn't nonchalantly walk it around in public areas with a lot of humans.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

lol yes my 30lb pup is a menace to society for sure.


I really think your golden retriever bit you because you aren't enforcing that you're alpha enough around him. It's common with people who are insecure... He was basically just trying to put you in your place.

Were you letting him hump you?

 

[MrDudeMan]

lol yes my 30lb pup is a menace to society for sure.


I really think your golden retriever bit you because you aren't enforcing that you're alpha enough around him. It's common with people who are insecure... He was basically just trying to put you in your place.

Were you letting him hump you?

lol. I'm unmistakably the alpha in my house. All I have to do is give my dog the Frank Barone step and he knows I mean business. Not a single one of you has said anything of substance, so I'm unsubscribing now. I leave you with this - my dog bit me without provocation and definitely without warning signs. It happens. I agree it's not common, but that was never up for debate, at least from my point of view. Whether or not something is common is irrelevant when discussing facts. My dog, a loyal friend, bit me for no reason, at least from a human perspective. Many witnesses were there. I'm sorry that offends your sensibilities and all of your diligent dog behavior training, but it's true. Animals can all be unpredictable, even the domesticated ones with proper training.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I hope you don't mistreat him for not understanding who is the pack leader.



In all seriousness, it really sucks that your dog bit you, and I hate to hear that.

But, I simply don't believe that your dog bit you for no reason whatsoever. Something set him off.

 

[momeNt]

I hope you don't mistreat him for not understanding who is the pack leader.



In all seriousness, it really sucks that your dog bit you, and I hate to hear that.

But, I simply don't believe that your dog bit you for no reason whatsoever. Something set him off.

Rage Syndrome, This affects cocker spaniels mostly, but has been seen in Golden Retrievers. Most likely a byproduct of excessive breeding. Lady and the Tramp and Marley and Me contributed greatly to the popularity of these two breeds.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Rage Syndrome, This affects cocker spaniels mostly, but has been seen in Golden Retrievers. Most likely a byproduct of excessive breeding. Lady and the Tramp and Marley and Me contributed greatly to the popularity of these two breeds.

Wow, very interesting, I hadn't heard of that. A key point is "Shortly prior to an attack, their eyes can glaze over and go hard, followed by the dog snapping into alert mode before finally attacking"

It's critical for anyone who interacts with dogs to know how to spot that glazed eye look. It's tough to explain, but is a huge indicator of a dog that is about to bite someone.

 

[darkewaffle]

My friend's beagle (or maybe beagle mix?) bit my ear pretty good as a kid, but I didn't feel a thing until my friend started freaking when the blood started showing up on my neck/shirt.

 

[momeNt]

Wow, very interesting, I hadn't heard of that. A key point is "Shortly prior to an attack, their eyes can glaze over and go hard, followed by the dog snapping into alert mode before finally attacking"

It's critical for anyone who interacts with dogs to know how to spot that glazed eye look. It's tough to explain, but is a huge indicator of a dog that is about to bite someone.

True, but owners and even guests (past initial greeting) are not watching the dogs at all times when they are around them. This can happen without a trigger, and the human could be completely unaware of the glazed eyes or alertness, the first they'd know is the dogs teeth on them.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Updates: 1. Cops fucked up the investigation. I'll need a minute to get over that shocker.

2. Dog's dead.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/ma...ull-attack-20130625,0,6985848.story?track=rss

Edit: Update 3: Officers interviewed other children in the area who said "they were playing in the rear of [the block] and some of them were teasing the dog," which was restrained in a backyard, the report said.

K so I would not fault a dog being teased and attacking the kid doing the teasing. Who knows if this kid was an innocent or one of the punks.

 

[jagec]

True, but owners and even guests (past initial greeting) are not watching the dogs at all times when they are around them. This can happen without a trigger, and the human could be completely unaware of the glazed eyes or alertness, the first they'd know is the dogs teeth on them.

Yeah, I'm not sure that anyone is arguing that dogs can't be dangerous (or that some can't be more dangerous than others), just that they aren't the animal equivalent of a random number generator hooked up to a MOAB like some in this thread seem to believe.

I agree that if you have a dog, you have to be very aware of both the dog's and your guests' tendencies, and that if anything is wrong with the mix you have to keep them separate from each other.

 

[Vic Vega]

http://youtu.be/Xyr-QJ-9CLs

YOU KICK MY DOG!