Got bitten by a dog yesterday

[Lilavati]

So, for only the second time in my life, I was bitten by a dog yesterday

(and for the anti-BSL record, this was a springer spaniel, the first was a dalmatian)

So I'm walking home from work and I see this couple with a handsome springer standing on the sidewalk. "Oh! I say, is that a springer spaniel?"

"WHy yes, he is!"

"He's lovely, my father has some."

"Thank you, we adore him"

"Is he friendly?" At this point they are letting him wander my way.

"Yes."

"Oh, may I pet him?"

"Sure"

So the dog gets to me and I reach out slowly to give him a scratch behind the ears and WHAM (I have bruises, but he didn't break skin). No ears forward or back, no tail up or down or straight out (slight wag). . he looked a little shy, not afraid or agressive. In fact, he looked almost exactly like my father's springers when they great a stranger. Friendly, just a little shy.

They jerk him back "He was abused . . . he's usually fine with people who know dogs." Hrm . . . that's for the warning folks. If I'd known he'd been abused, maybe I wouldn't have stuck my hand out there. Maybe, just maybe, I would have either not tried to pet him at all, or gone through the whole ritual to gain his confidence . . .

I really, really hope they've learned something, because he didn't really hurt me . . . but next time he sure as hell could hurt someone.

I'm also very very glad Sarama wasn't with me. I have no idea what she would do if she saw another dog bite me, but I have a hunch it would not be at all friendly.

 

[gradyupmybutt]

I wouldn't totally blame the dog or the owners. Usually anything on top of a dogs head is threatening to them. Especially if he had been abused that could be a bad thing for him. Usually when I meet a new dog, I let them smell my hand & then go for a chin or chest scratch. Just my .02.

 

[Lilavati]

I wouldn't totally blame the dog or the owners. Usually anything on top of a dogs head is threatening to them. Especially if he had been abused that could be a bad thing for him. Usually when I meet a new dog, I let them smell my hand & then go for a chin or chest scratch. Just my .02.

I wasn't reaching for the top, I was reaching to the side to scratch behind the ears/on the neck. I do know not to reach over the top. I was intending to pause with my hand to the side to let him sniff . . . frankly, I never got that close before he bit. And he did walk out towards me . . .

I don't totally blame the dog or the owners. The dog clearly has problems and he probably didn't come that way. But, I didn't do what I would have done with a dog I knew was jumpy: crouch down, hands close, let him come to me, etc . . . but the reason I DIDN'T do that was that I had no reason to suspect he was unreliable. Perhaps I should do that everytime, but I was tired, it was late, and I was wearing heels. That's where I do blame the owners . . . though I clearly knew dogs, I wasn't operating on the assumption that he was anything but an ordinary dog. Perhaps they've only let dog-people who knew about him pet him before, I don't know. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and perhaps they'll warn the next unsuspecting dog lover

 

[Gempress]

Ouch! I'm glad it was only a few bruises, though. But the dog didn't even growl or anything?

My guess is the dog has fear or aggression issues, and somebody tried to fix the problem with corrections---correcting him whenever he started to growl or looked ready to bite. Hence the bite with no warning. But of course, it's only a guess on my part.

Poor guy. I hope he comes around. But I agree, it's a bit irresponsible of the owners to let people pet their dog knowing that he has problems.

 

[showdawgz]

Dogs have teeth, they bite.

Why do you need to pet the dog, anyways?

I wouldnt blame the dog at all, and I'm not sure how serious his "problems" may be. Your unfamiliar, you reached out, and went to touch him. In his eyes, he has a right to "defend" himself, which in an ideal world would be allowed. But everyone is so closed-minded about dogs and expect little robots.

 

[gradyupmybutt]

Yeah, 've had that happen. You think it's all cool to go in for the scratch & wham. I'm sorry it happened to you.

 

[Lilavati]

No growl, no nothing, at least before the bite. After, he bristled and snarled, but not before.

I assume you are right. He was probably punished in the past for growling, and my suspicion is, someone slapped him open handed, which is why my hand reaching to the side scared him. However, that's sort of important information to give someone if you are going to let them pet your dog.

 

[elegy]

I wouldnt blame the dog at all, and I'm not sure how serious his "problems" may be. Your unfamiliar, you reached out, and went to touch him. In his eyes, he has a right to "defend" himself, which in an ideal world would be allowed. But everyone is so closed-minded about dogs and expect little robots.

where on earth do you get that she was expecting a little robot? i don't think it's at all out of line to be a little shocked that a dog that she was told was friendly and told she could pet would and bite her.

blame or no blame, i find it disturbing that there are dogs who are so insecure that they feel the need to defend themselves from friendly strangers with their teeth, especially when they have other options. and i find it disturbing that their owners aren't doing a better job of protecting them and the general public.

 

[Lilavati]

Dogs have teeth, they bite.

Why do you need to pet the dog, anyways?

I wouldnt blame the dog at all, and I'm not sure how serious his "problems" may be. Your unfamiliar, you reached out, and went to touch him. In his eyes, he has a right to "defend" himself, which in an ideal world would be allowed. But everyone is so closed-minded about dogs and expect little robots.

I did not walk up to a strange dog and thrust my hand in its face. If I'd done that I would have deserved whatever I got. Nor did I expect a robot. Dogs are emphatically not robots. But I did expect it to behave in a reasonably normal and friendly fashion considering that I'd gotten its owner's permission to pet it. When I reach out to shake hands with a strange human, I expect them to shake back, or at the very least just refuse to shake hands, not punch me in the face.

I talked to the owners, asked their permission, got it, and reached out slowly to pet the dog in an appropriate way. By your logic, no one should ever pet someone else's dog . . . which seems like an awfully boring and unfriendly world to me, frankly. In fact, it sounds rather like one of those paranoid people we have all had the misfortune of meeting . . . the ones who grab their children and walk hurriedly away when they see you coming with a dog.

 

[ACooper]

Oh I am sorry to hear this Lilavati..........you would think that the owners would know their dog a little better, or just say "don't pet"

I hope your owie heals quickly

 

[wishbone]

I'm sorry what happened to you Lilavati, thank God you got only bruises. Maybe the owner was shocked too and didn't expected the dog to act like that.

 

[adojrts]

I am sorry that you got nailed, but I never reach towards any strange dog. Regardless if the owner say it's friendly or not.
As they approach, I turn slightly away, avoid eye contact and let my hands hang, the dog lets me know if they want to be petted or not..........so far I havent been bit........

Lynn

 

[ihartgonzo]

That really sucks... and it must hurt. I'm glad he didn't give you any punctures, though!

I am not sure if bruises are truly considered a "bite". Of course, it's still a VERY bad thing, and the owners shouldn't let strangers pet their dog at all, if there was already a doubt in their minds. I consider a bite to be at least obvious punctures. What you got, I would call more of a harsh, warning "nip".

I approach dogs the same as Adorjrts. I don't reach out for them, ever. It is just second nature to me after being taught not to be threatening to dogs, when I was a kid. I will hold out a hand a little, and allow the dog to smell me and approach me. Gonzo wouldn't bite anyone, but he will growl softly if certain strange men do what it sounds like you did... it does scare some dogs.

 

[Lilavati]

Well, he got my watch, which took a lot of the force . . .

Yes, I wasn't as careful as I might have been. But, then, I didn't really think I needed to be. <shrugs> I'll definately be more cautious in the future.

 

[Sweet72947]

When I meet a dog I let them sniff my hand first. I am pretty good at reading dog body language, so I can tell if a dog doesn't want to be pet. I haven't been bit by any dogs (besides being mouthed roughly at the rescue) except for my family's own chessie when I was a child (he was food aggressive, my parents never trained him).

I'm sorry you got nailed, Lilavati. I don't think you are to blame at all. Sometimes stuff happens. Plus, I've met a lot of nervy Springers in in VA, there are a bunch of Springer BYBs in this area.

 

[smkie]

Sorry you got bit, that is a shame. Maybe the owners will realize they need to work more on socialization before they say yes to petting now.

 

[FoxyWench]

im glad your ok, and im 100% truly glad this wastn a child...

what is it that those careful parents teach their kids, "ALWAYS ASK before you pet the dog"

you can teach your kids body language and aproach low no eye conatct and relaxed, dont reach ect, but all the kids usually remember is "always ask" had this been a kid...

personally if a dog has had abuse in the past and "usually ok with people who know dogs" the responce when asked "can i pet him" should NEVER be "yes" it should be "not right now, hes still a little scared of strangers"

it should never be woth the risk to the owner

 

[showdawgz]

I did not walk up to a strange dog and thrust my hand in its face. If I'd done that I would have deserved whatever I got. Nor did I expect a robot. Dogs are emphatically not robots. But I did expect it to behave in a reasonably normal and friendly fashion considering that I'd gotten its owner's permission to pet it. When I reach out to shake hands with a strange human, I expect them to shake back, or at the very least just refuse to shake hands, not punch me in the face.

I talked to the owners, asked their permission, got it, and reached out slowly to pet the dog in an appropriate way. By your logic, no one should ever pet someone else's dog . . . which seems like an awfully boring and unfriendly world to me, frankly. In fact, it sounds rather like one of those paranoid people we have all had the misfortune of meeting . . . the ones who grab their children and walk hurriedly away when they see you coming with a dog.

Amazing how I get accused of throwing human morals into my training, when you EXPECT the same response from a human and a dog. You EXPECT the dog to behave, a dog that is not yours.

I'm always on the dog's side, sorry. You got bit, oh well. My question is why the dog was uncomfortable with the situatution and why do you all feel the need to make dogs who arent social uncomfortable?

The dog didnt ask you to pet him, so getting bit was your fault, I highly doubt the dog ran up to you wagging his tail, barely controlling his happiness and joy of seeing you, practically smiling at you.

BTW: Dogs are pack animals, they are more than content to socialize within their pack, and could care less if they get "pets' from strange people. So long as they are given proper "pack" time and bonding time within the pack.

 

[bubbatd]

So sorry you got bitten and glad that it wasn't worse ......

 

[Zoom]

The dog didnt ask you to pet him, so getting bit was your fault, I highly doubt the dog ran up to you wagging his tail, barely controlling his happiness and joy of seeing you, practically smiling at you.

I will almost always defend a dog over a person, but not in this case.

My Aussie, who ADORES attention from just about anyone, most definietly does NOT exhibit those signs. Instead, he does exactly what he's been taught to, sit by my side and wait for the release to go say hi. At which point he calmly walks to the person and waits to be petted. It's very reserved, but when you see him lean into someone who is petting him, you know how much he loves it. So by your logic, only untrained Labs and Goldens should be petted?

It's possible there were some missed warning signs, hardening of the eyes or mouth or something else that was missed because of the lack of light and subtleness. Generally though, when someone says "sure you can pet my dog" you have full right to expect to NOT get bitten. 99% of dogs who don't want to be petted will not walk up to you, will turn away or at least move their head in such a way that anyone who knows anything about dogs, like Lilavati, will know to not touch the dog.

Any pressure of teeth on skin is considered a bite, though if it didn't break the skin it is a mild bite. Dr. Ian Dunbar has a good bite scale for reference.