Dog Bite - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

WNYcarpenter · 03-24-2008, 01:38 PM

Here's the situation,

I own a Black Lab, Rottweiler mix. She's 100+lbs. I'm single and have lived alone with this dog for 5 years. I recently met a woman who's been virtually living with me for the last couple months.

I've always been weary of my dog around other folks because of her size/breed and intimidating appearance. Over the past few weeks my girlfriend has been nipped a couple times. I was concerned, but I passed it off as my GF pushing her limits.

Well, Saturday evening my GF was bitten with no provocation. F'ing chaos....I immediately secluded my dog, attended my friend, then took the dog to a family members home. There's never been a problem before this.

The dillemma starts here. My instinct says the dog's got to go. I can't blame her for doing what animals do, but I do blame myself for not being a better owner. I'm afraid of the liability to keep a dog in my house that's a potential threat to anyone.

My friend insists it was her fault. She says she doesn't want me to choose btw them since I've spent 5 years with the dog and 2 mos with her. She says she wouldn't forgive me if I got rid of the dog on her behalf. My feeling is that if my dog has bitten one person, who knows who'll be next. Let alone the prospect of a lawsuit. Thankfully, the authorities are not involved!

My solution is a long run in the woods with my Dad, the dog, a .22 and a shovel. That sounds cold hearted, but I feel it's an honorable solution. There's such a wide range of opinions about this and I'm sick about the situation on many different levels. There's also a wide range of opinions and experience here on CT. I imagine a few members here are animal lovers and have dealt with similar situations as owners or victims.

I have a decision to make by next weekend so I would appreciate any input.

Alwaysconfusd11 · 03-24-2008, 01:46 PM

Thats a tough one, I would take it to the vet, and tell them the dog has been acting alittle wierd, and aggressive. They will probably put it on a 72 hr hold and do a temperament test. (my gf works at a vet) Plus having the dog put down their would be more humane and legal.

**Cole** · 03-24-2008, 01:49 PM

I agree, whatever you do, do not go and shoot the dog in the woods just to get rid of it.

I also agree with the above poster, take it to the vet and see what happens.

Or just get rid of the dog, no reason to kill it.

SelfContract · 03-24-2008, 01:55 PM

1. Call/contact Animal Human Society. They accept donation, or take & train vicious dogs, i.e., like the ones owned by Vick quarterback!? If not, they will put down peacefully. No need to shoot your dog please!

2. Contact your local Animal Shelter. They probaly take & train for new better owners with proper training class & license for dogs and care more time for your dogs better, etc. If not they will put it down for you humanely way (by injection)

In this case, obviously, the dog (female?) is ENVIOUS or JEALOUS with the other... human body I guess??.. It can sense your more affection/love/time dedication for the newcomer and LESS love/time play with it anymore?

I' m no psychic but all dogs have super human senses and psychic ability too!

..Oh... they know... trust me!

6stringmason · 03-24-2008, 02:03 PM

I personally think that an animal that bites once will do it again. The animal is a danger to people and should be treated as such.

What if that was a little kids face, or if it tore into her and didnt stop? Thats alot of guilt on ones shoulders knowing that you had an unsafe animal and still let it around people.

Either way I dont wish to be in your shoes. Very tough decision you have to make. Good luck.

skyhook · 03-24-2008, 02:20 PM

Buy a bag of roasted pig ears and let your GF give the dog one a day for a while. Before long the dog will love the GF too. I own a Rott mix (rescue) best dog I've ever had.

kgphoto · 03-24-2008, 02:48 PM

The rule is one bite is for free, the next one is a death sentence. The problem is, how badly do you want to feel over the amount of damage these bites cause.

It probably is a territorial thing between your two girlfriends(I say this with all due respect). If your human girlfriend really likes dogs and is willing to put in the work to make friends, then I would chance it. Otherwise one or the other has to go. Your choice.

If you choose getting rid of the dog, I would try adoption first, but if it must be put down, DON'T go into the woods and shoot it. It likely won't go well.

Take it to a shelter if you need to save money or a vet and let them euthanize it with the injection. It is dependable, painless and quick. You owe the dog at least that much.

WNYcarpenter · 03-24-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6stringmason

I personally think that an animal that bites once will do it again. The animal is a danger to people and should be treated as such.

What if that was a little kids face, or if it tore into her and didnt stop? Thats alot of guilt on ones shoulders knowing that you had an unsafe animal and still let it around people.

Either way I dont wish to be in your shoes. Very tough decision you have to make. Good luck.

That's exactly how I feel. I have a civic responsibility to alleviate this problem now that I know one exists. I've yet to contact the humane society or my vet. Which I will do in the morning. My opinion is that my dog will not be adopted with a history of biting especially because of her size and breed and an injection at the vetrinary hospital is less ceremonial than euthenizing the animal myself.

No, this isn't an easy decision. I'm taking to heart all input that I'm getting and hopefully by this time next week I will have made the best decision based upon the information I have gathered.

skyhook · 03-24-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgphoto

DON'T go into the woods and shoot it. It likely won't go well.

At least not with a .22

Chris Johnson · 03-24-2008, 03:41 PM

Was the dog aggressive?

I have been bit twice in the past 6 months, both times on the same hand, by friends/clients dogs. Neither time was aggressive, just protective/instinct. Both drew blood, nothing major, required antibiotics the first time, second one I lost the fingernail. I'm not litigous so no big deal, a dog doing what a dog naturally feels is it's own protection.

Find out the temperment of the dog and you make the decision

mickeyco · 03-24-2008, 03:51 PM

Get a muzzle until you decide what to do, put on your dog when your friend is over, the dog may get the idea. I have a similar problem with a young lab (18 months, possibly mixed breed, not sure), it's a female and she's real skittish with people until she gets to know them (doesn't take long), can't get near her when she has a real bone, a rawhide or is in her crate (that's the thing that makes me real nervous), very aggressive with other dogs (friendly but feels the need to tackle and pin them or fight if they resist). I've had her around people and other dogs since she was a pup (got her at 7 weeks, maybe to early?). I know the owner of her brother and he's a mellow, well behaved dog. Anyhow people have been recommending to me that I watch or buy the DVD's of the "Dog Whisperer" (he has a TV show) for ideas on dealing with problem dogs.

.

**genecarp** · 03-24-2008, 05:02 PM

dont make it complicated, i am a long time animal lover, here is the deal, two choices, keep the dog, but you must be commited to keeping it separate from visitors, and possibly from your girlfriend, many people keep dogs this way, it might not be the way you where hoping to own a dog, but you would be able to keep it. second choice, bring it to the vet, and put it down, here is why, shooting it, just not a good idea, for a number of reasons, give it away? to who, who wants to care for a unpredictable dog besides the original owner who loves it, noone.

A.T.H.I. · 03-24-2008, 05:26 PM

I have a blue Doberman and she likes to bite me and my girlfriend. She doesn't bite us hard but sort of grabs us with her teeth and lets go in a playful manner. It's her way of playing, she also lays on the couch with us and licks my face all the time when she isn't playing. We love that dog and would never get rid of her. When I have guests over or we take her places I'm cautious of people around us and make sure that she is fully restained and people are protected from her. If you have any type of working class / guard dog they are doing what comes as instinct and will protect you even if it's not required so you must be aware of that at all times or you and the dog can be in deep dodo.

I say keep the dog (it would be a shame to destroy such a beautiful animal) but don't leave them unsupervised when your girlfriend or guests are around. It maybe that the dog doesn't know your girlfriend to well and is trying to protect you. In time the dog will get used to your girlfriend and all will be well.

Another thing that is usually true if your dog isn't fixed they tend to be more aggressive. If that is the case and you are worried about your dog then get them fixed it usually solves the problem.

I've owned several dobermans over the years and only had two that weren't fixed (including the blue one I have now) and they were more aggressive.

In some cases you can get your vet to see if your dog has mental issues and needs a perscription to keep it in line. Just like some people that act violent there can be a chemical imbalance that a perscription will rectify.

**framerman** · 03-24-2008, 07:15 PM

It's already too late. I hate to say but you've already lost the battle of who's the boss with the dog. The dog will bite again, I can guarantee that. When....I don't know.

I love dogs to death. I had to put one down because he didn't accept my newborn crawling around the floor. We got another one, a very, very big English Mastiff. We all loved that dog. One night, my daughter was giving him a bone where he slept at night and he nipped her, not bad, but enough for me to realize that the dog did not know it's place in the order of being a pet, which is exactly what a dog is.

I will not discuss what I did, but the dog never bit anyone again and I could guarantee to anyone he wouldn't bite them and he never did.

Master....and pet.

Yours, I hate to say, is a ticking bomb.

Kaiser · 03-24-2008, 07:21 PM

My dog bit the building inspector once. I kept him, he was everybodies hero.
He was a vey friendly dog I had got from the pound but every so often he would get his hair up over certain people for no reason I could see. I came to the conclusion it must have been the type of soap they were using or something that reminded him of someone who wasn't kind to him.

If your GF doesn't want you to get rid of her and she hasn't done this before I say give her time. Like someone else mentioned dogs have an extra sense we don't understand maybe you should take it as a sign your GF isn't alls she appears.

I know I would take my dogs love over just about anyones.

skyhook · 03-24-2008, 07:31 PM

Certain types of rawhide bones can make them act crazy. Check her diet. My dog snapped at me when I tried to take a rock out of his mouth. He remembers and appreciates that I forgave him. Koby (full grown Akita) likes to follow me around the yard with my hand in his mouth. It's a sign of love to him.
Even dogs deserve a second chance.

cleveman · 03-24-2008, 07:48 PM

Genecarp is the man.

Keep the dog and keep it isolated from visitors who don't know their way around dogs.

But you have to be careful. My dog nipped at a friends son years ago. So we put him in a bedroom when the kid was at our house the last time. The kid came outside where the grownups were and his father could tell immediately that something was wrong, so he asked him what the deal was.

The dog had snapped at him. He had gone into the room!

He wasn't hurt at all, just another snap. No broken skin, just a little snap. I asked him to tell me what happened. I asked if he just walked into the room and the dog attacked him, or what? He said, no, he went into the bedroom and went to the dog, and the dog went to the other side of the room. So he followed the dog and tried to pet him. I asked if that was when he snapped at him. "No", he said, "He growled at me first, then I tried to touch him again, that's when he bit."

I can't punish a dog for this.

Can you imagine this? So don't just isolate your dog, isolate her in a locked room!

**framerman** · 03-24-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

I can't punish a dog for this.

You unfortunately aren't going to learn until it's too late and you will see in hindsight that it was a mistake.

Bozzy · 03-24-2008, 11:48 PM

I am a HUGE dog lover, just look at my avatar. His name is Gus, had him for 12yrs, best fishin' buddy there ever was. Had to put him down (cancer) almost 3yrs ago, I still mourn him. When he was 2yrs old he nipped at one of my sons friends, totally unacceptable for any reason! I punched him in the head (broke my pinky) kicked his ass all the way down the steps, yelling NO! NO! NO! all the way down. The kids (7yrs old at the time) kinda freaked, my wife didn't speak to me for damn near a week, but he never did it again. Now I did this immediately after he nipped, dogs have the attention span of a child. You cannot correct them unless you catch them in the act, otherwise they have no clue what they did wrong. If he would have done it again, I would have taken him on his last walk to the woods. In most cases it's the irresponsible owner (not saying this applies to you) that is at fault. If you (and your friend) are willing to work with him, give him another shot. If you are not willing to take the time, or you feel he cannot be salvaged, then put him down, whatever way you see fit. I have trained three dogs using a book by Richard A. Wolters. His books are the Bible (IMO) of dog training.

If you have a dog you must keep secluded from visitors, and you are not running a crack-house, shoot that SOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mdshunk · 03-25-2008, 12:01 AM

I'm not Korean, but I am curious what a Black Lab, Rottweiler mix might taste like if you go that route.