I've been bitten by a dog

[Toddy]

I was walking to the car on Monday and met a lad who works in one of the local shops, I stopped to say hello and, as we do, said hello to the dog too. A big black and tan alsation. Turned back to the lad and the dog went for me. It bit my arm just below my elbow. The skin is scraped and bruised but my jacket and jumper aren't torn so I reckon it was just the impact.
I'm fine, it's healing, looks like a kind of thunderous rainbow though

Can anyone recommend a good on line source for doggy body language ? I don't think I did anything to set it off, but something triggered it's reaction.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Greg]

Well for starters Toddy and I don't want you to take this the wrong way,you shouldn't approach a dog you don't know. It may have taken offence at your body language and wanted show you who was boss!
I used to help out baiting military guard dogs and this sort of thing happened all the time until the dog realised you were the boss. Its a domination thing!

 

[spamel]

You should have kicked it in the plums. It would never do it again!

 

[Toddy]

I do take your point, but where I live the dogs are pets........and that means they ought to know how to be civilised.
I've never been bitten before and, as I said, it's customary to acknowledge the dog too. Usually they get a clap ( a pat ?) and then they sit at peace 'til folks are done talking. This one just went sort of schitzo.

cheers,
Toddy

ooops, cross post with Spam, I was answering Greg.

 

[spamel]

Sorry (still can't get over that that word works now! ) but that wasn't very helpful was it! Constructive advice would be to sit down and watch Cesar do his thing on Dog Whisperer. Some of the things on there do work, his PSSSSST! thing has helped me subdue a few dogs, they seem to go to ground straight away, or settle down at least. There's a lot to be said for using and carrying a walking stick!

 

[ANDYRAF]

"When you first meet a dog it should be, no touch, no talk and no eye contact."
Quote from the Dog Whisperer.

Andy

 

[spamel]

I also tend to put my hand out to a dog and hold, with the back of my hand facing them. They give it a sniff, a lick maybe and then everything seems to be OK.

 

[combatblade1]

Well for starters Toddy and I don't want you to take this the wrong way,you shouldn't approach a dog you don't know. It may have taken offence at your body language and wanted show you who was boss!
I used to help out baiting military guard dogs and this sort of thing happened all the time until the dog realised you were the boss. Its a domination thing!

Half agree with what you say mate but the owner should have been in a position of control and in this case its sounds like he wasnt. He is lucky it bit Toddy who is an obvious animal lover and not someone else (god forbid a child) he could then be looking at a conviction and be left with a dead dog.

 

[Dougster]

I also tend to put my hand out to a dog and hold, with the back of my hand facing them. They give it a sniff, a lick maybe and then everything seems to be OK.

My thing too, but it sounds like a behaviouraly challenged mutt. You may have done nothing and the dog should be socialised. If they do that too many times around here they get the big needle.

I hope your lovely sloe gin takes the edge off the ache.

 

[Toddy]

"When you first meet a dog it should be, no touch, no talk and no eye contact."
Quote from the Dog Whisperer.

Andy

'Scuse me , but bu88er that, if the dog isn't safe to talk to it's not a pet. If it's not a pet it ought to be on a choke chain or the like in public......preferably with a big fellow on the other end !

I'd just like to know what set this particular beast off.
How do you know that the dog is not a socialised one ? Any obvious or not so obvious signs ? Preferably before it goes for me

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Dougster]

'Scuse me , but bu88er that, if the dog isn't safe to talk to it's not a pet. If it's not a pet it ought to be on a choke chain or the like in public......preferably with a big fellow on the other end !

I'd just like to know what set this particular beast off.
How do you know that the dog is not a socialised one ? Any obvious or not so obvious signs ? Preferably before it goes for me

cheers,
Toddy

There are dogs - my Fathers last one - that are not only nasty, but damn sneaky. He looked angelic, then went straight in. My Dad always kept him well back. He did it with me and I punched him, never did it again.

Back of knuckles about a foot from their face, any unpleasantness and they can't snatch fingers and you can pull it back quick. If they do it after that, they really have problems.

 

[scanker]

I'd say it was down to the owner to know the dog. The owner can see what you're doing and if you're behaving in a way that would trigger the dog. It's up to the owner to take more control of the dog and/or warn you off. I've heard the phrase "no such things as bad dogs, only bad owners". I'm not a dog owner myself, but I guess that's true.

 

[Greg]

I agree the owner is ultimately responsible and should have had control of the dog.
I would have kicked the owner in the plums aswell as the dog!
As for is the dog a sociable animal, a few small pointers to help you out next time:
If the dogs tail is raised with its head and ears raised be very careful because the dog is in "I am the boss" mode.
Generally if you approach a dog and its tail drops and starts to wrag then you might me safe to offer the back of your hand for it to sniff, to show you are not a threat.
Don't take this info as gospel especially with small dogs!

 

[Aaron]

I got bitten by a homeless blokes dog on Saturday when I stopped to give him some money - bit me on the hand! Slapped the dog across the nose, had my £2 coin back and gave him a mouthful - spent the money on an ice cream instead.

 

[spamel]

I got bitten by a homeless blokes dog on Saturday when I stopped to give him some money - bit me on the hand! Slapped the dog across the nose, had my £2 coin back and gave him a mouthful instead - spent the money on an ice cream.

Reminds me of the tale of the tramp down on his luck in Oz. Weeks have gone by and he is desperate for a proper meal. He takes a look at his dog, Ol' Skip, and says "Well Skip, it's either you or me!" and pounces on the dog. After skinning, cooking and eating his faithfull companion, the tramp is left with a small pile of bones. He looks at the pile and says "Ol' Skip would have loved those bones!"

 

[Scally]

Echo what greg says if tail raised and ears (ears depending on dog) then be careful

 

[Aaron]

Hope he had to drink meths instead of Special Brew that night serves him right - my hand is still sore! Talking of which, I found out the other day that 'Spesh' was first brewed for Winston Churchill by the Danish in gratitude for the British part in their liberation in 1945, after he complained about not being able to find a decent strength Lager. Every day is a school day here!

 

[Greg]

I do feel sorry for you Toddy, I know what it feels like to be bitten by a GSD.
Whilst baiting the guard dogs I was taken down a number of times by a 30 - 40kg dog running at speed and taking my arm.
Although I had a massive & thick arm guard I could still feel the immense pressure from its jaws, and the fact it threw my arm around like a rag doll until the handlers gave the release call - which to their personal amusement sometimes took longer than it should have!

 

[woodstock]

Half agree with what you say mate but the owner should have been in a position of control and in this case its sounds like he wasnt. He is lucky it bit Toddy who is an obvious animal lover and not someone else (god forbid a child) he could then be looking at a conviction and be left with a dead dog.

I agree if you have a dog you should be able to control it German shepherds can be a tad temperamental to say the least I bought one from a rescue centre for the first few days it was great then I took it out for a walk threw it a stick to fetch it ran of to retrieve the stick and I started to walk it the opposite direction it only ran up and bit me on the back of the legs and buttocks needless to say it was returned to the centre.

 

[ncarvajal]

Any dog bite incident is always the responsibility of the owner.

After all an owner should have sufficient knowledge of their dog's character and temperament to ensure it is under control at all times. If the dog is nervous the owner should advise people not to approach or make sudden movements towards the dog as it might bite out of fear. If the dog is dominant then the owner should advise people not to make direct eye contact when approaching and the owner should ensure a proper introduction. If the dog is aggressive or has high drive then it should be muzzled in public places, or at a minimum on a leash, to ensure the safety of toddlers, small dogs, squirrels, etc.

Above all a dog should be well trained and fully submissive to its master.

That being said even the best handlers with the most capable dogs have experienced an instance where a dog has behaved in an unexpected manner with varying consequences, and for this reason it is important that you are aware BOTH of your body language when approaching a dog (as per mails above more or less) but MORE IMPORTANTLY you should be aware of a dog's body language towards you when it is approached as they often exhibit specific signs prior to biting. I will not go into a dominant dog's body language prior to a bite because those signs are pretty clear and by the sounds of your experience it was not a dominant dog that bit you but rather a fear biter (dominant dogs do not easily let go once a bite is established, or they shake the head as a result of their prey drive and this usually results in more damage than you experienced).

Here are some key warning signs for you to watch out for that should inform you not to approach a dog without care and especially not to try to pet the dog near its head (as most of us do) are as follow:

1. Head Low
2. Mouth Closed
3. Intense expression or staring at a specific point
4. Yawning
5. Dog licking its on nose
6. Standing frozen whilst having one front paw raised (unless they are pointers)
7. Head tucked in towards chest and looking up at you
8. Raised hocks
9. Raised tail
10. Lip curling

These signs are not a guarantee that the dog is not trustworthy but if more than a few of these signs are exhibited then it is a pretty clear indication the dog does not particularly want to be approached at that moment irrespective of what the owner might be saying so in those instances approach with care.

Finally dogs are truly man’s best friend and given the amount of dogs out there the likelihood of being bitten is miniscule so try not to let it affect your behaviour towards other dogs in future as the key to being safe around dogs is knowledge about them and not be nervous or fearful of them.

Hope that helps.

Best,
NC