Thread: Dog bit me

Originally Posted by Davehoos

I was bitten by small dog working for the SES.

I'm surprised the SES employs small dogs!

I have the pleasure of living with 2 highly trained German Shepherds and have the "Dogs on Property" sign on the gate. You would be surprised at the number of people who enter the property in the mistaken belief that it is a bluff. Our dogs will alert and allow them to retreat unless they are threatened.

Most people are not aware that they give off what's called a fear/trauma scent when apprehensive about being approached by a dog, it is this scent that can confuse some dogs who mistake it for aggression (not taking sides here because I do not believe that any dog should attack unless provoked or ordered to do so). This scent is why dogs seem to be more attracted towards people that are scared of them. it is just their natural instinct.

If this dog has a history of aggressive behavior by all means the owner should be made to show cause and at the very least dog and owner should do an accredited obedience course where both the dog's and owner's temperament can be assessed.

it's good to see that people here are looking towards the owner to provide answers and not just blaming the dog.

Originally Posted by solmanic

I seem to remember being advised sometime that you should never use words in your "beware of dog" sign that indicate the dog may be dangerous as that is effectively admitting liability if the dog does bite someone. Our signs simply state "Dog on premesis" as that is not necessarily a warning or indication of the attitude of the dog. Then people who are scared of dogs at least know to stay clear and others (burglars) can draw their own conclusions. Those council declared dangerous dog signs don't limit liability if said dog attacks an intruder, they just protect the council as they have been seen to uphold their obligation to regulate.

If an owner has a dog they suspect of being aggressive, they are advised to put a lock on their gate so people simply cannot get in by accident, or put up a second fence so visitors can at least get to their front door. Besides, the meter readers have to have this access anyway.

I would report it. As far as I'm concerned, based on what you have described the owner should probably consider keeping guinea pigs instead of dogs.

My father who was a local councillor for over 20 years told me that the council used to be happy with 'guard dog on duty' until the law changed and actual guard dogs had to be licensed. After that he tells me that many sets of words became acceptable to council, as long as they didn't infer that you shouldn't enter . So signs such as 'pet dog roams yard', 'animals on loose', 'dog on premises' became popular. Council being a rural council, dogs were not the only critter that could go you so they gave a way free signs which from memory had words like 'animals on premises' or something like that.
As for the post, I wish dog breeders or geneticists could build a dog that can discriminate between postmen, avon ladies and nana from hoods, scum and street urchins.!

Ralph

Originally Posted by subasurf

Boo hoo.
I get bitten by a dog at least once a week in my line of work.
There was a beware of dog sign and you seamed to have ignored it.

Wow, that was not at all my intention.

Actually, strange as it may seem, the six hours or so after being bitten are the best I've felt since February, there's a lot to be said for massive amounts of adrenalin.

I was thinking of my choice of words just a few minutes ago. I wonder what the response would have been if I'd used the title, 'Attacked by a dog'?

Originally Posted by Ralph1Malph

As for the post, I wish dog breeders or geneticists could build a dog that can discriminate between postmen, avon ladies and nana from hoods, scum and street urchins.!

Ralph

Actually you would be surprised at what good training can do, I have seen dogs trained to discriminate between people with intent and those just going about their normal business. I have seen dogs doing full on riot baiting and manwork then no more than 2 minutes later playing with small children (supervised of course). It is truly a wonderful sight to watch a toddler barely able to walk, taking a large German Shepard for a walk in full control.

Is the dog ok?

I too think that a sign warning someone of a dog is considered as awareness that your dog could bite or at least scare you. For a dog to be declared a dangerous animal all it has to do is scare you it does not have to bite.

"Beware of the Dog" signs are for people that don't have dogs and want to give you something to think about before entering.

I suspect that as per usual the dog would lose/pay the price on any action taken against it/the owner.

I would report it even if you do not take action.

Originally Posted by slug_burner

"Beware of the Dog" signs are for people that don't have dogs and want to give you something to think about before entering.

We have a "Beware of the Dog" sign - this 4 month old Labrador puppy has very sharp teeth.

Sucks that the dog bit you, but personally I think get over it. But then I like dogs and am scarcely of the view that it's the dogs fault (it's generally the owner or trainer). Reporting it would probably only have negative consequences for the dog.

I suppose the fact that I'm from South Africa originally and we always had German Shepards that were professionally trained as attack dogs (and part time pets) makes me less phased when a dog attacks someone.

On the other side, I do definitely agree that the owner sounds like a douche. He knew you were coming and seems to have known that his dog is poorly trained (or perhaps intentionally trained?), odd that he didn't chuck the dog out the back.

As for someone aboves comments about what you can train a dog to do. You are 100% correct. I have a Rodesian Ridgeback, 64kg. These were originally bred to hunt escaped prisoners. Yet, he's been trained to be so placid that you can hold steak in your hand and he will only lick it until you have moved your hand out of his way.