Dog attack - how would you react?
Discussion
"Attack" is a dramatic word, but fits this IMO.
I was walking home from dropping my daughter at nursery, and a neighbour's leashed dog ran up to me and bit my leg. Fortunately between the owner pulling of the lead and slippery jogging bottoms, all I have is a small scratch and torn trousers but otherwise unhurt. Owner was apologetic at the time and I was a bit shocked so I walked on home. I've not met the neighbour before.
On reflection I'm not happy. If it was my daughter the dog attacked the outcome could have been very different. We have to walk that way every day. The owner has been apologetic and said their dog is going to go to training classes. Personally I'd want the dog muzzled in public while it behaves unpredictably but the owner has been dismissive and said they will "consider all options".
I'm not a 'dog person' and have no idea if that's a reasonable ask, or how upset I should be. I'm within my rights to report to the police, maybe I should to drive the point home and establish a paper trail for future incidents, maybe I'm overreacting (no harm, no foul?).
What's the 'right' response to this?
I was walking home from dropping my daughter at nursery, and a neighbour's leashed dog ran up to me and bit my leg. Fortunately between the owner pulling of the lead and slippery jogging bottoms, all I have is a small scratch and torn trousers but otherwise unhurt. Owner was apologetic at the time and I was a bit shocked so I walked on home. I've not met the neighbour before.
On reflection I'm not happy. If it was my daughter the dog attacked the outcome could have been very different. We have to walk that way every day. The owner has been apologetic and said their dog is going to go to training classes. Personally I'd want the dog muzzled in public while it behaves unpredictably but the owner has been dismissive and said they will "consider all options".
I'm not a 'dog person' and have no idea if that's a reasonable ask, or how upset I should be. I'm within my rights to report to the police, maybe I should to drive the point home and establish a paper trail for future incidents, maybe I'm overreacting (no harm, no foul?).
What's the 'right' response to this?
I am a dog person.
Yeah you're well within your rights to ask for that, in fact it's a criminal offence what's happened. "A dog shall be regarded as dangerously out of control on any occasion on which there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person or assistance dog, whether or not it actually does so."
So if you wanted to get all antsy about it you could report him.
I agree with you though and think a muzzle is the appropriate response.
Yeah you're well within your rights to ask for that, in fact it's a criminal offence what's happened. "A dog shall be regarded as dangerously out of control on any occasion on which there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person or assistance dog, whether or not it actually does so."
So if you wanted to get all antsy about it you could report him.
I agree with you though and think a muzzle is the appropriate response.
I'm a dog person.
The dog bit you, but you escaped injury - as you say it could have been a lot worse. The owner needs to control their animal and there are plenty of muzzles out there, the dog will get used to them.
I'd insist or say you'll call police, or maybe just call police anyway, the dog owner isn't being responsible and it isn't fair on the dog.
The dog bit you, but you escaped injury - as you say it could have been a lot worse. The owner needs to control their animal and there are plenty of muzzles out there, the dog will get used to them.
I'd insist or say you'll call police, or maybe just call police anyway, the dog owner isn't being responsible and it isn't fair on the dog.
A bit of an update:
Owner has been in touch again. They've had a recent painful bereavement in the family, which they believe has put the dog on edge. They acknowledge that this isn't an excuse for the dog's behaviour but perhaps an explanation. I think this morning has shocked her as much me and she's had a chance to process events. She's said they will get a muzzle for the dog. I appreciate dogs can be very perceptive, so I'm accepting of the explanation.
I'm loathe to pile more worry on a family in mourning with a police visit and it sounds like between classes and a muzzle it's a proportionate response.
Owner has been in touch again. They've had a recent painful bereavement in the family, which they believe has put the dog on edge. They acknowledge that this isn't an excuse for the dog's behaviour but perhaps an explanation. I think this morning has shocked her as much me and she's had a chance to process events. She's said they will get a muzzle for the dog. I appreciate dogs can be very perceptive, so I'm accepting of the explanation.
I'm loathe to pile more worry on a family in mourning with a police visit and it sounds like between classes and a muzzle it's a proportionate response.
Simbu said:
A bit of an update:
Owner has been in touch again. They've had a recent painful bereavement in the family, which they believe has put the dog on edge. They acknowledge that this isn't an excuse for the dog's behaviour but perhaps an explanation. I think this morning has shocked her as much me and she's had a chance to process events. She's said they will get a muzzle for the dog. I appreciate dogs can be very perceptive, so I'm accepting of the explanation.
I'm loathe to pile more worry on a family in mourning with a police visit and it sounds like between classes and a muzzle it's a proportionate response.
Seems like the right approach is being taken. Owner has been in touch again. They've had a recent painful bereavement in the family, which they believe has put the dog on edge. They acknowledge that this isn't an excuse for the dog's behaviour but perhaps an explanation. I think this morning has shocked her as much me and she's had a chance to process events. She's said they will get a muzzle for the dog. I appreciate dogs can be very perceptive, so I'm accepting of the explanation.
I'm loathe to pile more worry on a family in mourning with a police visit and it sounds like between classes and a muzzle it's a proportionate response.
Simbu said:
A bit of an update:
Owner has been in touch again. They've had a recent painful bereavement in the family, which they believe has put the dog on edge. They acknowledge that this isn't an excuse for the dog's behaviour but perhaps an explanation. I think this morning has shocked her as much me and she's had a chance to process events. She's said they will get a muzzle for the dog. I appreciate dogs can be very perceptive, so I'm accepting of the explanation.
I'm loathe to pile more worry on a family in mourning with a police visit and it sounds like between classes and a muzzle it's a proportionate response.
Seems like the right approach is being taken. Owner has been in touch again. They've had a recent painful bereavement in the family, which they believe has put the dog on edge. They acknowledge that this isn't an excuse for the dog's behaviour but perhaps an explanation. I think this morning has shocked her as much me and she's had a chance to process events. She's said they will get a muzzle for the dog. I appreciate dogs can be very perceptive, so I'm accepting of the explanation.
I'm loathe to pile more worry on a family in mourning with a police visit and it sounds like between classes and a muzzle it's a proportionate response.
Got a nip, no proper injury worse then a bramble scratch perhaps, ignore it but have a few stern words. It's a nip not a savaging or a bite with intent. The dog only intended to do a nip for whatever reason.
As a kid I was sometimes bitten by dogs and accepted that as pretty normal especially if I was the one being forward towards them. Dogs are dogs, they don't see the world like us.
If a dog bit me the last thing I'd do is report it unless it was a proper full on bite. You'd know about one of those if it ever happened.
The concerning fact is it ran up to you. Any idea why that was? Was it a boistrous or aggressive dog?
As a kid I was sometimes bitten by dogs and accepted that as pretty normal especially if I was the one being forward towards them. Dogs are dogs, they don't see the world like us.
If a dog bit me the last thing I'd do is report it unless it was a proper full on bite. You'd know about one of those if it ever happened.
The concerning fact is it ran up to you. Any idea why that was? Was it a boistrous or aggressive dog?
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Wednesday 23 February 18:59
Simbu said:
A bit of an update:
Owner has been in touch again. They've had a recent painful bereavement in the family, which they believe has put the dog on edge. They acknowledge that this isn't an excuse for the dog's behaviour but perhaps an explanation. I think this morning has shocked her as much me and she's had a chance to process events. She's said they will get a muzzle for the dog. I appreciate dogs can be very perceptive, so I'm accepting of the explanation.
I'm loathe to pile more worry on a family in mourning with a police visit and it sounds like between classes and a muzzle it's a proportionate response.
Unfortunately yesterday I had to have my 14 yr old dog put to sleep , heart failure etc, our other dog , a 3 yr old whippet is absolutely pining , running around sniffing everything. \today on his walk another dog walked up to him while he was on his lead & our dog went berserk fighting this other dog. Whippets are so timid & placid normally, we have put it down to losing the other dog... Hope your leg is OK & just to say you seem to be very reasonable about it all, has to looked on seriously as you say its by a school , thankfully not a child ...this time ! Owner has been in touch again. They've had a recent painful bereavement in the family, which they believe has put the dog on edge. They acknowledge that this isn't an excuse for the dog's behaviour but perhaps an explanation. I think this morning has shocked her as much me and she's had a chance to process events. She's said they will get a muzzle for the dog. I appreciate dogs can be very perceptive, so I'm accepting of the explanation.
I'm loathe to pile more worry on a family in mourning with a police visit and it sounds like between classes and a muzzle it's a proportionate response.
That’s a huge red flag.
Why would a dog just randomly attack you?
How old is the dog? Are you sure the dog was not just a young dog that at the moment is a bit mouthy?
It’s a criminal offence and I would certainly want to take it further if it were a serious ‘attack’. My reason is, what happens if the next time it is a kid?
Why would a dog just randomly attack you?
How old is the dog? Are you sure the dog was not just a young dog that at the moment is a bit mouthy?
It’s a criminal offence and I would certainly want to take it further if it were a serious ‘attack’. My reason is, what happens if the next time it is a kid?
I've just reread the thread. What breed was the dog? Might it have been after your trouser leg? Reason I ask is that some collies are prone to nipping at jacket slevves when people try to walk away. It's a herding instinct.
There is usually a reason behind the behaviour, dogs aren't generally aggressive. A real bite would certainly have been more severe.
There is usually a reason behind the behaviour, dogs aren't generally aggressive. A real bite would certainly have been more severe.
I’ve got a pet snail, they’re pretty viscous.ozzuk said:
I'm a dog person.
The dog bit you, but you escaped injury - as you say it could have been a lot worse. The owner needs to control their animal and there are plenty of muzzles out there, the dog will get used to them.
I'd insist or say you'll call police, or maybe just call police anyway, the dog owner isn't being responsible and it isn't fair on the dog.
As above, also a dog person.The dog bit you, but you escaped injury - as you say it could have been a lot worse. The owner needs to control their animal and there are plenty of muzzles out there, the dog will get used to them.
I'd insist or say you'll call police, or maybe just call police anyway, the dog owner isn't being responsible and it isn't fair on the dog.
Report to the police
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