I Got Bitten Today

This is a high-risk job for bites, and I've come close a couple of
times.

I guess I'm lucky in that I have never been bitten, badly anyway. I've had
some nips, puppyteeth scrapes and over eager treat grabber pinches (those HURT)
but never seriously bitten. The worst one was a white GSD who was pretty shy
and nasty. As I was standing near her with my back to her, I felt a thud on the
back of my calf and saw her slink back. I just kept on talking, then
confronted the owner after class. But that was nothing compared to a real
bite!

My triainer friend had a GSD jump up as she was walking by and he nailed her
in the lip. Put a huge hole in her bottom lip, you could see her teeth through
it. Hit a squirter too, so blood was squirting with her heart beat She
excused herself and went into the bathroom and put some tissue in then
continued the class. She said she was pretty much in shock.

Another PS trainer friend was bitten badly by a 6 month old Cocker Spaniel.
Put a nice hole in her wrist and the owner never said a word...

Shake yourself off and carry on Thats why you get paid the big bucks! G

Dogstar716
Come see Gunnars Life: http://hometown.aol.com/dogstar716/index.html

Leah, first off, I'm sorry you got bitten.

But I've got to say that one thing you said really caught my notice- here
it is:


I was actually heading for another dog (a BC puppy), and didn't even
notice this one.
I heard a growl, and looked down in time to see her lunge.


I'm willing to bet that an experienced observer - somebody standing back
and watching this incident- could have read the dog's intent
*before* it lunged. Perhaps if YOU had paid some attention to this
particular dog- instead of focussing on the BC puppy & not paying any
attention to the dog who was close to you - you might have had some warning
that she was going to bite.
Of course, you had no real reason to expect it.

Her owner said, "She's never done that before!" I went into the office
to
report it and ask what I should do. Then I went out to talk to the
owners...
and they were gone.

Rule of thumb: *always* get owner information before you walk away, if you
possibly can. I learned that one the hard way- a dog belonging to another
dogwalker's employee attacked Brenin (tore his ear, minor fang holes in his
leg) in the presence of both Jon and his assistant.
I wanted to get away from them, and told Jon I'd call him later and let him
know if Bren needed vet care. I called him that night, and left a message
saying that yes, Bren had a minor injury, and would he please give me his
employee's phone # so I could call and get the dog's shot info, and talk to
her about the vet bill.
He never called me back. A few days later, I ran into him out at the park,
and asked for the information again. He told me that she'd not only quit,
but had moved, and he didn't have her phone #. A week later, I saw him
walking her dog, although she wasn't with him.
IOW, he flat out lied. I didn't pursue it, because the bill was only $60-
exam, cleaning, and antibiotics.
I should have known better, given that this was also the guy who used to
walk a dog that bit PEOPLE, and would pretend he hadn't seen her do it.


Most likely this was the poor thing's first trip into a chaotic,
busy environment, and her owners were clueless about how she was reacting
to it.

Given that it was an Aussie bitch, it's more likely that she's territorial
and dominant, and you invaded her space. T'other most likely possiblity is
that she's fear-aggressive, and you invaded her space.
Were you, by any chance, walking fast enough that your arms were swinging?

Amazing what a trauma like this does to a person. I felt the bite, but
went
into immediate denial that I got bitten.

If you only have scrapes, you didn't quite get bitten, actually. Trust me,
fang holes are a LOT worse- I've still got a scar from the one and only bite
I've ever had, which went almost completely through my hand.
It's never any fun, though.

It hurt, but the dog missed me - must
have. Just a pinch.

Hrm. That sounds like the dog may have done exactly what she meant to do,
namely grip you. Not at all uncommon with a problematical Aussie.


And it scares me to know that there was nothing I
could have done to prevent it. I wasn't that close to the dog. I wasn't
paying any attention to her.

Er, well- again, if you'd been paying attention to all the dogs around
you, maybe you COULD have prevented triggering her. But again, you weren't
expecting it.


I'm sure some of you other trainers and people who worked in vet clinics
have
been bitten. Did you get all weirded out, too?

Well, I'm not exactly a trainer, but... I've only been seriously bitten
once. It didn't weird me out at all- in fact, it didn't even bother me,
aside from the fact that it hurt. Then again, I got bitten because I took a
deliberate and calculated risk- IOW, I *knew* I was putting myself in harm's
way.
I got bitten, I pulled my hand back thinking "Well, that didn't work", I
went right back to breaking up the fight.
I've had a few minor pinches & so forth, & I've been snapped at a few
times, which have also never bothered me.

I've also experienced being the target of very serious aggression;
IOW, being in the presence of dogs whom I know, without a shadow of a doubt,
would not have hesitated to go for my throat if I triggered them. While it
was hair-raising in the moment, it didn't bother me long-term. For a day or
so, yeah, thinking about what *could* have happened.

Or am I just... weird? :}

No comment. :-D Seriously, though- I'm probably the weird one.




--
Sarah
Brenin, CGC, AD, O-EAC-V, O-EJC-V, EGC
Gwydion, Handy Cat
Morag Thistledown, Novice Triple Superior, S-OAC, S-OJC, O-OGC, EJC
Robyn Meezer, Inspector of Human Activity
Rocsi Cadarn, S-NJC, NAC, NGTG, OGTG

we can be seen at: http://photos.yahoo.com/amberdogs1
and http://photos.yahoo.com/amberdogs2

Leah, first off, I'm sorry you got bitten.

But I've got to say that one thing you said really caught my notice- here
it is:


I was actually heading for another dog (a BC puppy), and didn't even
notice this one.
I heard a growl, and looked down in time to see her lunge.


I'm willing to bet that an experienced observer - somebody standing back
and watching this incident- could have read the dog's intent
*before* it lunged. Perhaps if YOU had paid some attention to this
particular dog- instead of focussing on the BC puppy & not paying any
attention to the dog who was close to you - you might have had some warning
that she was going to bite.
Of course, you had no real reason to expect it.

Her owner said, "She's never done that before!" I went into the office
to
report it and ask what I should do. Then I went out to talk to the
owners...
and they were gone.

Rule of thumb: *always* get owner information before you walk away, if you
possibly can. I learned that one the hard way- a dog belonging to another
dogwalker's employee attacked Brenin (tore his ear, minor fang holes in his
leg) in the presence of both Jon and his assistant.
I wanted to get away from them, and told Jon I'd call him later and let him
know if Bren needed vet care. I called him that night, and left a message
saying that yes, Bren had a minor injury, and would he please give me his
employee's phone # so I could call and get the dog's shot info, and talk to
her about the vet bill.
He never called me back. A few days later, I ran into him out at the park,
and asked for the information again. He told me that she'd not only quit,
but had moved, and he didn't have her phone #. A week later, I saw him
walking her dog, although she wasn't with him.
IOW, he flat out lied. I didn't pursue it, because the bill was only $60-
exam, cleaning, and antibiotics.
I should have known better, given that this was also the guy who used to
walk a dog that bit PEOPLE, and would pretend he hadn't seen her do it.


Most likely this was the poor thing's first trip into a chaotic,
busy environment, and her owners were clueless about how she was reacting
to it.

Given that it was an Aussie bitch, it's more likely that she's territorial
and dominant, and you invaded her space. T'other most likely possiblity is
that she's fear-aggressive, and you invaded her space.
Were you, by any chance, walking fast enough that your arms were swinging?

Amazing what a trauma like this does to a person. I felt the bite, but
went
into immediate denial that I got bitten.

If you only have scrapes, you didn't quite get bitten, actually. Trust me,
fang holes are a LOT worse- I've still got a scar from the one and only bite
I've ever had, which went almost completely through my hand.
It's never any fun, though.

It hurt, but the dog missed me - must
have. Just a pinch.

Hrm. That sounds like the dog may have done exactly what she meant to do,
namely grip you. Not at all uncommon with a problematical Aussie.


And it scares me to know that there was nothing I
could have done to prevent it. I wasn't that close to the dog. I wasn't
paying any attention to her.

Er, well- again, if you'd been paying attention to all the dogs around
you, maybe you COULD have prevented triggering her. But again, you weren't
expecting it.


I'm sure some of you other trainers and people who worked in vet clinics
have
been bitten. Did you get all weirded out, too?

Well, I'm not exactly a trainer, but... I've only been seriously bitten
once. It didn't weird me out at all- in fact, it didn't even bother me,
aside from the fact that it hurt. Then again, I got bitten because I took a
deliberate and calculated risk- IOW, I *knew* I was putting myself in harm's
way.
I got bitten, I pulled my hand back thinking "Well, that didn't work", I
went right back to breaking up the fight.
I've had a few minor pinches & so forth, & I've been snapped at a few
times, which have also never bothered me.

I've also experienced being the target of very serious aggression;
IOW, being in the presence of dogs whom I know, without a shadow of a doubt,
would not have hesitated to go for my throat if I triggered them. While it
was hair-raising in the moment, it didn't bother me long-term. For a day or
so, yeah, thinking about what *could* have happened.

Or am I just... weird? :}

No comment. :-D Seriously, though- I'm probably the weird one.




--
Sarah
Brenin, CGC, AD, O-EAC-V, O-EJC-V, EGC
Gwydion, Handy Cat
Morag Thistledown, Novice Triple Superior, S-OAC, S-OJC, O-OGC, EJC
Robyn Meezer, Inspector of Human Activity
Rocsi Cadarn, S-NJC, NAC, NGTG, OGTG

we can be seen at: http://photos.yahoo.com/amberdogs1
and http://photos.yahoo.com/amberdogs2

Aaaaaaaah!!! Something went weird when I sent THAT message.

Aaaaaaaah!!! Something went weird when I sent THAT message.

Handsome Jack Morrison said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

My stepdaughter loved snakes. She once picked up a garter
snake which then bit her, drawing blood. She was in tears,
not because of any pain, but because of the betrayal.

When we're able to look at things the way a dog looks at
them, we shouldn't have any need to ever feel betrayed.

IME, it's only when we expect too much from dogs, or
anthropomorphize them, that we're usually disappointed.

Yep. My stepdaughter honestly believed that the snake loved her
as much as she loved it.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

Handsome Jack Morrison said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

My stepdaughter loved snakes. She once picked up a garter
snake which then bit her, drawing blood. She was in tears,
not because of any pain, but because of the betrayal.

When we're able to look at things the way a dog looks at
them, we shouldn't have any need to ever feel betrayed.

IME, it's only when we expect too much from dogs, or
anthropomorphize them, that we're usually disappointed.

Yep. My stepdaughter honestly believed that the snake loved her
as much as she loved it.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

"Leah" -OFF skrev i melding
...
Ironic. This is a high-risk job for bites, and I've come close a couple
of
times. But this time it had nothing to do with my work. I was just
walking by
the dog. I was actually heading for another dog (a BC puppy), and didn't
even
notice this one. I heard a growl, and looked down in time to see her
lunge.
If I hadn't jumped back in time, I'd be in the hospital right now. She
tore my
pants and gave me a bad scrape above the knee.


(snip)

paying any attention to her. I could understand if it was a dog I was
working
with, if I could point to a mistake I had made that led to it, something I
could learn from. But this was straight out of left field. I can't get
my
head around it.


Your wierded out raction makes sense to me, Leah, because from what
you describe it was totally unexpected; you didn't see it coming.

I'm sure some of you other trainers and people who worked in vet clinics
have
been bitten. Did you get all weirded out, too? Or am I just... weird? :}

I was bitten by my previous Airedale (Chewie, not my present Angel) once,
when I deliberately moved in front of him to block his view of a another
dog he was creating at. Chewie took a swiping chomp at my hand and drew
blood.
My reaction was instant and unthinking, in fact
I surprised myself. I grabbed him by the neck and yelled at
him "What in the F do you think you're doing?"

He backed down and started acting ingratiating right away. (Lucky for me)
And yeah, I got weirded out, but probably for a different reason than you
did.
Because a reflex I didn't know I had took over.
Because I was far from sure that what I did was right.
Because I was acting on an uncontrolled impulse just as much as
the dog I was presuming to lead / discipline.

He never waved a tooth at me again, though.

By the time my head cleared enough to realize I needed the owners to
provide
proof of a rabies vaccination (I at first refused to go for medical help),
they
were gone.

Can we assume this means that you understand you need it and will get the
necessary medical protection?
I sure hope you're OK, Leah.

Fingers crossed,

Laura

"Leah" -OFF skrev i melding
...
Ironic. This is a high-risk job for bites, and I've come close a couple
of
times. But this time it had nothing to do with my work. I was just
walking by
the dog. I was actually heading for another dog (a BC puppy), and didn't
even
notice this one. I heard a growl, and looked down in time to see her
lunge.
If I hadn't jumped back in time, I'd be in the hospital right now. She
tore my
pants and gave me a bad scrape above the knee.


(snip)

paying any attention to her. I could understand if it was a dog I was
working
with, if I could point to a mistake I had made that led to it, something I
could learn from. But this was straight out of left field. I can't get
my
head around it.


Your wierded out raction makes sense to me, Leah, because from what
you describe it was totally unexpected; you didn't see it coming.

I'm sure some of you other trainers and people who worked in vet clinics
have
been bitten. Did you get all weirded out, too? Or am I just... weird? :}

I was bitten by my previous Airedale (Chewie, not my present Angel) once,
when I deliberately moved in front of him to block his view of a another
dog he was creating at. Chewie took a swiping chomp at my hand and drew
blood.
My reaction was instant and unthinking, in fact
I surprised myself. I grabbed him by the neck and yelled at
him "What in the F do you think you're doing?"

He backed down and started acting ingratiating right away. (Lucky for me)
And yeah, I got weirded out, but probably for a different reason than you
did.
Because a reflex I didn't know I had took over.
Because I was far from sure that what I did was right.
Because I was acting on an uncontrolled impulse just as much as
the dog I was presuming to lead / discipline.

He never waved a tooth at me again, though.

By the time my head cleared enough to realize I needed the owners to
provide
proof of a rabies vaccination (I at first refused to go for medical help),
they
were gone.

Can we assume this means that you understand you need it and will get the
necessary medical protection?
I sure hope you're OK, Leah.

Fingers crossed,

Laura

"Laura Arlov"
wrote:
Can we assume this means that you understand you need it and will get the
necessary medical protection?
I sure hope you're OK, Leah.

Oh, I'm fine. It doesn't even hurt today. I got antibiotics, a tetanus shot,
and a salve I'm supposed to put on it 3 times a day. I initially refused
medical help because I had a class coming up in 2 hours, and knew I would miss
it.

I did refuse the rabies treatment, though. The risk of rabies around here is
very, very low. I can't remember the last time I heard of a rabid animal of
any kind. Not worth going through it.

PetsMart Pet Trainer
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html
Last updated June 27 at 10:00 a.m.