Hi
As you know I have a 8 month old BC called Dolly we had a lot of issues with her running up to people and barking at them. We managed to stop this and she was doing so well until today.

I was walking her and kicking the tennis ball for her which she loves but we lost it in the snow so I couldn't keep her occupied.  She saw a lady walking across the field and started running up to her and barking she kept coming back when I called her but as the lady went over the hilly bit of the field Dolly was off again. I ran to get her and then she came running back over the hill.  Put her on the lead and went home.

Now for the bad bit, heard a knock on the door, answered it and the lady that lives opposite us said that Dolly had just bitten her, obviously when I couldn't see her.  She has never done this before so don't know why she did.

I am deeply shocked and upset and really don't know what to do as she has said that she is going to report her (I don't blame her for doing that), what will happen to Dolly do they put a dog down instantly????

The worse thing is she had been so good for about the last month and we thought we had stopped it.

Please help me

x

just read your post and rung hubby at work as in legal office???
he says that he really does not think your dog will be put down but it is possible the local dog warden will be intouch about this insident, sometimes people see an opotunity for compensation not that i am accusing anyone as there are also loads of genuine dog bite victims im 1, a rottie bit through my thumb at a ringcraft lesson but nothing came of that.
I think the time to worry is if your dog gets funny towards people again, maybe keep her on a long rein or lead for a while and see what her reaction to people are or take her to training class explain whats happened and see what advice they can give you, it might just be a one off thing but then i personally would do all i could if it was my girl as i would hate to think it was a child she bit if something more sinister was going on

Hi,

I agree with the other post, I expect you will get a visit now.  BC's are known for being nippy and I expect that is all she did, but you know that to the "average" person, a nip is a BITE!!!!

Definately keep her on a long line, if you tell me where you live, I can recomend an APDT person who should be able to help if you wanted someone to see her.

She has just entered her teenage period now as well, so her hormones will be all over the place, has she had a season?

One of my beardies is prone to nipping with excitement, I just muzzle her when she is free now and don't have a problem at all.  All her friends know she isn't aggressive and have got used to her.

manda
x

What a horrible situation to be in.  I assume the person who said she was bitten didn't show you the 'bite'.  If this is the case I would suggest as the previous poster, she got a nip, BC's often do this.  Not that this is right, but it is not serious like an attack bite.  With the snow around at the moment they can get a bit over excited.

To be on the safe side I would muzzle her so that she can't do it again, which is a shame as she won't be able to play ball with you.  Or take her out very early in the morning for her ball playing while no one else is around.

At least by being muzzled you will relax, knowing she can't do this again and hopefully she will pick up on your relaxed attitude and enjoy her walk too.

If you get a visit from the dog warden, just explain to her that she got over excited with the snow and you will muzzle her if there are people around to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Best of luck
Sandra

Unfortunately you have fallen into the trap that many people do, thinking that you have "cured" your dog in so short a time since you first posted.  Behavioural modification takes a long time and, as you have seen on other posts, you have reached a critical time in her development where, as a "teenager", she will be at her most unreliable stage, testing her limits and yours.

I am sorry that this has happened, for you, the dog and the person she bit. 

Obviously it would have been better to take out more than one ball to begin with and/or put her on the lead when you knew you were going to lose her focus.  This incident highlights why it is so desperately important to keep dogs under total control, either by training or, physically by having them on the lead.

The outcome will depend on a number of things, not least your local police attitude, the person who was bitten and you being to demonstrate what lengths you are prepared to go to prevent a repeat episode etc etc.

I wish you the best of luck but hope that both you and others learn from this episode.

regards

i have a great dog warden where i live and when i told her about your incident she told me that so many owners take dogs for runs off leads in big open field when they think no one is about and then this happens, its always a risk that someone will appear,
when my lass is bigger and i take her for runs i am going to ask the local farmer like many others do, to let me take her in the empty field away from stock and general public so i can feel safe and she can run free and unwind.
I have seen loads of dog owners do this and it seems the safest thing to do.
id rather muzzle myself than a dog. thats just my opo

Hi Everyone
Thank you so much for all your comments.

Just to update, I went to see the lady tonight after speaking with the behaviourist that I am going to see in a few days and the lady said she was sorry for having a go at me and that Dolly didn't bite her, just a very light nip!!!, apparently she slipped in the snow and Dolly either got scared or excited.  Needless to say I am sooooooo glad that she isn't going to report her and she said she knows we love our dogs and wished us luck in sorting her issues out!, what a lovely person.  I know if it was me I would have been angry to.

I am going to keep her on a long line from now on, and hopefully seeing the specialist will help, she has a Master in science/dog behaviour, one of the best I'm told.  Also had advise from a local apdt member who was helpful to.

I am pleased that she didn't do any damage and I was so surprised that she had bitten at all. At least now I know there is hope of her being ok.

Anyway, thanks so much again, and I'll keep you updated with her progress, little minx!!!!

Jo

xxxxxxx

Am glad to hear the lady didn't report Rosie for nipping her, perhaps a bunch of flowers, taken from Rosies bone money, might be a nice idea :)

You may lose friends, but you never lose enemies.

liberty

Very true, and yes the flowers are a nice idea, I will do that tomorrow

x

Hi Rosie probably was frightened by the lady falling and nipped through fear so I am glad that the lady realises you are trying to do your best with her and has decided not to report you. :) Gillian

That is good news and how nice of the lady to come and tell you after she had calmed down.  I doubt if you will ever cure a collie that nips out of excitement or fear, it is instinct, but hopefully you will learn to reconize the situations where they can occur and avoid them.
Sandra

I expect the lady was quite shocked at the time, but now shes calmed down...!
alot of collies have a nip reflex that youll never be able to stop, it was developed over many 100s of years to deal with stubborn sheep, it will often come to the surface when under pressure so if she was frightened by the lady im not suprised.
one of mine is quite "nippy" under pressure, but ive learnt to read her body language & have learnt to know what situations are likely to cause it,& if they start to occur i will intervene before anything happens. often with a "collie nip" its unlucky if any contact occurs,biting isnt the aim.
good luck ,keep us notified

You will find Ann very helpful :)

Hi Tohme
How did you know I am going to see Ann???, you must have so much experience with dogs, what do you do as a job?

Your advise is always really good for everyone

Jo

Elementary my dear. :D  I remembered you mentioning that you live in the Swindon area re your enquiry about hydrotherapy and Ann lives not far from me and participates in Working Trials as I do :D

Thanks for the compliment :)

I would try anything possible to get out of this deny it was your dog say the dog was with you say shes making it up and it must of been a diffrent dog its her word against yours

This is a very responsible attitude Dragonusthei!

Hi Tohme
I agree how awful to try and make out it wasn't Dolly.  At least I know she has issues, I'd never ignore them. Just goes to show some people will!!!

Me and Ann keep missing each others phone calls, so haven't spoken to her yet. I'll keep you updated on what happens, I'm really looking forward to it actually.

Jo

Oh I see, very good.  I have left a message for Ann tonight as she wants to see Dolly asap.

Jo

Good luck Jo, will you keep us updated? :)

Lindsay

Hi Lindsay
I'll keep you updated, I'm seeing Ann next Thursday.

Jo