Another bite…

[Lisa]

Feeling gloomy. We were out for a walk and ran into a couple of ladies who are really good friends of ours. We were standing and chatting on a walking path that goes around a pond in our neighbourhood and there were lots of kids around because there was a special art event for kids happening by the pond. Simba was sitting nicely while we chatted (gazing at me in anticipation of a treat for being a Good Boy) when a kid came by on a bike behind our friends. One of them stepped forward to get out of the way and in doing so stepped on Simba’s tail
He yelped and whirled around and bit her leg. Happened so fast there was no time to pull him away or anything. Two deep puncture wounds that bled quite a bit. She’s immune compromised so she went to the hospital because she was worried about infection. They cleaned it and wrapped it and gave her antibiotics.
I know it wasn’t anyone fault and Simba was hardly to blame but it’s now the second time someone has gone to the hospital because he’s bitten them. Plus the other times that were non-hospital bites 2-3). In fact one of them was my other friend who was there tonight, a few years ago when she was taking him for a walk for me when we were gone for a day. It happened somehow when she taking the harness off.
Just feeling horrible my friend was hurt.

 

[Lab_adore]

Oh no Lisa, I can readily imagine how you feel. Maxx was super excited the other day, lurching and throwing his head around when a new person came to the house and next thing there was bite mark as he bit my best friends new boyfriend on the hand. I hadn't mentioned it as I felt SO bad I couldn't talk about it

Try hard to see the big picture, it was an accident and there is no way it was an act of aggression. It was defence. Easy to say, I know, but we all understand here

 

[Cath]

It was an accident not anyones fault, Simba or yours

 

[Jacqui-S]

I can imagine this is hard for you Lisa.
His reaction, put into context with his background, is totally understandable.
But I realise it doesn't look good to be putting others at risk with an "unpredictable" dog.
You have done so well with Simba, and can't beat yourself up over this.
Do you know what your friends feel about the bites, or are they all too polite to say?

 

[edzbird]

Oh Lisa, you know it was an accident, try not to mull over it too much. Give yourselves some down time.

Each time Meg has any sort of reaction, after a period of decompression, I try to make a plan so that I don't put her in the same situation again.

I totally get how you're feeling

 

[HAH]

I’m so sorry that happened Lisa, and can entirely understand your feeling wretched, and worried, and ashamed. Once the dust has settled you can review anything to be learned for future, but for now give yourself and Simba lots of grace x

@Lab_adore - same for you and Maxx, there must be so much shame with these incidents but the most important thing is to treat yourself and Maxx gently before you take space to unpick what happened and what can be learned.

 

[MellowYellow]

OH no, I am so sorry - for you, Simba, and for your friend.

 

[Boogie]

I‘m so sorry @Lisa, your heart must have sunk

Is Simba muzzle trained?

 

[Stacia]

Unfortunately, we expect our dogs not to react under any circumstances, it is only natural to react and we cannot blame the dogs for that. You must feel very upset that it happened and I feel for you.

 

[Selina27]

This is such an unfortunate thing to have happened @Lisa, little wonder you feel upset. These things can happen so quickly, Simba only reacted naturally as you know.
I'm not sure it would make any difference in the circumstances you describe but might it be worth him wearing a lead or harness with a warning message to keep a distance from him? I too wondered if a muzzle would be appropriate.

 

[kateincornwall]

My heart goes out to you Lisa , I really am sorry that this has happened , love and hugs xxxx

 

[M.F.]

might it be worth him wearing a lead or harness with a warning message

This sounds like a good idea. It’s difficult to know if Simba has a low pain threshold and perhaps the standing on his tail was very painful for him? If he wears a warning, people will know to take care around him, and especially take care not tread on him. I hope you’re feeling a bit better today. xxx

 

[Candy]

So sorry to hear about this Lisa, it must be so upsetting for you and also for poor Simba, to be suddenly taken back to a place where he felt the need to react like that. Sending

 

[Lisa]

Thanks, all, appreciate the support.
Simba is not muzzle trained. I have considered it a time or two, but I haven’t done it because I don’t think it will be an easy task. Stressful for him and for me. I have mainly considered it for the dreaded vet visit, but perhaps should reconsider. I don’t know if he has a low pain threshold, although he certainly did yelp pretty loud when it happened. I think was the unexpected “attack” from behind that he didn’t see coming plus the sudden pain, that made the reaction worse. Who knows.

I’m not sure about the warning harness. He really is very good 99.5% of the time. 15 minutes before that a bunch of kids had come up wanting to pet him and he did his usual polite sniffs, allowing the pats with no trouble. So it’s not like he’s on a hair-trigger all the time, ready to go off at the least provocation.

My friend was very good about it, when I texted her later to see how she was doing and to apologize again she said, “C’est la vie” so she’s not making a fuss or anything, but still. I’m praying she will heal up ok with no complications.
@Lab_adore I feel for you! It’s so hard

 

[UncleBob]

Sorry to hear about this Lisa.

I agree with the others - it was an accident, and nobody was at fault.

I think it would be quite unrealistic not to expect a reaction from Simba, or any dog, in the circumstances. I think we tend to downplay it because it is 'just a tail', but from a dog's perspective, it's a physical attack, and likely a very painful one at that. How polite and well-mannered would we expect one of us to be if we felt that we were being attacked? I know it's tough but I'd go along with your friend's "C'est la vie" approach and do nothing.

 

[Naya]

I am glad that your friend has understood that it was an accident and I think virtually any dog would react the same way. Sending you big hugs x

 

[Cath]

. I have mainly considered it for the dreaded vet visit

I have trained both Annie and Fred with the muzzle. I did it because a friend of mine dog had a bad accident and was in pain. So to keep everyone safe the vet put a muzzle on her, (the dog not my friend.)

I made it into a game and had cheese in a tube and sang to them , You can keep your hat on. I put the cheese into the muzzle and just let them put their head into it when they wanted. After a few weeks I fastened the back say for 10 seconds. I built the time up. I had to keep singing though. We only play the muzzle game when it raining may be once a month. I only have to start sing the song and they come running.

Muzzle training your dog | Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Step by step guide to training your dog to wear a muzzle from the experts at Battersea.

www.battersea.org.uk

 

[UncleBob]

You can keep your hat on

I think we need an audio clip uploaded to the forum