So my dog got attacked...

[Racehorse]

We have a 12 week old Sheppard/St Bernard mix.

First of all, I am so sorry about your little buddy.....I hope he heals up and is not traumatized by this.

But next, having been a dog owner and dog trainer for 40 years, i will tell you this: you do not ever let a young pup alone with other dogs, never. (agree with other poster who said to socialize...but you don't leave them alone, you are watching, supervising, watching body language, etc.) esp. when the other dogs aren't yours in same household.

this whole idea of "socializing" dogs in dog parks, etc. is dangerous and any GOOD trainer will tell you this. A young dog is just like a young child, they need your supervision and your protection.

There is no telling WHAT happened that between these 2 dogs on that day. I have one who is a little bit sqirrelly, i.e., he's 15 years old now and we have never been able to cure him of certain um, "emotional" problems, he had a rough beginnning as a homless dog out on the streets and to this day, he NEVER goes anywhere where he is not supervised by me. I can't totally trust him because he is a *fearful* dog. Fearful dogs fear bite and do weird stuff.

Well adjusted dogs tolerate it for longer than we might expect, and then they chastise the puppy with a quick snap or other semi-harmless reaction. Even if the puppy was a problem, and I don't know that it was, it may have been minding its own business, no dog should react by causing so much injury. Such a dog should not be in that place of work.

On the money! It seems that this boss has a dog that does NOT have a truly neutral disposition, therefore, that dog should be crated when around other dogs. Or left home. !!!!!!

That said, I gave up a long time ago on the idea that most people would be *responsible* dog owners, so I am just very careful where I take my dogs, etc.

Just remember that in a pack, their leader protects them.

Legally, yes, I would file a report. Because these things are good to have on file, should the owner's dog attack other dogs. That she was not generous enough to offer financial support for your dog's vet bills tells me she is not even a dog lover. I would be falling all over myself to help your pup had my dog hurt him! You can file a case in small claims court, and even if you don't win, you have put her on the spot and caused her to come to court to defend herself.

I had to do that with a groomer who fractured one of my dog's elbows while there. She claimed she had no idea how it happened but my vet told me otherwise. I did not win, because judge said no video cameras and no way to know for sure what happened, although he agreeed that something DID happen, but he could not prove negligence and he even said while he agreed with me that there was nothing "in the law itself" that would turn the case in my favor.

I'm still glad i did it....I did it for my dog because he couldn't speak for himself. It went on her file and years later other stuff happened at that groomer and her reputation went south.

Good luck, adn give your little one a hug for me!

 

[rurwin]

NB: A park over here in the UK is not a "dog park" like I have seen in <wince>Dog Whisperer</wince>. It's a multi-use space, primarily for people; there's far fewer dogs and far more space between them. One expects that dogs have 100% supervision and control and if an owner lets their dog run all over the place and has no control over it, it is definitely a cause for muttering and condemnation if not actual confrontation. (This is England, after all ;-) )

 

[exnihilo]

We have pepper spray attached to our dog's leash, just in case something tried to attack him, be it dog, skunk, chipmunk, whatever. I sometimes carry when we walk, but I'd much rather temporarily disable than put it down.

Tapa-shutup

 

[8dragon9]

as a lifelong dog owner I can't side with either the op or his boss. First, why was the dog at work? It's work... it's a place of business vape shop or not. The list of reasons why not to do it starts with customers with allergies runs a mile long and ends somewhere around the possibility of a customer getting bit or the dog running into the parking lot and getting hit by a car. The owner and op both knew the dog had "violent tendencies" seems to me two people messed up and a puppy paid for it. Now you want to bring the law in where the ultimate end might be the other dog paying. Nice........

Yes I know its been said already but this is at a grooming salon not a vape shop...

 

[8dragon9]

First of all, I am so sorry about your little buddy.....I hope he heals up and is not traumatized by this.

But next, having been a dog owner and dog trainer for 40 years, i will tell you this: you do not ever let a young pup alone with other dogs, never. (agree with other poster who said to socialize...but you don't leave them alone, you are watching, supervising, watching body language, etc.) esp. when the other dogs aren't yours in same household.

this whole idea of "socializing" dogs in dog parks, etc. is dangerous and any GOOD trainer will tell you this. A young dog is just like a young child, they need your supervision and your protection.

There is no telling WHAT happened that between these 2 dogs on that day. I have one who is a little bit sqirrelly, i.e., he's 15 years old now and we have never been able to cure him of certain um, "emotional" problems, he had a rough beginnning as a homless dog out on the streets and to this day, he NEVER goes anywhere where he is not supervised by me. I can't totally trust him because he is a *fearful* dog. Fearful dogs fear bite and do weird stuff.



On the money! It seems that this boss has a dog that does NOT have a truly neutral disposition, therefore, that dog should be crated when around other dogs. Or left home. !!!!!!

That said, I gave up a long time ago on the idea that most people would be *responsible* dog owners, so I am just very careful where I take my dogs, etc.

Just remember that in a pack, their leader protects them.

Legally, yes, I would file a report. Because these things are good to have on file, should the owner's dog attack other dogs. That she was not generous enough to offer financial support for your dog's vet bills tells me she is not even a dog lover. I would be falling all over myself to help your pup had my dog hurt him! You can file a case in small claims court, and even if you don't win, you have put her on the spot and caused her to come to court to defend herself.

I had to do that with a groomer who fractured one of my dog's elbows while there. She claimed she had no idea how it happened but my vet told me otherwise. I did not win, because judge said no video cameras and no way to know for sure what happened, although he agreeed that something DID happen, but he could not prove negligence and he even said while he agreed with me that there was nothing "in the law itself" that would turn the case in my favor.

I'm still glad i did it....I did it for my dog because he couldn't speak for himself. It went on her file and years later other stuff happened at that groomer and her reputation went south.

Good luck, adn give your little one a hug for me!

She was not left alone with the dog, she is always supervised around large dogs. My wife was not made aware the owner (who had been supervising everyone) had walked out of the shop while she had her head buried cleaning out the wash area.

 

[Ozwald]

Can't really add anything that hasn't been said, so just popping in to offer my condolences on a bad situation & some good juju for the outcome.

 

[8dragon9]

**Update** As of right now it seems the owner has decided that she should try to go through insurance, hopefully that will resolve the financial aspect. The ACO is investigating the case, along with some of her business practices which hopefully resolves the issue with other customers dogs and will prevent future encounters like ours. Most importantly our little girl has found her voice again and has been talking/howling/barking up a storm lately, is eating with Gusto again (might have to do with the obnoxiously expensive wet food she is on now) and her wounds are healing very nicely, no more drainage from the exterior of her muzzle, the main concern right now is the broken bone in her upper jaw. She is suppose to see a specialist soon for further x-rays and to make a determination on whether she should undergo a small surgery, or be left to heal on her own. Hopefully the insurance company does what they should so we can take her to this specialist.

 

[8dragon9]

I'm still contemplating siccing the Iguana on the wifes old boss lol.

 

[jamesf8250]

Okay, Im going to "air out " an opinion that I have regarding aggressive dogs. Im sure I will get torn a new one, but I dont care. This is the internet and I can just not look at this thread, but at least this might help someone with some logic and responsibility with their beloved pet.

So, you have a dog, that loves you, is gentle with you, shows NO aggression towards you or your little ones...... BUT he is not exactly way with strangers or other dogs. We all hear about people getting bit by hundreds of loving pets. I know I have been attacked and injured by little dogs, but the larger ones that act that way......

We know if our pets have aggressive tenancies, yes we do....... SOme of us ignore it. Some try behavior training etc... but either it did not work or we got lazy.. So if I know my dog gets snappy or nervous around dogs or little kids or cats etc, what is wrong with a simple muzzle?

Many dog owners loose their mind when muzzles are even mentioned. Its not perfect, but at least if you love your dog why not? It will save you having your dog taken away or harming someone else s beloved pet or child or person? Its a simple and rather low cost solution to what can potentially be a horrible thing. Even the kindest most gentle dog can get frightened or teased by child or adult into biting. It would be devastating to me to lose my dog because someone left an unattended child to grab or poke my dog into biting or some adult jerk who hurt my dog and then when it defends itself bites and the person tells the judge he did nothing and the person is there with stitches all over.....

So there is my rant....... Its really something to think about, I as a larger dog lover would never take my dog for a walk in populated areas without a muzzle.

How dare you say muzzle?! Jk.
I have a German shepherd who has absolutely no aggressive tendencies towards humans but is mildly dog aggressive. If she is going to be around dogs i keep her on a tight leash. If she makes a move on another dog, muzzle comes out. I've lost a dog to an aggressive dog/irresponsible owner. I couldn't do that to someone else. A muzzle is uncomfortable, yes. But if she attacks another dog and severely injures or kills it, i would be forced to put her down. IMO a little uncomfortablility is well worth it.






"I see where you're going with that. I don't like it." —Dierk, geistmage

 

[8dragon9]

How dare you say muzzle?! Jk.
I have a German shepherd who has absolutely no aggressive tendencies towards humans but is mildly dog aggressive. If she is going to be around dogs i keep her on a tight leash. If she makes a move on another dog, muzzle comes out. I've lost a dog to an aggressive dog/irresponsible owner. I couldn't do that to someone else. A muzzle is uncomfortable, yes. But if she attacks another dog and severely injures or kills it, i would be forced to put her down. IMO a little uncomfortablility is well worth it.






"I see where you're going with that. I don't like it." —Dierk, geistmage

I agree here, a lot of owners think a muzzle is cruel, however just like with leash training a dog gets used to it, and they in all reality are not that uncomfortable. I have been around a lot of dogs that require a muzzle and they act no different attitude/demeanor wise than with it off. Its a whole lot better than winding up in a situation that may require your dog to be put down you know. Dogs are just like reptiles in the sense that they are too easy to get ahold of. It is so easy for irresponsible people to become dog owners.

 

[AngelicTomPetty]

If the wife works there, and loves her job, I'd let it go as messed up as it seems. It will only cause troubles in the workplace for your wife. Yeah, you might get some sort of compensation but her boss will forever be sour towards her in the future. Imagine how awkward that will be at any future Christmas Parties "Hey Darling remember that time you and your husband SUED me!!!, yeahhh see you monday merry christmas".

Me and my dog used to get attacked once a week on our walks by a roaming lab in my neighborhood whos owners were too thick to figure out how to keep her at home. I told him that the next time his lab approached us I am going to gut it with a steak knife and sacrifice each one of its major organs to some sort of shady research lab that develops those dodgy cosmetic products that possibly cause 15 types of cancers.

Needless to say next week we were attacked again and I never made good on my threat, we just take a different route now.

 

[8dragon9]

If the wife works there, and loves her job, I'd let it go as messed up as it seems. It will only cause troubles in the workplace for your wife. Yeah, you might get some sort of compensation but her boss will forever be sour towards her in the future. Imagine how awkward that will be at any future Christmas Parties "Hey Darling remember that time you and your husband SUED me!!!, yeahhh see you monday merry christmas".

Me and my dog used to get attacked once a week on our walks by a roaming lab in my neighborhood whos owners were too thick to figure out how to keep her at home. I told him that the next time his lab approached us I am going to gut it with a steak knife and sacrifice each one of its major organs to some sort of shady research lab that develops those dodgy cosmetic products that possibly cause 15 types of cancers.

Needless to say next week we were attacked again and I never made good on my threat, we just take a different route now.

My wife quit the day after the attack, and is working for a different shop so no awkwardness. Neither of us are passive individuals and my wife cares about the animals, and about her customers dogs, she doesnt want someone elses dog being attacked. To be frank if I was in your situation with that kind of an owner I simply would have placed a call to an ACO and been done with it. I am not in any way shape or form the roll over and take it type, especially when it comes to my family or property.

 

[8dragon9]

Athena has healed and is doing very well at this point. Back on solid foods, allowed to have her toys back etc.