I was almost bitten by a dog a work today. It was really my fault because I'm a flake and the dog was being a dog.
When I knocked at the door the dog went snakey. The owner put the dog on the couch where it sat with it's ears back, obviously afraid, and barking it's face off. Mistake #1 - I should have asked the owner to restrain the dog or put it in another room. I thought about it but let it go.
Last year we had a session on dog safety for our line of work. The dog handler spoke about 2 types of angry dogs - the agressive dog that wants to bite you and stands it ground and the dog that bites because you are scaring it and it feels it has no choice. The dog handler also told us how to deal with each type of animal. This dog was a classic example of the scared dog. I kept looking at the dog just to know where it was. Each time I looked at the dog it barked, pinned it's ears back, and snarled. Mistake #2 - I should have asked the owner to restrain the dog or put it in another room (see a pattern here?).
Anyway, the dog calms down because I'm not looking at it and I forget about it. In case you're counting that is mistake #3 - I forgot about the scared snarling dog. I go about the task I'm there for, thank the owner, gather my things, and stand to leave. I didn't look for the dog before I stood up. I start for the door and the dog lunges for me. The owner grabs the dog but the dog was so close to me that she was touching both the dog and I. Oye.
Do you know the big thing the dog handler told us? NEVER turn your back on the dog. Turn my back? Hell, I forgot it was even there.
That was my first visit was the day and of 2007. It was a good wake up call for me. I felt bad for the dog. The dog was just going on instinct and the lady did say at the beginning that the dog had been abused by a previous owner. Mistake #4 - I should have asked the owner to restrain the abused dog or put it in another room. This incident was truely my fault. I wasn't paying attention and I went against by better judgement. I won't make that mistake again.
9 comments:
I don't know if your intentions was for me to read this and laugh or not but ummmmm I laughed at your dumb expense LOL!
You must have been terrified!! For what it's worth - a responsible dog owner who is aware of the dogs history/behavior patterns should have put the dog in another room without you having to request it. Not your fault at all!! Lucy weighs almost 110lbs! She's a brute who could totally nock someone over in a heart beat. Not cuz she's mean, she's just big and she gets excited! As such, when folks come over, she gets a huge bone to chew on and sits on her leash for a minute until she calms down. If she doesn't - she goes in the kennel. For her safety as well as that of my guest. It's what responsible pet owners do! Cheers to you for accepting responsibility for it - but I don't think it's yours to take. Just my thought and God knows I've been voicing those all over the place today;) Quick question...was it a big scary dog or more of a "rat on a rope" Paris Hilton style pretend-a-dog?? Not that it matters - I'm just looking for a visual;)
btw...how come I'm dead last in your links???
OMG...I have to say I'm with nick...only cause you're a good story teller..I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time...
M&S - cause you post the least..or that other reason...
I don't post the least!!!!! You're thinkin of that other Martha gurl!!! LOL Hey - it's that other reason...isn't it!!??
The owner should definitely have put the dog in another room. I ALWAYS put the dogs behind the gate in the hall when someone they do not know comes over. Specially men. Lukey is VERY aggressive towards men and people(other than her mother) who come to drop off or pick up Lauren.
I'm glad you're ok and that you have a good perspective on the situation. There are a lot of people (mainly non-dog owners) who would be completely bent out of shape.
Dogs make me nervous to begin with (thanks mom).....
I'm going to sound like a mom "you know better than that", "don't let that happen again - ok?" I said "ok?".....
You have to be careful or those big bad doggies will just goggle you right up.......
I am going to sound like a complete moron right now but I have to ask: Why is it that the people who can least afford a big, scary, crazy, eats tons of food kind of dog always have one...or two or three?
It's like when I used to work at Greco...no money = big order...or when I worked at Star Choice no money = tons of PPV movies ordered (usually big WWE events and Porn). I just don't get it.
Feed kids first then get a dog.
I am glad you're okay and please don't hate me for being an idiot and voicing my ill-educated concerns. I know that what I just said wasn't really politically correct but what can I do!
Holy Crow!! Glad you're ok, that's scary! and I agree you shouldn't have to ask the owner to put the dog in another room - people are such idiots sometimes!!!
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