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Post by amyjo on Feb 17, 2004 22:31:52 GMT -5
I now have six stitches in my forearm from a dog bite I am SOOOOO upset with myself. My neighbor was teaching me to make home made guacamole and I took Kylie with me - they have two dogs and I dogsit them in my home we take our dogs and their dogs out on walks together and they all get along really well. Well the neighbor's male is a boxer/lab looking mix but we really don't know what he is - he was a little rambunctious so he was on his leash in a down and his mommy had his leash. He exploded (I know lindaw used to say this but I don't really know a better word)out of his down - pulled the leash out of her hand and went for Kylie - I reacted with out thinking and moved in front of her and the next thing I know I am missing two huge chunks out of my arm. It was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen - I don't think you are supposed to see that deep inside your own skin All I have to say is my handling skills and my ability to read situations are shaken to the core. My baby is fine - I don't think she even knows what happened.
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Post by Brooke on Feb 17, 2004 23:46:27 GMT -5
you poor thing! What a day! I'm lucky enough to not have been bitten yet although I am still young. I know it comes with the territory of working with dogs....don't get yourself too worked up. It happens to everyone at some point and time.
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Post by Laura on Feb 18, 2004 0:02:22 GMT -5
Jeez Amy, this really ain't your day . You poor thing! Don't, for even one minute, doubt yourself, what you did was purely instinct to protect Kylie, and if you had to do it all over again, I bet you would. And while that bite is gross and probably hurts like hell right about now, it will heal fairly quickly, and the same couldn't be said for Kylie if she was attacked. It would have done more than physical damage, mentally, all that hard work you did socializing her would in all likelyhood be shot to hell . I am concerned about your neighbors dog tho, what caused such a radical flareup in a dog that is normally well behaved? And I'm also concerned that they stitched you up, were they flesh tears or deep punctures? Punctures shouldn't be sutured, they tend to get infected if stitched.
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Post by Ioana on Feb 18, 2004 1:03:57 GMT -5
What a noble thing you did, Amy Jo. I can picture how quickly everything happened - it is admirable you acted this way. I hope your wounds will cure as quickly and painlessesly as possible. As Laura has mentioned I am worried about that doggie's behaving this way. I am sure you have more answers than me to that one though Be well soon
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Post by Aussienot on Feb 18, 2004 3:31:34 GMT -5
Wow, you do have good reflexes, and Kylie owes you big time. I'd stay away from her for a while if it were me Sorry about your arm.
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Post by sibemom on Feb 18, 2004 5:48:51 GMT -5
Oh you poor thing I havent been bit to the point of stiches yet but it can freak you for awhile. I am glad you were a good mom and saved your baby. I would question too why this dog out of the blue just decided to attack Laura is absolutly right about puncture wounds, so watch it closely so you dont get an infection. You had one heck of a day.
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Post by Richard on Feb 18, 2004 7:32:47 GMT -5
You did exactly what I or any of us here would of done to protect our dogs.....I'm sorry you ended up with the stitches...how far where the dogs apart when the male went to attack Kylie?
You noted he was a little rambunctious, is this out of character for him? Is he normally relaxed...obviously something tweaked him too....I know we could "Monday morning quarterback" this to death but it just shows that stuff like this can happen anytime (like doors flying open on landrovers)....amyjo, you reacted with the door flying open and this event with timing and precision (although next time, toss the guacamole at the dog first instead of your arm!!.)
You are an awesome dog hander....
-Richard
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Post by amyjo on Feb 18, 2004 8:04:05 GMT -5
About the stitches - the 2 wounds on my arm are like punctures and tears ( I pulled my arm away from him). When I say gaping I am not kidding - The doc said that he stitched them loosley for the very reason you have both mentioned. He said had it been a normal cut it would have been twice the stitches. About the dog - I have no clue - but I didn't sleep a wink... I am afraid they are putting him to sleep today..you guys are all right I would do it over again but I am really freaked because I totally didn't see it coming. No growling no hackles no nothing just an explosion and a few minutes before that they were laying down together and he was licking her ass
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Post by amyjo on Feb 18, 2004 8:13:23 GMT -5
I forgot to mention - not only are we friends and mutual dog sitters but we also train together practicing downs and heels and such using each other's dogs as distraction. I have the cutest pic somewhere of all 4 dogs laying on top of a picnic table
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Post by Dobemom on Feb 18, 2004 8:19:15 GMT -5
Damn Amy! Watta day! Hope your arm heals quickly and well! Has the offending dog ever been tested for thyroid problems? That's how Kacy used to act (thought not as violent) before she started on her meds. Just a thought and might save his/her (sorry, didn't catch the gender) life. She would be fine, explode, then fine.
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Post by Nicole on Feb 18, 2004 9:39:49 GMT -5
Wow Amyjo. I am so sorry you were bitten. I hope you heel soon. If there is ever a next time (and I hope there isn't) put pressure with your arm towards the rear of the dogs mouth to force it to open. Pulling is the worst thing to do because then you can tear muscles, tendons etc. I know it is hard to think of things like that when you are in a panic. I did the same thing once. I instinctively jumped between a leashed Reign and a loose growling smaller dog. I didn't get bit but it wasn't a smart thing to do. It is instinct though to protect. So don't put your handling skills down. It may have been that these dogs had worked out their pack order with Kylie below this dog. And this dog was being forced to be in a submissive position on it own territory while a lower ranking guest frolicked around. He may have been asserting his pack place. This is how many attacks happen, no warning. Dogs warn when they aren't sure they want to attack...when they would rather have the behavior stop. But when they know they want to attack, it is as fast as lightening..no warning at all. Or a warning that we can't see. This is aggression. Perhaps his frustration level was that high. I hope you feel better soon.
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Post by amyjo on Feb 18, 2004 12:31:52 GMT -5
Nicki - thanks for the advise about not pulling ;D He actually wasn't locked on though - there was no time to make any kind of decision - I THINK my arm was moving forward toward Kylie and his mom was pulling back on the leash.. (I think).
Thank you also for the behavioral assesment. I think you are right on. My inability to forsee that situation could have been a problem is part of why I am so shaken. Kylie is very submissive to him and always has been. He was put in a down by his owner just for being crazy in the house - not for anything bad or mean to K. I never dreamed he would lash out like that.
They have only had the dog six months (3 years old from a no-kill rescue) and I do not believe they are very consistent when they are not doing "formal" training with him.
One of the owners wants to put the dog down ( 9 on a scale of 1-10)- the other wants get a good trainer and work with him before making that decision. The only thing I am doing at this point is trying to steer them towards the right kind of trainer.
Dobemom - I will also reccomend the thyroid test too...thank you. And everyone else thanks also for your concern and kinds words.
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Post by Willow on Feb 18, 2004 13:24:40 GMT -5
How awful, Amyjo!!! I don't have anything to add, except to say that Nicki gave a very good assessment of the problem behind the bite and that I 2nd what was said in all the other posts.
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Post by amyjo on Feb 19, 2004 14:36:22 GMT -5
Update...the dog is still in his crate and is out for feedings/potty and obedience. He is being petted and loved on but only for ob compliance. The owners say they have noticed more focus and attentiveness during his short outings.
They spoke to their vet who reccommended a behaviorist "Traci Shreyer". I googled her and have read mention of her on several sites but haven't really found out much about her philosophy. Does anybody have any knowlege of her work?
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Post by Laura on Feb 19, 2004 15:38:51 GMT -5
Amyjo, aren't you guys in Ohio? How about contacting Ohio State Veterinarian College, see if they have a behavioral department?
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