Serious problem with a dog bite. HELP!
Everyone was playing outside...and I mean EVERYONE. Four boys and Four Dogs. Suddenly, Felix ATTACKED our pug Winston over what seemed like NOTHING. NOT just a scuffle, but seemed like he was trying to kill the little guy! My 13 year old, Winstons best friend, leaped on top of Felix to get him off his little dog and Felix bit his hand badly. Ferdinand was going CRAZY at Felix after we got Winston away and it seemed like he was MAD at Felix for being SO BAD! Winston has a puncture wound on his upper chest area, and one on top of his neck. I was able to stop the bleeding, and have cleaned and dressed it. I have cleaned and dressed my son's hand as well. I separated all the kids and dogs from each other, and am just SO upset. I have never EVER seen ANY of the dogs go for the throat like that. Even though Felix and Ferdinand have been working out THIER issues, it has NEVER branched out to the little dogs before. Ferdinand never hurts the other dogs...he only licks them like crazy. I have NO IDEA what happened, but I know that if we had not been home, he might have killed Winston. We are talking an 80 pound sheepdog going after a PUG. I am starting to think I will have to get rid of Felix and that is SO upsetting to ALL of us! WTH!!!!!  Even when the behaviorist calls, WHAT am I supposed to DO? Biting little dogs...children....WHAT NEXT!? This is SO not o.k. with me I am just at my wits end! I hate this. I think I may have made a terrible mistake getting a second sheepdog. Everything was so perfect until we did that. and now, we all love him so much it would be so traumatic to let him go! I am so sad.  |
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| I don't know how to help you right now, but I am sure some of the experts here will have some good advice. For now just keep everybody safe however you have to do it. I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I hope your behaviorist calls right away! |
| I'm sure the behaviorist will know what to do. In the meantime take a deep breath. My gutt feeling is that four dogs and four kids all playing was too much excitement for your sheepie. My sheepie is very prone to want to control the situation. It very well may have been that the pug was acting out against the kids....or so he thought. Sheepies tend to be overprotective around kids. It's the one area I have to keep a constant eye on. They have to be reminded that they are not allowed to correct the pack. I'm sorry for the traumatic event. Try to remember that it was likely traumatic to the errant dog as well...he's probably not to proud of himself or at the least confused  More CLEAR direction and training is needed. |
| I'm very sorry you're going through all of this. |
It turns out that my behaviorist is ON VACATION!  Felix seems SO dejected and sad....He keeps putting his paw out (the thing he does he has been corrected and wants to make up...) I feel so badly for thinking they could all handle the new hullaballoo that spring invited in the yard...clearly it was WAY too exciting. All the kids are crying that they want to keep Felix and that they think he was just too excited and freaked out with all of them running around.....They are also crying because they don't want Winston to get hurt again!! It is just a blue day here. |
emerging butterfly wrote: I feel so badly for thinking they could all handle the new hullaballoo that spring invited in the yard...clearly it was WAY too exciting. ahhhhhh, I think you've pegged exactly what the issue was. Spring does signal more outside time. He hasn't been worked with OUTSIDE since last fall. I say this while nursing a very nice bruise from Chiquita. I was just OUTSIDE with her. She got worked up, running around me and bounced up and nipped my wrist. I was upset but then remembered that OUTSIDE is not INSIDE. They have to be reminded that the rules apply out there just like they do in the house. Remember that one bad mistake does not a BAD DOG make.  I hope the kids start to feel better soon  |
| I assume your behaviorist will tell you it was too much stimulation and until your dogs are older you really need to keep things simpler. While the kids need to be told they did nothing wrong - they also need to learn to stay away from the dogs if they start to fight - no matter what!! Sometimes some dogs just don't belong in groups. |
| I'm sure it is all extremely upsetting. But before everyone jumps to conclusions, and you say you ere not out there to see what was happening...well, that's problem number one. I always suggest people be out there with their dogs AT ALL TIMES to supervise....Four dogs is ALOT of dogs to be playing freely with kids, excitement, etc and no supervision. Dogs are pack animals. Four dogs is a pack. Things can happen in a pack...Packs need their pack leader" you" there to control... Its good you called your behavior trainer. Not so good he/she is on vacation. But if I remember your earlier postings, you were thinking this trainer was not exactly what you wanted ( could have you mixed up with someone else)...Perhaps you can find a reference, through your Vet or friends, for another trainer and call them... I would limt the numer of dogs playing, be watchful of the kids playing and the excitemnt around the two dogs, take a deep breath and calmly wait for the trainer or a new one to contact you. |
Ashley wrote: I'm sure it is all extremely upsetting. But before everyone jumps to conclusions, and you say you ere not out there to see what was happening...well, that's problem number one. I always suggest people be out there with their dogs AT ALL TIMES to supervise....Four dogs is ALOT of dogs to be playing freely with kids, excitement, etc and no supervision. Dogs are pack animals. Four dogs is a pack. Things can happen in a pack...Packs need their pack leader" you" there to control... Its good you called your behavior trainer. Not so good he/she is on vacation. But if I remember your earlier postings, you were thinking this trainer was not exactly what you wanted ( could have you mixed up with someone else)...Perhaps you can find a reference, through your Vet or friends, for another trainer and call them... I would limt the numer of dogs playing, be watchful of the kids playing and the excitemnt around the two dogs, take a deep breath and calmly wait for the trainer or a new one to contact you. Ditto to all the above, also if you have only had felix for a little while, get him vet checked. Make sure no medical problems firstly and also seeing OK and hearing OK and would also pay you to have a thyroid check as well to rule all these out firstly if you have not had him for long. Secondly a good trainer is needed and also no outside with 4 dogs and 4 kids they have there time outside under your supervision in pairs with the kids too Size them up in pairs, so if smaller breeds those two outside for a romp with you and the kids. Larger two then there turn under full supervision at the moment. Hopefully just a one off situation but at the moment till you can rule out medical or engage a trainer he looses his privledge to play outside with all the dogs and kids only outside to play under your strict supervision. You have to put the children first if anything detrimental happened at the moment you would never forgive yourself. So until then after a medical check and also a temperatment evaluation your kids come first. Keeping fingers crossed it's not too bad and your family gets to keep felix, if it does not work out then rescue to re-house him in an appropriate enviroment, some dogs are loners and dont thrive in a pack situation, so if it ends up being this dont feel bad for having to give him up. Sheepie hugs. |
| I agree. I shouldn't have had them all out there at the same time. In all honesty, I just didn't even THINK, which is MY fault. In general, the kids know never to get into a dog fight, but my 13 year old felt his dog was going to be killed, and leaped in to save his pug. We have discussed using a hose were it to ever happen again. So, new rules.... more outside training. more training period. More control over who is where and when. No kids and big dogs at the same time. No big dogs and little dogs at the same time. Felix has been checked by the vet, and she found him to be delightful,(Ferdinand too....neither dog is "aggressive" usually....not with other dogs, people, etc) but the Thyroid check is a good idea, so that will be next. Pray. Also....I have to remember that these ARE puppies. They are SO big I forget that, and I KNOW that puppies bite, and nip etc....they are pups...and not bad dogs. They are GREAT dogs.....I put them under too much excitement, and it was a problem....and totally MY fault.  Thanks everyone...... |
| Sometimes, in this situation, with all the dogs and all the kids, its too stimulating to a pup. They get super excited, which in turn can turn into a bit of agression with all the dogs and kids and excitement. I know I only have the two dogs. Sometimes, my male gets a bit too over stimulated and when I see that, I call them to me and make them rest to lower the excitement level. Then they can go and play some more but I am always out there, atching and if things get even slightly out of hand, I call them back to me and let them "rest it out"... We forget sometimes that dogs are in fact dogs. They ahve instincts, they have drives they can play hard... THey are NOT human as much as we try to make them that way. Sometimes, the "animal" instinct overcomes them Which is why they NEED you there to keep them in check...If that becomes necessary. And sometimes what we as humans view as fighting, in dog play its normal. Your trainer/behaviorist should be able to teach you the difference in dog body language so you can learn the difference between the two. A water hose is handy, as is a water gun, a whistel, something that will get their attention away from fighting...NEVER EVER put your hand in to break up what you view as a fight. You will get bit...Teach the kids NOT to EVER attempt to get between the dogs if they view them as fighting...Spraying with the water hose is good... Thryoid check is always good. And good idea to keep little dogs playing seperately from big dogs playing. Even if the big dogs are puppies! Ha ha... And , yes, training is always good! Keep us posted! Diane |
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