How wrong has this gone? 😕

[SaddlePsych'D]

Short version - dog has just bitten my OH because he was trying to take a new toy from her. I didn't see it but he has a small scrape on his finger, some bleeding just at skin level.

Longer version - I am so so pissed off about the number of times I have told OH not to chase the dog for things she has hold of. This hasn't been an issue for a long time because the toys she has are fun to her but they have lost some value so she isn't possessive. When she pinches the odd sock it's been in play to get attention, and they are retrieved without drama. I saw him in the garden putting gloves on and then I ran to the back door with a loud clanging bowl of kibble. Dog came over, ball retrieved. No drama.

I'm also cross that the ball was given by a family member before we'd had a chance to see it, as it was smaller than a standard tennis ball which OH was worried too small for a Greyhound hence trying to get it back. We're staying with family and one of the things we are careful about is not letting the dog in the garden when the garage door is open because it opens the garden up to the main road at the front of the house. So OH had also panicked because this person without warning opened the door to the garden and lobbed the ball out, with the garage open and now a dog more inclined to run off with her fun new thing.

And finally, I could cry with sheer frustration that I can't take time to have a shower and trust that OH will supervise our dog sufficiently to the extent she's been put in a situation to bite.

Perhaps this is not as big a problem as it feels to me, I am really upset we've failed her big time. How badly have we messed up here?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If you know that it was entirely the fault of OH/relatives, I would just put it down to experience. OH now knows why he shouldn't try to remove high value items from her, without swapping. It doesn't mean that she is any more likely to bite then she was before.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Duplicate

 

[Sandstone1]

Human error, not dogs fault. Hopefully the human learns from it.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Human error, not dogs fault. Hopefully the human learns from it.

100%

It could have been avoided so easily. I always feel like I'm being uptight about how the dog is looked after but this is exactly why I feel I have to be.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Dogs ball… OHs fault… sorry OH

 

[The Xmas Furry]

100%

It could have been avoided so easily. I always feel like I'm being uptight about how the dog is looked after but this is exactly why I feel I have to be.

Yes, but we have all had the could have and would have situations, I defy anyone to say otherwise.
Slap OH, chalk it up xx

 

[CorvusCorax]

Not the dog's fault. Honestly, if I had a quid for every time I'd been bitten for sticking my hand where I shouldn't have done without thinking. I'd have quite a few quid and much nicer hands.

Try not to stress it and hope OH learns his lesson.

 

[some show]

Sorry it's a stressful time for you, it must be difficult having a dog with a partner who isn't as careful as you are!

I've had a couple of 'human fails' with my greyhound over 7 years, e.g. where I tried to slide a towel under his head after he'd had a tooth out and was bleeding on the beige carpet (duh, me, obviously he didn't want me near his gob!) and once where I was innocently trying to make his blanket more comfortable for him and he must've thought I was trying to steal it He's not great at growling before snapping so sometimes not much warning, but it's only ever been a snap. Sounds like Ivy had good bite inhibition with your husband too and just caught him. I hope your husband doesn't take it personally x

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I don't know, no matter how high value something is my dogs WILL leave it. They have a command to do so, and follow that command. On the odd chance I've ever had to go into their mouths and inspect I've not been bitten.

While I let them have their things and spaces, they also know that what I say or do, goes. It's also very important that my dogs let me take things from them or mess around in their mouths.

I guess my view is different. I don't care if it's the most exciting thing in the world. If I tell you to drop or leave it, you do. It can be a matter of safety. I've not had my dogs snap at me.

So maybe work on installing a good leave or drop it command if you haven't? And insist that OH uses that? I don't know, so people are a bit clueless around animals, and it's hard to help them! Or their level of alertness is rather low.

There were times when I was a bit nervous leaving OH to watch the puppy or be in charge of her, especially during house breaking time, but it ended up being alright. My level of alertness toward her was/is higher and more timely, and I can also multitask/divide my attention better so in some ways I understand the frustrating and exhaustion.

 

[some show]

@CanteringCarrot Are yours dogs you've had from puppies, though? I think it's more difficult to do this with an adult rescue dog, especially if they haven't had much of high value in their lives before (this goes for a lot of greyhounds, e.g. mine had to sleep on a concrete floor so bedding is important to him!). He's fine about me looking in his mouth and will swap things for other things, but he wouldn't leave e.g. a bone without something extremely good value to swap! No way I would take it from his mouth.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

@CanteringCarrot Are yours dogs you've had from puppies, though? I think it's more difficult to do this with an adult rescue dog, especially if they haven't had much of high value in their lives before (this goes for a lot of greyhounds, e.g. mine had to sleep on a concrete floor so bedding is important to him!). He's fine about me looking in his mouth and will swap things for other things, but he wouldn't leave e.g. a bone without something extremely good value to swap! No way I would take it from his mouth.

The current 2 are, yes. I'm not a total stranger to the world of adult rescue dogs though. There are additional or other challenges that come with that, and forging the relationship and training can differ from a dog that you've had from a pup.

It can be more difficult with an older dog that came from another way of life, and you do have to adapt your training and ideas to some extent.

But there's also people (generally speaking) who are always looking to come up with some excuse for their dogs behavior(s). You don't need to be harsh or heavy handed, but you also can't be overly soft and sympathetic. Finding the balance, having the knowledge, and taking the time(!) isn't always easy! There are added challenges associated with breed, upbringing, previous situations, etc.

 

[planete]

It sounds as if your OH felt the too small ball needed to be retrieved quickly because of the possibility it might be swallowed and perhaps charged to the rescue which provoked a fearful reaction from your dog. It is difficult to remain slow and controlled if you are not a very clued up dog person in those circumstances. I am sure he will have learnt from the experience. Most people have near misses of that kind. Human error and freak circumstances can combine unpleasantly at times unfortunately.

We had the most awful heart stopping moment in a car park in Salisbury once with our newly acquired greyhound rescue bitch. We were in the dark underground section which was reached by a ramp from the main road. We opened the boot to bring the dog out and as the lid went up she sprang out as if from a racing trap and disappeared up the curving ramp towards the busy main road. By a miracle she must have realised she was not actually in a race and turned back when she saw the road. She became very reliable at waiting to be taken out but this first time was a real frightener for new owners.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I work with loads of different other peoples' dogs and some are better than others. And genetics are a thing too, my father and daughter combo are genetically very high food and prey drive and high possession. It's just the way they are. Generally they are OK and I can put my hand on something and release it, but like I say, sometimes mistakes happen if I've acted too quickly without thinking and I tend to use objects that are big enough to put a hand on as if there's a clampdown it's trickier and I sometimes have to use a slip line. With the male, good luck to whoever thinks they could have trained him/taught him X, Y or Z, as many better people than me tried and ran away screaming/crying. I thought I knew a lot until I got him . But I know what the territory is because I specifically pick dogs from these lines because I like the other stuff they bring, there's up and downsides to everything.

I don't know if 'I can do this with my, dog, so everyone should be able to' is particularly useful in cases like this where there are so many variables.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Sorry it's a stressful time for you, it must be difficult having a dog with a partner who isn't as careful as you are!

I've had a couple of 'human fails' with my greyhound over 7 years, e.g. where I tried to slide a towel under his head after he'd had a tooth out and was bleeding on the beige carpet (duh, me, obviously he didn't want me near his gob!) and once where I was innocently trying to make his blanket more comfortable for him and he must've thought I was trying to steal it He's not great at growling before snapping so sometimes not much warning, but it's only ever been a snap. Sounds like Ivy had good bite inhibition with your husband too and just caught him. I hope your husband doesn't take it personally x

Yep she absolutely would have warned him beforehand! Possibly she didn't even intend to make contact and just caught him with a warning snap.

I do agree with you @CanteringCarrot, though @some show has summarised some of the challenges which have been our experience too (i.e., high enough value trades).

One of the other things we have found tricky to teach a solid 'drop' is that unless she reeeeally wants something, she won't pick it up in the first place for us to ask for the drop. In fact one of the things I have been teaching her is to pick up her lower value toys, though she doesn't really hold on to them yet! Her 'leave' is improving a lot but of course that's different to letting go of something she already has.

I have calmed down a lot now and do see OH panicked, partly about the ball being too small and partly fear of her getting out. I too have had an emergency situation where I have had to hold her mouth open and point her face down to shake out a small bone she picked up off the street, though she hadn't growled at me in that scenario and was on lead so no chase involved.

We brush her teeth most days which she isn't keen on but tolerates for the treats. She isn't at all phased by hands near or on her food bowl.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I don't know if 'I can do this with my, dog, so everyone should be able to' is particularly useful in cases like this where there are so many variables.

Yep!

If anyone read my posts like that, it was not my intention!

Yep she absolutely would have warned him beforehand! Possibly she didn't even intend to make contact and just caught him with a warning snap.

I do agree with you @CanteringCarrot, though @some show has summarised some of the challenges which have been our experience too (i.e., high enough value trades).

One of the other things we have found tricky to teach a solid 'drop' is that unless she reeeeally wants something, she won't pick it up in the first place for us to ask for the drop. In fact one of the things I have been teaching her is to pick up her lower value toys, though she doesn't really hold on to them yet! Her 'leave' is improving a lot but of course that's different to letting go of something she already has.

I have calmed down a lot now and do see OH panicked, partly about the ball being too small and partly fear of her getting out. I too have had an emergency situation where I have had to hold her mouth open and point her face down to shake out a small bone she picked up off the street, though she hadn't growled at me in that scenario and was on lead so no chase involved.

We brush her teeth most days which she isn't keen on but tolerates for the treats. She isn't at all phased by hands near or on her food bowl.

Yeah, when panic is involved, sometimes things go out the window! We, as humans, all function differently under the influence of panic, so there's that too.

It's also possible to alarm or startle a dog and they act out and/or nip out of fear. Which I don't necessarily hold against them.

Training can also be a slow grind, especially with older dogs who have a past. One of the most important things is that the incident occurred and you're taking the time to analyze it and explore the why's and how's.

What I was conveying earlier was the importance of commands and the leave it or drop it. I'm not saying it happens overnight or that there aren't variables to appreciate. It's also just a focus point of mine because dog poising and baits are (and were a thing where I lived) and I have a piggy Lab. Then my other dog is one with insane bite force.

 

[some show]

I had a similar panic when someone gave mine one of those thin latex christmas novelty balls made to look like a christmas pudding or something, he looooved the high pitched squeak it made but because it was so squishy it disappeared into his mouth and it looked like he would swallow it, so I ran to the fridge for his primula squeezy cheese and managed to get him to spit it out for some of that. Nothing smaller/softer than a large kong 'squeakair' ball for him since then!

 

[Jenko109]

I have not read all the replies, but it really isn't that deep

Dog won't even remember that she had a munch on your partner. Partner will remember not to try and snatch new toys from the dog

 

[skinnydipper]

Short version - dog has just bitten my OH because he was trying to take a new toy from her. I didn't see it but he has a small scrape on his finger, some bleeding just at skin level.



Perhaps this is not as big a problem as it feels to me, I am really upset we've failed her big time. How badly have we messed up here?

This is not a major crisis.

If she had intended to bite she wouldn't miss.

You may have better luck with your OH, I have accepted that mine is untrainable

I would try and forget it and move on.