My dog has just bitten someone! Please advise

Good to hear you had a positive visit to your vet.

These behaviourists don't come cheap do they? But I hope you get the support you need for your lovely girl

 

Fingers crossed.

 

Thank you everyone xx

 

I still have dog and cat vaccination record books lurking in the back of the ‘dog cupboard’...

It’s good to see that you had a successful visit to the vet, particularly to one that Shiko trusts. Do keep us posted about the sessions with the behaviourist. Good luck.

 

I think it's very hopeful that (I assume) you've not heard anything yet from the incident.

You know, sometimes these things, awful as they are at the time, are turning points for us, and life with our dogs only gets better afterwards, as we strive for deeper understanding. I think you're doing wonderfully. It's hard. I know how hard it is to not have a "normal" Labrador. But you're doing the best you can, it's so obvious to everyone how much you love your dog and would do anything to make it better for her. I'm not saying you'll ever be glad this happened because that's just insane, but from reading your posts, I'm sure that it will bring you closer to your dog because you want to fix it.

Kudos to you.

 

I completely agree with your post and I already feel closer to her despite nothing significantly is in stonevas yet. It did bother me that we didn’t have a ‘normal’ Labrador but I guess that’s what makes her so special. I look at Luna who is 9 months and already I can see a huge difference in their temperaments. Luna is just perfect in every way, well as far puppy can be perfect! She’s obedient, recall amazing, lives to learn and is ridiculously friendly but knows the boundaries too. Despite Shiko not being a ‘normal’ lab, she’s our lab, our special lab xx

 

This. Exactly.

 

Only just caught up with this, just wanted to send support. What a terribly upsetting and worrying time for you. However, well done for doing all the right things so promptly. I always feel that we can all misjudge situations at times, particularly if it's a situation that we have had no experience of, but this isn't what really matters. What does really matter is how we learn from this and what we do to prevent it happening again. You get absolutely top marks in this, so congratulations, and of course she's your own sweet and special lab.

 

These kind of things do bring us closer and you are doing amazing to put all of this place so quickly.

 

I couldn't agree more. all the very best.

 

At almost week on, how are you feeling yourself about it Tammy?

 

I have reflected on last weekend greatly and despite it happening and there’s nothing that will take it back it’s made us realise that it’s never too late to get the right training for our best friends. It’s also made me realise how this has been such a massive learning experience for us and Shiko and that despite our girl being good most of the time all dogs will snap when they are pushed out of their comfort zone. This is something we’ll never forget and that we’ll always need to think of how Shiko will respond in any given situation x

 

How are things going for you both now? I hope all is well with you both.

 

Hello
Thank you for asking. Shiko is still waiting to be seen by the behaviourist. We should have been seen this Tuesday just gone but the behaviourist wants to see our other dog too and alas she has just started her 1st season. So we are going on the 20th August. Didn’t really want to wait this long but needs must.
Shiko herself has been a mixed bag. Sometimes brilliant when we thought she’d be out of sorts and then out of sorts when she usually have been okay.
The weather has been ridiculously hot though and she hasn’t coped well despite our adjustments. I also broke my finger in April and have only gone back to walking them. Sine the weather has cooled slightly and since I have started to walk my girls again, she does seem brighter. Let’s just hope the behaviourist can shed some light and improve things for her and help us help her better x

 

Just take one day at a time. I am sure you will sort things out for her. Keep in touch with us and let us know how you both fair.
There is always someone here for you.

 

Thanks Cath xx

 

I only just read this thread and this is my biggest worry with my boy. He's gotten a lot better with people, and generally only barks at them, but with his declining eyesight he can bark at the slightest thing. Last month a little girl ran up behind him and scared him because he didnt see her and barked at her. He wears a headcollar in public on a short lead for more control. But still, I worry this wont be enough.

 

X
We lost our 14 year old black Lab in May last year, Sadie, her hearing was going and she barked at things in the distance that she couldn’t see properly, her bark was menacing and scared us if we weren’t expecting it. We just gave her constant reassurance but at the same time we needed eyes in the back of our head. Sadie didn’t have a vicious bone in her body so we weren’t particularly concerned about her.

However Shiko is a completely different kettle of fish, and, as mentioned above, we can’t just expect normal jo public to respond the way would do ourselves.

Just keep your eye on him, praise him when deserved and distract him when he’s not behaving as we’d like. Xxx

 

Yes, as I said he has gotten a lot better since he was a puppy and now will accept cuddles from some strangers even if he does bark at them. I have learnt a lot to recognise the different tones of bark (a low, deep bark is generally a warning to leave him alone. A high pitched bark is excitement. And a bark that almost sounds like howling is a happy bark (he does this bark to our neighbors who he's known since he was a puppy and regularly seeks ciffles from them ).)