Well, I had a pretty rough day at work today.
I was putting water in all of the rooms so we could start walking and putting the dogs away for the night. I was switching out the water in this one dogs room. He was an intact chocolate lab (didn't look lab at all - he had a very mastiff looking muzzle and he was huge). As I opened up the kennel, he bolted out and I grabbed ahold of his collar. As I tried to put him back in, he had a fit and started snarling trying to go after my hands and arms. My first instinct was to keep him from biting me, so I kept my hands on his collar (he wasn't able to reach them) and my adrenaline had me force him to the floor so he didn't have any leverage. As he was snarling at me, he was clawing the stink out of my arms and trying to push my hands off. He settled for a minute, I yelled for the manager, and the minute I moved my hands at all, he started again so I kept my grip. I stood there doing this off and on for about 10 minutes. I finally yelled "Can somebody please come help" (the other two girls there were so dumb - I know they could hear me yelling and neither of them did anything), and the trainer (who was in the next room from the day care office - the room connects to the kennels) finally came out and said "Who's yelling?" I said "I am - I'm trying to get him into his kennel and he tried attacking me" so he went to get a leash and the manager finally came out and said "omg are you okay? I couldn't hear you". I said "Yeah I'm fine, just a little spooked." She asked if I wanted to take a break. I said no. I didn't want to - I wanted to keep busy. They tried to get him in with the leash, and he slipped out of his collar. So they tried with their slip leashes, and she could see in his face that he was going to bite so they got some treats to coax him in.
The manager told me if I ever get into that situation again, to just let the dog go, but I told her the only reason I didn't was because I was afraid he'd go after me once I let go (I had the upperhand thank goodness). So she understood, and then they told me to just scream as loud as I can next time. I said "I did - but no one was coming"
SO, I look so beat up on my arms. It didn't discourage me at all. After all, I'm working in a job where dogs aren't all trained to be angels, and a lot of them are stressed and deal with situations much different than others would. I was just shook up and a little tired. There's one other dog there named Stormy (GSD or Belgian Mal mix) who bites/nips when he gets excited or someone tries to put him in his cage. The girl working there today got bit on her arm and on her toung (not horribly though) trying to get him to settle down. So the manager had to get the trainer to get him in. IMO, that dog should not be in a family - it would be a great dog for a K9 in the police or something. He has a very high drive.
Here's what my arms look like. My right arm is the worst. It's going to be very bruised. I'm goingt o be wearing long sleeve shirts to school, just to save me the hassle of having my teachers get worried and question if someone is beating me.
Keep in mind this was only the dogs claws - had he bit me, I have a feeling I wouldn't be sitting her typing right now.
(Don't mind my messy room LOL I just came back from a weekend at my boyfriends)
My left arm - just a few scratches.
He also managed to get my leg. I didn't notice until I came home to take a shower (had pants on).
I also have some bruises on my shins.
Of all dog breeds - a lab - I would never have thought. Atleast at goes to show you it doesn't necessarily depend on the breed of dog that makes them who they are. Lack of training, breeding, raising, etc can cause a dog to be "not so nice". And it also goes to show you what stress (if it plays a role) can make a dog act like.
Man I need a vacation and some well deserved sleep. LOL