I was attacked today...

[Novel]

Glad you're OK, but oh my! Sounds like you handled it well, and I'm glad that your injuries aren't worse, not that you won't be hurting as it is.

[rottielover]

I volunteered at a boarding kennel, and the only time I was ever bit was from a crazy small dog (westie mix) he jumped at me and grabbe a hold of my arm....The only thing you can do is live and learn, and go back....You did the right thing.

[Shadowkins]

Oh for heaven's sakes! what an awful day for you but you're okay and that's all that matters. You did a spendid job controlling him but he sure made a mess of you arm . You just never know how a dog will react...I've been bit by a small dog ( I'm more afraid of them than the big guys LOL) and you right to just keep on trucking and not let this situation get the better of you. Way to go! Hope your day is better tomorrow.

[Winjammin]

Glad you're ok after that excitement!! Hopefully you're feeling better today

[sammy]

Ouch- that bruise on your arm looks sore So this is a boarding kennel ? For some reason I thought you were working at a dog daycare
I got bit once grabbing a foster dog by the collar. That was the only *real bite* I've ever had. Shocked the heck out of me b/c like you I didn't think anything of grabbing his collar.
Lots of things people do appear threatening to dogs. I'm also TERRIBLE for looking dogs right in the eyes. I'm just so used to my intense herding dogs who LOVE that eye contact and have been trained to be attentive and hold that eye contact. I'm forever staring at dogs eyes- especially blue, green or amber eyed dogs- then they look uncomfortable or growl and I go "oh crap , staring at a strange dogs eyes again-sorry"
It sounds like there are a fair number of reactive dogs at this place. You might want to read that book "Calming signals" by Turid Rugaas or "Canine Body Language" by Brenda Aloff. Sounds like they would come in very handy.
Hope you feel better soon
Oh- BTW- we have a fair number of scary labs around here (we have lovely ones too of course) . I think they have become popular enough for long enough that there a fair number of poorly bred, unsocialised, downright nasty labs out there. As you described many of them have huge heads and are seriously oversized or have other wierd physical differences from what a lab should look like. The same goes for Goldens. It's such a shame. It also seems like some people get a lab/golden assuming it will always be friendly and nice with everyone and so they do ZERO socialisation and then have problems later.

[mrsgrubby]

Glad you are ok. Please be safe.

Did the manager say anything to the two girls who didn't come and help you? They need to be talked to for sure!!!

[Carrie]

I agree. You did great to "get back on the horse." You brave thing, you. Good job.

[IceyBlueSibes]

Thanks everyone.

Sammy it's a doggy day care too. They also do boarding. My very first thread I never mentioned that.

My arm was pretty sore today, so I opted not to go in. She told me she had enough help and that it would be fine, but definetly needs me Tuesday.

It doesn't look better today. Actually looks more bruised, and other bruises are showing up. But I'm good to go. Can't wait to get back to work though - felt weird not going in today. LOL

Robin: I don't think she did say anything. I don't even know if they really did hear me, but I don't see how they couldn't because when I would yell, the dogs would get quiet. They were airheads - definetly don't prefer working with them. The two of them seem to buddy with eachother. The other girl that's there, Marquise, is more of girl who will help - ask or not.

[Doglover1988]

I'm hoping you will feel better tomorrow. Good luck going in tomorrow. One thing that I learned. I NEVER touched dogs unless they came to me looking for affection. Some dogs like a cockapoo that was there if you touched them or they felt cornered they would bite. I came very close to being bitten by a cute little cockapoo named Scraps because I tried to get him back in his kennel. He would growl and bite if you even touched him. We had to throw treats into his kennel and trick him every time. I was so happy when he let me rub him on his head his third day there. Most dogs though are good dogs you just have to know how to read their body language. If their tails aren't wagging and their butts aren't wiggling I usually try not to touch them.

[Beryl]

WOW! I'm just reading this. I'm so sorry that happened to you, Icey. You should be commended for keeping your cool and getting back on that horse.

It bothers me that the owners may never be told. I'd want to know if my dog attacked anyone.

[PawNclaws]

Wow, what a scary thing to to go thru ! Glad your ok and that you wern't seriously hurt !

[IceyBlueSibes]

Originally Posted by Doglover1988

I'm hoping you will feel better tomorrow. Good luck going in tomorrow. One thing that I learned. I NEVER touched dogs unless they came to me looking for affection. Some dogs like a cockapoo that was there if you touched them or they felt cornered they would bite. I came very close to being bitten by a cute little cockapoo named Scraps because I tried to get him back in his kennel. He would growl and bite if you even touched him. We had to throw treats into his kennel and trick him every time. I was so happy when he let me rub him on his head his third day there. Most dogs though are good dogs you just have to know how to read their body language. If their tails aren't wagging and their butts aren't wiggling I usually try not to touch them.

Thanks. I definetly never approach dogs that don't look as though they want to be bothered, especially if I'm in the arena. Because they may be okay with human attention, but I've noticed a lot of the dogs love to be attention hogs and all run over to the dog you're giving attention to, and then they get upset. So I don't unless they decide to come say hi. The owners have to fill out a questionaire and give us all information about their dog, so if they're food aggressive, or just very shy of people, we need to know. There was a chi there the other day who would bite if you tried to touch her. There was only one girl there she liked, so they would leave Layla in the small arena when she wasn't there to bring her to a crate or up front. The last day she was there, though, I was sitting down with all the little ones. Layla came over to me very carefully and went behind my arm and set her head on my leg. I gently pet her and told her that she was a good girl. But then the other two chi's would shove her away. I felt bad. She wanted attention, but the others wouldn't let her have any.

WOW! I'm just reading this. I'm so sorry that happened to you, Icey. You should be commended for keeping your cool and getting back on that horse.

It bothers me that the owners may never be told. I'd want to know if my dog attacked anyone.

Thanks! I am going to talk to Regina (the owner of the boarding/daycare) about it tomorrow. When I called today, she hadn't talked to Jill yet, and I'm sure Jill coud only tell her what my arms looked like. I'm going to tell her though, what all went on, and what started it, etc. I completely agree that the owners should be told about it. I'm sure she would, I just don't know yet. Still learning the ropes. They keep all of their health updated (if they throw up, have runny stools, etc) so I would imagine they may tell them. If they don't that's very poor of them.

My mom was upset at me tonight because of what happened, but I told her that it was done and over with. Before I could explain to her it was my fault in the first place, she walked out of the room. *shrug* I just love this job, and I know things like this can happen - and again, it was my fault in the first place. But a lesson well learned. My mom doesn't know as much about dogs as I do, so to her, this was an untrained dog that tried attacking me.

Ah well - I'm doing fine and I know what to do from now on. Getting back on the horse tomorrow! I'm sure I'll be having a busy day!

[Sharni]

Very glad to hear you got out of a bad situation as well as you did

Very scary!

[Jamila]

Glad you're ok. I know about dog attacks too. The other day my friend was attacked by two pitbulls while walking home from work. The owner just watched from his window and did nothing. It was crazy. Sadly enough I think they put one of the dogs down. I also was a chew toy for a pitbull. It got me pretty good but it wasn't being aggresive like the Lab you encountered. It just didn't know its own strengh and wanted to play with my face and arm. I hate that pits get such a bad rep due to ignorant owners.
The worse I ever got tore up was from my chi I had as a kid. She ripped into my hand so deep I could see the fatty tissue. We later learned our boundiaries and had a great relationship til she passed.

I'm glad to know that you are going back and not letting this shy you away from our k-9 friends. They need understanding people like you in thier lives. Just be careful !!!!

[Ritz459]

I'm just reading this today (been gone all week at basketball games!) and I'm glad you're ok! The same thing happend to me, except it was a JRT and I tried to pick it up because I didn't have a leash with me. I've never made that mistake again, needless to say. I still have a scar on my hand from the dog...her nails did more damage than her teeth. Now I've learned to size up a dog before I even approach it, never pick up a dog unless I know its been picked up before, and once I know a dog will bite when you do something it doesn't like, I never trust it not to bite me.

The joys of working at a kennel. lol