I was attacked today...

[IceyBlueSibes]

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

[Doglover1988]

Wow that sounds scary! I learned very fast where I worked not to grab any dog by the collar. My first day I tried to do it because I figured all dogs would tolerate it like mine do but no he turned and snapped at me. I let go fast and luckily he ran off and hid. From then on I put slip leashes on all the dogs to put in their kennels unless they were small enough to pick up and I knew they were nice dogs.

[Swiftwind]

Wow how scary that must have been for you!! I know what it's like being attacked by a dog, and it probably has to be one of the most terrifying experiences in my life. I can't believe those bruises on your arms! Gosh, he must have been one strong dog. Do you think the manager of the daycare will have a word to the owner of the lab?

[IceyBlueSibes]

Yeah, the only thing was even with the leash on, he got that look on his face like "I'm about to bite" and they stopped to try the treat. So if anything, now I just take the leash to pull them in, and keep their head away from me, and use my other hand to scoot their butt in.

Swift - I really don't know if they'll say anything to the owner. Had he just flat out attacked me, they probably would, but seeing that we were trying to force him into the kennel, it might be different. Sometimes though, the owners KNOW their dog has a behavior problem like that (like with Stormy and the biting) and we have to prepare ourselves to be sure we understand the dogs problem, or the manager handles it themself.

He was a strong dog. He was very broad - looked mastiff'y rather than lab. Definetly a scary experience, so I can sympathize with those of you who have been attacked, but I couldn't imagine not being able to do anything. If I didn't have a good enough grip on his collar, my hands/arms probably would be torn up.

[Carrie]

How scary. I'm glad you weren't more seriously injured. Heaven knows...it could have been much worse. Yup...I bet you learned your lesson not to grab dogs by the collar. If there's a dog you know is snarky, could you get another person to be with you, just in case? I'm so sorry this happened. Hope your ouchies heal up quickly.

[britishbandit]

Wow, must have been pretty scarey! Glad you got out of that with only scratches though. Not that they aren't hurting!

It's good that you just wanted to get back at it, and it hasn't stopped you wanting to do this. Get back up on that horse, but be careful!! We want you in one piece!!

[roman]

oh wow that looks bad

i don't know if you remember mr.perkins the am.staffie that the shelter had for 6 months but the same thing happened to me

no i never grab any dog through the collar when they blot out of an area

[Carrie]

If I didn't have a good enough grip on his collar, my hands/arms probably would be torn up.
__________________

Yes, once this started. But if you had just slipped a slip lead around his neck and coaxed him with a treat maybe.....he may well have not bitten in the first place. I wouldn't push him from the rear either. Any force is apt to make a dog who is not conditioned or trained, brought up right (whatever) react defensively. Try coaxing and getting him to move on his own. A little mild herding without overwhelming him might be OK.

Be careful. It's creepy how many messed up dogs there are out there.

[IceyBlueSibes]

Carrie - yes there are usually one or two other people working with me, not including the manager. So if I needed help to get one back in, they'd be able to help. (EDIT) Oh most definetly. It was just a reaction to grab his collar. I didn't have treats on me, but I think I'm going to carry some with me from now on.

Like Doglover said - It was my dumb butt thinking they were fine with grabbing their collar like mine are.

Karen: That's what my mom said. If you fall off a horse, you gotta get back on. Life lesson that I've learned though.

Definetly glad they were only scratches!

roman: Yes I remember Mr. Perkins - sorry to hear that happened.

This is a complete lesson learned though... it's much different when you meet dogs from completely different environments/raising/temperment

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

I'm so glad you weren't seriously hurt (though your arms look bad! ). That's very scary. I know you'll figure out how to handle him safely, though. All my best wishes getting "back on the horse"!

(P.S. We didn't have a good day at work today. LOL)

[IceyBlueSibes]

Thanks TAD. LOL Glad you could be there with me

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Glad your not too badly hurt. Good thing someone finally heard you, I'm a bit surprised that they allow people to work by themselves, we've always had a two person rule here no matter how nice the dog seemed to be.

Yep, grabbing any dog by the collar that you don't know can be a recipe for disaster but I'm glad that once it started you were able to keep the situation under control and keep your wits about you enough to call for help and keep calling until someone heard you. Nice job!

[IceyBlueSibes]

That would probably be the smart thing to do Sonja. Usually they have someone always watching the dogs in the arena if someone is off doing the kennels or walking. But they don't pair up when they involve getting around the dogs (unless they willingly do so).

Thanks - I would have let go, but like I said, the minute I moved my hands, he would start up so the only thing I could do was just keep my grip until someone came (which distracted him for me to let go).