[shelley]

Well im finally winding down from a truly horrible afternoon. My wee Holly was bitten/ snapped at by another dog outside of school today!! We got her back from the vets about an hour ago and inspite of the war wound and being very sleepy, she seems fine.


It was my first visit to school with Holly( almost 12 weeks)to collect eldest from after school club - thought this woud be better intro. than full on 3.30 as there are far less people. Saw another mum there who had her dog also by gate. She suggested we introduce them as he was well socialized with other dogs and pups.

So I did what i thought was right thing - on loose(ish) lead, let two ssniffetc. It wasnt face to face as trainer had suggested this was agressive for dogs. From what i could tell it was okay. Holly was being excited little puppy but not nipping jsut sniffing excitedly.

With no warning, other dog just kind of turned and went for her. He never growled first - no warning signs. Hollys squeawled and turned tail - when I looked chunk was missing from end of her ear blood every where. She was really squawking - that horrible hurt puppy sound.

I scooped her up and ran into school where staff who were left were really helpful as i had my 2 year old with me (luckily she was playing with friend when it happened and didnt see it)After bledding alot in staff toilet, one of staff drove me home whilst afriend took kids to her house.

I had to get a neighbour to drive me to vets as Her ear was still bleeding lots and she was so quiet. The vet kept her in. She suggested either they do sew up job or more cosmetic job to round off ragged edges, which we went for. I felt awful leaving her there although she had perked upo a bit by then.

Shes now back, bit quiet and sorry for herself with cone around her, but hey at least she wanted something to eat! ( which vet said was okay) With one ear shorter than other and shaved

My friend whose dog bit feels really bad. He is a lovely dog that i have met before and she says he has never done anything like it before. I feel terrible as i feel i ought to have done somethoing different/ maybe i missed a sign. The sensible part of my (and hubbie) says not but... The vet. nurse even said from position of it it looked like playbite gone wrong but it didnt feel like that at time.

Sorry posting so long but feel better writing it down. You dont realize quite how attached ypouve got to them (despite nippin) until something like this happens. Perhaps need another glass of wine.

Shelley

 

[clairiscrazy]

hi shelly

awwwww hope holly feeling a little better after her ordeal

how old was this other dog??

you are not to blame for this some dogs dont give a warning they just bite.. when i take rosze out who is 9mths and she runs off after another dog i always worry about another dog biting her... but a few ppl have told me a older dog will not attack a puppy as they know she is young but i for one know this is wrong,, if another dog does not like yours they will bite or if not socailsed or frightened even and sometimes out of pure excitment they nip but its a hard nip...

the other dog may of bittin holly in fright maybe?? or did holly accidently nip him to hard?? you both had them on leads which was good and prevented a lot more damage please dont feel guilty

i hope holly is not scared of other dogs now due to her lil ordeal if possible get her out and about as soon as you can

reading your post again i noticed you said not face to face i think the other dog was frightened and thats why he bit..

 

[mommy]

Hi,

I do hope Holly recovers quickly. Sounds like she went into shock a bit.

I agree that best thing for both of you is to get back out there, while Holly is young enough to leave this behind her.

Also, you must try to be relaxed when walking, she will feed off you.
If you are panicky should another dog come close, she will sense that.

Not easy I know

Keep us posted on Holly's recovery

 

[anna]

it sounds like you did everything right , sometimes you just cant predict what another dog is going to do. Vogue sends a big lick.
Anna

 

[Rebel1]

hi shelly
please dont blame your self for what has happened. you did the right thing.
hope holly is feeling better this morning. give her a big cuddle from us.

 

[clairiscrazy]

how is holly this morning shelly? have you both recovred from your shock?

 

[shelley]

Morning all

Thanks for the concern - Holly appears well this morning if perhaps a little subdued at times. She does not appreciate having to wear the collar I think. Having said that she was still able to go nip my daughters toes this morning and run off with Action Man again - so shes definitely on the mend :wink:

I know you're right that we need to get back out again - the vet said as much. Holly has her first proper Puppy class on sat. and vet thinks she should definitely still go. Hubbie is taking her as ive got to work on that day - part of me thinks thats good as he will probably be much more relaxed than me when she meets the other pups. However, i also think that it is me that will have to work on the nerves as much as anyone - dont want Holly to pick up on them.

Clairiscrazy - the other dog was just over a year i think - a staffordshire bull terrier , who is normally quite a softy. Both my kids have petted him in the past.
When i said it wasnt face on i just meant that she wasnt in his face. They had seen each other and were sort of sniffing side by side when it happened. I dont even think Holly was jumping or nipping but it all happened so fast i guess we'll never know. I saw his owner this morning and she is still quiite shocked .

Guess well just ahve to put this behind us know - im just glad kids werent there to see it!

Thanks for all your kind words
Shelley

 

[bradleysmum]

Hi Shelley,

I'm really sorry to hear of yesterday's events with your young pup Holly. It must have been awful for you & Holly, that sort of thing really shakes you up doesn' it.

As the others have said, it's not your fault and no one can predict a dog is going to bite. You did the right thing by taking her to the vet immediately, at least she has been cared for well by the vet, and has all the love and cuddles from you and your family.

It is important that she gets socialised with other dogs as soon as possible, of course it will be a little worrying for you, but i'm sure she will be fine. Do you have any friends that have smaller/younger dogs that they could bring over to your house for a little play?

Maybe you could enrol Holly up to some puppy classes with a trainer, which will help with her confidence.

We had an iccident when Bradley was a young puppy and 2 staffordshire bull terriers ran up to attack him. Both going for his neck. The owner had them of the lead and was walking on slowly behind smoking a cigar! :evil:

Thankfully we got to Brad before they did - we were lucky.

I really do hope you & Holly are feeling better today, i'm sure her ear will heal, do you have to take her back to the vets for a check up?

Sending Holly little doggy woofs from Bradley, and a hug to you from us.

Hope your day is better today.

Best wishes

Julie

 

[Karen_theArtist]

Hope Holly gets better soon

 

[stevtel]

Hiya

Sounds like Holly is feeling better today if she is stealing Action Man lol
We have the same problem here but with Barbies!

I hope that her ear mends quickly, i bet you needed a few drinks last night its scary for you aswell when that sort of thing happens. I remember when my sister brought her rottwieler round when we had our westie and he went for Freddie it was so scary i was rooted to the spot but hubby managed to get hold of Freddie and pick him up but not before he had a good go back at the rottwieler! he was daft. He wasnt hurt but im sure he got a fright.

Hugs and kisses to Holly and yourself
Lyndsay xxx

 

[Tracey]

I hope Holly is okay now - it is important that she goes to the puppy class as she will meet other non-threatening dogs and regain her confidence.

I also had a bad day this week when Scooby got kicked in the head by my horse. I was really worried that he had a fractured skull or internal bleeding but it turned out not too bad in the end but it makes you worry as if they were your children. I felt so guilty and blamed myself.

Scooby has been bitten twice while being introduced to other older dogs but luckily they didn't break the skin and he was unaware that he had even been bitten as he was so overcome at meeting another dog!

He as been going to puppy classes for 12 weeks now and gets on with all the other dogs there and really looks forwards to it.

 

[Fay]

So sorry to hear about Holly - hope she's on the mend

It must have been awful for you

Best wishes

Fay

 

[anna]

when richey was about a year old he got bitten by a greyhound right on his rump, it was quite a vicious bite, grade 4, the vet was very concerned that we worked hard on socialising him still, very quickly he went back to his happy self very confidantly going up to new dogs at the common and introducing himself.
Holly will be ok but you've got to try not to worry when shes with other dogs, which I know if hard but if she knows your nervous about meeting another dog then she'll worry too!
Anna

 

[Hersheys]

Oh dear thats so sad I do hope Holly gets better soon and she doesnt have any bad side effects from being bitten my in Laws dog got bitten and now she is really feisty and growls at all other dogs

 

[shelley]

Thanks everybody

We're doing okay here today. Holly still seems a bit quiet - well what i mean is she has been up to some mischief just not as much as normal :wink: Guess this is to be expected. I feel so sorry for her, and im really trying to resist giving into those puppy dog eyes even more.


You've all been very helpful and comforting. We'll try and do as much as we can to socialize her with more friendly dogs. I think the puppy class on SAT. will be good for her. Tried to get back to normal with a wawlk this afternoon - perhaps she is still a bit tired as she was having none of it. By the end of our road you would have thought there was superglue on her bottom.!! :lol:

Thanks again

Shelley and Holly

 

[anna]

yes they are even worse eyeing you when theyre wearing an elizibethan collar its an "as if things weres bad enough now your making me wear a lampshade?!" type look.
anna

 

[Kev]

Hope Holly is back to her old self soon.

Good luck with the puppy class.

Kev