Dog bite at Pet Smart - Page 5

You know.....when the OP initially posted, I rolled my eyes (now familiar with this popular board descriptive) and thought...........OKaay......spinoff from 'Nenz' thread.......and thought----overkill.  Points already made.  A day later, and I see so many well-meaning, thoughtful responses, that......let's face it.......take a lot of time and effort to type, you'd think I'd learn to stop being such a skeptic.  Were I a GSD, an ad could run......suspicious and sharp showline with the heart and nose of a workingline.  THEREFORE.......I know, I know.....shoot me......I still have to voice my question because some here, myself included, might be truly concerned for the OP's plight.....the considerate victim.....and the consequences that could befall the nipper if the statement "I AM HOPING I DON'T HAVE ANIMAL CONTROL COME KNOCKING" becomes a reality.  Alas....I'm still asking myself......Did this really happen? I know 'lessons' is a worthwhile biggy (good word Speaknow)...but, again......Did this really happen? (LOL)  Anyway.....if the answer is yes, I guess the OP is covered being advised of all repercussions, and if the answer is no.......even though I hate being played......I guess the lessons have made some headway.
 

lovedogs---Hope you and the dog fair well if I'm way out in left field.

Lovedogs, sorry for the bad experience.  Now that you dog is on record as having bitten someone, you need to be extra careful with him NEVER again giving him the chance to bite anyone. Don't take him to Pet Smart or any place where  you can't control the environment. He has proven to you that he will bite and it is apt to happen again if he gets the chance. It's up to you to see that he is never given the opportunity again. This applies to all dog owners in today's world where the AR extremists are just waiting for a dog owner to make a mistake and most of the dog law officers are of the same mind. If a stranger appoaches you and your dog, tell them to stand back as  you do not permit stranger to touch your dog. You must have him under control at all times when in public places.

When I see these "meet the breed" booths at AKC shows it sends chills up and down my spine, they are accidents about to happen. Same for any event that allows the public or other dogs free access to your dog/s. It might make us GSD lovers feel proud to see one of our breed interacting with the general public in a friendly way, but there is always the chance that even the best trained dog will meet up that very day with the one person in the world he or she won't like and a  bite will happen. Is it worth taking the chance?

A few long stories made short - police officer and his GSD K-9 on TV being interviewed. Interviewer leans over to pet dog, dog bites him in the face. Some may remember seeing that on TV. Local kid comes into neighbor's yard to play with the GSD he has been playing with for 4 years. Dog has a bone, kid approaches dog with bone, dog removes larger part of the child's chin.  Dog is put down.  Area pro dog trainer and nationally known dog behaviorist and published author has her face disfigured by her husband's tervuren when she tries to push him off the bed.  Therapy dog bites owner and owner requires hospitalization. There are thousands of such stories.  Every dog has the potential to bite and considering the way of the world today, I don't allow anyone to touch my dogs, never did, and I storngly suggest you adopt that same policy.

Good luck with him. I can tell you love him and want to do the best you can for him.

Keep good friends, keep your enemies closer.

Hold your cards close to the vest, and dont read them with your face.

Always think two moves ahead.

Being in the company of fools and idiots will cost you one way or another.

Know how to use a lawyer, dont let one use you.

I hope you come out on top here lovedogs.

Toss a coin.

Lovedogs,  I think you may be jumping the gun if you talk to an attorney just yet. If something does come of it, your home owner's insurance (if you have it) will cover a dog bite under the liability umbrella... but you'll probably be dropped by making that kind of claim. However, you wouldn't lose your home. But, don't jump the gun, the less people you talk to now, the better.

I learned a big lesson with my dog also. There was a repair man in our home and I was sitting in our home office. My dog was resting on the floor minding his own business. The repair man had a board in his hand and he was walking toward my direction, my dog bolted and grabbed the guy, knocked him down, and ripped the front of his jeans all the way down to his feet. Luckily, I was right there and got a hold of my dog. I think my dog was trying to stop him, because there was no bite mark... it just cost me $100 for the guy's jeans, but we did have to find another repair man. The thing that surprised me the most was that Ben (my dog) KNEW the guy. He liked him, greeted him when he came over, rolled over to be petted, etc. I realized then that this is a dog.  You don't always know what they're thinking or what they will react to. I don't typically let people pet  my dog unless he goes to them and leans against them, that's his "oh pet me" stance. Otherwise, we just mind our own business.

I never want to go through that again, my heart was in my throat, and it could have been so much worse.

By the way, who puts their face in front of an adult German Shepherd Dog's mouth?

So, I say you just hang in there and deal with things as they come. It's possible that you may never hear from this person again. Keep us updated and good luck.

If your insurance company cancels your policy because of a dog bite--good luck finding another carrier.  Certainly, you will end up paying mutliples of what you pay now, IF you can get any coverage at all.  The insurance companies keep the reason for any claims and/or cancellation on a database available to the rest of them for years. 

Hodie and Sueinc (who is not the other Sue) have given you good advice, as has Louise.  Anyone telling you NOT to consult an attorney is giving you bad advice.  Even if PetSmart does not come after you (bad PR for them if they do, inviting folks to stroll in with their mutts as they do), there are other repercussions to think about.   At the very least, you need to know what the ordinacnes and statutes in your area say and how they might apply.

Unlike Sueinc, I do allow strangers to pet my dog--he has iron nerves and a very stable temperament.  He is also very social.  BUT, I am VERY careful about how they approach him (even if they claim they have bred (AKC) gsds for years, yada yada.   Stable and friendly though he may be, he is not going to take kindly to someone challenging him by getting in his face and looking him dead in the eyes, as a challenging dog would.  And, I never let  strange kids approach him, period.  Those little rug-rats turn themselves into sprinting rabbits faster than the human brain can even register the action.   No-one has even told them not to run around dogs.  But, the dog SEES it and the prey drive will kick in.   Whether dominance or prey, the dog is going to react, and idiots (and small children) cannot be held accountable for it.   The owner is. 

Kids who are raised in the sport , after a certain age, know not to make sudden ,quick motions to which a dog may react in prey.   But,  2 , 3, 4 or 5 year old "schutzhund babies" require the same watchfulness as any strange kid would.  Someone has   told them  (repeatedly) not to run around the dogs,wave goodies, etc.  But, up to a certain age, they  just don't hear that stuff, much less listen to it.

When the 'salesgirl' shows her Mom her lip, or worse yet, calls her from the hospital, that's when you need to worry. People are constantly coming up to us to ask if they can 'pet' the dog, or 'does she bite?', I always love Carl's responce to "will he bite?'....in his deep Southern drawl, he looks them dead in the eye, and says, "He got teeth, don't he?" Anything with teeth will bite, myself included, given the right circumstances. And these days, you only have to look like a German Shepherd dog to be considered 'dangerous'. We had to consult our lawyer today, because of our neighbors stupidity and prejudice toward the breed, and possibly toward us. Life sucks. Protect your dogs! jh

Update, have not heard anything yet.  It has been more than 48 hours.  Im hoping I won't hear anything. What do you all think?