input, pls - Page 1

I wrote this once but it got eaten so I hope it doesn't post twice.

My friend has a 3 yr working line male, with minimal training in obedience. She's had him about three weeks. He can be EXUBERANT (back flips to the ceiling) at times but is mostly a friendly coon hound. When someone comes to the door they introduce the person to the dog.

A friend of hers came to visit and forgot my friend had gotten a new dog, and thought it was still just the two smaller dogs. She picked up a UPS box of books on the porch and knocked a few times. My friend didn't hear from upstairs. The visitor stepped inside and yelled "mail call". As she started opening the door, the dog wrapped his paw around it and pulled it open. He bit the visitor on the arm and stepped back a step. If she moved he bit and stepped back. She kicked as hard as she could and would hit him in the nose with the box of books. She ended up with a few bites on arm and hand and a gash on her knee.  Her coat and pants were torn up.  My friend came down and saw them and grabbed the dog by the collar. His hackles went down and he was a coon dog again.

I believe and the visitor believed he was doing his job. I think my friend believes that deep down but feels guilty because some one got hurt. What are your opinons of this situation?

Thanks,

Dawg

1. Has the dog had any bitework? Is that what you mean by "his Job" vs she bought him relying on his natural guard protection? 2. How much obedience? 3. My concern is over the ability of the dog to reconize a threat vs a non-threat.

I'm glad the visitor was understanding. I do not think our dogs would let somebody walk in the house they had not been introduced to without a reaction.

Dawg, it reminds me of the question I often hear when I am in public with a dog. "Does he/she bite?" "Well, it's a dog, and they all bite. You should ask if the dog is friendly." In my opinion the dog was being a dog, plain and simple. No more, no less. I never owned a coonhound (I think this is what you are saying?), but the ones that I have been around seemed calm and approachable, even though this is a true working breed. I know your friend feels terrible about what happened, and I know that I would. And yes, it could happen at my home so I am very careful and never allow ANYONE to open the door, even if they are someone who visits often and knows the dogs well. The way a person smells or dresses can change the reaction of the dog very much. DesertRangers, I agree that a dog needs to differentiate a true threat from a normal encounter. But we know that there are sometimes things that none of us can see that will cause even a well-behaved and docile dog to become alarmed. Perhaps not to the end of making a bite (fortunately) but alarmed nonetheless. I don't know the situation 100% of course, but I think it will do no harm to work this dog in obedience-perhaps with different people. It's hard for me to condemn the dog in this situation. Bob-O

This is the behavior about 80% of the people that contact me say they want. Good with kids, can protect the family, yada, yada. They'll pay up to $500.00 too! Most do not realize the situation they are asking for. In any case, the dog was doing what it thought the circumstances warranted, right or wrong it did what it thought was correct. That's not necessarily a bad thing but it should be controlled through training or limited access to your property.

No bitework training. Obedience as in come, sit, stay, look, leave it and focus on handler.  As far as limiting access they live in a house in a not too nice neighborhood.  When I say hound dog, I mean he is very mellow most of the time, lays around etc.. Very happy go lucky and friendly.

I guess he saw did see an unannounced invader (he never met the woman before) as a real threat.  As far as me, I'm glad she is safe in her home, but it's not my liability either. So maybe it's selfish of me, in a way, to be glad he'll protect this way.  I know the visitor and she told me he never growled and when he bit he didn't just keep gnawing but would step back and leave her as long as she was still.  I thought this was kind of what they train in Sch isn't it?

As far as obedience work goes, she is a horse trainer and doesn't tolerate BS from horses or dogs and makes them tow the line.  Since she was upstairs and didn't know the visitor was in the house I'm wondering what good obedience work would do? Not being sarcastic, trying to understand. Some times it takes me a while, as you have probably noticed :).

If he is only going for the arm, the dog has been exposed to sch. Love the friend, most would want to report the bite, and she did not shut the door on the dog's paw, could not have blamed her if she did. However, A better idea is to lock your doors so you do not have accidents. What I also read is that the dog is new to the home, does not know friend or foe as yet. Also, she had a box in her hands, some dogs will perceive something in the hands as a threat.

The dogs breeder is a friend of mine and the dog has not been exposed to Schutzhund. I know this for a fact. He went primarily for the arm but also bit her knee.

Locking the door is a very good idea.

When I wrote that I thought he was doing his job, I kind of meant more of simply being a mellow dog that will protect if there isn't any one else there to do it.

I don't thought this was actually what a breeder would shoot for.  I thought it was appropriate that he cornered her by the door. He only bit it she tried to leave the corner and stopped when my friend came on the scene. Maybe I'm missing something.

Sorry, let em clarify. From what I've read here I thought that is what a breeder would shoot for.

I think the dog acted appropriately given the situation. Though I'm very glad it was an understanding adult and not a kid. Doors locked at all times is excellent habit to form, especially if you live in a not so great neighborhood.