I cannot get the experience out of my mind.

Three weeks or so ago I took Quincy to his (and my) first dog show.

We had finished and left the building while two officers and their dogs were presented (I think) with the money raised for the dog vests. I was not in the building so I am not SURE if it was a presentation or a demenstration.

When I reentered the building to find a friend I turned a corner to see a dog barking his head off and a lady informed me I was not to have Quincy in that area yet.

I spent 10 miniutes or so in another area and thought maybe the show had started again. As I was walking towards the ring (small area) the first officer was leaving. As I moved aside his dog lunged at my dog. Instinctively I steppd between the two and was bit.

The bite was superficial but the cop was PISSED at me. Several things. First I was in the wrong place and second never get between two fighting dogs.

First point is I never knew police did not have complete control over their dogs. When the second officer left with his canine partner they kept announcing "WORKING DOG COMING THROUGH".

Truthfully even IF this was announced for the first dog I would not have known this meant the dogs were unpredictable.

On the second point I can see where the officer would have rather had his dog bit a dog than a person but from my aspect THIS WAS MY DOG. Also this was NOT a dog fight! Quin was just sitting and waiting...

Truthfully I think the officer was worried about leagal ramifications. I had family in from out of town and I knew the wound wasn't a big deal and my BIL is a doctor. So I refused medical treatment and left.

The officer acted like I was fleeing the scene of a crime.

I am amazed how often I think of that day. The officer was worried for himself I am sure but he left me feeling like it was all my fault.

Hi Michelle,

This sounds like a classic case of wrong place and wrong time. Did you have time to turn around before the second officer got to you or was it one of things where you turn the corner and "hello"?

It sounds like you were in the wrong place at wrong time, but I wouldn't walk or try to get close to police officers and their police dogs anywhere or anytime. I have seen several ones around while I was walking my dogs, but I don't walk past or let them get close to me. I'm not afraid of police dogs, but I don't want to put them at risk where they get to bite someone by accidentally. I'm sure it is going to cost them a big liability.

I don't know if they have full control over their dogs so I would approach with cautious and make sure I give the officer and his dog a lot of space to move out. If a officer kept saying "working dog coming through," he probably wants people to make a room for his dog and him.

If I were you, I probably want to speak with somebody from the K9 unit to let them about the bad accident. I really don't know

Michelle ,

I don't think anyone can make you feel better after this unfortunate incident . We weren't there and didn't see it . I hate monday morning quarterbacking stressfull things that happen suddenly . It's too easy for some to say what they might have done in that situation without actually having been there done that .

As a Police K9 handler I will speak for myself and give you my point of view having been in some very similiar incidents . Luckily I haven't had an accidental bite yet . I'm sure other PSD handlers may have a different point of view .

First from your description of the events and hearing that the dog was barking during the demo I'm going to guess the PSD was doing some sort of bitework demonstration or something involving barking at a "badguy" to drive him away .

There are many reasons I have an area cleared for me when I exit a demonstration like that and I also give warnings that I'm coming through also .

My K9 is now in a very protective state. I just can't shut it on/off like a switch , it will take some time for him to calm down . My dog usually has just confronted someone that he percieved as a threat to him during the demo . He's now on the look out for anything that might be a threat to him and he will react very quickly to protect himself .

I've had people do some very stupid things that my dog could easily view as a threat after leaving such demonstrations . Add another dog to the scene and it gets even more unpredictable because that dog may react in any number of ways to my dog .

For two weeks every year for the past 12 years I've done Police K9 demonstrations at the Minnesota State Fair (one of the largest in the nation). We can get on average around 100 people daily watching the show and it has become a tradition for many coming to the fair to come see the Police K9 demonstrations . Hundreds of people a year have pet my dog during certain parts of the demo . He's sociable(but aloof) around people and tolerant around other dogs . I wouldn't call him dog friendly though .

In that area there are many civilian dog owners with boothes and some doing demonstrations themselves . So I have found myself in your situation many times . When I have found myself crossing pathes with a civilian and their dog I have NEVER seen the dog just calmly sit there .They are seeing a big dog suddenly coming towards them usually breathing pretty hard because the
Police K9 has just got done doing something strenuous . These folks' dogs have reacted in several different ways . Some start barking , may lunge toward my dog , some hide behind their owners . But they all have two behaviors in common . Their body posture is no longer that of a calm dog and they are staring directly at my dog because they now are in a defensive state and I can't blame the dogs .

But unfortunately with my dog being in a very protective state that's taken as a threat to my dog and when the gap closes and the threat gets too close the dog (or both dogs) may react .

No dog no matter how well trained is under complete control. Training is not a 100 % perfect . Dogs are dogs and if there is ever a situation where things could go wrong it's in the spot you found yourself in . That's why we try to avoid these problems by trying to create some room to exit safely.

If I had an accidental bite I would certainly be worried about legal ramifications even if I wasn't at fault .

I would want the person to be treated immediately no matter how serious it looks , mainly for their own good but also so the injuries could be documented by a neutral party (the doctors or EMT's) . I would also try to get photos of the injuries so they can't be exaggerated later . I wouldn't be happy if the person left without doing those things but no crime was committed and the injuries aren't obviously life threatening so I can't force them to get treatment . But I sure wouldn't be happy about it .

None of us know what that Officer was thinking . I'll hazard to guess he was mad . But it could just as easliy be he was mad at the unfortunate situation , his and your badluck , and that he wasn't mad at you .

Michelle, you did nothing wrong IMHO. If in fact that handler knew his dog was that unpredictable HE should have taken the necessary precautions like the second officer. The dog perhaps needed some wind down time before he left the demo area so his adrenaline leveled off or the dog may have been reacting to the handler. Did that dogs demo go according to plan or did the handler come out all fired up and frustrated?

If it went down as you said the cop owes you an apology.

Jim's rationale seems to make quite a bit of sense from the dogs point of view.

The rationale about the officer getting/being mad - that I have an issue with only because as an Officer, we as civilians, EXPECT that they are in control of themselves. Having a situation such as this arise I would think shouldn't even ruffle the feathers of an Officer.

So, dogs will be dogs because they are dogs first before they are breed, and are breed before they are personality.

The Officer should have remained calm in my opinion.

This is NOT to say that I think all Officers are not calm and capable. I know quite a few of them and a couple are K9 handlers and they are all very qualified and capable people that can keep their cool in times of stress.

I would think that the PD or K-9 Unit commander and officer should give you call and apologize for the Officers behavior. Certainly the dog wasn't at fault - they were just being dogs and one was in an extremely protective mode.

JMHO

 Quote: Peter Marek

The rationale about the officer getting/being mad - that I have an issue with only because as an Officer, we as civilians, EXPECT that they are in control of themselves. Having a situation such as this arise I would think shouldn't even ruffle the feathers of an Officer.

Maybe he was having a bad day though.

Michelle, sorry that happened to you!

Jim's explanation makes a lot of sense. I was talking to someone in the mounted/dog division here once about PPD vs. PSD and he said 'when something happens with one of our dogs, the city is the one that pays' (vs. a PPD where it would be the owner). It surprised me at the time, but it makes sense in terms of what Jim is saying.

Thanks for the replies.

I guess I was sort of hoping by telling the story I might stop thinking about it.

Jim. I so appreciate your reply. I think it was spot on.

I really never thought about the volitility of the dogs but it definately makes sence tat it is hard to switch it on off.

The exiting of the first dog, to my knowledge was not announced but like I admitted I am not sure I would have fully understood what that meant.

My leg is more bruised and sore than anything. I am sort of suprised no follow up was done.

I am not upset I got bit. More that the officer lost his cool.

Brings back memories of doing building searches with MWDs.
As the handler comes out he yells "Dog Coming Out" and everyone goes pancake against the wall to give them room.

Most MWDs (and I assume PSDs) are pretty friendly when they're in "relax" mode. But when they're working, well, they're looking for someone to bite all the time.

 Quote: alyssa myracle

Most MWDs (and I assume PSDs) are pretty friendly when they're in "relax" mode. But when they're working, well, they're looking for someone to bite all the time.

Kinda like it being a safe assumption that an officer's gun is loaded before I take a peek down the barrel?