I am ashamed and disgusted that I have to post this today. But I do it because I feel I have done something wrong and need advice.

I have two GSDs a 2yr old male and a 9 mo. old female. They are inside dogs who are crate trained and family pets. Our puppy, Luna, is still a wild choppatula but we have been working on it. Deacon, we have had since a pup and came from a breeder. We also have a 2 yr old son with whom our Deacon has so far been nothing but patient and gentle.

Today, the dogs were in the back yard for about thirty to forty minutes. They found a weakened spot on the fence we share with our neighbor. Deacon is 96#. He probably only leaned on it a little and they got out. Evidently, a lady was walking down the street and was bitten by Deacon, so far as we know. The dogs returned to the yard when animal control was called and thus we took them to our vet for quarantine.

Guys, why did this happen?? I feel terrible because we are responsible for these dogs. I have cried about this all day. This is the most intelligent and kind and gentle dog I have ever had. He responds to hand signals from us. He is that in tune to us. I feel like we are going to be labeled as dangerous dog owners for this. And our neighbors will treat us like, I don't even know. Yea, he has an ugly bark when the doorbell rings and out in the yard when noises occur. Are there signs that this was destined to happen that I didn't see?? Any thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated.

Do you have any more info from animal control on what led up to the lady getting bit by Deacon?

No. My husband ran an errand and when he returned he heard a slew of barking. He came through our gate. Luna was in the yard and heard Deacon barking loudly on the other side of the fence. Deacon must have seen or smelled my husband and came back through the hole. My mother was inside and opened the back door. They saw her and ran inside and ran into their crates. Animal control told my husband they bit a lady. No circumstances of how it happened. She allegedly says Deacon did it.

Also, the lady came by my house this afternoon when I was picking up my son. We weren't home. She went next door and talked to my neighbor. (They don't like my dogs because they bark). She gave her contact info to them. We called her and don't get an answer.

How it happened is going to be valuable info.

Why it happened was ultimately lack of containment on the owner's part. (I'm sorry, because I know how you must feel, but please don't lose this vital fact in the overwhelming flood of thoughts and emotions that you are experiencing.)

The fence has to be fixed immediately and no dog can be off-leash in your yard before that. But you probably know this -- I'm just making sure.


eta
I'd probably be pretty ostentatious about making those repairs, too -- as visibly as possible.

Is the barking problem ongoing or when people enter the yard, or what?


Edited by Connie Sutherland (09/28/2009 07:29 PM)
Edit reason: eta

The fence guy is coming in the morning. Planning on that part being completed before the quarantine period ends. Barking mainly when our neighbor leaves his garage. His garage is behind his house next to our yard. We have never ever let anyone enter the yard with the dogs there. We never thought he would do that but just never wanted to let the opportunity to occur. Also, he never barks while on a walk on leash.

Connie is absolutely right about the containment issue - if you knew the fence was at all compromised, you could have fixed it the moment you noticed... but aside from that, accidents do happen, and this just sounds unfortunate.

Dani, have you checked in with all the neighbors within sight of your property - to see if there were any other witnesses to this event? Not that I don't believe what's been accused, but I'd be interested in checking as many possible references as I could, since you weren't there to observe any of this yourself. And I'd definitely kindly keep trying to contact the woman who claims to have been bitten...

~Natalya

Not to diminish on what happened enre to a loose dog, or a dog with no direction in it's life.
Exactly what does bit mean? Did he break skin? Crush bone? Mouth her and scratched with a nail. Scare the pedestrian so they fell against a tree?

Do not let the dog run the fence on the neighbor. I like dogs, and I'd get tired of training your dog for you if I lived next door.

That sounds like a good idea, Natalya. I will do that. Considering, though that it was midday, I am not sure if anyone was home.

And Randy....I am not exactly sure what you mean by a dog with no direction in its life. My dog doesn't run the fence. He barks when his garage door opens runs to the fence and then turns to get his ball not barking. Don't think that sounds anything like my neighbor "training my dog" for me.

EMT arrived..she was treated on scene, refused hospital. Neighbor next door met her today and says she was bandaged on one hip and middle torso other side.

I guess what I am really wondering aside from the obvious--that the fence was compromised is would a typical GSD do something like this or is this a huge problem dog?

 Quote: dani story

... I guess what I am really wondering aside from the obvious--that the fence was compromised is would a typical GSD do something like this or is this a huge problem dog?

There's no possible way for anyone to even hazard a guess without some info about how it happened.

Not just how it happened, but also all of this:
"Did he break skin? Crush bone? Mouth her and scratched with a nail. Scare the pedestrian so they fell against a tree?"


Think of all the possibilities: - The other person was walking a dog who attacked your dog and the person got between them. - Your dog ran up behind the person and attacked her full-on, and the only thing that saved her leg from losing a big chunk of muscle was her boot. - The other person kicked at your dog on the way past and he snapped at her. - The other person offered him food and he closed his teeth on her fingers a little bit. - Six dogs got into a melee and the person was in the middle. The only one she recognized was yours.

You see that much more info is needed.