While at Petsmart visiting Banfield (vet) setting up my puppy for his next set of shots, this gentlemen with a 75lb Bull dog stood there talking to one of the ladies behind the desk. I was also talking to one of the ladies. I tend to play with my keys in my pocket while I talk, I guess its a habit. So I put my hand in my pocket to get my keys and this man's bull dog started to growl and bark and then LUNGED at my wrist! Thank GOD I had a thick coat on (winter here and its 30 F outiside). The dogs teeth didn't make contact with my skin, but I could feel the IMMENSE pressure of this dogs jaw biting down on my wrist.

The owner pulled him back (he was on a prong collar) and asked if I was okay and apologized. I was in shock. I did nothing to provoke the dog. I didn't even look at it. I asked the owner if the dog was trained or anything. He said to me, "Well no, but he's never done that before."

I told him it was okay b/c I didn't get hurt, but I recommended to him that he get the dog obedience trained and I also politely warned him that he could face criminal charges for his dog biting someone with out having good reason like defending itself or something of that nature.

My question is, did I handle that correctly? What would you have done? This guy was in a military uniform, so I kinda felt sympathetic toward him b/c he's providing a service to our country. I have a feeling that if it were anyone else, I might have freaked.

In such a short amount of time, it can be hard for us normal people to really size up a dog. I'm sure some pros would get a better feel for the dog in the couple of minutes you were exposed to it. The way to handle the situation, in my opinion, depends on the dog and the man. If this really was a fluke, then he just needs to be extra careful, and get the dogs temperament evaluated and OB trained. If this dog is really a head case, or the owner just isn't doing his job in taking proper precautions with a dog that has shown warning signs of aggression, then a police report should be filed. As a dog lover, I'd tend to give him the benefit of the doubt as long as I was able to walk away from the encounter. On the other hand, if my daughter were standing there and had been bitten, the dog would be lucky that he's already at an animal hospital. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Tough situation... You don't want to ignore a situation that could be a danger to others, but you also don't want to over react and end up being the cause of a dog being euphonized.

Any idea what triggered him? Sometimes a dog is just playing rough and hasn't learned to mind his manners around strangers. Sometimes it's prey drive triggered by movement. Sometimes it's dominance or fear related. Any clues as to what set him off would help in determining how you should have handled it.

It is hard to respond in an incident like that - especially when you are surprised. I would insist on a police report because the owner was not in control of the dog and the situation could easily have been so much worse (not wearing a coat).

Ryan and Anne thanks for the replies.

Ryan- I'm not too positive, but I think me putting my hands in pocket and fidgeting with my keys set him off. As soon as he heard the sound of my keys he growled. Thats when I looked over and saw him on his way up to my wrist. By that time, it was too late and his mouth was around it. So I guess the sound of the keys.

Anne- I didn't want to over react and make too much of a stink about it. The dog didn't persist once the owner took hold of him and the owener himself was very apologetic. One thing that kind of led me to think he was telling the truth about the incident being a first for the dog was his facial expression. He was just as shocked as I was. He didn't know what to do/say at first. Plus he was in the military. I have a sort of "soft" spot for those guys/gals and I feel 99% of them are honest people. So I pretty much didn't want to do the police report thing.

Thank you both for your replies.

You're not hurt, the guy learnt a valuable lesson about his dog, he got off easy, hopefully he'll take it to heart. I would have done the same thing.

You aren't a very large man dressed in black prone to wearing horns are you? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> No blood no foul, you advised and he learned. generaly speaking when I see a prong collar on I assume that they are still in training.

Thanks for the input Mike and Dennis.

Sorry to hear about your experience but after getting bitten on the back of my leg in the vet, I have learn't never to turn my back on a strange dog,keep a respectful distance with strange dogs. I was taken out by a shep who was left lying on the floor in the vet just out of a anaesethic, the owner was negligent the vet was negligent, but because It was an accident and the dog was a shep, I let it ride, but I spent 2 wks on crutches..
Now I am fully alert, I thought you only had to be vigilant on the field nice wake up for me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
never thought a dog bite could burn like that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> so count yourself lucky!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ewww, sorry about your bite. One of my Dobes was a right ^%$#! when coming out of anesthesia. It's not that uncommon. That is one of many reasons why a lot of vets keep surgeries/sedated animals overnight. They don't want the liability. I'm not even gonna ask how you came in contact with a sedated/goggy dog in the vets' office. Sounds like he was negligent indeed.

Yes the Vet was a little distracted, the owner was picking the dog up and on the way out she decided to ask him about the meds, they thought that "Buster" was out of it so let him lie on the floor,it all kinda of happened fast, doesn't it always <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />I was paying for my frontline and a couple of hooves, and wap he took me from behind,I only realised, I had got bitten when I saw blood spraying all over the floor I looked down and thought hey am I bleeding <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
The the burn set in and Boy did I want to jump outta my skin then, and borrow someones else's..
Anyhow went off down to the emergency clinic ended up having a couple of stitches and 3 jabs one for rabies, one penicillin,one for pain, and to top it all, I am a needle freak <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
Yes it was memorable <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />First live bite <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />